God Grew Jacob [Genesis 33]

4Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.

 5He lifted his eyes and saw the women and the children, and said, "Who are these with you?" So he said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant."


God grew Jacob's faith step by step. Some of that growth was painful (i.e. dealing with Laban, meeting Esau and the dislocated hip), but Jacob did not give up and neither did God. It is God who sanctifies us, who purifies and sets us apart in His Kingdom. We can't grow ourselves, but we do need to be willing to participate with God and even sometimes strive with God to see Him grow us. And as we get stronger in our faith it becomes easier to give Him the glory for the good things in our lives and to tell others about God's graciousness. A growing faith increasingly points to God the giver of all things. And clearly, Jacob is quick to explain that He did not bless himself, it was God.


God, we praise you that you are the source of our faith, tests and blessings. We can't grow ourselves, cause us to be willing to  participate in our spiritual growth with You so that we have a better relationship along with more trust and faith in You. Cause us to give You all the credit for all the good in our lives.

 

 
Beth Warlick, 1/28/2010