Genesis 28
So last week we looked at a familiar story – the story of a dysfunctional family. A family full of favoritism and deception. We saw how the family was torn apart. Sadly, a Familiar Story.
Intro:
Today we pick up immediately following those events.
Scene:
Esau is furious, he has pledged to kill his brother Jacob after their father Isaac dies.
Jacob is terrified and needs to flea.
Jacob’s mom Rebekah devises a plan to get Jacob away to safety.
She goes to Isaac and says that she is sick of these local girls, the Hethite girls, and does not want Jacob to marry one – she says if he marries one, what good is my life.
Genesis 28:1-2
3-
Isaac reiterates the blessing.
6-9
Esau desires acceptance from his parents. He had these local wives, apparently a few – but he overhears Isaac tell Jacob not to marry a local, and instead marry one of girls from his mother’s distant clan; so Esau says, let me do something similar! He goes to Ishmael! Isaac’s half brother! And marries one of his daughters.
10-13
This has to be an amazing dream. He is laying there and he sees a Stairway to Heaven…(cue the music).
14-15
He sees this stairway – and who came down it? The LORD! And the Lord is speaking to Jacob! And HE confirms the blessing! He confirms WHO He is and PROMISES the blessing of Abraham upon Jacob.
Not NOTICE WHAT GOD SAYS: I am with you
Explain!
16-17
Experiencing God can be overwhelming! It seems silly that he may think what he thinks here, but remember – Jacob had previously said plainly when speaking with Isaac – YOUR GOD – Jacob didn’t really understand because Jacob didn’t have a relationship with God. This is encounter #1 really for him.
You also have to understand that Jacob has been around heathens and pagans. So his understanding was that god’s had LOCAL authority only. He has no real concept of YAHWEH – no understanding that God is GOD everywhere, all the time!
18-22
IF, IF, IF, IF – THEN
In Jacob’s mind the relationship is IF – THEN = if God does this, THEN He is my God. Which implies, if God doesn’t, THEN He won’t.
Notice verse 22: The Lord will be my God – and this stone is set up as a marker to God’s house, and I will give you a tenth of ALL that you give me! Sounds like tithing! Sounds familiar!
This probably sounds familiar as well.
2 ways:
Jacob way – If God does, then God is my god
The Laborers way – If I DO, then God is god
I want you to hear:
I AM WITH YOU
Jacob was not perfect. He was a liar, a deceiver – to put it simply – HE WAS A SINNER!
And God calls to Jacob and says, I AM WITH YOU!
Translate – I HAVE CHOSEN YOU – YOU ARE MINE!
I KNOW YOU BY NAME! AND I AM WITH YOU!
And listen up – GOD IS LOVE!
LOVE KNOWS YOU! Calls you. Desires you.
You and I are in this wonderful covenant of Grace! When we become saved we are saved! Not because of anything we have done, because let me tell you = we are all sinners!
If you are one of the laborers – If I do this, then I will be good enough for God = Isaiah 64:6
You WILL NEVER DO ENOUGH, GOOD ENOUGH, RIGHT ENOUGH, CLEAN ENOUGH, BECAUSE YOU ARE A SINNER!
But God loves you anyway! And Jesus died on the cross for you! And His blood washes away the stains of your sins!
If you are a Jacob dealer – If God does this, then I will know that God is my God, what you are really seeking is proof that God is who He says He is, and that He really does love you = Romans 5:8
GOD PROVED HIS LOVE ALREADY! While you were still a sinner! Christ died for you!
WOW look back as Genesis – Jacob had not gone to God – NO – God came to Jacob. God CALLED Jacob – and said _ I AM WITH YOU! And HE calls to you the same way.
Not dependent on who you are, or what you have done – but completely on who HE is, and what He has done for you.
God comes into the MESS of our lives and loves us through it. He loves us in our mess, but he loves us to much to leave us in the mess – so he walks with us, helps us, into a better future!
