THE STAFF OF JACOB
Age often obligates a man to use the aid of a cane as he
walks. His footsteps are not quite so sure as they once were, and the extra
support and steadiness of a staff offers him more security in his steps.
In Biblical times, the use of walking sticks was especially common because the staffs were not only for walking, but also used as a tool of shepherds and others.
In Biblical times, the use of walking sticks was especially common because the staffs were not only for walking, but also used as a tool of shepherds and others.
Concerning walking canes, there is one particular verse in the book of Hebrews which,
for some reason, has long been intriguing to me. It simply reads like this:
By faith Jacob, as
he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the
top of his staff. (Hebrews 11:21
NAS)
In that chapter of Hebrews we read of many men and women who
had learned to walk by faith in God. About some of these, the writer of Hebrews
has quite a lot to say. However, for Jacob, who has one of the most extensive
biographies of anyone in the Old Testament, the writer has given only this single verse.
So much could have been written about Jacob. In his life, we
have many examples of experiences from which to draw, both good and bad. Jacob’s
journey to a life of faith had many ups and downs, many advances and many
retreats. His life was not one of steady and continual improvements. It is interesting to me that of all the things
that the writer of Hebrews could have said about Jacob, what he mentions is
that Jacob worshiped, “leaning on the top of his staff.”
The Importance of Jacob’s Staff
Why was this significant? For a man about so much could have
been written, the writer of Hebrews dedicates only one sentence. And, in that
sentence, he has Jacob leaning on the top of his staff, as if for some reason
that were unusual or important in some way.