I Am Jacob

Not now the Egypt of my death for I Have not seen my Bethel yet, nor have I The coat of many colors made, let me meet First the soft Rachel of my enslaved years My heart for her cannot yield to defeat No Esau can assault my love with fears Bend me only fore the God of the sky Bow me to meet his boundless sovereign eye. Then I shall rise my new name a crown for kings And bring that boy to bulwark mortal joy In this Canaan, hear now my Rachel sings Fox wit and grace, and love without alloy I am Jacob, heir to the promise of God Not yet to Egypt desolate I trod. ii Look now this sky, more blue than all I know Taste this water, how calm the rivers go Feel now this peace, the angels singing slow And yet all these hours like a prison seem Like solid bars around my silent dream. It is not for heaven yet I toil today My treasures I lay in love, and toil still Till my bright Rachel heeds and come away, Only my longing shackles here my will. How then met I her soft moon's loveliness First amidst the thirsty creatures, I am Jacob, I see His will, his plan to bless If I be steadfast, and trust in the Lamb iii I am Jacob, let me yearn, time's tame bars Shall not my spirit's wings detain. Let toil Not think it's too hard for me, I keep stars In my loins to light my hope. Dreams recoil Where love pushes me; my Rachel will be Mine. This prison then of Laban's folly Shall not crush my faith, in chains, yet I'm free For grace my ransom paid. You may tally Time in seconds brief, my God tallies it In years. I am Jacob, soar my spirit Now away, on angels ladder let me stay Till Rachel brings anew my autumn day For I shall claim atonement's jubilee When her arms are wrapped tightly around me. iv Come now, my Rachel, give me jar and string Let me from the deep well draw, let me bring Cool as praise the water up, I'm Jacob Sit here awhile, and with your servant sup. Fairer art thou than Esau's riches now Better than Isaac's legacy that I stole For you the labor of my life I vow More precious than Laban's cattle or gold. How beautiful thy face, thy dove's eyes shine Brimming my darkness with sweet stars and moon Surely you are that bride, that gift divine You are my soul's Eden abloom in June Come now, Rachel, give Jacob jar and string I claim you a kingdom for God my king.