The Riddle Solved

Jacob’s life had been very eventful, not only before he came to Jabbok but especially after. God’s way with him went through deep waters.

We know what happened to Dinah and especially what followed. What grief Jacob experienced about this. On his deathbed he had not yet forgotten. Shortly after the massacre of Shechem, God took Rachel from him. Then Joseph was sold to Egypt, and Jacob believed that he had been devoured by an evil beast. It was trial upon trial and blow upon blow. Years passed wherein he did not hear from Joseph. He was continuously grieving over Rachel’s oldest son on whom he had set his heart.

Then there arose a famine in Canaan, and Jacob sent ten sons to Egypt to buy corn. Benjamin stayed home alone; Jacob wanted to keep him. Jacob’s sons met Joseph, but they did not know him. Joseph, however, knew them! What the end of that visit proved to be is known to us all. Simeon was put in prison and would not be released until Benjamin was brought there. This was another bitter disappointment for Jacob.

These were all riddles for Jacob. The fact that Joseph would not accept money and insisted on seeing Benjamin left Jacob no solution. The grieved and tried father only said, “All these things are against me” (Genesis 42:36). Storms arose in Father Jacob’s soul from all sides. He could not accept God’s way; nor could he bow under God’s wise ordaining. Jacob did not want to enter the way that lay open before him. Yet Jacob had to follow God, no matter how much opposition there was in his heart. At last, Jacob yielded—to give up Benjamin and let him go along—not because his heart was united with it but because necessity demanded it. He became reconciled to the situation because there was no other way.

For Jacob everything was dark and mysterious; he could not see through it. If our hearts are in such a condition, then we also miss liberty. In ways we do not agree with we have no access or passage to God; all doors are closed. For a child of God, no heavier or deeper ways are known. Certainly, Jacob was secretly supported and upheld in all these ways; God never withdraws His hand from His people. The Lord had such holy purposes for everything. The memory of Rachel, to which Jacob clung so frenetically, had to be removed from his heart. Oh, how hard it is to let go of everything and let God reign. Grace only can teach us this. For days and weeks, yes, for months Jacob sat there alone and had all kinds of thoughts in his mind. Thereby the enemy also made use of them and troubled Jacob’s soul. Yet, he did not know everything that would happen on the second journey. Had he known, he would have succumbed. God still hid much from him. If only Jacob’s sons had come to Joseph as guilty ones in the first journey, the mystery would soon have been solved, but they came before Joseph as pious people.

At the time of the second journey, Joseph became known to his brethren, and at that moment they became guilty ones. Then, before guilty people Joseph could no longer restrain himself. So, it is still today; if only we come into guilt and acknowledge God’s righteousness, then Christ is not hidden from us. Joseph kissed his brothers and resolved all the matters; he also ordered them to fetch their father and all the families and prepared a place for them in the land of Egypt.

With great joy Joseph’s brothers went to Canaan. Not one was missing anymore. With a trembling heart Jacob looked forward to the day when his children would return. When they came home to their father, the first thing they messaged him was, “Joseph is still alive. Oh, Father, he is not dead. We have met him. Not only is he alive but he is ruler in all the land of Egypt. He has the highest position under Pharaoh—viceroy in that country.” Oh, what a message. Is he not dead then? Jacob’s heart fainted, the Bible says, for he did not believe them. We would say it was too much for Jacob. Oh, at the first return from Egypt those sons were so downcast, but now? Joy radiated from their eyes. Surely there had to be something special. Simeon was with them again, and they have brought back Benjamin with them. Jacob could not take it anymore. He had already suffered so much externally and internally, and now such a message. For a moment he lost consciousness and left the world. The emotions were too much for him. He had to believe it, and yet he could not believe it.

So many years living in the thought that Joseph was dead. Never, never in all these years having heard of him, and now such tidings. No, it was too great; he could not believe it. However, the sons did everything to make him believe it. They related all that Joseph had spoken to them, but when Jacob could not possibly believe it, they took him outside saying, “Father, look at the chariots out there. Joseph has sent them to take you along.” They were the evidence that Joseph was alive. No doubt remained.

Then, when Jacob finally saw all those chariots which came from Joseph, his spirit became alive. Oh, there it was as if he became young again, as if he regained the life of old, and Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die. It is enough.” He needed no more proof. He believed Joseph was still alive. “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.” His youth was renewed like the eagle’s.

God solved the riddles of life for Jacob. Oh, beloved, who is able to express what this was for Jacob—so many years he had sunk into despondency, so many years he had been shrouded in clouds and walked in darkness, and now the light arose.

What a change, and what a transition. How marvelous is God in all His ways with the children of men but especially with His people. Now light had risen as to why Joseph was stolen from him and kidnapped. Now he understood why he received his money back—in a word, why God led him in all those ways. Now he had no reason to complain anymore; now he no longer said, “All these things are against me.” No, he had been against all these things, and he was ashamed of his life that lay behind him.

It was enough. God had accomplished His purpose. It was enough. God had fulfilled His counsel. What great surprise and joy God had prepared for him. Would he now want anything to be taken away from the ways wherein God had led him? Did he have anything to complain about now? Oh, no; it was nothing but adoration and wonder. God’s doings were majestic and adorable glory. Oh, how God’s people will one day sing eternally of the ways of the Lord! Finally, Israel became so lively that he said, “I will go and see him before I die.” That was the only desire he had left for this life, to see Joseph one more time. What he said here came from the condition of his life; Jacob could no longer go himself; he had to be fetched. That desire can be explained; not one of God’s people is a stranger to it. It is a privilege if we personally are not strange to it either. Let us turn in to ourselves, fellow travelers to eternity. Jacob was here a type of the Church on earth, and Joseph a type of Christ, both in the state of His humiliation as well as of His exaltation.

Jacob was a man chosen by God, called by God, but also justified by God, but then sorely tried. Great were the mysteries for him, and with all his grace he could not solve the matters himself. It took a long, very long time, but finally at God’s time the light arose in the darkness. What a strong encouragement this is for all who fear the Lord. For the poor God-forsaken world it will remain dark, but for God’s people it will not always remain dark. Oh, no; the time will come when all clouds will be removed, when they will receive the tidings that Joseph is still alive. Christ Himself said to John on Patmos, “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.” At times they would begin to doubt everything; then it is as if God is no longer there. How Christ can hide Himself. This He did in the grave, and He did it after His resurrection, and He still does it continually for wise reasons, but He will not remain hidden. No, He will reveal Himself. God’s servants may bring that glad tiding to despondent and disconsolate people. If then there are many such people among them and God wants to use it, what an easy work bringing that glad tiding is.

Christ lives at the right hand of the Father. He lives to reveal Himself and give Himself away. “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” He reigns undisturbed. Oh, that our souls might long much for His presence and to be embraced by Him. He is able to perfect our salvation.

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