Jacob was wealthy, and the key source of his wealth was his cunning wisdom and the favor he had with God. When you look closely at his story, you see a man who had great wisdom and knowledge. Researchers in botanical and herbal remedies over the past decades have proved Jacob's methods, which he used on Laban’s flock. Imagine the man was able to alter the sheep and goats' colour or DNA by using specific herbs and remedies.
These men from Abraham, though they had favour with God, they also had a practical approach to how they handled things. Imagine Abraham had 300 men who were trained to fight in his household. Meaning he walked with his own personal militiamen.
The Bible says the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light (Luke 16:8). Jesus said the unsaved are wiser in each generation than the saved. This statement always made me uncomfortable because of the weight those words carried. Why would Jesus conclude that the unsaved would always be wiser in each generation than the saved? This statement could not be used on Abraham or Jacob because they led and had so much authority in their time. The reason our faith and that of Abraham seem so different is that Abraham and Jacob were practical.
The church shuns away from any topics that major on money because of a religious spirit, and those that try to speak about money are said to be prosperity preachers. But the truth is, every man born of a woman desires to prosper and do well in life, and I believe God also wants us to prosper, but how can we prosper as believers?
Many pray for money, but money is about position, not prayer. Prayer may help you locate the position. Jacob took time to observe the flock and knew the right type of herbs that would cause the flock to multiply in his favour. Some believers have abandoned the marketplace or places of business because they assumed the marketplace or business environment is a lesser calling. But from Abraham to his sons, none of them abandoned their work and business in pursuit of God, but invited God into their work environments and implored his wisdom to increase their flocks and produce.
As the church, it is time we seek God's wisdom and through that wisdom access the wealth and the resources we need for our families and for the church.
In conclusion, the stories of Jacob and Abraham show us the need for spiritual wisdom and practicality in becoming prosperous. Jacob's use of herbal remedies and keen observation of his flock, coupled with Abraham's strategic measures like maintaining a personal militia, exemplify a balanced approach to faith. Abraham lived in a time when people pillaged and killed for wealth, so having those men was a way to protect his wealth and sustain the blessing. If it were the present-day church, we would say God will protect you and never put such measures into place, and sometimes when people see a pastor with armed men around him, they say those pastors do not trust God.
Many believers are suffering because what needs for them to be practical they are negating it and saying we will pray about it. Definitely, prayer works, but after prayer, Abraham implored physical methods to protect his family.
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Though the Bible says, “the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light" (Luke 16:8). However, Abraham and Jacob transcend this divide by integrating their spiritual beliefs into their everyday decisions and actions.
