FEBRUARY 3

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are mentioned frequently in scriptures as spiritual fathers of the nation of Israel.

Isaac, the son of Abraham, had two sons who were twins, Esau and Jacob. While these boys were in their mother’s womb…

…the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

(Genesis 25:22-23)

From before birth, Jacob’s destiny was determined by God. Although he was the younger twin, he was chosen by God to receive the blessings and privileges normally reserved for the oldest son.

From the time of his birth, Jacob did not really understand the destiny that rested upon him. Even in the birth process, Jacob tried to prevent his brother from being born first by grasping his heel. Some years later, Jacob persuaded Esau to sell him his birthright for a bowl of soup. Later on, Jacob deceived his father in order to gain the blessing that was to go to the oldest son, his brother Esau (Genesis 25).

Jacob’s life was a tangled web of adverse circumstances, most of which he caused himself. He was a liar. He was a deceiver. He was a coward, always running away from problems, He was a master manipulator. This doesn’t sound like a man with divine destiny, does it?

But God was not looking at Jacob as he was. He was looking at Jacob as a man who would birth the twelve tribes of Israel. God is not looking at you as you are. He is not shocked back by your failures and faults. He does not see you bound with fear and unbelief. He does not see you weak in the faith.

God looks at you the same way He looked at Jacob. He sees someone who, when endued with His power and walking in obedience to His Word, will be a mighty person of valor. Many of the great men of the Bible experienced failures: Moses, David, Peter, and John Mark–yet God used these men as  people of destiny.

Do you see yourself as you are, or do you view yourself as God sees you? Perhaps it is time to change your perspective.