While leaning on his staff, Jacob remembered God's care and promises and passed them on to his children.

"By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff" (Hebrews 11:21). Why mention leaning on his staff? Was it just that he was so old? Was Jacob so weak at the end of his life that he worshiped while leaning on his staff? I know a lot of people who walk around with canes, but does that make them heroes of faith?

What the Hebrews passage is referring to is Jacob making Joseph, his son, promise not to bury him in Egypt but to take his body back to the land God had promised his fathers. And it says that Jacob "worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff."

JACOB REMEMBERED GOD'S BLESSINGS

Let me explain with an illustration. I have a fish fillet knife that has 1977 carved in the handle. That is when my children were babies and so was my ministry. I had that knife with me when I taught my children how to love fishing. I filleted their first crappies with it. And over the years, it has been with me on family fishing trips with friends old and new. It helps me remember.

I think that might be why Jacob's staff is mentioned here. What memories did that staff bring back? Because Jacob had tricked his twin brother, Esau, he had to flee to his Uncle Laban's in Haran. He left with just his staff. With only that staff, one night along the way he slept on a stone. In a dream (Jacob's ladder), God promised, "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring" and "I will bring you back to this land"  (Genesis 28:14,15).

After 20 years with his uncle, Jacob returned. He had become a wealthy man. With staff in hand, Jacob prayed, "I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups" (Genesis 32:10).

Years later, because of a famine, Jacob and his whole family had come to Egypt. Jacob, about to die, asked his son Joseph to take his body back where his grandfather Abraham was buried. It wasn't that the land was better there than in Egypt. It was just that God had promised not only the land but also a Savior from sin. While leaning on his staff, he remembered leaving with only that staff; the stairway to heaven with those promises; God's blessing him with children, wealth, and love; and God's bringing him home, crowning his days, and promising him a Savior. Jacob worshiped God while leaning on that staff. 

WE ALSO ARE REMINDED OF GOD'S CARE