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JACOB:
FROM DECEIVER TO BELIEVER
Genesis 32:24-31
“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until
the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him,
he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out
of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will
not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy
name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more
Jacob, but Israel:
for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray
thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my
name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face,
and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Penuel
the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.”
I. Where have all our heroes gone?
A. Modern society wants them, but
doubts them.
I can recall a letter a young person wrote to
God:
God,
My heroes are You, Martin Luther
King, Chris Columbus, and
Ghost Busters. You are my second favorite. Honest.
Melanie, age 7
1) Build someone up, then destroy them.
2) Greatest heroes are machines
(Terminator, Robo Cop).
B. OT full of heroes,
properly understood.
1) Hero begins as someone who
experiences conflict.
2) He acts (in a good way) in
response to these conflicts.
3) His actions reveal much about
God's character and values.
a) Obedience to God gives all life an
adequate basis.
C. Like our day, characters of Bible
were often flawed.
1) They are not plastic saints,
but real people.
2) God's values are often hidden
until the end.
3) One of the best examples is
JACOB, the Scoundrel.
II. Circular, three-part movement of
Jacob's life.
A. Early life > interlude in Haran > return to
home (and God).
B. Each movement is marked by an
encounter with God and conflict.
C. Step by step, Jacob grows in his
relationship with God.
III. Jacob's early life in
parent's home.
Gen 25-28
A. Divine encounter: Prophetic oracle to Rebekah. 25:23
B. Conflict: Family discord.
1) Got name from grabbing
brother's heel at birth. 25:26
2) Grasps birthright from oldest
son Esau. 25:29-34
a) Esau more to blame, for he
treats it lightly. Heb 12:16
b) Esau lives only for the
moment (appetite) and has
no
concern for spiritual realities.
3) Steals blessing by deception
of sheep skin. 27:12-30
a) Father's blessing had real
value in ancient times.
b)
Dramatic irony - we know more than characters in story.
c) Esau plans to murder his
brother. 27:41
IV. Twenty year exile in Haran.
(Initiation motif) Gen
29-31
A. Divine encounter: Vision at Bethel. 28:11-17
1) Ladder symbolizes communication
and spiritual rapport
with
God.
a) Deeper meaning - God is
shown to be a loving, covenant God.
b) The mystery and the
closeness of God is captured.
2) Jacob's response shows his
spiritual sensitivity.
a) He builds an altar to
reflect his sense of sanctify of
moment
of God's encounter.
28:18
b) He vows to tithe to show
he accepts his covenant
responsibilities.
28:22
B. Conflict: Struggles with Laban. Gen 29-31
1) Substitute bride (Leah) is
example of poetic justice. 29:25
2) Scheme of striped branches for
goats shows Jacob's character
is still
warped.
30:37
a) Angel in dream rebukes his
scheme by giving God credit.
b) At same time, God's is
favorable toward Jacob and
has
prospered him. 31:12
3) Interlude ends with Jacob once
again fleeing a relative
he
has antagonized.
V. Return to land of his birth. Gen 32-33
A. Divine encounter: Wrestling with God at Jabbok
brook. 32:22-32
1) Dramatic - nighttime setting
of danger and urgency.
2) Jacob is reduced to essential
humanity, being left "all
alone."
32:24
3) "What is your
name?"
32:27
a) Request is made because
mysterious wrestler is God.
b) Jacob's new name, Israel,
means "he who strives with
God" and signifies
a new relationship with God.
c) The stranger's name is
never given, but "Peniel" shows
Jacob knew it was God
he struggled with.
4) The rising of the sun (32:31)
is a fitting symbol for a new
era in Jabob's
spiritual life, and the limp (32:25) is a
permanent
reminder of the significance of the event.
B. Conflict: Encounter with Esau, and with God.
1) Suspenseful climax because
Esau's response is in doubt.
a) Jacob's division into two
groups shows his fear.
2) Jacob's character finally
grows.
a) He humbles himself in
prayer before God's goodness.
b) Instead of grasping, he
depends on God. 32:9-10
c) His claim upon God's
protection is based on
God's promise, not
Jacob's schemes. 32:12
C. Climax of reconcilation.
1) Jacob schemes, as usual. (gifts)
2) But Esau runs to him and
embraces him. 33:4
VI. Our schemes or God's promises?
A. Many people strive in life.
1) Aggressiveness is good, but
self-centered striving never
fulfills.
2) Striving to know God is also
useless - we will not know
God until He reveals
Himself.
B. Conflicts always come, but they
can be occasions for growth.
1) The family scabbles
of Genesis are all too familar to us.
2) Conflict should make us assess
our goals and values.
3) Sometimes they push us to a
spot where we must grow or
be
defeated.
C. God is a revealing God.
1) God's heart is not for
religious people, but sinners.
a) He reached out to sinners
like Jacob.
b) His desire is for the
whole world to accept Him.
2) He reveals Himself to those
who seek him, and those who don't.
a) Therefore don't think a
religious experience means
you
are O.K. (Near-Death experiences)
b) God may be
wanting to reach you before it's too late.
c) God wants us to learn
simple trust in Him.
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