Jacob Is Gathered To His People

The time had come for Jacob to make his final journey. After a full and circuitous life, “Israel” passed from this life into the next. In his words Jacob was “gathered to his people.” Death is a reality for everyone. We all have observed the death of others. We all will experience death ourselves. Death is the inevitable and just consequence of sin (Genesis 2:16-17). Physical death is merely an indication of spiritual death, separation from the God who created us. That separation is eternal apart from the grace of God and our reception of that grace through faith, faith in the God who raises the dead, faith in Jesus Christ. Through faith in the God of grace we have confident hope of life after death. We, too, can be “gathered to our people” in the presence of God forever. Jacob’s death reminds us about sorrow, hope, and life.