Was Jacob a believer when he left for a far country?
No. When Jacob went up into the far country, he was still an unbeliever, still the supplanter and the deceiver. Though he was under the Almighty God’s protection and blessing, that did not make him a believer; his own heart remained unbelieving at that time.
Les teaches that as Jacob goes up into a far country, he is under the protection of the Almighty God and under the blessing of God, but he himself is still an unbeliever. He is still the supplanter, the deceiver. So Jacob’s outward protection and blessing did not mean he had personal faith at that point; the context emphasizes that he remained in unbelief even while God was watching over him.
Was Jacob a believer when he left for the far country and received God's protection?
No. As Jacob went into the far country, he was under the protection and blessing of the Almighty God, yet he himself was still an unbeliever. He is described as still the supplanter and the deceiver, so God's protection and blessing did not indicate that Jacob had personal faith.
Was Jacob still an unbeliever when God protected and blessed him on his journey?
Yes. Scripture presents Jacob as still an unbeliever while he journeyed into a far country. Though he was under the Almighty God’s protection and blessing, he was still the supplanter and deceiver. God’s protection and blessing were upon him despite his unbelief, not because he had already believed.
Was Jacob a true believer when Isaac sent him to Paddan Aram?
No, Jacob was not a true believer at that time. Even in his unbelief, he was still under the auspices of faith, but he was not a true believer. He obeyed his father, but that obedience did not make him a true believer.