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.
Les explains 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 remains the supplanter, the deceiver. This fits the pattern Les notes with Israel, that God can sovereignly protect and bless even while people are in unbelief.