Dear People Who Keep Company With God,
The Bible identifies God as “the God of Jacob” 28 times, “the God of Abraham” 17 times, and “the God of Isaac” 13 times. Why would God refer to Himself as the “God of Jacob” more than the “God of Abraham” or the “God of Isaac”? Abraham is the father of faith and although Isaac’s life is not exemplary by any means, he seemed to be more of an honorable man than Jacob. Yet God took the least of the three patriarchs and identified Himself most with him.
I think it may have something to do with the encounter Jacob had with the Lord when he wrestled with him at the Brook Jabbok (Gen. 32). So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” (Gen. 32:30). Jacob is the first person mentioned in the Bible who had a face-to-face encounter with God.
A few hundred years later the Lord spoke to Moses, the second person mentioned in the Bible who saw God face-to-face (Ex. 33:11) about a blessing that was to be spoken over the nation of Israel.
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: 24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”’ 27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” (Num. 6:22-27)
This is such a powerful and amazing blessing. Some have even called it the Lord’s Prayer of the Old Testament. The biblical scholar Matthew Henry (amongst others) notes that this blessing foreshadows the Trinity revealed in the New Testament. The Lord is mentioned three times, and on each occasion, with a different type of blessing. The first concerns the Lord’s protection, associated with God the Father. The next blessing concerns God’s face (in Christ) being gracious. The final one is a peace blessing. This may be compared with the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, who descended on Jesus like a dove at His baptism.
What was in the Father’s heart for the nation of Israel in speaking this blessing upon them? The fact that “the God of Jacob” became “the God of Israel” means that for natural Israel, the life of Jacob was their prototype in their relationship with God. The Father wanted 
the same blessing that came upon Jacob when he wrestled with Him to be upon the whole nation. God wanted the nation of Israel to experience the blessings of protection, favor and peace that come from His face shining upon them! God wanted a nation to know Him face-to-face and on a first name basis.
God has given all mankind a gift of desire. Originally the desire was for God Himself, but that was perverted and diverted in the garden. But Jesus, the Desire of All Nations (Hag. 2:7), has come and is restoring a people in every nation who desire Him above all things. We can call that desire hunger, passion, obsession, longing, zeal, commitment, devotion or whatever suits you. The Father hears the voice of your heart. The fact is we have been given a priceless gift and we will never be satisfied apart from knowing Him face-to-face and on a first name basis.
Many Blessings, BW