God’s Method of Redeeming
August 3, 2008
Scripture:
Genesis 48:14-16 - “Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. And he blessed Joseph, and said: “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, the Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; let my name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
Synopsis:
We are all spiritual beings created by God. But we have been given a physical body, in which we journey through the human experience within the confines of time. God therefore created us with the dual nature of humanity and spirituality. Our humanity makes us carnal which awakens desires that draw us away from God, while our spirituality gives us a desire for righteousness and draws us to God. To resolve this dichotomy God chose to redeem us by sacrificing His son Jesus, which was and is the catalyst for the conversion process that alters or reshapes our human nature into the image of His divine nature, making us more useful by giving us access to God. This is God’s chosen method of redemption.
Today’s text makes reference to Jacob’s redemption or conversion at the brook Jabbock, described in detail in Genesis chapter 32, verse 22 through 26. Jacob’s conversion is a type and shadow of how all believers are redeemed. Jacob’s conversion culminated at Jabbock in a time of isolation, where he struggled with God concerning his identity. God forced him to admit his name was Jacob, thereby making him repent and embrace his humanity. Then God changed his name to Israel, declaring the divine nature and favor that he was to enjoy the rest of his natural life and beyond. Before this isolated time at Jabbock, God had put Jacob through a formative process that would eventually make him convertible. In the same manner all believers go through a process designed especially for bringing them to a point of repentance and conversion.
God doesn’t select just anyone for the formative process of name and nature change. He only chooses those who will not give up but hold on to Him in the night seasons of their conversion process. Abram was such a man and became Abraham, Saul was such a man and became Paul, Simon was such a man and became Peter. If we are to be redeemed, we must be like these men and hold on until our name change comes.
