Genesis, Message 30: The Process of Maturity

Crystallization-Study of Genesis, Message 30:

"The Process of Maturity"

In Jacob's life, we clearly the transforming work of God. He started his life as a supplanter (Genesis 27), who had so much natural ability, cleverness and ambition. He was definitely a conniver, cheater and robber. By God's grace, he went through dealing after dealing, and was eventually transformed to Israel, a prince of God (Genesis 37). From Genesis 37 to Genesis 45, his life went through another crucial step of Christian life called "maturity."

In Genesis 33-36 (message 27), Jacob went through the process of transformation, which is the organic and metabolic change of life. His old natural element was removed. The divine element of the Triune God was added to his life. In the New Testament, the process is beautifully explained by the apostle Paul in Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2 NKJV)

Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:16-18 NKJV)

In Genesis 37-45, Jacob went through the process of maturity, which is the final stage of transformation. This process has nothing to do with our old natural element. It is having God's life added to our life, filled to the brim, and flowed over to other people as blessing.

  

Jacob is emptied out and filled with God’s life.

Even after the process of transformation, Jacob still suffered. He lost Joseph (Genesis 37). And later on, he suffered a great famine (Genesis 41) and a loss of his 10 sons and Benjamin (Genesis 43). Through these sufferings, he became completely emptied out. He had no more concern of himself. He did not depend on his own plan or ability any more. He put his trust totally in God. 

One thing we can observe in Jacob life is that he was very calm. When he realised he had to let Benjamin go to Egypt in order to get some grain from there, his speech was so calm. He did not complain nor angrily murmur. Before his sons’ leaving, he calmly told them:

And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved! (Genesis 43:14 NKJV)

From his speech, we see his secret. He acknowledged God as the El Shaddai, the All-sufficient or the Almighty One, and he was so submissive to His sovereignty. He accepted any loss God allowed Him to face. He suffered outwardly. But having been emptied out, he became filled with God's life inwardly.

We must learn from Jacob's life. We must be empty, hungry and thirsty all the time. We need to be like the empty jar (2 kings 4), so that we will be filled with the oil, which represents the Spirit of life.

A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves."
So Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" And she said, "Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil."
Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors --- empty vessels; do not gather just a few.
And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones."
So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out.
Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "There is not another vessel." So the oil ceased.
Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest." (2 Kings 4:1-7 NKJV)

Let's be like an empty vessel all the time. This is the means whereby we become matured and filled with God's life to the brim. As a result, the divine life in us will overflow to others as blessing.

Brothers and sisters, when we are afflicted by someone or have an unpleasant situation, remember that all things, with no exception, are for our good to them who love God. Yes, our good sometimes is God’s blessing in this age. But in the context of Romans 8, our good is nothing else but gaining more of Christ.

Therefore never escape from His arrangement. Trust in God and depend on His strength to overcome them. And take the opportunity to grow in life and become fully matured. 

Jacob’s matured life is expressed as a blessing life.

Genesis 47 portrays Jacob as a fully matured man. When Jacob got Joseph back and knew the truth regarding what his sons had done to his beloved son Joseph, he was still so calm. No sign of anger or overwhelmed happiness was seen in him.

This is the life of a fully matured person. He was not sentimental. When he heard either good or bad news, he remained calm. An immature person with lack of God's life in him has a numb spirit but a revived soul. Contrariwise, a fully matured person has a revived spirit filled with God's life, but his soul (mind, will and emotion) is numb.

And interestingly, Instead of blasting or blaming, he blesses. The fully matured Israel, prince of God, blessed Pharaoh when they met. In his matured life, God’s life was overflown from him to others as blessing.

Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. (Genesis 47:7 NKJV)

So Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh. (Genesis 47:10 NKJV)

Lord, may we be like the fully mature Jacob, who had a revived spirit and a numb soul. May our life be filled with Your divine life, so that we will be a real blessing to others and fully prepared as the Bride of Christ. 

Thirayost Nimmanon (Tony)

Further reading

• The Holy Word for Morning Revival: Crystallization-Study of Genesis, week 30.
• Life study of Genesis, Messages 92-94.