“By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph and worshipped, leaning on the top of his stqff…”  (Hebr. 11:21)

The blessed Holy Spirit graciously let me rejoice in that word despite my failures, but still being  in the hands of “the God of Jacob”  (Ps. 46:11) – nay, of Jacob who with  many shortcomings became one of His “vessels of mercy”  (Rom. 9:23).  I did too, I believe.

Now he´s dying but is still able to pass on to his descendants the blessings of his God, the God of Jacob, “leaning on the top of his staff”.

The believer saved by grace has also such a staff to lean on, i.e. the pilgrim´s staff of His word right now and even at our dying hour. As partakers of that grace in Christ we have a blessed spiritual legacy to bestow on our dear offspring.  Some are not saved though, but deep in their hearts they know that such a death should be theirs, too.

At this very moment my friend, Tony Poulson, Fl. – a missionary to Brazil with his family for many years -  shares, as it were,  the parting hour with Jacob.  We´ve been close friends for 65 years from the day we met way back in 1957 as soldiers in Germany.  Both of us have been leaning on the same pilgrim´s staff (God´s word).  He often encouraged me with the word of God and prompted me to keep leaning on that precious staff, in times of trials not the least.

Oh, what are we leaning on? What are you leaning on, dear friend? I told my Muslim nurse this morning about the true source of my joy because of Jesus Christ. She is very busy with many patients, but she sat down with me and listened.  It´s not easy, but grace was given me to lean on His spirit for wisdom, and “my cup overflows”.  So in more than one sense His invisible “support staff” is there.

And yet I´m envying those pilgrims who are now leaving their “earthly tent” to go home with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8), but we, left behind, learn to quietly “number our days” (Ps. 90:12) – the exact number God  only knows. May we heed his words, “Do business, until I come back!  (Luke 19:13).  Yes, the business of winning souls.   But remember, we´re witnessing with our very joyful presence and costly gospel words. 7/13/22 - jn