CPR

"For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with that we should no longer be slaves to sin-because anyone who has died has been freed from sin." (Romans 6:6-7)  When I choose to return to the flesh/sin, I am basically giving CPR to the old self that is dead and rendered inoperative and allowing it to have control. 

 In my reading of the last few days in Genesis 31-34, Jacob, after 20 years is leaving dear ole Uncle Laban and taking his huge family and his herds of animals/his wealth with him. God has told him to leave and return to Bethel.  Along the way with kids of every age, can you just imagine the noise of the kids and the animals and WALKING?  Along the way, Jacob decides to reconcile with Esau and sends gifts on ahead with his servants to give to Esau....and hopefully to save his hide.  His servants return from their trip to Esau and report that Esau is coming to him with 400 men.  An overkill?  Ole Jacob is distraught..."in great fear and distress".  He separates his families into two groups in case of an attack from Esau and then he PRAYS.  The one line from his prayer that is so rich is needful from each of us, "I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant."  Humility is ALWAYS NEEDFUL.  Jacob is a 20 year older wiser man and some of this has come from the extended stay with a deal-maker and manipulator as lacking in humility and integrity as he.  

Jacob beds down for the night, a man, perhaps the pre-incarnate Jesus wrestles with Jacob the whole night.  Obviously it is enough of a tussle that Jacob comes away with a limp.  In the process, Jesus asks Jacob his name.  There is much implied in the question for the Lord "wanted all of Jacob's self-reliance and fleshly scheming and HE came to take it by force if necessary." (David Guzik)  The Lord gives Jacob the name of Israel...God wrestled with Jacob.  He realizes that the man is the face of God and he is humbled.  Jacob thinks that the enemy is Esau, outside of him, but the real enemy is the ole carnal fleshly nature inside of him which needed to yield to the Lord.

Jacob and Esau meet and a reconciliation comes about.  Jacob shows humility  to Esau in the reading.  Esau departs with his gifts and his men and Jacob says that he will meet him later at Seir.  Jacob, HOWEVER went another direction.  He settles in Shechem.  Recall, God told him at Laban's home to return to Bethel.  At Shechem, Jacob's only daughter is raped, Jacob does nothing, so two his sons commit an honor killing of the whole town.  His reply to Simeon and Levi..."You have brought trouble on me....."  Jacob's ole self is alive and kicking in this situation.  He is the culprit who has made his family vulnerable. 

Jacob will continue throughout most of the concluding readings to be called Jacob more times than he is called Israel.  It seems that Jacob is challenged, as we are, to give in to the flesh... resuscitating the ole self and allowing it to control.  I think of the impact of fathers on their whole family.  The Lord promised in Malachi 4:5, "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.  He will turn the hearts of the father to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."  God in His mercy does not abandon Jacob, but continues to press his ole flesh!  Jacob finally moves his whole family to Bethel.  

How merciful our Lord, long suffering and patient with this child, me.  Again, the readings are grateful reminders of the faithfulness and grace of the Lord.  He continued to use ole flawed, finite, and fragile Jacob and He will continue to use the likes of you and me.  His set purpose is to conform us to the image of the Lord Jesus in our lifetime...and it looks like it will take my whole lifetime!  No short-cuts.  Forever learning.  In process.  #IHAVETHREESONS.