In Part One of this series we established that God promised Rebekah that the second born of her twins would receive the birthright and blessing. And Rebekah, believing in God’s promise, identified him with the name, “he grabs his heel,” which in essence means “one who comes after.” We also saw that the phrase, “Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” is mentioned many times throughout scripture. God himself spoke these names from the Burning Bush, and in that iconic scene he also said, “this is my name.” In other words, this is my identity; if you want to know who I am, look at these three men. In this post we look at some of Jacob’s excellent character traits and also see that the real meaning of Jacob as “one who comes after” is a perfect fit and helps reveal the Holy Spirit.

Let’s take a look at the Burning Bush story in Exodus Chapter 3, beginning with verses 1-8:

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight — why the bush does not burn up.’

When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’

And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’

‘Do not come any closer,’ God said. ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’ Then he said, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’

And then again in verses 13-17 God says,

Moses said to God, ‘suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?’

God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I am has sent me to you.’

God also said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites, the Lord, the God of your fathers – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob – has sent me to you. This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.’

In the story above, God uses three names to identify himself, which correspond with the fact that the God of the Bible is revealed in three persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Next I will briefly explain how Abraham and Isaac reveal the Father and Son, then how Jacob’s life reveals the Holy Spirit.

Abraham and Isaac – Revealing the Father and Son

As described previously in Part One, God promised Abram that he would be the father of many nations, and he changed Abram’s name to Abraham, which means “the father of a multitude.” God also promised Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son together, even though they were advanced in age. This promise came to pass and their son Isaac was born. Now see the following story in Genesis Chapter 22 where Isaac is offered as a sacrifice:

Sometime later God tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham.’

‘Here I am,’ he replied.

Then God said, ‘take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.’

Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, ‘Father?’

‘yes, my son?’ Abraham replied.

‘The fire and wood are here,’ Isaac said, ‘but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’

Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And the two of them went on together.

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’

‘Here I am,’ he replied.

‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear god, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.

The above passage foreshadows God the Father presenting his only son as a sacrifice (compare John 3:16), and we also see that a ram was substituted — a picture of Jesus, the lamb of God (John 1:29), becoming a sacrifice for us. Now that we’ve established that Abraham and Isaac reveal the Father and Son, let’s see how Jacob represents the Holy Spirit.

 Jacob – Revealing the Holy Spirit

John 14:26 says, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” After Jesus’ went to Heaven and sat down at God’s right hand, he sent the Holy Spirit back to earth to build his church (The book of Acts is a good read if you would like more information on the beginning of the church.) So if it is true that Jacob represents the Holy Spirit, his name “one who comes after” is an exact fit. In fact, Abraham’s and Isaac’s names also fit perfectly:

• Abraham:  father of a multitude –> represents God the Father
• Isaac:         he laughs (victory)      –> represents Jesus
• Jacob:        one who comes after –> represents Holy Spirit.

So far, so good. Now let’s take a look at some events in Jacob’s life story to provide further evidence that Jacob reveals the Holy Spirit.

• The Stone Rolled Away. Genesis Chapter 29 tells the story of how Jacob rolled the stone away so the sheep could get water. Compare Matthew 28:1-10, which details the the story of Jesus’ resurrection and empty tomb from which the stone was rolled away.
• The Brides. As mentioned previously, the New Testament teaches the Holy Spirit is here in this world and is working to build the church, the bride of Christ. And someday, at the end of the church age, this bride will go to be with Jesus. Compare Genesis 28:1-5, where Isaac sends Jacob to find a bride. If you continue reading Genesis, you will see that Jacob actually returns with two brides, Leah and Rachel, whom I believe represent Israel and the church.
• The Miracle of New Birth. The New Testament teaches that the Holy Spirit miraculously changes hearts to follow Jesus, and Jesus said, “you must be born again.” Genesis Chapters 30 – 31 describe how Jacob peeled the bark from the branches and when the sheep came to mate, their offspring would get the markings that Laban agreed for Jacob to have. It was through miraculous new birth that Jacob was able to claim the animals for himself.
• Gifts. The New Testament describes gifts of the Spirit. Consider Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 and 1 Corinthians 12:28, and compare with Genesis 32:1-21. Here Jacob is returning to the land of his father with his wives and possessions, and he has received word that Esau, with 400 men, is coming to meet him. Jacob is afraid that Esau may try to harm him and his group, so he equips his people with gifts and sends them ahead (verses 13-21).

The Advocate

In Genesis 32:22-32, Jacob wrestles with a man and receives his blessing. The passage indicates the man was God, and I believe Jacob was interceding for his people.

That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.

Then the man said, ‘Let me go, for it is daybreak.’

But Jacob replied, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’

The man asked him, ‘What is your name?’

Jacob, he answered.

Then the man said, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.’

Jacob said, ‘Please tell me your name.’

But he replied, ‘Why do you ask my name?’ Then he blessed him there.

So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, ‘It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.’

The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.

At first glance it appears that Jacob is only concerned with himself when he says, “I will not let you go until you bless me.” However, I believe in this context “me” means all of Jacob. In other words Jacob is referring to everything he is, which includes all of his people, animals and property. It is all-inclusive. Nothing is left out. As a supporting text, I would offer a previous verse, Genesis 32:16 where Jacob says, “I had only my staff when I crossed the Jordan. Now I have become two groups.” It is clear from this verse that the “I”, similar to “me”, means all of Jacob, all of his people.

I find it comforting knowing the Holy Spirit prays for everyone who belongs to him and nobody is forgotten. Notice also that he does not go to the other side of the river until he is sure everyone else gets across and nobody and nothing is left behind. But even though he stayed, his prayers are going ahead as he advocates for his people. Notice also that when he sent his people ahead that nobody questioned him, they just went. In the same way, Christians are often sent into the face of uncertainty, but we can take comfort knowing the Spirit has our backs.

The New Testament affirms that the Holy Spirit advocates for us. For example Romans 8:27 says, “and he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”

Now back to Genesis, resuming in Chapter 33:

Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants. He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.

Jacob, who previously stayed behind, now goes ahead of his people to meet Esau. I think it is awesome to think that the Spirit equips those who belong to him with gifts, advocates for them, has their backs and goes before them.

In studying this story, I couldn’t help but realize that Jacob’s mother taught him well. For if you recall the story where Jacob received the blessing, you will see some striking similarities. Remember that while she stayed behind, Rebekah helped prepare Jacob to go forward to receive his father’s blessing. And when Jacob expressed concern about possibly getting a curse instead of a blessing, Rebekah interceded for him by saying, “Let the curse fall on me.” Then Jacob proceeded with full assurance that she had his back. Similarly in the story above, Jacob prepared his people to go forward, and when there was concern (about Esau and his 400 men), Jacob sent them ahead while he stayed behind and had their backs by advocating for them.

It takes a tremendous amount of love and courage to say, “Lord, if there must be an injury or illness, as much as possible please let it be on me.” Indeed, this is the type of prayer a mother would say for her children, and a behavior that Jacob learned from his mom. Also notice the tenacity that both showed. Rebekah waited approximately 20 years from the time God made his promise until the time Jacob received his blessing, and then did everything in her power to see it through. It is obvious that she trained Jacob well, because he also showed staying power by wrestling the man until he secured the blessing.

Part Three Conclusion

Jacob was a man of tremendous character, and we can see that his name, meaning “one who comes after,” identifies with God’s promised Holy Spirit. And thanks to both Rebekah and Isaac, Jacob was instilled with an excellent work ethic, people skills, values and traits that allowed him to go into the land of Laban and return very successful.