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)
Jesus referenced this story:
John 1:51 And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter [10] you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
Lesson: God intervenes in the lives of people. Using angels
Lesson: Don’t be afraid to be alone, many times it is the only way God can get your attention.
Courson says in his commentary in John 1:51 “Most people think angels live in heaven, come down to earth occasionally, fly around a bit, and then head back up to heaven. Not true. Angels are ministering spirits assigned to specific saints, churches, and regions of the world (Acts 12; Rev_2:1; Daniel 10). Although they can go up into the heavens, their primary place of residence is with us, with this church, and with various nations. Thus, the word order here is significant. Yes, angels ascend into the heavens, but they always descend back to earth.”
II. Jabbok “The Place of Passing Over”
And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. (Gen 32:22)
We begin Genesis 32 with God reminding Jacob of his promises to him almost 20 years before. Here angels met him. Maybe to comfort him, maybe to remind him of what had happened.
The is a key transition in his life. He is at the place of passing over. The place where he leaves everything behind to get alone with God.
Lesson: Transitions in life are key to change.
III. Penial “Wrestling with God”
Genesis 32:24-30 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. (25) Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. (26) And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" (27) So He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob." (28) And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; [60] for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." (29) Then Jacob asked, saying, "Tell me Your name, I pray." And He said, "Why is it that you ask about My name?" And He blessed him there. (30) And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: [61] "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." 31 Just as he crossed over Penuel [62] the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip
From the Devotion a Full 8 Seconds
As he traveled to Canaan—a journey that would reunite him with Esau, his brother—Jacob carried not only his possessions but also a heart full of guilt and sin. He’d taken his brother’s birthright and blessing (in deception) and had lived ever since in constant fear that Esau would seek revenge (looking over his shoulder). Feeling desperate and overwhelmed, Jacob spent a night alone to take advantage of a little peace and quiet.
Instead, he got the fight of his life—a wrestling match with God!
Have you experienced something similar?
What are some things we wrestle with God for?
Maybe you’re troubled with a stressful situation at work, a dispute at church, a disagreement with a friend or a struggle within your family. So you seek a place that will give you a moment or two of peace or stability, only to find that the emotional and spiritual load you’ve been carrying has settled firmly on your shoulders. And rather than clinging to the One who can provide real relief, you find yourself making the situation worse by dwelling on the burden and letting worry get the best of you.
Sometimes you have to put everything else aside, reach out to God and hold on with everything you’ve got. The only way you can really escape the burden of sin and guilt is by embracing the One who defeated these burdens—along with death. Make no mistake—the God who created the world, who holds the stars in check and who knows the most minute issues that you struggle with, cares. He loves you and is waiting for you to trust him with your cares and concerns—present, past and future.
What were the Results:
1) A blessing
2) A limp
To paraphrase that wise Montana cowboy, “You’ve just gotta hang on to God more than sin and guilt want to pull you away.”
In what situations are you tempted to let go of God? Why?
Lessons 1: Don’t let go
Lesson 2: God will often times birth something in our crisis.
Lesson 3: Wrestling is good.
“You can’t change what you do until you come to Jabbok and change what you are” – J Charles Smith, Jr
IV. El Bethel “God in the House of God”
Then God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother." And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone." So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree which was by Shechem. And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 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, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother. (Genesis 35:1-7)
Lessons 1: I want more. I need to go back.
Lessons 2: If you want more you will often times have to give something up.
Conclusion
How far are you willing to God with God this year? How much are you willing to give up?
