Jacob's life, a type of Israel
The great events of the life of Jacob serve as types of the
national life of Israel in the last days. A few of the most extraordinary, with
suggestions as to the spiritual significance of each:
- Jacob is specially chosen as God's seed of promise, over him who is
physically more impressive, and despite obvious shortcomings of character (Gen
25:23,27). THIS IS INDICATIVE OF ISRAEL'S SELECTION AS GOD'S SPECIAL PEOPLE,
THOUGH THEY ARE NOT THE STRONGEST, MOST NUMEROUS, OR MOST RIGHTEOUS
NATION.
- Incurring the anger of his less favored brother, Jacob must flee
from the land of promise (Gen 27:43). IN THE SAME WAY HIS DESCENDANTS WERE
FORCED BY SUCCESSIVE GENTILE NATIONS -- ASSYRIA, BABYLON, AND ROME -- TO WANDER
INTO EXILE. (HARAN, WHERE JACOB DWELT, IS NEAR HALAH AND HABOR BY THE RIVER
GOZAN, WHERE THE CAPTIVES OF ISRAEL WERE RESETTLED BY THE ASSYRIANS: 2Ki 17:6;
18:11.)
- In the midst of his flight, Jacob receives a vision of God's angels
watching over him in his exile, and a promise that He will bring him back into
the Land (Gen 28:13,15). ALSO OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL IT MIGHT BE SAID: "BEHOLD,
I THE LORD AM WITH THEE, AND WILL KEEP THEE IN ALL PLACES WHITHER THOU GOEST,
AND WILL BRING THEE AGAIN INTO THIS LAND." OR, AS THE PSALMIST PUTS IT: "THE
LORD SHALL PRESERVE THY GOING OUT AND THY COMING IN" (cp Deu 28:6).
- In
exile, Jacob's band increases in numbers and wealth, bringing good fortune to
his friends and consternation to his enemies, until the time that Laban's
displeasure toward him causes him to look again toward his homeland. THE
DISPERSED OF ISRAEL SUFFER AT ALIEN HANDS AND YET ARE ENRICHED BY GOD,
PREPARATORY TO THE TIME OF THEIR RETURN TO THE ANCESTRAL LAND.
- In his
return to Canaan, Jacob wrestles with the angel, is humbled and bows down in
humility, at last to be blessed and receive a new name (Gen 32). THE NATION OF
ISRAEL WRESTLES WITH GOD IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST (IN HIS SECOND AS WELL AS
HIS FIRST COMING), WILL BE HUMBLED (WEEPING WHEN SHE REALIZES THAT HER FATHERS
CRUCIFIED THE MESSIAH), AND WILL BE BLESSED AT LAST AS THE "FIRST DOMINION" OF
GOD'S KINGDOM, JOYFULLY TAKING UPON HERSELF A NEW NAME, THAT OF THE REJECTED SON
OF GOD.
- Jacob returns to the Land to assume his birthright and receive
unexpected friendship and solicitations of his brother Esau (Gen 33). THOSE OF
ISRAEL WHO HAVE COME THROUGH THE "FIRE" AND ACCEPTED CHRIST AS THEIR KING RETURN
FROM THE LANDS OF THEIR CAPTIVITY TO ASSIST THE LORD GOD IS RECLAIMING HIS
RIGHTFUL INHERITANCE. ALL RESISTANCE FROM FORMER ENEMIES IS SWEPT AWAY, AND
ISRAEL DWELLS IN PEACE, "THE THIRD WITH EGYPT AND ASSYRIA, A BLESSING IN THE
MIDST OF THE LAND" (Isa 19:24,25).
