The Bible is a startling book. Its assertions about the human condition are revolutionary. In the Bible we read of men and women like you and me—mortal and sometimes good but often doubting, envious, argumentative, or otherwise fraught with human failings—who come to know God and rejoice in His mercy.
In the opening book of the Bible, we meet Jacob, who has cunningly stolen the birthright from his brother Esau. Years later, he fears Esau will make it impossible for him to peacefully settle in their home territory. He brings that fear to God: “O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac. . . . I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies. . . .Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother. . .for I fear him” (Genesis 32:9-11). Overnight, in apparent answer to that prayer, Jacob meets God, wrestles with Him, and presumes to claim a blessing. He is renamed Israel, which means “one who prevails with God.” The next day, Jacob (or Israel) meets Esau, who “[runs] to meet him, and [embraces] him, and [falls] on his neck, and [kisses] him: and they [weep]” (Genesis 33:4).
That’s the surprise message of the Bible. Unworthy men and women, like Jacob, can bring their fears to God and prevail upon Him to help them. If we incline ourselves to God, if we wrestle with our relationship with the Almighty, we too can be included in the house of Israel, the family of God’s children who prevail with God.
The Bible is an account of God’s dealings with mankind as seen through His covenants and promises to the house of Israel. He is Jehovah in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament and His promises to Israel are extended to all who in any manner lean into a relationship with Him, take Him at His word, and try to follow Him no matter their color culture, gender, age, socioeconomic status, or when in the course of human history, they lived upon the earth.
As He did as Jehovah during Old Testament times, Jesus invites all His brothers and sisters to come unto Him and prevail with God; in other words, to join the house of Israel. He promises peace and joy in this life no matter the suffering, dilemmas, or hardships we must endure. These promises are extended from the first page of Genesis to the last page of Revelations. It is up to us to read about them, understand them, and embrace them by covenant with Him.
I invite you to join me on a journey to the Holy Land, where together we can explore the events and places where all of our blessings have their beginning. We will stop at places where the prophets spoke and get acquainted with the lives of Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, and Peter. We will literally walk where Jesus walked. I will show you the grove where modern-day Israelis have commemorated the Latter-day prophets and apostles who have blessed the land of Israel and promised the return of the Jews. And we will tell the stories of the miracles that led to the creation of the state of Israel and the building of the BYU Jerusalem Center.
To learn more about traveling to the Holy Land with Joseph Q. Jarvis and Mo Joe Travel’s tour group, go to moejoetravel.com, email jqjarvis@gmail.com, or call (801) 214-82531.
