Jacob may have been a big deal years after his death, but during most of his life he spent it trying to gain favor from his father, on the run from his brother, and cheating his uncle. Jacob was not a great guy. If you read up on his life in the book of Genesis you can see the tracks that lead to his life being a train wreck.
Jacob spent most of his life doing what we do. Fighting to make it on our own. Wanting to generate some sort of significance. Doing things to make ourselves matter and be happy. Desiring to be favored in the eyes of someone else.
He spent his whole life trying to justify himself. He wanted to guarantee that his life passed the test and tried everything he could to make that happen.
We are the same way. We hate to fail. We want approval from someone. We feel pressure to be a success.
So we work... and work... and work.. to make this happen.
In every way - we are just like Jacob.
The good news is that in every way Jesus is greater than Jacob!
One story, found in Genesis, seems to connect the dots for us.
Jacob is about to be killed by his brother so Jacob's dad, Isaac, sends him away to find a wife because Jacob's mom, Rebekah, would not be able to live if her son married the wrong person. (Talk about a dysfunctional family!)
Jacob was considered great because through him God preserved and expanded His people
Jesus was considered great because through him God purified an impure people that reaches every tribe, tongue, and nation
Isaac sent his lying son away to find a faithful bride
God sent his son who was full of truth away to save an unfaithful bride
Jacob chose the pretty one (Rachel)
Jesus chose the ugly one (the church)
Because Jesus is greater we don’t have to live our lives trying to justify ourselves.
We are free from the pressure to make ourselves matter and to prove ourselves to anyone - because the One that truly matters has already proved that we matter.
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