Intro. Gen 30:24-25 The Birth of the Favorite Son!
I want to begin a series on Joseph. But in doing so, I want to look at his very beginning as we journey into his life. To do that, we must begin with Jacob. Joseph was just a young man at this time. But Daddy was about to be changed forever. With 11 sons and one daughter, Jacob decided to leave his father in law. But Laban was upset with him for leaving, so there was great conflict there. Jacob’s character was seen in his response to Laban: Gen 31:38-42 He changed.
It had been about 20 years since Jacob had left his father and the presence of Esau. It had been 20 years since he had come to that place that was once called Luz, where Jacob encountered God (Gen 28:12-19)
He had been crooked in his life, but then began to walk straighter after God met with him at Bethel. But he still reaped earthly things off of his previous life. His Father-in-law, Laban, and Jacob were cut of the same cloth. "What’s in it for me?" But Jacob had worked for Laban and given him honest work. Prior to our text, Jacob had departed from Laban with his family. He had not been honest prior, but he had worked for Laban honestly. He was still acknowledging the God he had met at Bethel. He now faced a path, on which he would take his family. This would be the memories of a little boy named Joseph. And the journey began. In the human realm, someone trained Joseph, and I believe it was the father that loved him. How did Joseph faced all he did?
I know, the answer is God’s grace, but earthly speaking - Daddy changed!
The First time that Jacob came to Bethel, God saved him - Gen 28:21 "So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee."
It was here that God Secured him - Gen 32:27 "And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." (Victory)
God then Touched Jacob, and Settled him - He established a new walk in Jacob. Genesis 32: 30 "And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. 31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. 32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank." Even facing Esau, he was settled!
Now, in our text, we find the Sanctification of Jacob - Genesis 35:1-15
We come to an altar, an altar of surrender - And he built the altar to HIS God. He was faced with a failure of sin in His children (chap 34), and then we come to Chapter 35. And here we find the ultimate change of Jacob, Joseph’s Daddy. Now do not misunderstand, we are all sanctified at salvation. But the work of Sanctification of God is two-fold. You will find in the scriptures- we are sanctified unto God at salvation (positional sanctification). 1 Cor 6:11 "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
Hebrews 10:14 "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." But the process through which we have followed Jacob is that of Spiritual growth - Progressional sanctification. Jacob had been through much, and in chapter 35, we see God wanted him to be even more "set apart" unto Him. 1 Thess 5:23 "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Why do so many believe that God is finished doing anything in their life at salvation? God wants us to be holy unto Him!
After this chapter, we find Jacob as a man full of God’s Spirit, wisdom, blessing his boys, worshiping as he leans on his staff, and dwelling in God’s blessings for years. The focus in Genesis is about to change to Joseph, but before we look at Joseph, I want us to see God reminds, renews, and revives Jacob once again!
I. God Reminded Jacob of his Conversion - vs. 1-4 I have been drawn back to that often in the last few weeks! God did it for Jacob too!
A. He Remembered the Place – Bethel – Go up to Bethel! (House of God)
Where He was changed forever! - Wherever we are coming from it is a step up to go to the House of God! This building is sanctified for the use of us meeting together, but at salvation, you became the Temple of the Holy Ghost - The Christian life is not just for Sunday!
1. A place of Faith - Galatians 3:22 "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe."
2. The place where life began. John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." We need to remember! We must return to kneel!
B. He Revealed the Purpose - Dwell there and Make an altar
1. Time to Abide with God! – Dwell John 15:7 "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." 1Jo 2:6 "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
2. Time to Dedicate - Build an altar
- To Sacrifice -Jesus paid for salvation, but We are to be living sacrifices!
- To Praise - Do you have breath?
- To Pray - 1 Timothy 2:8 "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."
C. He Required Preparation - vs. 2-4
Just the presence of God demanded a Spiritual bath.
1. A Putting away - get rid of the Idols! Eph 4:22 "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
1Jo 5:21 "Little children, keep yourselves from idols."
2. A Purity - Be Clean 2 Corinthians 7:1 "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." We must never think that we will be any closer to God if we are not willing to put away what keeps us from Him!
3. A Putting Off - Change your garments (How are we adorned before God?)
Eph 4:22 "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
II. God Renews Jacob’s Confidence - vs. 5
A. He had been Shaken by his Past (Esau)
B. He had been Sickened by his Children (Dinah, Simeon and Levi)
1. Dinah had committed an abomination of fornication
2. Simeon and Levi had committed an abomination of lying
Even worse, they twisted the scriptures to get their way. All dishonesty is wrong, but dishonesty wrapped in a Bible text is the proverbial "bottom of the barrel" of lies.
C. He was now Scared of the Enemy - Genesis 34:30 Others in the Land would probably seek revenge for the men of Shechem BUT GOD WENT BEFORE HIM! Psalms 32:8 "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."
III. God Revives Jacob’s Covenant - vs. 6-15 (The covenant was always there!)
A. The Rekindling of the Joy of His Salvation- vs. 6-8 He had come back to the Place! Have you come back to the place? Not necessarily the spot, but the place of Calvary! - He called the altar - El-Bethel -"The Mighty God of the House of God"
When we journey back to where we first met the Lord, we will have no choice than to recognize that the God that has kept us is the Mighty God! Jeremiah 32:18 "Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,"
B. The Restating of the Promise -vs. 9-13- God Revealed Himself
1. His Personal Name - vs. 9-10 Jacob had to recognize he was no longer his own, but now a prince with God, Israel!
Poor stumbling Jacob, was still Israel to God! GRACE!
2. His Promised Fame - vs. 11 - God is going to use you!
Oh that God would endue us with His touch! Oh that God’s power would cover our church. Oh that sinners would come to Christ. Oh that Saints would find personal revival! And out of us would come “Kings and Priests” unto God! Those redeemed by His Grace!
3. His Perpetual Claim - vs. 12-13 - The promises of provision is true
Every promise is true! You can rest on God’s unbreakable Word!
C. The Revelation of the Preciousness of God’s Mercy - vs. 14-15
Here Jacob poured out an offering, an Old Testament offering that pictured by God’s mighty hand - the New Testament offering.
At the very spot where Jacob had seen the ladder reach from earth to heaven, where God reveled Himself to him the first time - He now built the altar, not for salvation - he already had the relationship - but out of testimony!
1. His Family needed reminding
2. The World needed to know what God had done
3. God gave us in the future a picture of grace:
*The Pillar of Stone spoke of the Rock of our Salvation, for no foundation can be laid except for the Stone that the builders rejected
*The Drink Offering - no doubt was the blood of grapes - signifying the blood that Jesus would shed that still saves today
*The Oil - is the picture of the Holy Spirit that indwells every believer
There, by the sovereignty of God, Jacob’s altar pictures the SALVATION!
Concl. Genesis is about to turn to the story of Joseph! But God changed Jacob, and prepared Joseph. If you have never trusted Christ, as your only Saviour - today, He will accept you, and change you.
If you have been genuinely redeemed, are you walking as a changed person!
Disclaimer: A man once told me that if it is true, it is not new. If it is new, it is not true. We all know there is nothing new under the sun. With that said, I glean ideas for my sermons from God’s Word, my own thoughts and work, and many other sources. Any similarity to my sermons and others, where credit is not given, is either coincidental, or an unintentional mistake on my part. As none of us have a corner on the wisdom and teaching of God’s Word, it is my desire that any of my outlines be an encouragement, a help, and hopefully a motivation for others to preach God’s Word clearly. Please feel free to use any portion of my sermons if they can be of help to you and your ministry. It is all for His Glory.
