It’s been an interesting trip for Jacob (Genesis 28-33). He flees the wrath of his brother and he returns to his brother’s blessing. He leaves alone and returns with enough family and servants to create two camps of people. He may have left with a camel or two but eventually returns with herds of livestock. He leaves to find a wife . . . he comes back with two . . . along with a couple of maid servant wives . . . and with twelve children. But what grabs me this morning is the fact that Jacob leaves with a mindset of testing “the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac” and returns worshipping “the God of Israel.”

When Jacob, the self sufficient con man, leaves his family and sets out to Haran, God speaks to him in a dream one night. Jacob sees the LORD enthroned in heaven and hears the voice of Him who had appeared to his grandfather, Abraham, and to His father Isaac. And Jacob is given the same promise that was given to them . . . he is promised the land on which he lies . . . offspring like the dust of the earth . . . and that, in his offspring, all the families of the earth will be blessed (28:13-15). While Jacob is filled with awe . . . and knows that he has had an encounter of the divine kind . . . he takes a “wait and see attitude” . . .

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God . . . “   (Genesis 28:20-21 ESV)

Kind of a cocky attitude if you ask me. Has seen heaven opened up . . . has been visited by angels descending and ascending on the ladder . . . has seen a revelation of the thrice holy God . . . has received a promise to beat all promises . . . and his response? . . . “Uh, pretty impressive. If He comes through, then He will be my God.” Hmmm . . .

And as you read through the next few chapters it’s evident that there is this “distance” between Jacob and the LORD. Unless I missed something (which is quite possible), every time Jacob refers to God it is as “the God of Abraham” or “the God of Isaac” or “the Fear of Isaac” . . . never as “my God.” Jacob has seen God . . . he acknowledges the presence of God . . . but he’s not ready to make God “my God.” He relies on his cunning to deal with tricky Uncle Laban . . . he cedes to the wisdom of jealous wives as to how to build his family . . . but he obeys God when God tells him to head home with his family, servants, and flocks . . and yet you get the sense, that God, in a way, remains on trial.

But heading into the unknown . . . having to return to your past . . . facing an uncertain future . . . has a way of getting people ready to do business with God . . . or at least a way of preparing their hearts when God determines to do business with them. Jacob doesn’t know how Esau is going to react to his return . . . and so, doing what Jacob does best, he devises plans . . . sends ahead appeasing offerings . . . and works contingencies as he prepares to meet up with the brother whose birthright and blessing he stole.

And God, in His longsuffering, again engages with Jacob (32:22-32). But this time it’s not with a vision, it’s with a cage match . . . a One-on-one wrestling match. And Jacob, the self-sufficient con man, emerges with a new name . . . and a new limp . . . and a new dependence on God. And he has the reunion with his brother . . . and it all works out pretty well . . . and Jacob settles in the land of his fathers . . . and he buys a piece of land . . . and he pitches his tent . . . and . . .

There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.   (Genesis 33:20 ESV)

El-Elohe-Israel . . . God, the God of Israel.

Jacob worships not just the God of Abraham . . . he sacrifices no longer to just the God of his father, Isaac . . . but God is now “my God.” He who is enthroned in heaven is received as the God of limping Israel . . . is recognized as the God of infinite patience . . . is acknowledged as the God of abundant grace . . . is worshiped as the God who is faithful to His promise.

Praise God . . . that He desires to be our God . . . that He will allow us to wrestle with Him in order that we might own Him . . . in order that we might worship Him.

By His grace . . . For His glory . . .