A Costly Offering

In an effort to outsmart and pre-empt his brother Esau from receiving their father Isaac’s blessing, Jacob took two sheep from his own available herd and offered them to Isaac while Esau exerted great effort to secure a suitable offering. Jacob did beat Esau and received his father’s blessing. Yet he never walked in the favor of his heavenly Father until he experienced the wrestling, divine branding and chastening pain of Penial many years later. The pain-free, cheap and costless offering secured nothing for Jacob except years of misery, fear, loneliness and separation from his destiny. Penial was painful but the blessing was real and lasting.

How often do we suffer the consequences of our quick, easy and painless encounters with God? We wander aimlessly, knowing there must be more, but unwilling to give what really hurts, our pride, dreams, desires and rights.

But when we finally do yield and experience our Penial, we are forever changed. We may walk with a spiritual limp but it is only an ongoing reminder that we have met the Almighty and have been touched and blessed by His loving hand.