THE MANNER IN WHICH GOD DISPENSES HIS FAVORS

Genesis 28:15

“Behold, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

The study of profane history is exceeding profitable, inasmuch as it brings us into an acquaintance with human nature in all its diversified forms, and thereby qualifies us to discharge all our own duties with more wisdom and propriety.

But sacred history, besides that it sets before us incomparably brighter examples of virtue, has this peculiar advantage, that it brings God himself to our view, and exhibits him to us in all the dispensations of his providence and grace. The account which is here given us of his fellowship with Jacob, will serve to show us, in a very striking point of view, in what manner he disperses his favors.

I. He bestows his favors sovereignly—

Jacob had grievously sinned both against God and man, in impersonating his brother, in imposing on his father, in blasphemously ascribing to God what was the fruit of his own device, and in fraudulently obtaining his brother’s birthright. Having incensed his injured brother, he was now fleeing, to avoid the effects of his indignation.

In what manner should we suppose that God would meet him, if indeed he should deign to notice such a miscreant? Would he not say to him, as he afterwards did to the fugitive prophet, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Or rather, instead of noticing him at all, may we not suppose that he would send a lion to destroy him, 1 Kings 13:24. But behold, for the displaying of the riches of his own grace, he revealed himself to him in a most instructive vision; he confirmed to him all the promises that had been made to Abraham and to Isaac; and even extended beyond all former bounds the manifestations of his favor.

A similar instance we have in the Apostle Paul; whom, at the very instant that he was laboring to extirpate the followers of Christ, God was pleased to stop, not, as might have been expected, with some signal judgment, but with singular expressions of his regard, conferring on him the highest honors, and communicating to him the richest blessings.

And may not we also admire the sovereignty of God in the exercise of his mercy towards ourselves? Why is it that we are favored with the light of his Gospel, when so many myriads of our fellow-sinners are left in darkness and the shadow of death? If we have experienced in our souls the efficacy of divine grace, may we not look back with wonder to the period of our conversion, when we were either drinking iniquity with greediness, or proudly establishing our own righteousness in opposition to the righteousness of Christ? Let us deliberately consider our state when God first caused a ray of light to shine into our minds, and implanted his grace in our hearts—and we shall esteem ourselves no less indebted to the electing love of God, than Jacob, or Saul, or any other whom he has ever chosen! 2 Timothy 1:9.

II. He times his favors seasonably—

The fugitive patriarch was now in a very desolate and forlorn condition, wearied in body and distressed in mind. Probably his conscience now smote him, and he was saying with himself, as Joseph’s brethren afterwards did, “I am truly guilty concerning my brother! Genesis 42:21.” How welcome then must the tokens of God’s regard be to him at that season! What a support under his present trials! What an antidote against any future calamities!

Thus it is that God interposes on the behalf of his people, and “The LORD will judge his people and have compassion on his servants when he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, Deuteronomy 32:36.” When the contrite soul is bowed down under a sense of guilt, and ready to say: There is no hope; then does God speak peace unto it, saying: “Be of good cheer, I am your salvation.” Just as, in Hagar’s extremity, God sent his angel to point out to her a spring, whereby the life of her child was unexpectedly preserved; so in ten thousand instances he appears for us, when we are ready to despair of help; and though his interpositions on our behalf are less visible than these—yet every one of us has reason to acknowledge the truth of that proverb, “In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen, Genesis 22:14.”

Let us but review our lives, and call to mind the aids of his Spirit under temptations, trials, difficulties; let us see how marvelously we have been upheld when conflicting with sin and Satan, and we shall confess indeed, that “he is a very present help in times of trouble.”

III. He imparts his favors suitably—

It is probable that Jacob’s reply to the advice of his mother was now, in his apprehension, about to be verified; and that he expected a curse rather than a blessing. His evil conscience now might well suggest to him such thoughts as these: “God has forsaken me, and some great evil will come upon me. I can never hope to return again to my father’s house in peace, or to enjoy the blessing which I have so treacherously gained.”

To remove these apprehensions, God given to him exactly such tokens of his regard, as were best calculated to allay his fears. In the vision, God showed to him both his providential care, and his redeeming love; for doubtless, while he discovered to him the ministry of angels who were commissioned to protect him, he also showed him that promised Seed, who was in due time to spring from him, and whom at that very instant he typically represented. (This is more fully opened in the preceding Discourse.) In the promise, he assured him:

that his presence would follow him;

that his power would preserve him;

that he would bring him back again to that very land;

and that not one of all the promises that had been ever made to him, would fail of accomplishment.

In this respect also we may trace the tender mercies of our God towards all his people. His manifestations of himself to them, and his application of promises to their souls, are wonderfully suited to their several necessities. We cannot indeed justify those, who open the sacred records, and expect that the portion of Scripture, on which they cast their eye, shall be a kind of literal direction to them; (a most unwarranted and delusive method of ascertaining the mind of God!) but this we must affirm, that, whatever we need, whether wisdom, or strength, or grace of any kind—it shall be given us, if we ask in faith. And the experience of all the saints attests the truth of that promise, “You shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.”

IV. He continues his favors faithfully—

God had given promises, not to Abraham only and to Isaac, but to Jacob also, while he was yet in his mother’s womb. But instead of fulfilling them to him after this flagrant instance of misconduct, he might well have said to him, as he did to his unbelieving posterity, “You will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have Me against you, Numbers 14:34.” “Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and your father’s house would minister before me forever.’ But now the LORD declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained, 1 Samuel 2:30.”

But he had spoken, and would not go back; for his word’s sake he would not cast off his offending child, or even allow one jot or tittle of his promises to fail.

Thus to his descendants in future ages did God manifest his fidelity; insomuch that Joshua, after eighty years’ experience, could appeal to the whole nation, saying, “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed! Joshua 23:14.”

To us also will he approve himself faithful. “He will not cast off his people, because it has pleased him to make us his people, 1 Samuel 12:22.” He has said: I will never leave you, I will never, never forsake you! Hebrews 13:5. “He may indeed hide his face from us for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will he have mercy on us; the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but the covenant of my peace,” says he, “shall not be removed; for like as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more cover the earth—so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you! Isaiah 54:7-10.”

Improvement—

1. For caution—

We have seen that Jacob inherited the blessing which he had gained by treachery; and that, where sin had abounded, grace did much more abound. But shall we do evil that good may come; or commit sin that grace may abound? God forbid. We must never expect the blessing of God but in the way of duty.

2. For encouragement—

If through temptation we have fallen into sin, let us not flee from God, like Adam, but go to him in humble hope that he will magnify his mercy towards the chief of sinners.

Charles Simeon (1759-1836)