Over the Christmas period many of us have followed the amazing film adventures of heroes like Indiana Jones and Luke Skywalker but, like all of us, they too have flaws and weaknesses. Despite their shortcomings, however, these heroes overcome their weakness to become something more.
Imperfect heroes aren't just in the movies, most great figures of faith were real people with flaws of their own too, but God worked through them despite their issues. In fact, God often shaped them—through their flaws—into the heroes they were.
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 [NIV].
Each day this week we will compare five different weaknesses.
Deceitfulness
Captain Jack Sparrow and Jacob (Genesis 25-50) share a major character flaw, they're both tricksters who exploit the needs and emotions of others to get what they want. The Pirates of the Caribbean captain is an opportunist whose motto is, "Take all you can! Give nothing back!" Not a very heroic motto. And Jacob's very name means "he grasps the heel," a phrase indicating he's a deceiver who takes advantage of others. Jacob took advantage of his older brother Esau's hunger in order to get Esau to sell him his inheritance. Then, he tricked his blind father into giving him Esau's blessing.
When those he manipulated turned the tables on him, Jack Sparrow's deceptions came back around to bite him (literally—he was eaten by the kraken!). Likewise, Jacob was tricked into marrying the wrong woman. Both Jack and Jacob's deceptions backfired, and both of them consequently had to pay heavy punishments for their treachery.
In the end, both men were redeemed. Jack sacrificially saved his friends, freed the Caribbean of a tyrant, and was regarded as a hero. So, too, we remember Jacob as a hero of our faith. He humbly sought his brother's forgiveness and depended on God alone, and we can too.
Dawn Milward
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