2024.08.04.Sermon Notes. Jacob the Deceiver Deceived
William Akehurst, HSWC
BIG IDEA: Jacob deceived his father Isaac for the Blessing. And after working 7 years for Laban’s daughter Rachel, he received her sister Leah as his wife.
Key Verse: Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Scriptures: Genesis 29:1-35, Genesis 30:1-43, Hebrews 12:2, Galatians 6:7, Luke 6:35-38, Genesis 49:29-31
JACOB’S JOURNEY
Genesis 29:1-35 (NKJV)
1 So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the East. 2 And he looked, and saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stone was on the well’s mouth. 3 Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well’s mouth.
A LARGE STONE THAT REQUIRES MANY TO REMOVE FROM THE WELL?
CASUAL CONVERSATION
4 And Jacob said to them, “My brethren, where are you from?”
And they said, “We are from Haran.”
5 Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?”
And they said, “We know him.”
6 So he said to them, “Is he well?”
And they said, “He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.”
TRADITION. GATHER TOGETHER, THEN MOVE THE STONE
7 Then he said, “Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”
8 But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.”
JACOB’S MOTIVATION
9 Now while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
JACOB’S STRENGTHENED BY LOVE AT FIRST SITE?
KISS = TRADITIONAL GREETING.
11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son. So she ran and told her father.
A WIFE FOR JACOB
13 Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things. 14 And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month.
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?” 16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance.
LEAH’S EYES, DELICATE, WEAK
RACHEL’S BEAUTY AND STRENGTH (SHEPHERDESS)
JACOB’S LOVE = 7 YEARS
18 Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.”
19 And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her. (compare Hebrews 12:2)
LABAN’S DECEPTION
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.” 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. 24 And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. 25 So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?” (compare Galatians 6:7)
THE BIRTHRIGHT EXPLAINED. BIRTH ORDER RESPECTED. REVERSE DECEPTION
26 And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.”
7 MORE YEARS
28 Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. 29 And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. 30 Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.
The Children of Jacob
UNLOVED AND YET BLESSED
31 When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. 32 So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The LORD has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.”
REUBEN – SEE SON, LOOK SON
REUBEN (meaning “LOOKSON”) so named because Leah said, “God has looked upon my affliction,” referring to Jacob’s not loving her as he did Rachel. She said, “Now my husband will love me.”
NOT RECEIVING HER HUSBANDS LOVE, DID LEAH LOOK MORE TO GOD FOR HIS LOVE? OR DID GOD RESPOND TO HER WITH LOVE, DRAWING HER CLOSE TO HIMSELF?
FOR THOSE WHO FEEL ALONE AND UNLOVED, DRAW NEAR TO GOD, WHO SHOULD BE OUR FIRST LOVE. DRAW NEAR TO THE LORD AND IN DOING SO, FIND HIS GREAT LOVE FOR YOU.
33 Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.
SIMEON (meaning “HEARD”). God had heard her prayers.
34 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
LEVI (meaning “ATTACHED”). Leah believed Jacob would then be attached to her.
35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
JUDAH (meaning “PRAISE”). She said, “I will praise Jehovah.”
SONS OF BILHAH
Genesis 30:1-43 (NKJV)
1 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die!”
“GIVE ME CHILDREN, OR I DIE” (GENESIS 30:1) THIS IS CALLED RACHEL’S RASH PRAYER, FOR GOD INDEED GAVE HER CHILDREN, AND SHE DIED! (GENESIS 35:16-20).
2 And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”
“AM I IN THE PLACE OF GOD … ?” IN ANGER JACOB SAID THIS (GENESIS 30:2) TO RACHEL WHEN SHE DEMANDED CHILDREN OF HIM. IN ALL THE SORROWS AND JEALOUSIES THAT CLOUDED JACOB’S HOUSE, THE OLD ISRAEL DID INDEED BELIEVE IN GOD, A FACT INCREASINGLY CLEAR AS THE STORY OF JACOB UNFOLDS.
3 So she said, “Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her.”
“BILHAH, GO IN UNTO HER” (GENESIS 30:3) RACHEL INTRODUCES HER CONCUBINAGE INTO THE PATRIARCHAL FAMILY OF ISRAEL WITH CONSEQUENCES OF UNMITIGATED SORROW. LEAH AT ONCE GAVE HER HANDMAID TO JACOB AS WIFE.
4 Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her. 5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. 6 Then Rachel said, “God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan.
DAN (meaning “DECISION”, i.e., a judicial decision). So named because Rachel said, “God has judged me.”
7 And Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Then Rachel said, “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali.
NAPHTALI (meaning “BOUT”). Rachel said, “I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed.”
SONS OF ZILPAH
9 When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as wife. 10 And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said, “A troop comes!” So she called his name Gad.
GAD (meaning “FORTUNATE” or “LUCK”). So named by Leah who was glad to be gaining more ground on her sister.
12 And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13 Then Leah said, “I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed.” So she called his name Asher.
ASHER (meaning “HAPPY”). Leah said, “Happy am I.”
SUPERSTITION OR ANCIENT MEDICINE?
14 Now Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”
15 But she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?”
And Rachel said, “Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes.”
LEAH HIRES JACOB WITH MANDRAKES TO RACHEL
16 When Jacob came out of the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” And he lay with her that night.
MORE SONS FOR LEAH
17 And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18 Leah said, “God has given me my wages, because I have given my maid to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar.
ISSACHAR (meaning “HIRED MAN”). She had purchased a night’s sleep with her husband for her son’s mandrakes.
19 Then Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. 20 And Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun.
ZEBULUN (meaning “DWELLING”). Leah then believed that, “Now my husband will dwell with me.”
21 Afterward she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah.
RACHEL’S CHILDREN
22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. 23 And she conceived and bore a son, and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” 24 So she called his name Joseph, and said, “The LORD shall add to me another son.”
JOSEPH (meaning “ADD”). This name amounted to a prayer by Rachel that she might have another son.
FULFILLED WITH BENJAMIN (This name means “SON OF THE RIGHT HAND”, a name given by Jacob. Rachel called him BENONI, meaning “SON OF MY SORROW,” for she died in giving birth to the baby). This is related in Genesis 35:16-20.
THE NAMES OF THESE SONS OF JACOB ALONE SHOW US THE RIVALRY, JEALOUSY AND CONTENTION BETWEEN THE WIVES OF JACOB.
AS THIS BITTER, CONSTANT RIVALRY BETWEEN RACHEL AND LEAH IS EXEMPLIFIED FOR OUR UNDERSTANDING.
GOD SAID THAT MARRIAGE WAS TO BE BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN FOR A REASON.
WHEN WE GO OUTSIDE OF GOD’S DESIGN FOR MARRIAGE, WE SEE BITTERNESS, RESENTMENT, JEALOUSY, FRUSTRATION AND EVERY KIND OF RELATIONAL STRESS.
RACHEL: USING HER HUSBAND’S LOVE TO CONTROL THE OTHER WOMEN AS TO WHEN THEY MIGHT LIE WITH JACOB
HER BITTERNESS THAT SHE HAD NO CHILDREN; HER DESPERATE PRAYER, “GIVE ME CHILDREN, OR I DIE”; THAT EVENTUALLY CAME TO BE WITH HER 2ND BORN BENJAMIN.
LEAH: FRUSTRATION THAT JACOB NEVER TOOK HER INTO HIS HEART, NEVER TRULY SHOWED HER LOVE AS HE DID RACHEL.
WE WILL SEE IN THE UPCOMING CHAPTER WHEN RACHEL HAS HER 2ND BORN, THAT JACOB GAVE HIM THE NAME BENJAMIN, WHICH MEANS “SON OF THE RIGHT HAND”.
GIVING THE YOUNGEST OF ALL 12 SONS A NAME ABOVE ALL THE OTHERS. JACOB WAS TRULY A SUPPLANTER. AND HE REAPED WHAT HE HAD SOWN.
HOW TRAGIC A HOUSEHOLD THAT WAS!
BUT GOD CAN USE OUR TRAGEDY FOR HIS GOOD.
HE CAN USE OUR MESSED-UP LIVES FOR HIS PURPOSE.
HE LOOKS FOR US TO TURN TO HIM FOR HIS LOVE.
AND WHEN WE FEEL UNLOVED OR ALONE, REMEMBER THAT GOD IS CALLING US TO COME TO HIM. HE IS THE ALL SUFFICIENT ONE, HE IS THE ONE WHO CAN MEET ALL OF OUR NEEDS.
AND GOD’S DESIRE IS TOWARD YOU AND ME, AS HE WANTS FOR US TO COME BACK TO OUR FIRST LOVE WITH HIM.
THE OTHER IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED, IS THAT WE WILL REAP WHAT WE SOW.
AS JACOB SOWED IN DECEIPT, HE REAPED, RECEIVING DECEIPT. WE SEE THE DECEIVER HAS BEEN DECEIVED.
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
GOD WILL NOT BE MOCKED. WE CAN'T DECEIVE GOD. HE IS THE ALL KNOWING ONE AND LOOKS AT OUR HEARTS.
DO WE CARRY ANY DECEPTION WITHIN US?
ARE WE HIDING THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED?
ARE WE ATTEMPTING GET AHEAD WITHOUT BEING TRUTHFUL?
ARE WE EVEN TRUTHFUL WITH OURSELVES?
IN Luke 6:35-38 WE SEE HOW WE ARE TO BE TOWARDS OTHERS, AND EVEN TOWARD OURSELVES. AND WHEN WE FOLLOW YOUR WORD, WE CAN RECEIVE THE INTENDED BLESSING.
FORGIVE AND YOU WILL BE FORGIVEN. AND THE ROOT OF THESE WORDS ARE "GIVE AND IT WILL BE GIVEN"
IT IS BETTER TO GIVE AS IF WE'RE GIVING TO OURSELVES.
Luke 6:35-38
35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
FATHER,
FORGIVE US WHERE WE HAVE STRAYED. AS THE SHEPHERD LOOKS FOR THE LOST SHEEP, YOUR WORD CALLS US BACK TO YOUR FOLD, CORRECTING, REDIRECTING US TO BE HOLY AND SET APART FROM OTHERS. FOR YOUR LOVE FOR US, RESCUES US, EVEN FROM OURSELVES.
AND AS WE LOOK INTO YOUR WORD, WE SEE THIS FAMILY OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB, THAT YOU CHOSE, AS MESSED-UP AS IT IS, TO FULFILL YOUR PROMISE OF REDEMPTION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. WE THANK YOU FOR LOVING US, BEYOND OUR LACK OF UNDERSTANDING, AND EVEN WHEN WE CHOOSE WRONG. WE SEE THAT YOUR LOVE, MERCY AND GRACE IS ALL SUFFICIENT, AND THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED A WAY OF REDEMPTION, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. OPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING TO YOUR WAYS, YOUR THOUGHTS, AND YOUR PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES. USE US TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR PLANS, GUIDE US HOLY SPIRIT IN ALL TRUTH AND BREAK THE STRONGHOLDS THAT WE MAY HAVE IN OUR LIVES, TO YOUR GLORY, YOUR HONOR AND YOUR PRAISE, ALL IN THE NAME OF JESUS, OUR SOON COMING KING, AMEN.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
