I. INTRODUCTION: GENESIS 25-37
1. Does our walk with God make a difference in rearing our children?
Yes, because Christ changes your goals, values and attitudes. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Cor. 5:17).
No, because of character. “You habitually do the same thing in the same way.”
2. Jacob had two aspects to his life.
a. The surplanter was a deceiver. “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he hath supplanted me these two times” (Gen. 27:36).
b. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, i.e., Prince with God. “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel for thou hast power with God and with man, and hast prevailed” (Gen. 32:28).
c. When you meet God your whole life changes, and the way you rear your children changes.
B. JACOB CHANGED BUT HIS GROWN CHILDREN DID NOT
1. Jacob’s sons (Simeon and Levi) broke their fathers treaty with Shechem and killed the people. “They slew Hamor and Shechem . . . the sons of Jacob spoiled the city and took (everything)” (Gen. 34:26-28).
2. Judah committed incest. “Let me (Judah) come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law)” (Gen. 38:16).
3. Jacob’s sons wanted to kill Joseph. “Come now let us slay him” (Gen. 37:20).
4. Jacob’s sons sold Joseph into slavery. “Come now let us sell him” (Gen. 37:27).
5. Jacob’s sons lied to him. “The coat of many colors . . . dipped it in blood . . . brought it to their father” (Gen. 37:31,32). They let Jacob suffer thirteen years, “Then he saw the wagons . . . the spirit of Jacob their father revived” (Gen. 45:27).
6. Like father, like son. The sons of Jacob were “chips off the old block.”
C. HOW JACOB CHANGED
1. Made a vow when he was young at Bethel. “Jacob vowed a vow, saying if God will be with me . . .” (Gen. 28:20).
2. By faith claimed God’s blessing. I will not let thee go, except thou bless me” (Gen. 32:26).
3. Jacob went back to his roots. “God said to Jacob, arise, go up to Bethel” (Gen. 35:1).
4. Separated his family from idolatry. “Jacob said . . . put away your strange gods” (Gen. 35:2). “Jacob buried them under the oak which was by Shechem” (Gen. 35:4).
5. Set up family worship. “He (Jacob) built there an altar and called the place El-Bethel” (Gen. 35:7).
6. Jacob talked with God. “God went up from the place where he talked with (Jacob) him” (Gen. 35:13).
D. JOSEPH AND BENJAMIN WERE REARED DIFFERENTLY
1. What was the difference? “The son of his old age” (Gen. 37:3).
How are grandfathers different from fathers?
More patient – they know better.
More loving – they need it.
More understanding – they have been there.
More forgiving – they have done that.
More time to share – because they have it.
2. Jacob loved him. “Israel loved Joseph” (Gen. 37:3).
3. Jacob was giving. “He (Jacob) made him a coat of many colors.”
4. Jacob trusted him. “Go . . . see if it be well with thy brethren” (Gen. 37:14).
5. Jacob empowered him. “So he (Jacob) sent him” (Gen. 37:14).
E. MISTAKES JACOB MADE WITH JOSEPH
1. Let Joseph hang out with older brothers who did not have character. “Joseph . . . and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah” (Gen. 37:2).
2. Partiality. “Israel loved Joseph more than all his children” (Gen. 37:3). Easier to love an obedient, teachable child, but you must love all equally. It makes older children jealous, judgmental and mean.
3. Special treatment. “He (Jacob) made him a coat of many colors” (Gen. 37:3).
4. Motivated him to feel superior. “Joseph dreamed a dream and he told it to his brethren, and they hated him yet the more” (Gen. 37:5).
5. Sent Joseph to spy on them. “Israel said to Joseph . . . I will send thee to them” (Gen. 37:13). “Go I pray thee and see . . . and bring me word” (Gen. 37:14). Jacob trusted Joseph but not the older brothers.
F. LESSONS TO TAKE AWAY
1. Explain your new life. After you are saved, you have new goals, new desires, and new passion.
a. Pray with all.
b. Share answers to prayer with them.
c. Role model – treat all the same (be fair).
d. Teach Christian values and principles.
e. Give reasons for purity.
f. Work with their decision-making.
2. Teach trust. Joseph was trustworthy because he proved he could be trusted.
a. Some know how to do it, but cannot trust them.
b. Some do not know how to do it, but you can trust them.
3. Travel. Jacob took them to different cultures.
4. Reward. Give Joseph a coat, but explain how all can get one.
5. God’s restoration. After you have spent your life without the Lord, God can give you a second chance. “I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten” (Joel 2:25).
6. Help. The second time you have got help.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
