A Man With Two Wives

Reading: Genesis chapter 29

Ill:

• For the romantics among you;

• Let me remind you that it in 20 days time it will be St Valentines Day:

• A day when traditionally we send a card to our loved ones;

• And maybe something extra e.g. a red rose or a romantic meal etc.

• Even though we know his name;

• Not too many people know who St Valentine was or why he became a saint.

• Valentine was a priest who lived during the reign of the Roman emperor Claudius,

• The emperor Claudius decided to pass a law banning marriage.

• The reason he did this was simple.

• Not enough young men were not enlisting in the army;

• They preferred to stay home and marry and have a family.

• Valentine knew that God instituted the family and His will included great marriages.

• So, he kept on performing marriage ceremonies – but secretly.

• One night he was caught marrying a couple and ;

• He was thrown in jail and sentenced to death.

• During his imprisonment he was often visited by the jailer’s daughter;

• They talked for hours and a deep friendship developed between them.

• On the day, Valentine was due to die,

• He left her a note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty.

• He signed it, "Love from your Valentine."

• That note started the custom of exchanging love notes on Valentine’s Day.

• It was written on the day he died,

• February 14th in the year 269 A.D.

I don’t know if you believe in falling in love at first sight:

• Jacob did and in our study this evening (Genesis chapter 29);

• He experienced it!

• But as Shakespeare wrote inn his play A Midsummer Night's Dream (1:1):

• "The course of true love never did run smooth."

• And Jacob is about to discover the truth of that statement as well!

• As we will see in this chapter Jacob the deceiver becomes Jacob the deceived!

(1). Protection (vs 1).

• The distance between Bethel and Haran was about 500 miles,

• This meant a long and dangerous journey.

• Jacob unable to return home because of his angry brother,

• Needs to make that journey;

• He needs to find his mother's family,

• And hope that they will receive him into their home.

Notice: Jacob makes this journey confidently:

• The Hebrew language in verse 1 is very suggestive and colourful:

• It reads: "Then Jacob lifted up his feet."

• It’s like our saying; “With a bounce in his step, off he went”.

• The picture painted in verse 1 is that of a new found joy and bounce in Jacob’s life.

• Last week you will have heard about how Jacob experienced an encounter with God:

• When God met with Jacob in a dream;

• And this led him to make a vow, a new commitment to his God.

• And Jacob also received promises from God.

• And so as he starts this long dangerous journey;

• He is sure - absolutely sure - of God’s protection, love, and care for him!

A promise from God is a statement we can depend on with absolute confidence

• Remember;

• A promise is only as good as the one who makes it.

Ill:

• I could promise my kids a trip to Butlins or a trip to the moon.

• I have the ability to keep my promise of taking them to Butlins but not to the moon,

• Whatever God promises he has the ability to deliver the goods.

• He made a promise to Jacob in chapter 28 at Bethel and he would keep that promise!

(2). Providence (vs 1+4+6).

The word ‘Providence’ is made up of two words:

• “Pro” means “Before” and “Video” means “to see”;

• The word ‘Providence’ simply means “to see before”

• So when we talk about the providence of God;

• We mean that God ‘sees before’ and plans accordingly.

• In other words nothing ever takes God by surprise;

• He is always one step ahead (or rather many steps ahead.

Ill:

• Alfred Hitchcock the famous director always appeared in each one of his films,

• Normally it was just for a few seconds or minute (a cameo role)

• In contrast Shakespeare never appears in any of his plays;

• His presence is pervasive, every act, every line of dialogue, bars the imprint of his pen,

• He is the genius behind all the characters,

• Each twist of the plot, every poignant ending.

In much the same way God is at work in the life of the believer!

• He is the invisible God (more like Shakespeare than Hitchcock);