Jacob's Prosperity, By God's Grace

2024.08.11.Sermon Notes. Jacob’s Prosperity by GOD’s Grace

William Akehurst, HSWC

BIG IDEA: Jacob has finished his 14 years working off the dowry for his wives. And yet he has nothing. He wants to leave and go home, but realizes that he must provide for his family. And does so, at the expense of his father in law. But we realize that it was not what Jacob did, but GOD’s Grace that provided the blessing.

Scriptures: Ephesians 2:8-10, Genesis 30:25-43, Genesis 31:1-16, Philippians 2:15-16, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Ephesians 6:10, John 15:5, Matthew 6:33

KEY VERSE:

Ephesians 2:8-10 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Genesis 30:25-43

Jacob’s Agreement with Laban

25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service which I have done for you.”

JACOB has finished up working his 14 years for Rachel. 7 years originally, only to receive Leah because the firstborn must marry first.

REMEMBER the whole birthright thing with the twins Esau and Jacob where Jacob born 2nd took the birthright from Esau who disregarded it’s value and meaning.

BIRTH ORDER for marriage of daughters was stated as tradition by Laban.

14 YEARS. Therefore Jacob served 7 years for the firstborn daughter Leah unbeknownst to Jacob, and 7 more years for his love for Rachel.

VOW FULFILLED; DOWRY PAID. “Give me my wives and children and let me go.” Jacob had fulfilled his vows to Laban for the dowry for his daughters Leah and Rachel.

27 And Laban said to him, “Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake.” 28 Then he said, “Name me your wages, and I will give it.”

LABAN has experienced the blessings of the LORD because of Jacob, and he knows it and is reluctant to let that end with Jacob’s departure.

“Name your wages to stay” he says to Jacob. Laban begins the bartering/negotiation process with Jacob.

29 So Jacob said to him, “You know how I have served you and how your livestock has been with me. 30 For what you had before I came was little, and it has increased to a great amount; the LORD has blessed you since my coming. And now, when shall I also provide for my own house?”

JACOB realizes that he has worked 14 years for nothing except his family, wives, children and servants. He has no real possessions to care for his household as he has done everything for Laban, who received the blessing of Jacob’s labor.

31 So he (LABAN) said, “What shall I give you?”

And Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep your flocks: 32 Let me pass through all your flock today, removing from there all the speckled and spotted sheep, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and these shall be my wages. 33 So my righteousness will answer for me in time to come, when the subject of my wages comes before you: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the lambs, will be considered stolen, if it is with me.”

34 And Laban said, “Oh, that it were according to your word!”

GIVE ME NOTHING, but let me tend to the flocks. Jacob had a plan, scheming to use Laban’s flocks to amass his own.

LABAN. LET IT BE AS YOU SAY! Notice the exclamation point in the scripture. Laban thought he got the best deal because the solid color animals were the dominating colors over the other.

FACT: In that region, sheep and goats are dominantly solid white, black or dark brown. It was uncommon to have specked, striped or spotted offspring.

JACOB sets out a plan to use Laban’s flocks to make his own. Separating the solid black and dark brown for Laban from the striped, speckled and spotted for himself.

35 So he (Jacob) removed that day the male goats that were speckled and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had some white in it, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and gave them into the hand of his sons. 36 Then he put three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.