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I can’t think of anyone else in Scripture more honored in death than Jacob. Perhaps we can explain away such glorious honor with the rationale that he was in the right place at the right time…that he just happened to be the father of Pharaoh’s favored second-in-command. But I believe that God’s hand was orchestrating the events – because Jacob was precious to the LORD. And “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones” (Psalms 116:15). In his old age, Jacob saw himself as one beaten down by years of challenges and sorrows. He evaluated the days of his life as unpleasant and difficult. Jacob’s journey was full of struggle, yet the LORD named him Israel because he struggled with both man and God and prevailed (Genesis 32:28). I find it interesting that it is in a letter to the twelve tribes of Israel, the apostle James addresses this very thing. He wrote: “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). How fitting then, the glorious procession for a man who loved the LORD and never gave up. The crown of life is now his! Dear Father, may we remember Jacob when we are going through the unpleasant challenges and difficult trials in our lives. Like Jacob may we persevere and prevail. May we be encouraged by the words of James that a crown of life is waiting for us. And may we have the same confidence in our glorious hope as Paul expressed in his letter to Timothy: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
He
Lived
I can’t think of anyone else in Scripture more honored in death than Jacob. Perhaps we can explain away such glorious honor with the rationale that he was in the right place at the right time…that he just happened to be the father of Pharaoh’s favored second-in-command. But I believe that God’s hand was orchestrating the events – because Jacob was precious to the LORD. And “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones” (Psalms 116:15). In his old age, Jacob saw himself as one beaten down by years of challenges and sorrows. He evaluated the days of his life as unpleasant and difficult. Jacob’s journey was full of struggle, yet the LORD named him Israel because he struggled with both man and God and prevailed (Genesis 32:28). I find it interesting that it is in a letter to the twelve tribes of Israel, the apostle James addresses this very thing. He wrote: “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). How fitting then, the glorious procession for a man who loved the LORD and never gave up. The crown of life is now his! Dear Father, may we remember Jacob when we are going through the unpleasant challenges and difficult trials in our lives. Like Jacob may we persevere and prevail. May we be encouraged by the words of James that a crown of life is waiting for us. And may we have the same confidence in our glorious hope as Paul expressed in his letter to Timothy: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
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