Opening illustration: Illustration of Sadhu Sundar Singh and how he was a captive till he came to Jesus dramatically. His life did a complete 180.
Illustration of Saul who was a persecutor of Christians and a captive to the system and world changes.
Introduction: In Genesis 32 we see Jacob as a distressed man. He has, somewhat willingly, and yet also for reasons of his own sued for peace with his brother Esau so as to be able to return to his homeland. How his brother will react is unknown to him. And thus, he is distressed and sleepless.
And so, it is for many of us that our sins have a way of catching up with us. If we indulge them, sooner or later we are no longer able to sleep the sleep of the just, and all the promises of sin now become bills that are overdue.
Having come to this distressed and critical place in his life, God goes to work on Jacob to purify him and test him. On a dark and lonely night in the desert, Jacob finds himself alone and afraid, and God will meet him.
What was Jacob running from?
1. From GOD
a) He had lied and manipulated all his life.
b) He lived with a birthright not rightfully his.
c) Even implicated God by claiming that God had given him the venison quickly.
d) Sin has a way of finding us out! (Proverbs 13:15)
2. From ESAU his brother
a) He stole Esau’s birthright.
b) He stole Esau’s deathbed blessing.
c) Esau had sworn to kill him, (the lingering fear).
d) He knew he was guilty.
3. From HIMSELF
a) His conscience followed him everywhere.
b) His own sense of justice condemned him.
c) Tried to bury his conscience with wealth, to no avail.
d) The world is full of “Jacobs”; people on the run. (Some of them are even here today).
Application: You may be in a similar situation where you have deceived or betrayed people and now you are on a run. You can trust no one because of what you do. Others have done stuff to you so having burnt your fingers; you are always on the edge. Who is going to betray next? We have become captives to situations and occurrences in our lives. Because of the failure of others and yourself in life, anxieties are skyrocketing, and you become a stronger captive to these situations.
How we react and handle these situations in life will either free us or continue to make us captives throughout our lives.
Jesus came with a mission “to heal the broken hearted and set the captives free.” Are you truly free?
Next week: How Jacob is set free?
