Jacob's Trouble

Although most Jews reject Jesus as their messiah, God has not abandoned them. God made a covenant with Abraham. The agreement would apply to all the descendants of Abraham throughout history. “I will build a great nation from you  I will bless you and make your name famous  People will use your name to bless other people.  I will use you to bless all the people on earth.”(Gen. 12:2-3) This promise was fulfilled at Jesus' birth.  Jacob was the grandson of Abraham and responsible to keep the eternal agreement. One day, as all people do, Jacob wrestled with God about his faith, it lasted all night. Jacob was tenacious in his quest and would not let go of God until God blessed him. Finally, God tired of his excuses and knocked his hip out of joint. When Jacob realizes who he was wrestling his doubt was firmly defeated. God blessed him and changed his name to Israel and the unique nation of Israel was born. “Jacob was left alone, and a man came and wrestled with him. The man fought with him until the sun came up. When the man saw that he could not defeat Jacob, he touched Jacob’s leg and put it out of joint. Then the man said to Jacob, “Let me go. The sun is coming up. But Jacob said I will not let you go. You must bless me. And the man said to him, “What is your name? And Jacob said, “My name is Jacob. Then the man said, “Your name will not be Jacob. Your name will now be Israel. (one who fights with God and men) I give you this name because you have fought with God and with men, and you have won. ”(Gen.32:24-30) There would be many more battles with God and men throughout the ages but Israel would endure until the final judgment.

Israel has been restored to the land God promised Abraham in the original covenant. So on that day, the Lord made a promise and an agreement with Abram. He said, “I will give this land to your descendants. I will give them the land between the River of Egypt and the great river Euphrates.”(Gen.15:18) There remains one last wrestling match between God and Israel. This bout will last for seven years. “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.”(Jer.30:7) This time it will take God seven years to win the heart and mind of Jacob and save him from his rebellion. “Then I will sprinkle pure water on you and make you pure. I will wash away all your filth, the filth from those nasty idols, and I will make you pure.  I will also put a new spirit in you to change your way of thinking. I will take out the heart of stone from your body and give you a tender, human heart.  I will put my Spirit inside you and change you so that you will obey my laws.”(Ezek. 36:25-27) In the last seven years of this age, God will reveal the warrior Messiah the Jews have longed for throughout history. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, he doth judge and make war.”(Rev.19:11) It will complete the Abrahamic covenant and end the conflict.

The Jews are right where they are supposed to be, it won't be long before their Warrior Messiah returns to Earth in all his power and glory. If you have never heard this story before, it is a Bible prophecy that has partially been fulfilled. It ends with Jesus' triumphant return to Earth. If you have accepted Jesus as Lord your heart has already been changed. You are a member of the family of God. The Jews will become part of the family at the end of Jacob's seven years of trouble. For more about a supernatural change of heart read “Study More”