Good Morning. Last week, we focused on the Gospel, becoming a Christian, and Romans 6:23 which says that “The Wages of Sin is Death, but the Free Gift... This week we move to what comes next, changing our life having become believers, which is displayed wonderfully in the story of Jacob in Genesis. Stories are great for teaching lessons, Parables. Today is mostly story. Example-
I think I have shared with many of you how good of an actor Nick is. In Scranton, he was the lead in numerous Musicals, but ONE of the most amazing on-stage things he did was not acting. He was the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, and he only had 40 seconds at the end of the play to change his outfit from the beast, with makeup, prosthetics, and bulky furry clothes, to become the prince.
Sanctification is a big 5 syllable word for God’s process, having become a Christian, of our being transformed more and more into Christ, and I think we wish it was that fast. We could have this “quick change” and be permanently resistant to the temptations of this world: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride. But the process can be both slow and painful.
This is especially reflected in story of Jacob, who took decades to transform from the most selfish person you could ever meet, into the Patriarch who God named Israel and who fathered 12 tribes. His story spans from Genesis 25-50
Before his birth, God told his mom that Jacob would be a grasper, (supplanter/taker/thief) and his twin brother was born with Isaac grabbing his ankle. He grabbed his older brother’s birthright and later stole his blessing. All of this caused him to flee for his life, to his grandfather Abraham’s homeland.
Now, when it came to being a scoundrel, Jacob was an amateur compared to his father-in-law Laban, but God blessed him abundantly despite Laban’s best efforts to steal from him. Basically they spent 20 years trying to steal from each other until they finally parted ways, agreeing never to meet again under any circumstances. This left Jacob as the richest homeless man around, thousands of flocks, 11 sons plus daughters, and many servants.
God told Jacob to go back home to his father in Canaan, but he is still scared of his brother Esau after stealing so much from him. All of this to set the stage for a man who is promised great things by God, who has been blessed by God, but has no confidence God will take care of him. In Genesis 32, right before our lesson, we see Jacob asking God for help, and at the same time struggling to protect himself in case God lets him down.
This is why so many preachers love the story of Jacob, because it really hits home to the hearts of so many of us who have been blessed by God far beyond what we deserve, “We Know we are blessed, and we know it is from Him” and yet still struggle trusting God, no quick change.
Jacob has lived for 21 years worrying about how he was going to make it to tomorrow, while at the same time growing from a homeless man to a millionaire of his time. “God is blessing me now, but will he still be blessing me 5 minutes from now, or do I need to get myself prepared for God forgetting about me?”
At the beginning of chapter 32, after seeing angels, Jacob sends messengers to Esau telling he is on his way home. The messengers return saying that Esau is on his way with 400 men to “greet” Jacob.
What Jacob does next is how we, as Christians, often act in trials.
Step one, he divides his camp in two, so that if one is attacked, the other can escape. He is planning what happens if God doesn’t come through.
Step two, Jacob gives one of the most beautiful prayers in the Bible. In verse 32:9, he begins with Adoration to God, honoring God for who he is. In verse 10, he confesses his sinfulness, in verse 11 makes his requests, and ends it in verse 12 reminding God of his promises. A beautiful model prayer which seems to trust in God to be his salvation in time of turmoil.
The very next morning, Jacob takes 550 of his animals, (which tells you how much God blessed him that he can spare that many), an amount today that would be valued at almost $1 million, and divides them into three groups. He then sends them one at a time “From Your servant Jacob, to my lord Esau, and your servant Jacob is behind us.”
Next Jacob does the worst thing and the best thing he ever did. After Jacob has sent out three waves of servants and gifts to slow down and woo Esau with his 400 men, he sends his two camps with his two wives and 11 children behind his 3 waves, also across the river. Jacob, however, stays on the other side of the river, alone, while he has put both everything that he owns, and his wives and children, between Esau and himself.
And it is at this point, and I get to say something that you can only say when you preach on this passage. At this point that Jesus comes along to beat him up. Yes, Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, appears to Jacob and wrestles with him all night, finally putting his hip out of joint for life, and telling Jacob “say uncle” and go away. However, it is here, that Jacob does the one best thing, living up to his name in a good way.
Jacob refuses, but holds on to, GRASPS the man he knows is not just a man, but God. And Jacob refuses to let go until God blesses him.
And, as we read, God does bless him, changing his name to Israel. And here is where some dramatic transformation begins for him.
Blessed by God, after seeing him face to face – and living, Jacob limps from the back of the line, across the river, in front of his family, in front of his servants, and meets Esau face to face, hugs and kisses him.
This transformation has been painful, forcing Jacob to face his many faults and skeletons. Martin Luther particularly shared how he saw Jacob struggle with trusting God in himself. He especially felt that when God is working in us, transforming us, it can be confusing, frustrating, and painful. What Luther saw, which made this a favorite passage for him, was that, in our trials, in our struggles, the most important thing to do is for us to grasp on to God, and not continually rely on our own strength.
Luther, as a monk, struggled greatly with trying to be perfect, and constantly failing. And when he finally understood God’s grace, he clung to it with everything that he had, no matter how many threats were sent his way by the people of the world.
So this morning, we have an opportunity to remember two important lessons from the life of Jacob. First, our trials are a sign that God is working out his plan of Sanctification in our life, and the trials are times and opportunities of growth.
Second that the most important thing for us to do at all times is to trust in the Lord, rather than ourselves.
