The Self Made Man. The Jacob In Us Series Episode 1
In Part 1 of The Jacob In Us series, we confront the mindset of the “self-made man” and how pride, image, control, and worldly expectations can quietly pull men away from full surrender to God. Using Proverbs 3:5-6 as the foundation, this episode explores Jacob before his encounter with God — a man driven by survival, strategy, and self-reliance — and how many men today still wrestle with the pressure to always appear strong, emotionally controlled, successful, and unshakable.
Throughout scripture, God repeatedly called flawed and prideful men into transformation. From Nebuchadnezzar’s arrogance, to Saul becoming Paul, to the disciples leaving behind their identities to follow Jesus, the Bible shows that God does not call perfected men — He calls willing men.
This episode also challenges modern ideas of masculinity. Many men are taught to suppress emotion, avoid vulnerability, and carry every burden alone. Yet David, a warrior and king, openly wept, worshipped, repented, and poured out his emotions before God in Psalms — and was still called a man after God’s own heart.
Are we leaning on God’s understanding, or our own definition of what a man should be?
Can a man truly submit to God while protecting an image that God never asked him to maintain?
This conversation is for men wrestling with identity, pride, emotional walls, control, faith, and surrender. Jacob’s story is not just biblical history — it reflects the internal struggle many men face today between self-reliance and dependence on God.
Scripture References:
* Proverbs 3:5-6
* Genesis 32
* Psalm selections from David’s writings
* Acts 9