From Jacob To Israel: Time To Change Series

Jacob to Israel: Time to Change

Theme: To show the journey that Jacob went on to become Israel

Text: Genesis 25 - 35

Opening Text

So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, [65] because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother. Now Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the terebinth tree. So the name of it was called Allon Bachuth. [66] Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram, and blessed him. And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name." So He called his name Israel. Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land." Then God went up from him in the place where He talked with him. So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel. (Genesis 35:6-15)

Introduction

Last week we looked at Joseph and we saw what he had to overcome to be the man of God who trusted the Lord.

This is one of the most incredible stories of forgives. Joseph (who had all the power) was willing to forgive his brothers. This to me took a lot. This whole story gives a glimpse into Joseph’s family. If you look closely, you’ll see the ugliness of

Selfishness

Petty Jealousy

Envy

Hatred

Favoritism

Competition

Well a lot of this played out because of who his father was. He was (I emphasize WAS) a deceiver. From the very beginning as he grabbed the foot of his brother coming out of the womb he was named to be a “supplanter” one who gets ahead.

This is that person who does not care who he/she steps on to get to the top.

It was prophesied at his birth that there would be a rift in the family

Esau sold his birthright

Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary." Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright as of this day." And Esau said, "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?" Then Jacob said, "Swear to me as of this day." So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

(Genesis 25:29-34)

This was taken from Esau in a deceptive way. Although the world maybe lost in sin it does not mean that we should follow in the same footsteps to achieve it.

Chapter 27: Jacob deceives Isaac.

In chapter 27 we read that Jacob also deceived his father. After hearing about the call from Isaac to Esau about his time for blessing and to take over the family rights. Jacob dresses like Esau and cooks a meal for Jacob.

From there he steals the blessing of Esau.

This sends Esau in to a fury. So much so that he threatens to kill his brother. From here, because of his deception, Jacob begins this road to recovery and change. It took 20 years but Jacob got the message.

Introduction

God discovers Jacob

Jacob

I. Bethel “House of God” – Genesis 28:11 - 22

So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: "I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you." Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it." And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!" Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You." (Gen 28:11-22)