Here I Am: Jacob

A six-week series on a lifestyle of Here I Am.

No.2 Jacob

Text: Genesis 31 and Genesis 46. To better understand Jacob’s response, I encourage you to read these and the surrounding passages. Here is a summary, however, to help out.

Summary. Jacob was the son of Isaac and inherited a rich foundation in faith through his father and grandfather, Abraham. It is no surprise that we see their likeness in Jacob. Not to mention, he’s in the bloodline of the coming Messiah. The first record of Jacob responding to God with Here I am is through a dream. God called to Jacob. His response, “Here I am.” God warns Jacob that Laban is tricking him out of livestock. “Lift up your eyes and see…now arise…return to the land of your kindred.”

Jacob has several interactions with the LORD in his lifetime. One of the last ones was God calling him again in a dream. “Jacob, Jacob.” He responded, “Here I am.” This time, God was assuring Jacob to go to Egypt for a couple of reasons. First, there was provision for him and his family there. His son Joseph had been storing food for the famine. Secondly, God was going to show Jacob how he would fulfill his promise to make him a great nation, Israel. Indeed, there was a great family reunion and restoration. Seventy persons were counted as the house of Jacob. He finished his life there and got a glimpse of a growing nation.

Highlights and Prayers from Genesis 31 and Genesis 46

• Jacob learned how to respond to the Lord’s calling through example. In his case, it was family mentors.

Prayer: Father, I want God-fearing mentors in my life that impart kingdom principles. Thank you for the ones that have come alongside me and shown me your ways. Keep sending them. There is so much more to discover in you. May my life be an example of hearing and responding to you. May my life be a demonstration of abiding in the Vine.

• Jacob interacted with God through visions and dreams. A seer.

Prayer: Father, thank you for encountering us through visions/ Seeing and talking to you is a spiritual blessing. Pour out your Spirit even more so that we may see you better and rightly. Spirit of wisdom and revelation open the eyes of our hearts to see the hope in which we live.

• Jacob saw the protection and provision of the Lord and God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for protecting us, for providing for us. You are faithful, you do not change, and all your promises are yes and amen. Yes, and so be it. Thank you, Father.

• Jacob experienced restoration in his family. His sons were divided in every way. He got a VIP pass to see how God heals and mends. Hallelujah!

Prayer: Jesus, no one knows how to rescue, redeem, and restore except you. That is who you are: Deliverer, Redeemer, Restorer. Through you our brokenness is healed — mentally, physically, spiritually, and in our relationships. You love family. We give you our families, do what you do. Do in our families all that you have promised. Let us rejoice in the restoration you bring.

• Jacob demonstrated a lifestyle of here I am, passing it on to many more generations. Again, we see the lineage of Jesus through this family that faithfully passed on faith in God, responding to God, and watching God fulfill promises.

Prayer: My prayer remains the same. May my life be a demonstration of listening and obeying God, participating in a long line of faithful servants. May I be found rejoicing in Your ways and faithfulness so that many generations will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD (Psalm.40).

Read other posts in this series: Abraham

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