At various times in life—and for a variety of reasons—we find ourselves at a unique pivot place. It’s a place where God ordains a crucial shift in direction; for our good and His glory. It’s an opportunity to seek God for insights and instructions, and trust in His faithfulness and redemptive purposes as He advances us towards providential destinies.
In our pursuit, we can learn much from the unique stories and experiences of three individuals God used to advance His purposes in very definitive ways: the patriarch Jacob, King David and the apostle Peter.
We first look at Jacob (the third of the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), who provides a very foundational message for us to embrace. The Bible introduces Jacob as a crafty individual, skillful in handling situations with wit and vigor. Shortly after setting out from his father Isaac’s house, we read (in Genesis 28) about a most amazing event he experiences.
The Pivot Place of God’s Presence
He has a very real dream, seeing a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it, and the Lord standing above it. He is awestruck by what he sees. So he declares, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”
So he calls the place, Bethel, meaning house of God. Beyond seeing something amazing, however, he hears the Lord speak a very personal and impactful word to him. So think for a minute; how would you respond if you heard, “I am with you and will keep you wherever you go…I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”
Jacob sleeps on it. After awakening, he makes a vow; “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You” (Genesis 28:10-22).
How would you characterize Jacob’s vow? Did he make a commitment or conditional bargain? Was he testing God? Would he wait to make the Lord his God only after seeing if or how God would take care of him along the way until returning? How devoted would he be towards God?
The vow he made would forever echo in his inner being. Jacob experienced the pivot place of God’s presence. He would continue his journey with the experience and thoughts brewing internally.
Shortly thereafter, he arrives at the home of his uncle, Laban. There he meets the woman of his dreams, Rachel. After being tricked into marrying Laban’s elder daughter, Leah, Jacob agrees to work seven years for Rachel.
Fast forward twenty years later…after more deal-making and laboring for Laban…Jacob embarks on another journey; this time intending to head back to his homeland and land of inheritance. Thing is, the journey includes two detours and takes about ten years.
The Pivot Place of God’s Power
At the outset, an incredible event occurs. The narrative says, “a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.” It is at that point that Jacob’s life pivots in a way that will mark his life forever. During the wrestling match, the socket of Jacob’s hip (the pivot place of the human body) comes out of joint. So while his physical body became marred with a limp, his inner being would experience a jolt that would thereafter begin a process of a greater lifelong transformation.
At that pivot point, Jacob experienced more than God’s presence. He experienced a supernatural engagement with God. He experienced the pivot place of God’s power in a very unique, real and personal way. His name was changed to Israel, meaning prince with God, because he “struggled with God and with men, and prevailed.” Of crucial importance was the fact that the name change would signify a total identity shift that would set his life on a course that would bring continuing transformation.
So he continues his journey a deeply touched new man. His next encounter is with his brother, Esau, who twenty years earlier, vowed to kill him for cheating him out of his birthright. Upon hearing that Esau was on his way with four hundred men, tremendous fear comes over Jacob. The narrative says Jacob was “greatly afraid and distressed.” So he engages with God in prayer. Then he comes up with a plan to send his servants to Esau and present them with gifts to appease him.
As he approaches Esau, the newly humbled, yet fearful Jacob, bows seven times. They embrace one another. They also offer gifts to one another. In addition, there is some talk pointing to possibly journeying together. They, however, go their separate ways. Esau goes home to Seir. But when you would think Jacob would likewise head home, he stops twice along the way and takes a long detour that eventually costs him great pains and (ten or so) years of his life.
The big question is, after God had directed Jacob to return to “the land of his fathers and family” (Genesis 31:3), why did Jacob stop twice—in Succoth (where he built a house) and Shechem (where he purchased land), rather than heading directly where God had instructed him to go? The short answer is, Jacob had to work through some deep inner issues (just as Paul instructs believers to “work out your own salvation” in Philippians 2:12). Working through his issues, though, would cost him dearly.
The Pivot Place of the Crucial Pain Point
Shechem was Jacob’s tipping point. His daughter was raped, and his sons took vengeance in their own hands. They deceived and killed the men of the town, took their families captive and plundered all they had. Shechem became a place of utter distress for Jacob.
So God reminded him of his vow at Bethel and instructed him to return to that place. Deeply moved, he was now willing to embrace and convey to his family a most resounding message: “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments” (Genesis 35:2).
I have read that scripture many, many times throughout my life. Each time it means deeper and more piercing things to me. So I encourage you to consider very carefully the three explicit words Jacob communicated to his family. They are the key elements that enable you to find total reconciliation with your Heavenly Father through Messiah, and with other people as well. They are:
Put away the foreign gods (vain, worthless images you exalt… see 2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
Purify yourselves (come clean with a pure heart; real integrity… see Psalm 139:23-24)
Change your garments (attitudes, disposition, reflections… see Romans 12:2)
I know this is easier said than done, but with God all things are possible. It takes allowing blinders over wounded and hardened hearts to be removed and a willingness to forgive, to bring about a deeper understanding of God’s grace and truth that will effectuate real transformation. It takes being convicted of wrong beliefs, thoughts, emotions and actions so real healing of the soul and reconciliation can take place.
REFLECT AND RELATE
It took Jacob’s continuing journey to Bethel to bring him to the place God had prepared for him. As you meditate on these pivot places, allow the Lord to challenge your innermost thoughts, fears and motivations to bring you to finding that shalom—inner peace and wholeness—in Messiah, that you come to the fullness of the promised blessed life of God.
REFERENCES
Genesis 27-35