Jacob: A Flawed Hero Of The Faith Series

Introduction

We are currently in a sermon series that I am calling, “Flawed: Heroes of the Faith.”

This five-week series explores the lives and flaws of some of the believers listed in Hebrews 11.

In the first week, we looked at Hebrews 11 as a whole. The next week we studied Sarah. Last week, we studied Moses.

And today, we are going to study Jacob, a flawed hero of the faith.

Scripture

In preparation for today’s message, I would like to read two passages of Scripture. The first is our text for today: Hebrews 11:21. And the second text is the background upon which today’s text is based: Genesis 48:8-20.

So, first, let us read Hebrews 11:21:

21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.

And, second, let us also read Genesis 48:8-20:

8 When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12 Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15 And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, 16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’ ” Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

Lesson

Hebrews 11 is often called “The Bible’s Hall of Faith.” There are 16 people named in Hebrews 11. And there are many other acts of faith mentioned but no names are attached to those acts.

The Bible recognizes that all of the people in Hebrews 11 not only exemplified great faith but that they were also all flawed people. They are listed in Hebrews 11 not because they had no flaws but because of their faith—even with their flaws.

For most of those people who are named in Hebrews 11, the author noted a key incident in the person’s life that exemplified and demonstrated faith. But what is so interesting is what the author noted about a key event in Jacob’s life to demonstrate his faith. Listen again to Hebrews 11:21, “By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.” The author of Hebrews chose this moment as the preeminent demonstration of faith in the life of Jacob. Of all the things that took place in Jacob’s life, why this event?

It seems to me that Hebrews 11:21 teaches us what it means to look at all of life through the lens of God's grace.

Of all the characters listed in “The Bible’s Hall of Faith,” Jacob vacillated a lot.

He stole his brother’s birthright.

He fled for his life to his uncle in a country far away.

The only person who loved him at that time—his mother—he never saw again.

He was deceived into marrying a woman he did not love.

After 20 years in a foreign country, he wanted to return home but he had to encounter his brother, the one whose birthright he had stolen.