When God Calls Your Name: Jacob Series

When God Calls Your Name… Twice: Jacob

Scott Bayles, pastor

Blooming Grove Christian Church: 7/24/2016

Hearing your name called can evoke different responses depending on the circumstances. On the one hand, maybe you’re just getting off the plane after a long tour of duty, your eyes scanning all the faces in the crowd, then you hear the voice of your spouse or kids calling your name—it just fills you with joy. On the other hand, when you’re a kid and you hear your mother call you by your full name, you know you’re in trouble!

But how would you respond if God called your name not just once, but twice? As I mentioned last Sunday, God calls plenty of people in the Bible often by name, but I’ve only found seven times where God calls out someone’s name twice in a row—Martha, Martha! Saul, Saul! Moses, Moses!

In each instance, God wants—even demands—the attention of the person He’s calling. What follows is almost always a life-changing encounter with the God of creation. Last week, we began exploring these various stories when God called someone’s name twice. The first of which was Abraham. God called Abraham to remind him—and us by extension—that God must be first in our lives. Nothing and no one should take his place.

The next person God calls by name twice is Abraham’s grandson, Jacob. This encounter takes place in Genesis 46, so if you have Bible in your hand or on your phone, open it up to that passage.

And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again.” (Genesis 46:2-4 NLT).

Now let me put this vision in context for you. Jacob is now a very old man with children and grandchildren of his own. Twenty-three years ago eleven of his sons faked the death of his youngest son, Joseph. They just came home from the fields one day brandishing a bloody coat, claiming that wild animals ate Joseph. As I’m sure you know, they actually sold Joseph in slavery. Midianite merchants bought Joseph, and then sold him at auction in Egypt. During those twenty-three years, through God’s providence and protection, Joseph went from a slave in Potiphar’s house to ruler of all Egypt, second only to the Pharaoh. Meanwhile a famine sweeping across the land forces Joseph’s family to seek food in Egypt. After a bit of theatrics and a tearful reunion, Joseph forgives his brothers and reveals that he’s been living in Egypt all this time. He tells them go home, get the whole family including their father Jacob and bring them all to Egypt where he and God can provide for them.

So Joseph’s brothers rush home and confess everything to their elderly father. Now try to put yourself in Jacob’s shoes for a moment. His sons just admitted to lying about Joseph’s death. Not only did they fake Joseph’s death, but they sold Jacob’s favorite son (a seventeen year-old boy) into slavery! And now they’re telling him that Joseph is not only alive, but the most powerful man in Egypt! At first, Jacob didn’t know what to believe. He didn’t think he trust his own children. Eventually, Jacob begins to believe their story and decides to make the journey to Egypt to see Joseph for himself.

But something holds him back. The Bible doesn’t say what the problem was, but it says that it drove Jacob to seek God. He made a sacrifice to the Lord, sought him out in prayer and worship, then waited for God’s reply.

But I think God’s response is very telling. After calling Jacob’s name twice—to ensure he had Jacob’s full attention—four words reveal the condition of Jacob’s heart: “Do not be afraid…” (Genesis 46:3). Do not be afraid! Jacob was afraid.

Maybe you can relate.

Fear is a funny thing. It has a sort of paralyzing property to it. Fear kept Jacob from taking the next step in his journey. And fear often does the same to us.

What’s your worst fear?

My son is terrified of zombies. But only at night when he’s supposed to be in bed. More than once I’ve given in to his pleas and promises. He’ll beg, Dad please let me watch this movie or play this zombie game. I’m big now. I won’t be scared. So I give in and he’ll be fine while we’re playing or watching. But then comes bed time. The light goes out. The house grows quiet. The foundation creaks. The wind howls. His thoughts race. And then he’s up all night with his fears… which, of course, mean I’m up all night with his fears. His fear keeps him from doing what he wants to do—which is sleep.