Although the Lectionary takes us systematically through the Gospels and Epistles the Old Testament lessons are usually chosen because their message fits in with the theme. This means that the context is often not known. For those of you well versed in Genesis this is not a problem but for many of us I think it would be helpful to run through a quick biography of Jacob before exploring the two Bible passages set for today.

Jacob was the second twin son of Isaac and Rebecca and one of Abraham’s grandchildren. He behaved like a conman from an early age, aided and abetted by his mother. Esau was a man of action and a hunter, straightforward in his behaviour and not a match for Jacob’s scheming.

Their father, Isaac, blind and old and sensing the approach of death asked Esau to bring him his favourite meal so that he could bless him. Rebecca heard the conversation and it was she who contrived the substitution of Esau by Jacob with the trick of covering Jacob’s hands and neck with goat’s hair so that to the blind Isaac Jacob would appear to be the ‘hairy man’ that Esau was.

A paternal blessing for Jews was, and still is, considered to be the greatest happiness that one can confer on one’s children. Later in his life Jacob would bless his grandchildren and this would become the basis of the Sabbath blessing still practised today. The blessing that Jacob was looking for was extremely important for it carried with it God’s promise to establish a great nation from Abraham’s descendants. By receiving this blessing it was Jacob who became heir of God’s promise rather than Esau whose birthright it was.

Having received the blessing due to Esau, Jacob realised that he needed to move far away from his brother. Isaac had been told of Jacob and Rebecca’s trickery but gave Jacob a parting blessing, recognising that Jacob was the true heir to God’s promise, even though this was obtained deceitfully. He suggested that Jacob go to his mother’s brother Laban at Harran a good distance away. On his way Jacob passed through Beersheba where Abraham made a covenant with Abimelech. Just beyond here he had a dream of a ladder stretching up to heaven with God promising that the land on which he lay would become home for his offspring. He named the place Bethel which means ‘House of God.’

Jacob journeyed on to Harran and met with his uncle Laban who was more than a match for Jacob’s scheming. Jacob fell in love with Laban’s younger daughter Rachel but first he was tricked into marrying the older girl Leah. He spent fourteen years in Harran and learnt much about animal breeding. His family grew and with it the bitter rivalry between the two sisters and their children.

Just before our reading Jacob had returned to his old ways and started to prosper at Laban’s expense. He realised that the time had now come for him to leave and go back to his homeland. He understood that if he did this he would encounter Esau and he was determined to impress his older brother. On his way to meet him he took his two wives, two maids and eleven children across the ford at Jabbok. The Jabbok runs into the river Jordan about halfway between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea and later became a boundary of Israel. And so Jacob delivered his family into the land that would be inherited by his descendants. But he stayed behind and had his strange encounter.

This encounter with the mysterious divine being at Penuel is the counterpart to his encounter with God back at Bethel when he saw the ladder going up into heaven. Jacob was given the new name of Israel by the divine being with whom he was wrestling and thus he became the eponymous ancestor of Israel and the epitome of the people Israel who strived with God and others and yet prevailed. Characteristically Jacob did not relent even when he was injured until he received God’s blessing. Another blessing that was crucial for him. Finally he limped away, both blessed and damaged by his divine encounter.

The story of Jacob reminds us again of God’s generosity. Jacob had done much that displeased God and yet his twelve sons became the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel, just as God had promised. The whole of Jacob’s story is one which reminds us of God’s amazing grace, which literally means ‘an undeserved gift’. It should encourage us to accept that grace knowing that however bad we are God loves us and if we allow Him to, He can change us for the better.

Our Gospel reading reminds us of the importance of persistence in prayer. Often when we sit down to pray we have in mind just what God should do for us. There is an obvious solution to our problem and God just needs to make sure it happens. At first it looks as if this is what Luke is saying: just keep on and eventually you will wear God down. It might even be telling women that it is OK to nag but my husband assures me that this is NOT the case!

In fact though the woman wore down the unjust judge with her persistence Luke is using this story to tell us that even an unjust judge may make the correct decisions, even if it is for the wrong reasons. In contrast our loving God will of course give His children what they need, even when they do not know what that is. Luke reminds us that if an unjust and greedy judge can be wearied into giving a widow justice how much more will our loving God and Father give us what we really need.

It is important that we always remember this when we are seeking an nswer to prayer as it may not be what we think we need may not be the best way forward. God knows better than us what is required and we can trust Him.

There is a bit more to this parable than first meets the eye. The unjust judge could not have been a Jewish judge as all Jewish courts had three judges – one chosen by the plaintiff, one by the defendant and one independently appointed. This judge must have been a Roman judge: such judges were notorious and it was bribery that would win the case for the plaintiff, not justice. The Jews would have had no faith in such a judge particularly as he was representing the Romans. Obviously a widow, who was seen as a symbol of the poor and defenceless stood no chance on her own. And yet as a result of perseverance in prayer the impossible happened.

The Gospel looks at how good come out of bad in unexpected ways. When we pray we should not be advising God how He should act but sharing with Him our concerns and listening to what He may have to say to us! This parable shows that against all the odds, and who knows for what reason, that judge unexpectedly delivered a just verdict. Was it just for a ‘quiet life’ or had even this man been affected by God?

Throughout history there are examples of God prevailing against the odds: perhaps one of the most spectacular recently was the lifting of Apartheid. One of the key players in this, Desmond Tutu, wrote this in his book ‘God has a Dream’:

Prayer is a two way process and it must be outward, not inward looking. As we look at our financial situation and our dreams of the new building we must remember this and never doubt what can be achieved through perseverance in prayer and God’s grace.

Our two readings remind us that God can change people and circumstances in unexpected ways. All it needs is for us to turn to Him in our, and others’ need, and trust Him. We may be surprised by what ensues.

Amen