I wrote a post not long ago titled Unless… I wrote this after I noticed how many times the word “unless” was used in the Scriptures and the context in which it was used.
This word has continued to run through my mind over and over since that day… so I am going to dig into it. I am beginning an “Unless Series”. A series of posts on the usage of the word unless in the Scriptures.
The word “unless” is a pretty strong word. According to the online Free Dictionary in its conjunction form it means: except on the condition that; except under the circumstances that and in its preposition form it means: except; but; save, except for.
The first usage of the word “unless” in the Word of God, according to the NASB, is in Genesis 32:26.
Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.”
But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
In this verse, the word “unless” in the Hebrew is kiy. It is used as a conjunction in this verse and it means: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since, that, yea, indeed.
The context of this verse of Scripture is when Jacob has been left alone after sending his family and all his possession across the stream. He was empty in this passage. He was empty of his family, his possessions, all his earthly wealth… all the things that defined him past and present were across the stream and he stood alone. He was just Jacob… the deceiver.
He stood there empty and for the first time he realized that unless God was with him… unless God blessed him… unless he held on to the heel of God he could not prevail.
In the womb he took his brother by the heel,
And in his maturity he contended with God.
Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed;
He wept and sought His favor.
He found Him at Bethel
And there He spoke with us,
Even the Lord, the God of hosts,
The Lord is His name.
Therefore, return to your God,
Observe kindness and justice,
And wait for your God continually.
Hosea 12:3-6
From the womb, Jacob was a sinner. He sought his way in this world by the cunning of his wits. He thought he could connive and manipulate and deceive to get what he wanted in this world. It worked pretty good for a while… but eventually he began to reap the consequences.
Finally as he looked to his future and he looked to his past… he realized that unless the Lord bless him he had no where to go.
Are you there precious one?
The first unless in the Scriptures came from a man who made his lot by manipulating those who were his own family. He used his family instead of serving them. He stole from them instead of giving to them. He lied to them instead of loving them. He was after his own good, not the good of his family…
but finally He realized that it was only by the grace of God that He had what he had.
In this realization he knew that if God did not bless him, he could not carry the weight of his consequences. He realized that having the blessing of God was worth more than having all that he just sent ahead of him across that stream. He realized reality. He was nothing apart from the grace of God.
Are you there?
Have you been there?
If so, what was your unless moment? What did it take for you to stop and lay everything you ever thought you were, everything you ever thought you wanted, to stop and lay it aside, and stand alone before God and take hold of Him and say “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”