The Good Restoration

Jacob was Isaac's son and Abraham's grandson. He inherited sweeping and faithful promises from God. Though he surely grew up hearing about God's character and covenant, he struggled to walk with God. Many of Jacob's defining moments illustrated the meaning of his name, “heel-grabber.”

When Jacob was young, he took advantage of Esau and ended up with his birthright in exchange for a bowl of soup. When Jacob's father, Isaac, was starting to lose vision, Jacob continued to deceive by dressing up as Esau in order to receive his father's blessing.

After all the trickery, Esau sought to kill him. A fearful Jacob ran away from his mistakes to a man named Laban to escape. While he was living with Laban for about twenty years, Jacob became a very skilled and prosperous shepherd. He may have been hiding from his brother, but he couldn't hide from God.

In Genesis 32:22-32, God met Jacob at night and wrestled with him. This was a turning point where Jacob moved from self-reliance to dependence on God. God even gave Jacob a brand-new name, Israel, which means “he struggles with God.”

Restoration is not always easy. It can take time and be a painful process. When Jacob was wrestling with God, his hip came out of joint. This limp served as a reminder that God did not allow him to sit in shame.

As your student-age children face more adult-size issues, they need to know the real stories of God's faithfulness. When our kids see us placing a trusting hand in God's hand and pressing on with Him, limp and all, their faith is encouraged.