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Promises, promises.
Jacob was a slick wheeler and dealer as we will find out later. He certainly didn’t deserve Isaac’s blessing or a divine dream, but God was faithful despite. This fact alone is staggering as we read about the life of Jacob. But what’s most fascinating to me in this chapter is the swiftness with which Jacob is ready to make a deal with the God of his father and grandfather.
Surely he had heard the stories of God appearing to both Abraham and Isaac, but this is his first encounter. In fairness, when I first encountered God, I know I made deals just like this one…
Then Jacob made a vow: “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, if He provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear, 21 and if I return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God. 22 This stone that I have set up as a marker will be God’s house, and I will give to You a tenth of all that You give me.”
Genesis 28:20-22 HCSB
If God does this for me, then I’ll do that. Have you ever prayed a prayer like this? I have.
Look at the mixed responses from commentators…
“Many people even today say they will serve the Lord if He will do such and such. You won’t do anything of the kind, my friend. He doesn’t do business that way. He will extend mercy to you, and He will be gracious to you without asking anything in return.” -J. Vernon McGee
“Although Jacob made a conditional promise to be faithful to God, he based it on God’s promises to him.” -Nelson’s Commentary
“His vow underscores how utterly dependent Jacob is upon his God. He who so easily and callously manipulated his brother and father is now pictured as one who is completely beyond his own resources and at the mercy of another. What Esau once was to Jacob, Jacob now is to God. In contrast to what he did with Esau, Jacob cannot manipulate God.”
New International Commentary – Old Testament
God is going to break Jacob, one way or another. What begins as a “deal” will eventually end in a wrestling match.