There was a man who thought he found peace at a golf course until he saw a funeral procession on a street near where he was playing. So he stopped, took off his golf hat and waited till the funeral procession was over. The foursome behind him caught up with the man and said “we were really touched by your respect for the dead.” The man replied, “well, it was the least I could do, I was married to her for 45 years!”
That golfer really didn’t have real peace, did he?
We can note real peace from a man named Jacob.
We read in Genesis 25, godly man Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
Isaac, Abraham’s son, became the father of Esau and Jacob. God gave Jacob a life to live.
Then God said in Genesis 35, "Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel." So he named him Israel.
God chose Jacob to be a testimony for Him.
And so God said to Jacob, "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body. The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you."
Jacob had everything going for him in life and he knew God was with him. Jacob was a Believer of God.
But then we read in Genesis 37:34-35, Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned…… All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. Jacob experienced a tragic and hurtful event.
God gave life to Jacob; God chose Jacob; Jacob became a Believer of God; but all of a sudden Jacob had no peace!
Sin robbed Jacob of his peace; the sins of his sons and his own sins. For over 20 years, Jacob was bitter and had no peace. Did God forget about Jacob? Absolutely not!
Please open your Bibles to Genesis 46.
We read in v30…….
Jacob found peace again and was ready to face death!
Sin separated Jacob from God and peace, but God never forgot about Jacob! God used Joseph to bring Jacob and the rest of Israel back! Let us learn today how Jacob found real peace again. Read along with me Genesis 46:1-30…..
What was the first thing that Jacob did right?
Jacob answered the call of God through Joseph.
Look back briefly to Genesis 45, v25-28………..
And so we read in Genesis 46:1, Jacob set out, he packed and started his move, to Joseph. And on his way to Egypt, what was the second right thing did Jacob do?
Jacob made a stop at Beersheba and offered sacrifices!
What do you think Jacob did specifically when he offered sacrifices??
Jacob basically worshiped God.
Jacob prayed/talked to God.
Jacob gave praise to God.
Jacob gave a sacrifice (Jacob took something valuable to him and freely gave it to God).
And after Jacob’s worship of God, God spoke to Jacob directly! Jacob replied, “here I am!”
What does that indicate??
Jacob heard God and was willing to obey!
Did Jacob truly obey? Yes! Jacob took his entire family to this foreign land of Egypt
By the way, why did God talk to Jacob? Jacob was already following God. Look again at v3-4………….
Why did God have to talk to Jacob??
God had to talk to Jacob because:
God reminded Jacob of who God is!
God reaffirmed protection!
God confirmed the change of plans! Israel was to live in Canaan, the Promised Land, but God confirms a detour and a promised return!
And God tells Jacob the future!
By the way, is God speaking to us right now??
God has preserved His Word with the Bible!
Do you have a Bible? God is speaking to us right now!
Could it be that God is speaking to us right now because of the same reasons He did to Jacob? Always remember God!
What an awesome God! Do you believe in this God?
God affirmed His will in Israel’s life; and what can we note from v5-29? There was a time of excitement and celebration about God’s leading! It was one big road trip for the Israel Clan. What do you do on a family road trip? You prepare, pack, make a list, and take pictures! The Israelites didn’t have digital cameras back then, so they just went through the list of family members. What an exciting time and everything was paid for!!
Now look again at v28-29………….. Joy and love overflowed because of God and the obedience of men.
Because God didn’t give up on Jacob and Jacob responded to God, Jacob experienced true joy, true love, and true peace!
And so we read in v30…………
This one sentence states a lot doesn’t it?
I am ready to die, says: I have lived a life to the full and am ready to meet God. Wouldn’t that be awesome on a tombstone? Have you seen these tombstones?
Sir John Strange; Here lies an honest lawyer, And that is Strange.
-- Tombstone in England
Here lies Lester Moore; Four slugs from a .44; No Les No More.
-- Tombstone Arizona
John Brown is filling his last cavity.
-- Dentist’s Tombstone
I told you that I was sick!
-- Georgia Cemetary, USA
Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake; Stepped on the gas instead of the brake.
-- Pennsylvania Tombstone, USA
Under the sod and under the trees, lies the body of Jonathan Pease. He is not here, there’s only the pod; Pease shelled out and went to God.
-- Massachusetts Tombstone
Like Jacob, can your tombstone say, I lived a life to the full?
And the statement, “I have seen for myself that you are still alive”, testifies about Jacob’s personal experience with the power and love of God! Jacob found true peace in God!
Are you looking for true peace in your life?
Let us follow the example of Jacob:
Answer the call of God! And how is God calling us today? Please open your Bibles to the Letter to the Romans.
Read along with me v1-6 of Romans 1….
God calls people today to belong to God through Jesus Christ! Have you answered the call of God by believing in Christ; that Jesus is a Holy God, became man, died for your sins, and rose from the dead? You will not have true peace if you don’t believe in Jesus Christ as your God and Savior.
Jacob answered the call of God and he worshiped God.
True peace can be found by believing and worshiping Jesus Christ. How are you treating Jesus Christ in your life?
And of course, can worship be true if there is sin?
We must confess our sins and obey Christ!
Do you have true peace in your heart?
Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace! You will not truly experience peace until you receive Jesus Christ in your heart. Will you do that today? If you believe and receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and God, then you can celebrate communion with the eternal family of God!
If you have received Jesus Christ in the past, but are not experiencing peace at the moment, Jesus is telling you to remember Him and what He did for you.
Jesus Christ allowed His body to be killed on a cross for our sins; the bread of communion represents this!
The life giving blood of Jesus was shed for us so that we can be reborn and have true life and peace for eternity! The cup of communion represents the blood of Christ. God is calling all of us to believe in Jesus Christ. Answer this call today. And if you do believe in Jesus Christ as your only God and Savior, worship and obey Jesus by taking the bread and the cup and remember your Savior!
