March 25, 2007 - GOD'S CON: THE RETURN

Scripture Meditation: Genesis 35:1-15

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

• They say that one way to set goals in life is to think of a title for your autobiography
• Now I know most of us will write an autobiography
• But if you did- what would the title be?
• Mine would be I'm Not As Neurotic As My Wife Thinks I Am
• See- Pam thinks I'm odd. Sometimes she calls me-
• ‘Felix Unger' from The Odd Couple
• And other times- ‘Bert' from Sesame Street
• Look- just because I have a few obsessive habits and tendencies doesn't make me neurotic!
• I think Pam's autobiography would have to be entitled They Tell Me I Had A Life
• Pam amazes me. She can remember the most exacting details of Matthew & Stephanie's life
• But she can't remember half of the things that happen in her own life!
• Jackie- your book would be called: Don't MESS With Me When I'm Tired!
• Normally- Jackie's one of the easiest to get along with people in the world
• Until she gets tired
• Then I pity the pastor who questions her about say...the staging for a children's Christmas musical
• Oh yeah- that would be ME! I'll never make THAT mistake again!
• Ben McCorkle's book would called Turn It Up! Turn It Down! (My Life In A Church Sound Booth)
• Ben- are soloists or choir members ever satisfied with the sound they hear coming out of the stage monitors?
• (Turn to choir) I didn't think so
• I could go on like this all day
• But it's time to get serious
• If Jacob had written an autobiography it's title would be My Long Road Back To Bethel

BIBLICAL BACKGROUND

• Jacob's journey began after he stolen his older brother Esau's birthright, and tricked his father into giving him the blessing Isaac intended to give to Esau
• His brother was so angry he vowed to kill Jacob wherever and whenever he found him
• To escape Esau's rage Jacob had to leave home and go live with his uncle in Paddan Aram
• During the 20 years Jacob lived in Paddan Aram God...
• Gave him wives and children
• Made him fabulously wealthy
• Protected him from harm
• Vowed to make him a blessing to all nations
• And promised that He would give Jacob and his descendents a country of their own
• Eventually God told Jacob it was time to go home
• For Jacob's family it was a long trip filled with danger
• But as He'd always done in the past- God blessed and protected Jacob every step of the way
• Finally- after having a joyous reunion with Esau-
• Who welcomed him with love and forgiveness
• Jacob moved on to the land of Succoth- where he found more trouble

Genesis 34:1-7

• Hamor tried to explain that his son genuinely loved Dinah and wanted to marry her
• But Jacob's sons were bent on revenge
• So they began to make very specific demands

Genesis 34:14-17

• Hamor and Shechem quickly agreed to the conditions
• They were circumcised
• And encouraged their fellow townsmen to be circumcised as well
• Now here's the thing-
• If a grown man's just been circumcised- he doesn't feel very good
• Which was all the break Jacob's sons had been waiting for

Genesis 34:25-29

• Jacob's sons had exacted their revenge-
• But Jacob realized his family had just become Public Enemy Number One in their new homeland
• Once again the threat of destruction hung over his family
• And that's where we pick up the story today...

PREPARE TO MEET GOD

Genesis 35:1

• The word Bethel literally means ‘the house of God'
• Bethel had special spiritual significance for Jacob
• Because it was the place he'd first become aware of the unique presence of God in his life

Genesis 28:13-17

• If you're a born-again child of God- you have a Bethel in your life
• It's the place where you-
• First became aware of your need for God
• Received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord
• Followed the Lord in Believer's baptism
• Now your Bethel may be-
• Here at Sunset Road
• It could be at another church
• It could be a summer camp- a Billy Graham Crusade- a youth retreat- your grandparents house-whatever
• But here's the thing:
• No matter where God takes you in life
• I can assure you:
• You'll always remember and treasure your Bethel
• Like Jacob you'll always say: How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.

Genesis 35:2

• During their time in Shechem- Jacob's family had accumulated a lot of idols and religious artifacts
• Now this doesn't mean Jacob's family had abandoned the worship of the One True and Living God
• But they'd allowed other things to damage their relationship with the Heavenly Father
• Rather than focusing their attention solely on God
• They'd let other things distract them
• Folks- when you came into the Sanctuary this morning where was your mind at? Was it focused on...
• Meeting God- or speaking to someone in the adjacent pew?
• Feasting on the riches of God's Word- or where you're going to eat lunch?
• Worshiping the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your spirit- or on something you'll face when you go to work tomorrow?
• Sometimes I'll hear someone say: I didn't get anything out of worship this morning
• When you leave feeling that way:
• The problem isn't with God- or the worship hour itself
• The problem is with YOU!
• You've come into this place focused on something other than God
• Next Sunday you need to do what Jacob instructed his family to do:
• Get rid of anything that pulls you away from God
• And come prepared to spend an hour in intimate and focused communion with Him

Genesis 35:3

• Notice that Jacob speaks of the God who answered me in the day of my distress
• He could just as easily have said: the God who answered me during my LIFE of distress
• See- one of the recurrent themes in Jacob's life is that-
• He constantly found himself in times and places of danger and distress
• And God always provided relief and victory
• A lot of Christians think that being a child of God means you enjoy stress-free, sorrow-free, pain-free living
• Look- I don't know where they got that idea
• But it certainly didn't come from the Bible

1 Peter 1:3-6

• When Peter says though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials
• He's not talking about a few days- a few months- or even a few years
• He's talking about a lifetime of grief and sorrow- of trials and tribulations
• See-
• There's nothing about being a Christian that will protect you from the challenges and difficulties of life
• BUT- as a child of God you can KNOW that your Heavenly Father will always be there providing the grace and strength you need to face each day
• Read how 1 Corinthians 10:13 puts it.
• A lot of people misunderstand this verse
• They think it means God will never put more on them than they can personally handle on their
• But the emphasis here...
• Is not on what you can handle
• Is on what you can handle with the power and presence of the Almighty God!

Genesis 35:4

• Iin other words:
• Jacob's family had removed all the clutter from their life
• They were fully prepared to meet God

RETURN TO BETHEL

Genesis 35:5

• The word terror means ‘fear or reverence'
• People in the towns and villages near Shechem recognized the awesome power and presence of God
• They didn't dare attack Jacob and his family

Genesis 35:6-7

• El Bethel means: ‘the God of the House of God'
• Now Jacob isn't implying that God is limited to this one place
• Jacob's life experience had taught him that God is omnipresent
• That means He has the capacity for being in all places at all times
• What Jacob means is that Yahweh/Jehovah- the Creator of the Universe- will be truly worshiped in this place
• You know- as members of this church we call this building the house of God
• It's the place where we come together for worship
• The question is: Is the One True & Living God the God of this house of God?
• Well- it depends
• If we boldly profess our love and devotion to Him- God is the God of this house of God
• If we unashamedly proclaim salvation in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ- God is the God of this house of God
• If we seek His face and submit to His Will for our church- God is the God of this house of God
• If we aren't afraid to sing His praises- or lift up our hands in worship- God is the God of this house of God
• And if we love and forgive one another in the name of Jesus- God is the God of this house of God!

Genesis 35:8-9

• The idea here is that once again God has restated the covenant promise He made with Jacob
• I am going to give you a great posterity
• I'm going to make you a blessing to all nations
• I'm going to be with you wherever you
• And I'm going to give you a home to call your own
• The question is: Why does God keep repeating Himself?
• This is the fourth or fifth time God had made these promises to Jacob
• Now obviously-
• It wasn't because God needed to be reminded of what He'd said
• God kept repeating this promise because JACOB needed to hear it!
• Think about this in terms of what it was like when you first became a Christian
• If you were like most new Christians you were so-
• Pumped up
• Excited
• Filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit
• That God's presence was like a burning fire in your life
• The problem is that inevitably some of that passion begins to cool
• It's not that you stop loving God- or quit coming to church- or that you've fallen from grace
• It's just that over time you've lost some of the immediacy and intensity of your relationship with Him
• When that happens- you need revival
• See the primary purpose of a revival isn't to get lost people saved- although that usually happens during a revival
• The primary purpose of a revival is for the people of God to fall in love with their Heavenly Father all over again
• Read how 2 Timothy 1:6-7 puts it.
• You want to know how revival can come into your life- into the life of our church?
• Go home- draw a circle on the ground- stand inside of that circle
• And pray: Lord- send a great revival. And let it begin right here- in the middle of this circle!

YOUR NAME WILL BE ISRAEL

Genesis 35:10

• Now this is the second time God has changed Jacob's name to Israel- He who struggles with God
• The first time took place after he wrestled with an angel along the shore of the Jabbok River
• Now Jacob is enjoying a time of peaceful, intimate fellowship with God at Bethel
• The point God is making is the same:
• I will ALWAYS be with you
• But you must trust and obey Me with radical faith at all times
• One of the odd things about being a Christian is that sometimes it's...
• Easier to have an intimate relationship with God when things are tough
• Than it is when things are going well- when things are easy
• See- when times are tough
• You HAVE to cry out to God- you HAVE to depend on Him
• Because you really have no other choice
• But when things calm down- when God removes the stress- it's easy to forget about Him
• You feel like you don't His strength to face each day
• So you wind up taking Him off the shelf every Sunday morning- and spending an hour or two going through the motions of worship
• But that's not the kind of radical faith God will honor
• He is a jealous God
• He expects you to seek His power and presence no matter what

Genesis 35:11-15

• As Jacob worshiped God at Bethel he probably thought this was the end of his journey with God
• It had taken a long time
• But God had fulfilled all the promises that could be fulfilled in his lifetime
• God had...
• Blessed him with a large family
• Made him fabulously wealthy
• Protected him wherever he went
• And brought him back to Bethel- back to his home
• See Jacob understood that the other promises God had made-
• The ones involving blessing his descendants- and making him a blessing to all the nations on earth
• That would have to wait for tomorrow- Jacob knew he'd be with the Lord LONG before those things happened
• And Jacob was at peace with all of this
• In his mind he'd struggled with God- and with men- long enough
• Now he just wanted to spend the rest of his life in quiet fellowship with His Heavenly Father
• But that's not the way things worked out
• Today may mark the end of our sermon series on Jacob's life
• But it doesn't mark the end of Jacob's journey with God
• In the future Jacob would have to endure still...
• More pain- more struggle- more joys- and more sorrows in his life
• And when he died-
• He wasn't living in his home country
• He was living in Egypt- under the protection of his son- Joseph
• So what's the lesson here? Your journey with God doesn't end just because you get old and tired
• Each day of life will bring new challenges- new struggles- new opportunities for growth
• But if you live by radical faith and trust- the one constant will be God
• The fact is- God will never fail or forsake you
• He will ALWAYS be there for you
• He will ALWAYS give you the power and strength to live each day as it comes

CONCLUSION

• During Stephanie's trip to Africa she visited a woman who is doing an incredible thing
• By our standards she's desperately poor- barely able to provide for herself
• But she has 25 children living under her roof
• See- several years ago she started noticing children were wandering the streets of her hometown
• They were AIDS orphans
• Their parents were dead- they had no one left to feed or clothe or protect them
• So she decided to do something
• She went out into the streets and found these kids- and brought them back to live with her
B) IOW:
• They didn't come looking for her
• In love- she went looking for them
• Like those AIDS orphans
• Jacob never had to go looking for God.
• In love- God always came looking for him.
• If you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord the same thing is true
• When times are at their most difficult- when the struggle is greatest- when faith seems almost impossible
• You don't have to go looking for God- in love He will come looking for you.
• And when He finds you-
• He will...
• Embrace and comfort you
• Encourage and strengthen you
• Empower and protect you
• And give you a peace that passes one understanding
• In John 14:18 Jesus makes this promise: I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
• When you're ready to live by radical faith and trust in the Lord
• Jesus will ALWAYS come to you.
• Are you ready to claim this promise? Let us pray

March 18, 2007 - GOD'S CON: THE REUNION

Scripture Meditation: Genesis 33

INTRODUCTION

• Every September the Stikeleather clan holds a family reunion
• It was always filled with lots of good food and fun- and people who kept introducing themselves as my distant cousin
• I gotta be honest- I've never really understood that cousin thing
• The first cousin stuff- that's easy
• The children of my parents' brothers and sisters are my first cousins- Got that!
• Beyond that- I'm not sure...
• I think the children of my first cousins are my first cousins once removed
• Which would make them Matthew and Stephanie's second cousins. Something like that
• I remember being introduced to a girl at a family reunion when I was about 18-19 years old
• She was drop-dead gorgeous
• I was told she was my third cousin once removed on my grandfather's side
• All I know is- she was HOT!
• I know this sounds like a punch line to a redneck joke
• But all I'm thinking was: Third cousin once removed. Does that mean it's legal for us to get married- and have kids together?
• (Pause if laughter) Gimme a break- I was 18!
• ...Let me see- where was I going with all this?
• Oh yeah. I remember
• Family reunions!
• I was gonna talk about family reunions
• Because this morning we're going to be looking at one of the great family reunions in history
• It's found in the 33rd chapter of Genesis
• Turn in your Bibles to Genesis 33
• While you're doing that- I'll take a few minutes to set the stage for what's about to happen

BIBLICAL BACKGROUND

• Jacob and his older twin brother Esau hadn't seen each other for more than twenty years
• As a young man Jacob had set out to steal the inheritance Esau deserved as Isaac's first born son
• First- Jacob swindled Esau out of his birthright
• Then- he tricked his father into giving him the blessing Isaac intended to give to Esau
• To say Esau was angry doesn't begin to describe his reaction
• He was FURIOUS!
• So angry he vowed to kill Jacob wherever- and whenever- he found him
• Jacob escaped Esau's rage by leaving home and going to live with his uncle Laban
• During the 20 yrs Jacob lived in Paddan Aram the Lord blessed him more than he could have ever imagined
• God...
• Gave him wives and children
• Made him fabulously wealthy
• Protected him from all harm
• And promised that Jacob would become a blessing to all nations
• When God finally told him to leave Paddan Aram and go back home
• Jacob did what God told him to do
• But the closer he got- the more frightened he became
• As far as Jacob knew
• Esau still intended to kill him
• When he heard Esau was looking for him- with four hundred men in tow- he panicked
• First he tried to bribe Esau with an extravagant gift
• When that didn't seem to work- he prepared for what he thought would be a bloody battle with his brother
• With all that in mind- let's pick up the story with Genesis 33:1

JACOB AND ESAU MEET

Genesis 33:1
• When Jacob first learned Esau was coming he had divided his family into two groups
• He thought: If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that's left may escape.
• Here in chapter 33- he's dividing them any further
Genesis 33:2
• A therapist would have called Jacob's family dysfunctional
• I mean this is a man who is married to two sisters
• What's worse-
• Jacob always made it clear that Rachel was his favorite
• Throughout her life Leah felt like a second-class citizen in her own home
• I'm sure Jacob's actions in Genesis 33:2 didn't help matters
• Jacob put:
• His concubines- and their children- in the front of the pack
• Then he put Leah and her children in front of Rachel and her son- Joseph
• It seemed as if Jacob was saying: I'll sacrifice all the rest of you to protect Rachel and Joseph
• It appeared to be cruel and cold-bloodied
• ...Except for one thing

He himself went on ahead...

• Jacob didn't try to hide behind his wives and children
• To varying degrees he loved all of them- and he would gladly lay down his life to protect them
• Which is exactly what God expects a man of faith to do
Ephesians 5:25
• As Christian men we know what Jesus did for His church:
• He laid down His life on the Cross of Calvary
• He didn't HAVE to do it- no one could FORCE him to do it- He did it as a sacrifice of love
• And guys- that's what God asks men of faith to do
• You should be perfectly willing to lay down your life for the sake of your wife and children
• IF that should ever be necessary
• Now fellows- think about this with me:
• If God expects you to be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for your family
• What other kinds of sacrifices does He expect you to make?
• How about career advancement?
• If your move up the company ladder comes at the expense of your wife and children
• God's Will is clear: Give up the promotion and devote yourself to your family
• How about time spent on hobbies and recreational activities?
• If they pull you away from your family
• God expects you to give ‘em up
• The list could go on-and-on- but the point is-
• If you're not making sacrifices for the sake of your family
• You're not the man God wants you to be
• I promise you:
• When Jacob's family saw him at the front of the pack- walking out to meet Esau
• They didn't wonder if Jacob loved them- they KNEW it!

He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

• To bow down like this was a traditional Middle Eastern greeting signifying honor and respect

Genesis 33:4

• As a younger man Esau had been impulsive, short-sighted and hot-tempered
• Read with me Genesis 25:29-34
• When the Bible says Esau despised his birthright it means he didn't have the right priorities in life
• He wasn't a man of godly faith- a man who could see past today
• All he lived for was to satisfy his momentary appetites and desires
• But in the 20 years Jacob had been away Esau had changed!
• It's impossible to demonstrate this much grace unless your heart's been transformed by God
• Not only did Esau welcome his brother home-
• He picked him up- embraced him
• And whispered in his ear: ‘I forgive you. I love you. Let's be brothers again'
• You know, I see a lot of parallels here to the Parable of the Prodigal Son
• Remember? When the prodigal's father saw his rebellious son coming up the path
• Jesus says the father...
• Didn't wait for him to get to the house so he could apologize for all he'd done
• Instead he ...ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
• Folks- that's a picture of what God does when you ask for His love and forgiveness
• He doesn't make you bow down and grovel in the dirt
• No! He runs out and embraces you and welcomes you home with kisses of mercy and grace

Genesis 33:4

• Primarily- these were tears of joy
• I have a brother again!
• But they were also tears of regret for all the years Jacob and Esau had been estranged from one another

Genesis 33:5

• It didn't take a genius to figure out who these people were. Clearly they were Jacob's family
Genesis 33:6-7
• I'm sure Esau welcomed each member of Jacob's family with hugs and kisses and tears of joy and thanksgiving
• Can you imagine what this must have meant to Jacob's wives and children?
• They were a long way from everything they knew as home
• They had been living with the fear that Esau would kill Jacob and all of them
• But now Esau is saying: Welcome to your new home! I'm your brother-in-law. I'm your uncle. You're safe here. You are my family. And I love you.
• One of the challenges churches face is to show that same kind of welcome to anyone who steps in the front door
• You may be black. You may be white. You may be Asian. You may be Hispanic or Latino
• But if you know Jesus as your personal Savior
• You are my brother. You are my sister
• And I love you! Welcome to your new home

JACOB'S GIFT

Esau asked, "What do you mean by all these droves I met?"

• Ah ha- those ridiculously extravagant gifts!
• Esau wanted to know what he should think
• Brother- why are you giving me all this stuff?
• Now undoubtedly Jacob's servants had already told Esau what he'd instructed them to say
Genesis 32:17-18
• So why does Esau ask Jacob: "What do you mean by all these droves I met?"
• I think Esau wanted to hear it from Jacob's lips
• The truth is...
• Jacob had always been the deceiver- he'd done Esau wrong
• It was time for him to come clean about his intentions in this situation

..."To find favor in your eyes, my lord," he said.

• With these words Jacob has admitted he was trying to bribe his older brother
• I was afraid you were going to kill me
• I was hoping these gifts would make you treat me kindly- despite all the things that happened in our past

But Esau said, "I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself."

• In other words: Jacob- you're trying to buy something that's not for sale
• I've decided to love and accept and forgive you.
• And nothing you can do will change- or undo it.
• You know a lot of people are like Jacob when it comes to their relationship with God
• They think that by giving lots of money to the church- or doing good deeds- they can earn God's love
• But here's the thing: God's grace isn't for sale!
• The Bible says God's grace and forgiveness is offered freely to anyone who calls on the name of Jesus
• All you have to do is accept God's gift by faith and trust in Jesus
• This is what Jacob had to learn
• Esau wasn't forgiving Jacob because of the gift
• Esau's forgiving him because of love- PERIOD!

...I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself

• The word plenty carries the idea of having what you need
• In other words: Esau isn't fabulously wealthy like Jacob
• But he's learned to be content with what he has
• Paul talks about this in Philippians 4:10-13
• There's a show on MTV called My Super Sweet 16
• On the program they show bratty rich kids having these sinfully extravagant Sweet 16 parties
• According to the Observer, a couple of weeks ago they shot an episode in Charlotte
• Rachel Goldstein's parents...
• Spent thousands of dollars giving her a party featuring live entertainment, a bar made out of ice, and a money pit where her friends could grab all the dollar bills they could stuff in their pockets
• To top it all off- Rachel got the keys to a brand new Lexus
• But here's the thing:
• Once Rachel Goldstein's 15 minutes of fame are up
• She's going to be a very unhappy person- unless something changes in her life
• See when money and materialism becomes your god
• You can NEVER be happy
• No matter what you have
• You'll always want more-
• Because there's always something more to want
• On the other hand- When you let the Holy Spirit teach you to be content with what you have
• You'll learn to:
• Appreciate what you have now
• Because you recognize it as a gift from God's own hand
• And you'll be a happier person...guaranteed!

...I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself
"No, please!" said Jacob. "If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.

• Now obviously Jacob-
• Doesn't mean that seeing Esau is like seeing God
• What he means is that Esau has demonstrated the kind of grace and love and forgiveness that ultimately comes from God
• There's an old saying that notes: You're the only Jesus somebody will ever know
• The question is: What kind of Jesus do they see in YOU?
• A Jesus who is.../ Or a Jesus who is...
• Filled with anger and resentment and bitterness and prejudice and an unforgiving spirit?
• Loving and kind and gentle and forgiving and accepting of others?
• Jacob had seen the love of God reflected in Esau's life- and it changed his life!

"Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need." And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it.

• I want you to notice what just happened here:
• Originally Jacob offered Esau this gift as a bribe
• I was afraid you were going to kill me
• I was hoping these gifts would make you treat me kindly
• But now Jacob wants Esau to accept this gift because of the forgiveness and grace he's freely received from his brother
• In 2 Corinthians 9:7 the Bible say God loves a cheerful giver.
• Here's the point: If you bring an offering to God with a sense of bitterness and resentment in your heart
• Keep your stinking money
• God doesn't want it- and He certainly doesn't need it
• But if- like Jacob- you can't get over the fact that God has poured out His love and grace in your life
• You'll bring your offering with a smile on your face- and joy in your heart
• And God will accept the gift and bless the giver!

JACOB SEPARATES HIMSELF FROM ESAU

Then Esau said, "Let us be on our way; I'll accompany you."

• Remember those 400 men Esau brought with him?
• Turns out they weren't an army bent on destruction
• But bodyguards who would guarantee the safety of Jacob's family and flocks

Genesis 33:13-14

• Everything Jacob said was perfectly plausible
• There was a reason it had taken him at least six months to get from Paddan Aram to Gilead
• He had a large family- and huge flocks.
• He couldn't go but so fast
• But the truth is Jacob is just making an excuse

Esau said, "Then let me leave some of my men with you."

• Esau is such a good man
• In fact-
• If you had to choose a neighbor
• You'd pick Esau over Jacob every time
• Now granted- Esau wasn't the brightest light bulb on the marquee
• But he was generous and honest and kind
• The type of man who'd gladly give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it

... "But why do that?" Jacob asked. "Just let me find favor in the eyes of my lord."

• To put it another way:
• You don't need to stay here with me.
• Go on back home
• I'll be just fine
• The words sounded gracious
• But the point was clear
• Jacob didn't want to have anything to do with his brother

So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir.

• Esau's heart must have been broken
• Here he's had a joyous reunion with his brother- he'd looked forward to many years of fellowship with Jacob
• But as he turned and left for home- Esau knew he'd probably never see his brother again

Genesis 33:17-19

• There's no doubt Jacob's decision to live so far from his brother hurt Esau
• But I don't want you to come down too hard on Jacob
• He had a reason for the things he did
• See- if Jacob had chosen to live near Esau
• He would have enjoyed the love and protection and security that comes with being a part of a large family
• And that would have been nice
• But God hadn't called him to be in a place where people made him feel safe and secure
• God had called Jacob to live by radical faith
• A faith that demanded that he trust God above all else
• Sometimes we talk about the importance of Christians leaving their comfort zone
• When God calls you to leave your comfort zone He isn't trying to make you feel miserable or unhappy
• Instead- He wants to put you in a place where you have to learn to trust Him above all else
• Let's face it- you don't have to have a lot of faith to live a same old thing existence
• All you have to do is go through the motions- and keep on doing what you've always done
• But when you step out on faith- and follow God into places and situations that are a little uncomfortable- a little less certain
• You'll discover you can't depend on your own resources anymore
• Instead- you'll learn to pray: It's You and me Lord. And I can't do it. But I believe YOU can- and will- do it through me!

CONCLUSION

There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel.

• The meaning of the words El Elohe Israel is The altar of the God of Israel
• It's interesting-
• Up to this point in his life Jacob had always referred to God as the God of my fathers- the God of Abraham- the fear of Isaac
• But now he's saying:
• The One true and living God- the Creator of the Universe- is MY God
• And I will trust Him!
• Folks- is the God of Jacob YOUR God?
• Do you trust Him with your life- and your eternity?
• Let us pray

March 11, 2007 - God's Con: The Rubber Match

Scripture Meditation: Genesis 32

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

• Let's get ready to RUUUMMMMMBLLLLE!
• Granted- not your typical opening to a sermon
• But this is no ordinary Sunday morning message
• You see- Genesis 32 contains the story of one of history's great wrestling showdowns
• And it wasn't a fake, made-for-television WWF "Death Match"
• This was for real- and the stakes were infinitely higher
• This was man vs. God's chosen messenger
• Mano a mano
• It was for all the marbles- and it would prove to be THE turning point in Jacob's life
• But I may be getting a little ahead of myself...

BIBLICAL BACKGROUND

• For 20 years Jacob had endured incredibly difficult conditions in Paddan Aram
• Finally- acting under God's command- Jacob took his wives, his concubines, his children, his servants and all his livestock
• And- during the middle of the night- escaped from beneath the iron-thumb of his father-in-law Laban
• Jacob was heading back to his homeland of Gilead-
• It was a long, rugged 350 mile journey that would have taken him at least six months to complete
• No sooner he had set foot in Gilead-a vengeful Laban caught up with him- an armed posse in hand
• To say the least- it could have been a disaster for Jacob
• But God intervened in a powerful way
• Through a dream He warned Laban not to harm- or even speak harshly to- his son-in-law
• Confronted with God's command- and basically having no other choice- Laban quickly made a peace treaty with Jacob
• Once it was finalized- Laban kissed his daughters and grandchildren good-bye
• And returned to Paddan Aram- never to see Jacob again
• Now for Jacob- Laban's departure meant that a huge threat had been removed
• But another- very dangerous- threat loomed just ahead
• His name was Esau- Jacob's older twin brother
• Let me remind you why Esau was so dangerous
• Decades earlier Jacob had swindled Esau out of his birthright and their father Isaac's blessing
• Esau was so enraged by what had happened-
• He vowed to kill Jacob wherever- and whenever- he found him
• In fact, Esau's threat was the reason Jacob had gone to Paddan Aram in the first place
• Well- as Jacob entered the Holy Land he had no idea what lay ahead
• God had told him to return to Gilead- and God had never let him down in the past
• But Jacob was still worried- he didn't know what Esau would do when they finally met

JACOB THE DIPLOMAT

• We'll pick up the story with Genesis 32, verse 1
• To understand the importance of this event- you have to go back twenty years earlier-
• The Bible says on the first night after he left for Paddan Aram-
• Jacob had a vivid dream about angels
Genesis 28:10-12
• In this dream God made Jacob a four-fold promise:
• I am going to give you a great posterity
• I'm going to make you a blessing to all nations
• I will be with you wherever you go
• And someday I'll bring you back to this place
• During the years he spent in Paddan Aram- Jacob had seen God fulfill all these promises
• He'd made Jacob fabulously wealthy
• He'd given him a large family
• He'd been with him through thick and thin
• And now God had brought Jacob back home
• And what was the first thing he saw?
• Angels!
• God's messengers.
• In essence, they were border guards
• Reminding Jacob of God's power and presence
• Welcoming and telling him: You're finally home!

Genesis 32:3

• Despite the knowledge of God's presence- Jacob is still nervous. Scared half-to-death would be more like it
• As far as he knows Esau's planning to kill him
• So- Jacob acts like a diplomat. He sends out a peace delegation

Genesis 32:4-5

• Notice what Jacob tells his servants: "This is what you are to say to my master Esau: 'Your servant Jacob says'"
• Here's something that's subtle- but very important
• Remember- the source of Jacob's conflict with his brother concerned Esau's status as the first born
• Esau had only been born a few seconds early than Jacob- but as such he was entitled to certain rights and privileges
• Basically- he got everything
• And Jacob got the few remaining scraps that were left
• But Jacob wasn't content to accept the status quo
• Through guile, fraud, manipulation and outright theft
• Jacob had reversed the situation so
• That now HE would receive all the benefits and privileges that went with being firstborn
• And Esau would be the one left holding the bag
• All that was in the past. But here in verse 4 Jacob is calling Esau the 'Master' and referring to himself as the 'Servant'
• It wasn't exactly an apology- but it came close
• Jacob was humbling himself before Esau- and pleading for his forgiveness
• You know- that's a good illustration of what has to happen if you want forgiveness from God- or another person
• First-
• You have to acknowledge the sin.
• Which means you have to confess any harm or injury you've caused
• Then-
• You pretty much have to throw yourself on the mercy of the court
• And plead for forgiveness and grace
• See here's the thing:
• Jacob couldn't undo- or make amends for- what He'd done so many years earlier
• All he could do was hope that Esau would be gracious and forgive him for all that had happened in the past
• By the way:
• When it comes to another human being you can never be sure they'll offer you their forgiveness
• Maybe they will
• And maybe they won't
• But with God there's never any doubt
• When you seek His forgiveness
• He ALWAYS pours out His grace freely and unconditionally
• 1 John 1:9

Genesis 32:6

• Now THAT will shake you up: Esau's coming with 400 men in tow
• That's/ To Jacob that looks like-
• Not a welcoming party
• A small army
• It certainly appeared that Esau intended to carry out his threat to kill Jacob

Genesis 32:7-8

• This is the act of a desperate man
• Jacob assumes there's going to be a mass slaughter
• His hope is that by dividing into two groups SOME of his family will be able to escape
• It kind of makes you wonder what had happened to Jacob's faith
• On many occasions God had explicitly promised to love and protect Jacob and his family
• God had never failed him before- so why is Jacob panicking now?
• I guess this just goes to show that even people with great faith
• Can entertain moments of doubt and fear

Genesis 32:9-12

• You know what's odd about this prayer?
• For one thing- Jacob didn't tell God anything that God didn't already know
• Furthermore, Jacob's prayer didn't change God's plans one iota
• God fully intended to keep the promises He'd made to Jacob
• In fact- as we later learn- God had already worked things out
• He'd softened Esau's heart towards Jacob
• God knew things would be fine
• So the question is: Did Jacob's prayer accomplish anything?
• The answer is: Absolutely!
• For one thing- it helped Jacob remember God's faithfulness in the past
• For another- it prepared him to receive God's answer in this situation
• In other words:
• Prayer didn't change God
• It changed Jacob!
• Folks- that's an important lesson we all need to learn
• Prayer has never been about changing God
• God is perfect in power- in wisdom- in knowledge and in love
• His greatest desire is to bless- and to protect- and to care for you
• What prayer does is prepare and condition you to receive the great things God intends to do
• Let me illustrate how this works: We've got a revival scheduled next month
• As a member of this church- you ought to be praying for this revival
• Pray for our guest preacher- Dr. Mark Harris
• Pray for the choir- and all the groups and soloists that will sing
• Pray for our church- that God will use the revival to energize and focus our work in this community
• And pray that people who are lost will come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord
• Now here's the thing:
• God already knows EXACTLY what He'll accomplish through this revival
• And He'll make sure the things He wants accomplished will BE accomplished
• So why should you pray?
• Four reasons. By praying...
• You'll recognize God's hand when you hear Mark preach with power and conviction
• You'll hear God's grace as the special music is played and sung
• You'll KNOW that the Lord is doing a great thing as the winds of revival blow through our church
• And you'll give God the glory as people take Jesus as their Savior
• So pray...like you've never prayed before!
• Well- let's get back to Jacob-
• After praying for God's help He decides to send his brother a very extravagant gift
• I'm not sure if you'd call it a peace offering- or a bribe. We'll talk about that more next week
• After sending the gift-
• Jacob proceeds to send his family and flocks across the Jabbok river
• While he stays behind for a night of prayer and meditation
• It was time to RUUUMMMMMBLLLLE!

THE WRESTLING MATCH

Genesis 32:24

• At first Jacob had no idea who his attacker was
• Because he appeared in the form of a human being Jacob didn't know if this was:
• Esau-
• Or one of Laban's sons-
• Or just a stranger in the night
• But as the struggle continued- it became increasingly clear to Jacob that this man was- in fact- an angel
• In other words: Jacob isn't wrestling with a man- he's wrestling with God
• And that's why this passage of Scripture is so important
• Essentially- this wrestling match represents the central drama of Jacob's life
• Remember- Jacob was the child of the promise
• God had chosen to bless him in order to fulfill the covenant promises He'd made to Abraham and Isaac
• And here's the thing: God's choice-
• wasn't the result of anything Jacob had ever said or done or accomplished
• It was a gift of God's grace- PERIOD!
• The only thing God asks from Jacob is faith and trust
• But trusting God had always been a struggle for Jacob
• That's why He'd always tried to take things into his own hands. That's why he:
• Stole Esau's birthright
• Deceived his father into giving him the blessing Isaac intended to give to his older brother
• Spent twenty years in conflict with his father-in-law Laban
• Was trying to bribe Esau
• Jacob had faith- but he wasn't entirely sure God could be trusted
• You know a lot of Christians are like that
• They boldly profess their faith in God
• But they don't really trust Him- so they try to take things into their own hands
• I'll bet you've done it from time-to-time. I know I have
• I'll be praying about say... some problem or situation here at church
• And no sooner than I say 'Amen'- I'll start dreaming up schemes to make the problem go away
• Gotta come up with something!
• Gotta fix it!
• Gotta make this go AWAY!
• And here's the irony in all that
• In Jacob's life every time...
• He tried to handle it- he screwed it up
• He trusted God- God worked it out
• In my life the same thing is true. Every time...
• I try to handle it- I screw it up
• I trust God- He works it out!
• Why is that such a hard lesson to absorb?
• Folks- it always come down to trust
• It did for Jacob
• It does for me
• And it does for you
• Do you believe God is big enough and strong enough- and faithful enough- and loves you enough to take care of ANY thing that may come up in your life?
• If you do- God will bless you and you'll enjoy a peace that passes understanding in your life
• If you don't- you'll keep screwing it up. It's that simple

Genesis 32:25

• This proves Jacob's adversary could have destroyed him at anytime
• God's messenger was so powerful all he had to do was put a finger on Jacob's hip
• And immediately it was dislocated

Genesis 32:26

• Folks- this angel could have escaped Jacob's clutches any time he wanted
• He possessed the power of the Almighty God
• there's no way a mere human being could defeat him
• So what's going on here?
• Essentially- the angel is giving Jacob a chance to make a profession of faith
• Jacob was going to have to decide if he:
• Trusted God above all
• Wanted God's blessing more than he wanted anything else in his life
• There it was. Jacob was saying:
• God, I'm tired of trying to go my own way- and do my own thing. I've realized that doesn't work
• From now on I'm going to claim Your blessings and live by simple faith and trust in You!
• You know, whenever I offer an invitation I frequently put it like this: Would you like to receive Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord?
• Actually- that's not a very good question
• There are a lot of people who have received Jesus as their Savior...
• And they're saved for all eternity
• But they've never trusted Christ as their Lord
• See- taking Jesus as your Lord means you make the same decision Jacob made on the shores of the Jabbok River
• You-
• Turn your life over to God completely, totally and absolutely
• Have decided to fully trust in His grace-
• And you're ready to let Him fulfill His Will and purposes for your life
• It's the difference between...
• Having your fire insurance in hand
• And having the peace and assurance that comes from being a submissive child of God

Genesis 32:27

• Now obviously- the angel knew Jacob's name
• He also knew what Jacob's name meant
• Remember what that is? Deceiver- Surplanter- Con Artist

Genesis 32:28

• In other words: As of this day you will no longer be known as the Deceiver- the Con Artist
• That part of your life is over- it's finished
• From now on you will be known as Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.

Genesis 32:28

LIVING BY ISRAEL-FAITH

• Now this is powerful stuff
• You know, we tend to think of Israel as either-
• The name of a person
• Or the name of a country
• But in the Hebrew language Israel-
• Has one of two specific meanings-
• And each one is important in understanding what it means to live by faith
• One of those meanings of Israel is: He who struggles with God
• WOW! That will blow you away
• He who struggles with God
• In other words: Living by faith is a struggle
• It's a daily challenge that never ends
• I don't know about you- but I find a lot of comfort in that definition of Israel
• Because I've found it's not easy to live by faith
• Sometimes it feels like it's less of a step into the dark
• And more like a plunge into the abyss
• Even when you think you've turned it all over to God
• You're still going to have times when faith is difficult and challenging
• In that respect faith is like golf-
• If it was easy
• They'd call it something else
• And God understands that
• For crying out loud He made us this way!
• With all of our doubts- and all of our uncertainties- and all of our hard-headedness
• Which is why when it comes to living by Israel faith:
• All God asks is that we try
• And keep on trying even when it's hard- ESPECIALLY when it hard
• Now the word Israel has a second meaning in the Hebrew language: God prevails
• Folks- that's when living by faith is rewarded
• When you can affirm- and live by the truth- that says GOD must prevail
• To put it another way: Living by Israel faith is the absolute opposite of sin
• Sin says: I want to prevail. I want to live my life on my terms. I want to go my own way- and do my own thing
• Israel-faith says: I want GOD to prevail. I want to live my life on HIS terms. I want to follow HIS ways- and do the things HE wants me to do
• "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."
• Well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in a few things
• Come and I will make you ruler over many things!

CONCLUSION

• Genesis 32 ends with Jacob hobbling into camp the next morning
• When they saw him- Rachel and Leah probably panicked
• Jacob- what's happened to you? How are you going to win a battle with your brother when you can barely walk?
• Folks- what Jacob's wives didn't understand was that he had changed- now he was Israel
• A man who lived by absolute faith
• A man who trusted God with all of his heart- and with all of his mind- and with all of his strength
• A man who didn't worry about the future- because He knew the One who had the future in his hand
• From time-to-time I'll see a marquee or a bumper sticker that says:
• No God- No Peace
• Know God- Know Peace
• That's a pretty simplistic thought
• But it captures what it means to live by Israel-faith
• No God- No Peace
• Know God- Know Peace
• Are you living by Israel-faith?
• Let us pray

March 4, 2007 - God's Con: The Witness Between Us

Scripture Meditation: Genesis 31:22-55

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

• Let me tell you what it was like to go some place with Pam- and her father
• It was irritating, aggravating and ridiculous
• Not the drive- but the I've got to go to bathroom first ritual
• Don't get me wrong-
• If you're leaving on a long trip- it makes sense to go to the bathroom first
• But they'd go through this routine before we went to her aunt's house- who lived less than four miles away!
• Maybe it's me- but when you take twenty minutes to get ready to take a 5 minute trip
• That's a little bit extreme
• For crying out loud- just go already!

BIBLICAL BACKGROUND

• I suspect Jacob would have understood those feelings
• He'd spent twenty years living in a foreign land
• In that time he'd married both of Labia's daughters- and fathered 12 children
• During most of that time he'd worked for his father-in-law for slave wages
• Finally he cut a deal with Labia’s: Let me have all the streaked or dark-colored lambs and goats from your herds to build flocks of my own
• Since relatively few animals were involved- Labia’s quickly agreed to the arrangement
• But then something odd started happening:
• All the female lambs and goats began to give birth to streaked or dark colored offspring
• God's power was at work- and Jacob became rich in the process
• Which made Labia's sons extremely jealous
• Jacob's gotten rich at our father's expense
• It made them so angry they were ready to kill him
• So God told Jacob it was time to leave Paddan Aram- and return to his ancestral homeland
• Because Jacob knew Labia’s would never let him leave without a struggle
• He began his journey under the cover of darkness
• See Jacob also knew that once Labia’s- and his sons- found out what had happened they would come looking for him
• It was important to travel fast and light
• I can hear Jacob urging his family: For crying out loud- let's go already! We've got to make some time!
• But with all his wives and concubines and children and flocks in tow
• The going was going to be SLOOW!
• Jacob knew it was just a matter of time before Labia’s would overtake him

LABAN CATCHES JACOB

• We'll pick up the story in Genesis 31:22-23
• It's approximately 350 miles from Paddan Aram to Gilead
• Do the math
• To make it in ten days
• Jacob would have had to average 35 miles a day...on foot!
• That's impossible. It can't be done
• At the maximum rate shepherds can push their flocks- 2 or 3 miles a day
• It would have taken at least six months for Jacob to reach Gilead
• Does this mean the Bible made a mistake in saying it took Jacob ten days to reach Gilead? Absolutely not!
• The Word of God is perfect in every way
• It is holy, infallible and inerrant
• But- sometimes the Bible uses numbers differently than we do. For instance...
• When we read that it took Jacob 10 days to reach Gilead- we think it means ten, twenty-four hour days
• But that's not the way the ancient Hebrews understood numbers
• To them- numbers weren't that exact
• Instead they frequently symbolized something else
• In Jewish thought.../ To the Hebrew people...
• The number 7 always represents perfection or completeness
• How many days did it take God to create the Universe? Six days
• What happened on the seventh day?
• God rested
• Why? Because His creation was perfect- complete in every way
• The number ‘10' represented any large number.
• It would be like saying: I've done that a million times
• You don't literally mean 1,000,000- you mean you've done it many, many times
• I'll give you an example of how numbers are used this way. Read the way Christ is described in Revelation 5:6
• This doesn't literally mean the Resurrected Jesus had seven horns and seven eyes
• Once you know that in Jewish thought:
• Horns are a symbol of power.
• And eyes are a symbol of knowledge
• You understand that Revelation 5:6 is saying that Christ is perfect in power and perfect in knowledge- just like God!
• So when Genesis 31:22-23 tells us-
• It took Jacob 10 days to reach Gilead it simply means it took a long time
• And when it says it took Labia’s seven days it means he completed his pursuit of Jacob when he reached Gilead
• Now- at this point you might be thinking: How am I supposed to know all this stuff when I read the Bible?
• You've got to attend Sunday School- you've got to study- you've got to ask questions- you've got to dig
• It's not easy-
• But it's INCREDIBLY rewarding
• Plus- it's something God expects you to do

Genesis 31:24

• Labia’s didn't worship God
• He was a pagan
• He believed in idols and so-called house-gods
• But here the one true and living God found a way to get his attention
• Not only was Labia’s to refrain from harming Jacob
• He was warned to not even speak harshly to him

Genesis 31:26-28

• Here Labia’s plays the wounded father card
• You ran off with my daughters and grandchildren. I didn't even have a chance to kiss them good-bye.
• Why didn't you let me know? I would've thrown you a HUGE going-away party.
• Which was a total crock
• Labia's past actions proved he would have NEVER let Jacob leave like that
• You don't spend several months chasing someone down if all you intend to do is give them a good-by kiss

Genesis 31:29

• So much for the wounded father routine
• Labia’s has admitted his plans were to capture or kill Jacob
• The ONLY reason he's come in peace is because of God's direct intervention

Genesis 31:30

• Labia’s at least acknowledges the legitimacy of Jacob's desire
• You want to go home
• I can understand that...

"But why did you steal my gods?"

• What had happened was that prior to Jacob's escape Rachel had stolen her father's house gods
• They were small carved idols covered in jewels
• Now we don't know how devout Labia’s was
• He could've been serious in his worship of these pagan symbols
• Or they could have just been valuable trinkets
• But regardless-
• He knew they'd been stolen
• And he wanted them back

RACHEL'S DECEIT

Genesis 31:31

• I don't want you to miss the significance of what Jacob just said: I was afraid
• Now remember-
• On numerous occasions God had promised Jacob He would bless and protect him wherever he went
• When He told Jacob to return to Gilead, God assured him He would be with him every step of the way
• But here Jacob is admitting to blinding, paralyzing fear
• It was a fear born of doubt
• Despite-
• All the things God had done for him in the past
• God's promise to be with him in the future
• Jacob wasn't sure God would be found faithful this time
• You know- some Christians believe that doubt is the antithesis of faith
• That if you have enough faith you'll never have any doubt
• That if you doubt- it's proof that you don't have enough faith
• When Betsy Roberts was diagnosed with advanced bone cancer
• A well-meaning friend told her that-
• If she had faith- and never had a moment of doubt
• God would be obligated to heal her
• Which was a problem because Betsy's cancer continued to spread-
• And it made her question her trust in God
• She once told me: "There's something wrong with my faith. That's why I'm not getting any better"
• In other words:
• Not only was Betsy dealing with the agony of bone cancer
• She was beating herself up spiritually
• Never forget one thing: Doubt is not a sin!
• In fact- doubt is a natural by-product of living a life of faith
• If you're a person of faith- you WILL struggle with periods of doubt
• Look at Jacob
• He had the faith to follow God wherever he lead
• But when it came time to face his father-in-law he was wracked with doubt and fear

Genesis 31:31-32

• Obviously Jacob didn't know Rachel had stolen her father's idols
• Unwittingly he'd placed her life in danger
• And ‘Yes'- Labia’s would've probably killed his daughter if he discovered she'd stolen his property

Genesis 31:32

• With that- Labia’s begins an exhaustive search of the camp
• He finds nothing in the tents of Jacob, Leah and the concubines
• Finally he gets to Rachel's tent

Genesis 31:34

• There's no way to know why Rachel stole Labia's idols
• Some people suggest she took them because she still believed they were real- that they had some sort of power
• But the Bible says she was sitting on them
• In the ancient Middle East sitting on something was a sign of contempt and disbelief
• The fact is:
• Rachel had decided to put her trust in Yahweh-God- she didn't believe in these idols
• She took them because-
• They were valuable
• And for some reason- she believed they were rightfully hers

Genesis 31:34-35

• It's possible Rachel was telling the truth about her menstrual cycle
• But it's hard to tell
• Unlike her sister- Rachel wasn't above twisting the facts to get her way
• In any event- it worked
• Labia’s didn't find his idols
• ...And Jacob was furious

JACOB'S FURY

• All the pent-up anger and resentment Jacob had harbored for twenty years came flooding out

Genesis 31:36-41

• Interesting- Jacob never mentions anything about the circumstances surrounding his marriages to Leah and Rachel
• Remember- Labia’s had tricked Jacob into marrying Leah instead of Rachel- the one he really wanted
• But evidently Jacob had come to peace with that
• Jacob's speech could be called The Shepherd's Lament
• Being a shepherd was dangerous, dirty, grueling, spirit-sapping work
• Labor Jacob had faithfully performed for nearly twenty years
• He was tired
• And he was ANGRY!
• You know- Jacob's fury illustrates an important principle about having a successful Christian marriage
• I call Avoiding The Trap Of Little Things
• Let me explain
• Marriages are rarely threatened by the big things
• Big things demand your immediate attention
• And generally- they have a clear solution
• If your child falls and gashes her forehead you don't have an argument about what you ought to do
• You sweep her up in your arms and rush to the hospital
• It's the little stuff that gets you
• The stuff that makes you say: It's not that big a deal. It's not really that important
• So you pack it away and try to ignore it
• The problem is that eventually- like Jacob- you get too much stuff in there
• And eventually something will happen that causes EVERYTHING to come flooding out in a tidal wave of bitterness and accusation
• The point I'm trying to make it that when it comes to marriage- and life in general:
• Take care of the little stuff as it happens
• And let the big stuff take care of itself

Genesis 31:42

• The con man has come a LONG way
• The old Jacob looked for every chance to play an angle- to make a quick buck
• But now he affirms that God- and God alone- is responsible for all the blessings that have come into his life

THE WITNESS BETWEEN US

Genesis 31:43

• None of this is true
• Jacob's family- and his wealth
• Weren't gained at Labia's expense
• They were gifts given to Him by God
• What Labia’s is trying to do is save face in front of his sons and kinsmen
• Remember- he's lead a posse on a 350 mile wild-goose chase
• And now he's trying to find a way to save face
• So he makes a gracious-sounding proposal

Genesis 31:44

• A covenant is an agreement- or a sacred promise- between two parties
• In the Bible there are two kinds of covenants
• Covenants between
• God and human beings
• Two- or more- people
• When it comes to covenants between God and human beings
• There was no bargaining- no negotiating
• God.../ The person...
• Set the terms- or conditions- of the covenant
• Must either accept or reject God's offer
• God's gift of salvation is the ultimate covenant He makes in the Bible
• It says that if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
• You will be saved through the blood Jesus shed on the Cross of Calvary
• Now you can do one of two things with this covenant:
• You can.../ Or you can...:
• Accept Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord- and be saved
• Reject Christ as your Savior and be eternally lost
• It's that simple:
• Take it- or leave it
• But be sure you understand that this is God's final offer
• Now the covenant Labia’s has proposed is an example of one drawn up between two people
• In this case- because the covenant is between equals
• The terms can be negotiated the same way you might negotiate the terms of a contract today
• In this case- the covenant involved two things. Read what it says in verses 50-52

Genesis 31:50-52

• Jacob's covenant responsibilities were to:
• Refrain from taking any more wives (I can't image he would WANT any more)
• And to lovingly protect and care for Rachel and Leah- which he'd already been doing for more than 20 years
• In return Labia’s promises to leave Jacob alone
• The pillar they would erect would serve as a boundary separating the two
• Jacob.../ And Labia’s...
• Would be safe from Labia’s in Gilead
• Would be safe from Jacob in Paddan Aram
• Now- notice what Labia’s says in verse 52
• This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness
• The idea here is that the pillar would serve as a visible reminder of the covenant between Jacob and Labia’s
• We do that to this day
• What's the most common covenant people make to one another? The covenant of marriage!
• And what serves as the visible reminder of the marriage covenant? The wedding ring!

CONCLUSION

• Getting back to Jacob and Labia’s- read what it says in the 53rd verse

Genesis 31:53

• Labia's point is that when it came to keeping the terms of the covenant Jacob-
• Wouldn't be answering to him- he'd be 350 miles away in Paddan Aram
• Rather- Jacob would be accountable to God
• Folks- that's something we ALL need to remember
• Someday you'll stand before your Heavenly Father and make an account for the way you lived your life
• Read what it says in 2 Corinthians 5:10
• Please understand: This has nothing to do with salvation
• If you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord
• You're saved- and nothing will ever change that fact
• But God will ask you to give an answer for the way you lived your life
• Did you worship and serve Me faithfully?
• Did you share Jesus with others?
• Did you minister to others in the name of Jesus?
• Did you step out on faith when I asked you to do something?
• Did you live a life that was characterized by a forgiving spirit and genuine Christian love?
• Did others see Jesus in you?
• I want you to close your eyes for just a moment
• If you were standing before God today- giving an account for your life
• How would you answer those questions:
• Did you worship and serve Me faithfully?
• Did you share Jesus with others?
• Did you minister to others in the name of Jesus?
• Did you step out on faith when I asked you to do something?
• Did you live a life that was characterized by a forgiving spirit and genuine Christian love?
• Did others see Jesus in you?
• If you can't give the kind of answer that would be pleasing to God
• Maybe it's time to let Him make some major changes in your life
• Let us pray