Jacob Have I Loved

        Several years ago, I was complaining to the Lord about some of the strange people who come to our ministry because of our prophetic reputation.  People have arrived at our congregation and declared that God is going to “take us home” and give them our mantle for ministry.  As I was telling the Lord how much I hated that kind of behavior, He spoke these words very clearly to me: I don’t hate that Steve; I love that kind of heart.  I was stunned.  Then the Lord quoted this scripture to me: “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (Romans 9:13 KJV).

    How could God love Jacob?  Jacob lusted after the birthright that belonged to his brother.  The biblical birthright represented spiritual blessing and authority.  Jacob was so consumed with the desire to have spiritual blessing and authority that he was willing to deceive his own family to obtain it!  How could God love someone who was so blinded by his lust for spiritual blessing and authority that he was willing to deceive his father to get it?

    This is offensive to our human ideas of proper behavior and motivation.   But while it may offend us, God loves this kind of heart.  God says that He loves those who so hunger for His power, presence, and authority that they are willing to do anything to get it.  “Jacob have I loved.”

    The scripture could have read, “Israel have I loved.”  But God said that He loved Jacob, using the name indicative of the lusting, deceiving man that Jacob was prior to his nature being changed.  While we may judge those who hunger for God’s power and authority as being extreme and unbalanced, God may be more pleased with them than those who appear humanly righteous, but who, like Esau, are complacent toward spiritual matters.

    Not only does Scripture say that God loved Jacob, it also says that He hated Esau.  There is no other record in Scripture of God hating someone.  Esau was so preoccupied with the natural realm that he despised spiritual things.  In our human reasoning, we esteem those who are conservative, balanced, and proper.  God has a different standard.  He hates the attitude of those who do not esteem His power, presence, or blessings as being worthy of their attention.

    From the time of man’s creation, God has desired to share His nature, glory, and power.  This was His original intention.  He has longed for those who would so hunger and thirst for His power, presence, anointing, authority, and blessing that they would pursue Him for it.  Too many generations have been like Esau, despising the richness of God’s blessing and setting their hearts on temporary things, forfeiting the opportunity to share in His glory and power.

    If we want to obtain all that the Lord has for us and others, we must have the attitude of Jacob.  Just as with Jacob, God will confront and deal with our character issues, but we must pursue the spiritual authority and blessings He has for us.  These blessings include the spiritual enablements God has provided for us to manifest His supernatural power.

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