For the Jacob Like Soul

“The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge." Psalm 46:7

Why the God of Jacob? Why not the God of Abraham, or the God of Isaac? Probably because Jacob was the weakest of the three. As we sees things, Jacob was the least likely to have refuge. And I love this! The God of Jacob is our refuge because most of us are just like him. Jacob was always in trouble, always running away from both God and man. So, Providence was always pulling him out of the muck he placed himself, from his deceit at home, fear at Bethel, selfishness at Padan-Aram, pride at Peniel, even sorrow at Goshen. You see, when the redeemed soul reads about Jacob, they strangely see their own reflection. Don’t you? I do.

I’m just like Jacob. I’m not all light, but not all darkness either. Often, I’m like Jacob's ladder, between two worlds. Jacob was a man of great ambitions but small achievements. Dreaming of steps to heaven yet sleeping on a stone pillow. It is comforting to know that there was a Divine refuge for one like him, don’t you think? One so common, so fallible, so human. He doesn't soar like Enoch, float like Noah, or glow like Moses. No, he walks upon the dull rugged earth, and stumbles on many stones. He is one of us. And I love God for it. Because if there was refuge for him, there could be a refuge for me. Having seen Jacob for who he really was, the child of God can instinctively say, "the God of Jacob is my refuge."  

For the Jacob like soul, when the way is long, and the night is dark. When the pillow is stony and cold. A vision of Christ comes with a peace that passes all understanding. It comes when not looked for or requested, on the pillow of my poverty, down the ladder for my humiliation. For Jacob, the vision of Christ came when life was low, when love was low, when hope was low. It came without a reason, out of pure and sovereign grace, shining by its own light. At one moment Jacob cries, "How dreadful is this place!" And the next, "This is the gate of heaven!" So, Christ follows His own often with inaudible steps; warms them by invisible sunbeams, and feeds with spiritual meat and drink. Then my hands are, "made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob." (Gen. 49:24)