Chuck Larsen

In Genesis 31, after Jacob flees from his father-in-law’s control, Laban pursues him with the intent to do him harm because he has taken his daughters, grandchildren, as well as his household idols. When he catches Jacob, in Genesis 31:29, he says, “It’s in my power to do you harm.” In this world, I’m sure you know people who have the power to harm you. We all have them. But God, who is called in this chapter “The Fear of Isaac,” shows himself to Laban, speaks to him on behalf of Jacob, and warns him against any ill intent he might have. God makes it clear to Laban that He is the one who has the real power to do harm. In this chapter also when Jacob confronts Laban about why he’s chasing him down with an army, Laban argues that Jacob stole his household idols. It’s interesting to notice that Laban is chasing after his stolen gods while the one true God is actively protecting the ones who worship Him.

Jacob fled from Laban in fear. But God interceded to protect him from harm. Jacob then continued on his journey to his homeland. Genesis chapter 32 begins with an interesting phrase. It says, “Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, ‘This is God’s camp.'” After the problem with Laban is resolved, Jacob sees God’s protective presence in the angels and rejoices. It’s always easy to see How God has delivered us through our problems when we look back. It’s going through them at the moment that’s the real challenge.

Jacob, however, like me and you, wasn’t through with being afraid of people who might do him hard. The very next thing is that Jacob gets word that his brother Esau whom he cheated out of his birthright, was coming with 400 soldiers. Genesis 32: 7 says, “Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed.” My mother was right. “There is always something. If it’s not one thing, it’s another.” You get over one difficulty, and you face another one. You get through one fear, and there’s something else facing you. There’s always something else to be afraid of. It’s harder to see God’s presence in the problems before us at the moment than it is to see God’s presence in the issues behind us. This is how God teaches us to live by faith and not by sight. Romans 8:31 teaches us, “if God is for us, who can be against us?” No one’s ill will or intent to harm you or me, real or imagined, can reach us. Even though as undeserving as Jacob was, and we often are, God is on our side!

Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn son and should have been the one to take over the headship of the family. But in Genesis 35:22, Reuben slept with his father’s concubine, Bilhah. Simeon and Levi, the next two, slaughtered an entire city for one man’s rape of their sister, Dinah. Judah was pictured with many flaws and worldliness. There were probably other reasons, but in the end, Jacob exercised his sovereign right and chose Joseph as his heir. This is the true meaning of the “multi-colored” coat. According to Boice and others, this is a mistranslation. “The Hebrew words that are so translated are generally thought to be uncertain.” He says that the two keywords have been misconstrued to mean “many colored” or “richly ornamented.” He goes on to say, “But it is more likely that it means that it was long-sleeved and extended to his ankles. Boice explains, “A long-sleeved, tailored garment was worn by one who did not have to work. So when Joseph appeared in this coat, his brothers recognized it as a sign of his father’s choice of Joseph to be a manager, one preeminent over them.”

This is supported by other events in the story as well. Jacob is said to have sent Joseph to oversee his brother’s activities. Joseph brought back a bad report concerning them. Further, a rather obscure verse in the New Testament points to the fact that Joseph was chosen as his father’s heir. Jacob didn’t own much land but what he did own was said to have been left to Joseph. We read that in John 4:5. It says that when Jesus “came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.” Indeed, Joseph was the chosen one of his father.

It was because of this sovereign choice by his father that Joseph’s brothers hated him. Genesis 37:4 tells us, “But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.” Jesus, the beloved son of His Father, was the ultimate chosen one. He, too, was hated and had to suffer at the hands of his own people, just as Joseph did. He has established the principle that suffering proceeds glory! You know what happened! Joseph suffered but was elevated as ruler in all Egypt. Jesus was crucified but raised from the dead in glory! Today, He sits on the throne of glory to which every knee will bow one day. As believers in Jesus, Peter calls us “chosen ones.” As Paul expounds on the suffering in this world, he reminds us that we are “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:17-18). Are you suffering? Remember that suffering always precedes glory!

In Genesis 48:20,  after Jacob blesses his 12 sons, he moves to bless Joseph’s two sons. He moves to bless the younger one with the blessing normally preserved for the elder son. Joseph moves his father’s hands to rest on his older son, but Jacob overrides Joseph’s desire to have his eldest son receive the blessing and reverses his hands to grant the younger one the favored blessing. But then blesses both of Joseph’s children, Ephraim and Manasseh. The verse says, “he blessed them that day, saying, by you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, may God make you as Ephraim and Manasseh.” It became a standard blessing in all of Israel. May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!

The blessing involves two promotions. The first is the promotion from grandsons to sons, which makes them equal heirs to the father’s estate. Second, in promoting Ephraim, the younger son, over Manasseh, the older son, Jacob makes the least to be the greatest. Though not born into it physically, In Christ, we have been made co-heirs. Romans 8 tells us that we call God Abba, which is Father. We don’t call him Grandpa or the great force in the sky. We are his children. Romans 8:17 says, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” Just as Christ inherited every spiritual blessing, we will share them.

The second blessing is that the least shall become the greater. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Jesus said the one who would be the greatest must become the servant of all. When we humble ourselves, God lifts us up. In Matthew 23:12, Jesus taught us, “If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.” May you become like Ephraim and Manasseh.