Good morning,
Jacob the deceiver, has been deceived. God commands him to leave Laban and go home.
On the way, he has an encounter with the angel of God, and his life is radically changed.
Jacob comes to God with a humble and repentant attitude. God blesses him, changes his name to Israel, and reminds him of the covenant He made with Abraham and Isaac. Jacob builds an altar to God and a pillar where God spoke to him.
This week we will study this transformation.
Jacob returns to Bethel in obedience to God (Ref Gen 31:11-13)
Genesis 35:1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
Genesis 35: 2-4 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:
Genesis 35:9-15 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.
CONCLUSION:
- Obedience results in blessing
- Remember where God has met with you.
- FOUNDATION STONE: Jacob’s obedience leads to God’s blessing and name change to Israel and the father of the first group of people to have that name.
Jacob obeys God. God told him to move to Bethel and he did. He made sure his household got rid of all their strange gods (idols).
When he arrived, God met with Him and blessed him. God reassured Jacob that the covenant that He made with Abraham and Isaac was still in effect. Jacob sets up a pillar of stone to commemorate the event. He worships God by offering a drink offering with oil.
Jacob’s life has totally changed. From a deceiver to a worshipper of the one true God.
Can we say our lives are totally committed to God? When we came to faith in Christ, did our lives change? Do we worship God by our obedience to Him? Do other people know that we are believers in Christ?
If we learn nothing else from the life of Jacob, it is that God is in the business of changing people’s lives. He wants them to worship Him. He wants them to obey His word. He wants us to demonstrate Christ in us.
Will we let Him?
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001