Today we remember and give
thanks for Jacob (Israel), Patriarch.
Jacob, the third of the three Hebrew patriarchs, was the younger of the
twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah. After wrestling with the Angel of the Lord,
Jacob, whose name means "deceiver," was renamed "Israel,"
which means "he strives with God" (Gen. 25:26; 32:28). His family
life was filled with trouble, caused by his acts of deception toward his father
and his brother Esau and his parental favoritism toward his son Joseph. Much of
his adult life was spent grieving over the death of his beloved wife Rachel and
the presumed death of Joseph, who had been appointed by the Egyptian Pharaoh to
be in charge of food distribution during a time of famine in the land. Jacob lived to see that God had protected and
prospered Joseph. Prior to Jacob's death
during the blessing of his sons, God gave the promise that the Messiah would
come through the line of Jacob's fourth son, Judah (Genesis 49).
Collect of the Day:
Lord Jesus, scepter that rises out of Jacob, Lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world, rule our hearts through Your suffering cross and
forgive us our sins, that we may become partakers of Your divine life; for You
live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
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