JACOB – THE PERSEVERANCE OF GOD

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it – Genesis 28:12

God’s educative dealings with Jacob afford a glowing example of His undiscouraged perseverance with an unlovely character. Though there was little in Jacob to merit it, God lavished on him an unwearied but uncompromising love. Through all the shady and despicable actions that debased his life, that love was unabating, but never tolerated or condoned his sin. Through many years Jacob was allowed to pursue the path he had chosen, learning the bitter lessons of human independence and the costliness of “going it alone.” His selfishness became his own chastening rod. At last he manoeuvred himself into the final crisis which God had been preparing for him.

Jacob’s life illustrates not so much the perseverance of the saints as the perseverance of God. But for the latter, the former would be impossible. Though the nation Israel baulked and thwarted Him at every turn, He persisted in His gracious disciplines until His purpose of blessing for all the families of the earth was realized through them. When one approach failed, He adopted another. If one generation failed to respond, He patiently began with the next. Succeeding generations turned to idolatry until Israel’s final captivity in Babylon forever taught them its folly and futility. Never since has the Hebrew nation worshipped idols.

God knows no unfinished task. Paul expressed this assurance in these glowing words: “Being confident of this very thing that He which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil.1:6). Christian experience, too, is replete with evidence of the tenacity and tireless patience of God’s love.