Articles
Finishing Well
“When Jacob finished charging his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people” (Genesis 49:33). Having received the birthright from his father Isaac, Jacob fulfilled his duty as planned by the Almighty God. While in Egypt, the Hebrew patriarch blessed the twelve tribes with the blessing appropriate to each one just prior to going the way of all mankind (cf. Genesis 49:28).
Had he lived perfectly in his earthly sojourn? No! But he was a man of great faith looking for the promise made to his grandfather Abraham. Jacob is enumerated with those patriarchs of faith in Hebrews chapter 11 having seen the promises and welcomed them at a distance confessing they were strangers and exiles on the earth. (See Hebrews 11:8-13). Jacob’s embalmed body was interred exactly according to his instructions in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite alongside the bodies of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and his beloved Leah. From his birth to his interment, the record of Jacob demonstrates that one who is commi9ed to serving God can and does find a way to perform faithful service acceptable to Jehovah God. In charging his twelve tribes from his loins, Jacob was quite objective in assessing the character and performance of his offspring. Jacob understood that God shows no favoritism with His children so he used the wisdom he had accrued in his life’s experiences and blessed his progeny accordingly.
He finished his race well and was gathered to his people in Sheol. Moses, who resisted God’s selection to become the leader of His people from Egypt, also finished well. Only after submitting to God’s will in taking on the formidable task of leading the nation of Israel from Egyptian bondage. The excuses offered by Moses were lame when laid at the feet of Jehovah. Moses along with Aaron relented and accepted the huge task of leading a murmuring, complaining people for some forty years until the murmurers and complainers died in the wilderness.
Serving God is not without its trials. However, the one who would finish his pilgrimage well will grow a rock-solid faith if only they will just trust in God and not themselves. Space will not allow the summarizing of the lives of those Bible heroes of faith who finished well. Their successes were all accomplished through their steadfast faith in their Creator. We need to learn from the faith, the trials, troubles, and tribulations of our spiritual forbears. Having endured by trusting in the Almighty God we, too, can finish well. We, like Jacob, need recall the words of Jacob as he described the cause for Joseph’s preservation in his Egyptian captivity. “But his bow remained firm, and his arms were agile, from the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), from the God of your father who helps you, and by the Almighty who bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath” (Genesis 49:24-25).
Finish well, trust in God!
