20230820 Genesis 28: Saving Grace, Sustaining Grace, Stubborn Grace
Genesis: Looking Back in Order to Move Ahead Spiritually • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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1 Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women. 2 Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father, and take as your wife from there one of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. 3 God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. 4 May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!” 5 Thus Isaac sent Jacob away. And he went to Paddan-aram, to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.
6 Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” 7 and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and gone to Paddan-aram. 8 So when Esau saw that the Canaanite women did not please Isaac his father, 9 Esau went to Ishmael and took as his wife, besides the wives he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth.
10 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep.
12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” 18 So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”
Introduction:
What was the birthright?
God’s Rascal: The Jacob Narrative in Genesis 25–35 Chapter 1: A Brouhaha in the Making (Genesis 25:19–34)
This ‘birthright’ normally belonged to the first-born, though it was transferable, and—at least later in Israel (Deut. 21:17)—involved receiving a double portion of the inheritance; he would also assume family leadership upon the father’s death. It entailed both provision and position. The ‘blessing’ (see chapter 27) was distinct from the birthright; however, the birthright seems to have been the normal pathway to the blessing.
What was the blessing?
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 27
Such blessings were very important, for as prayers addressed to God they were viewed as shaping the future of those blessed
This is what the Lord promised, this is who I have chosen to received the promised blessings of God
God’s Rascal: The Jacob Narrative in Genesis 25–35 Chapter 2: Ordinary People and the Kingdom of God (Genesis 26:1–33)
In any case, Yahweh assures him of every component of that promise: (1) presence or protection (‘I will be with you,’ v. 3b); (2) place (‘for to you and to your seed I will give all these lands,’ vv. 3c, 4b); (3) people (‘And I shall multiply your seed like the stars of the sky,’ v. 4a); and (4) program (‘And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,’ or, ‘consider themselves blessed,’ v. 4c).
In chapter 27 we see four deplorable people - we see defiance by Isaac, we see meddling by Rebekah, we see deception by Jacob, we see the foolish lies and reckless marriages of Esau
Esau marries, 26:34–35 Isaac orders Esau, 27:1–4 Rebekah directs Jacob, 27:5–17 Jacob deceives Isaac, 27:18–25 Jacob blessed, 27:26–29 Isaac discovers deception, 27:30–33 Esau ‘deprived,’ 27:34–40 Rebekah directs Jacob, 27:41–46 Isaac orders Jacob, 28:1–5 Esau marries, 28:6–9
Jacob leaves, 28:10-11 Jacob dreams, 28:12-15 Jacob transformed, 28:16-22
God’s Rascal: The Jacob Narrative in Genesis 25–35 Chapter 3: The Promise of God and Four Sinners (Genesis 26:34–28:9)
There is just such a persistence like that in God’s ways, whether overcoming human messes, like in our text, or in turning unlikely circumstances into His instruments. I call this the ‘stubbornness’ of God. You won’t find ‘stubbornness’ listed as an attribute of God in any systematic theology book. But I think it should be counted as one. This divine stubbornness should be of immense comfort to us—it tells us among other things that nothing, no human rebellion, no human stupidity can stop Yahweh’s kingdom plan. God is so stubborn that He will make sure Jesus reigns over all the earth.
Now in Genesis 28 we see the God of grace at work and we see the grace of God working.
Grace is defined different ways: God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense, God’s unmerited favor - in this chapter we see God’s promises, God’s provision, and God’s protection with the resuslt being the salvation of Jacob
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
The major theme of this part of Jacob’s life, the major theme of this chapter is grace.
A grace that never leaves
(1) Jacob leaves - a grace that is always present
10 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep.
God’s Rascal: The Jacob Narrative in Genesis 25–35 Chapter 4: Grace that Is Greater than All Our Bungling (Genesis 28:10–22)
Since Jacob is in the area of Bethel, he had gone some fifty-five miles from Beersheba and this was probably about his third night on the road. I think grace is the major theme of this episode—perhaps we could call it ‘the grace of God in the “house of God” ’ [= Bethel].
Grace is the major theme of this part of Jacob’s journey
The place where Jacob stops will be named by Jacob, Bethel - House of God. He’s travelled about 55 miles from Beersheba. And he’s about to have a special encounter with God.
What you need to see here is that Jacob is leaving the land of blessing. He’s leaving the land that was promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and now to Jacob. He may be leaving the promised land but he is not leaving the Lord.
1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
Matthew 28:20 (ESV)
“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Jacob leaves - but the God of grace never leaves
(2) Jacob dreams - an undeserved grace that surprises
Genesis 28:12–15 (ESV)
12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
His dream is full of surprises - Behold, Behold, Behold, Behold
God’s Rascal: The Jacob Narrative in Genesis 25–35 Chapter 4: Grace that Is Greater than All Our Bungling (Genesis 28:10–22)
Hinneh [sounds like: hin-nay] is a particle that indicates something is more or less startling.
It’s translated “and Behold” but we could translate it “and Wow” or “tahdah” but I like the word “Boom”
Jacob falls asleep, and he dreams...
and BOOM!, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven.
And BOOM, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!
And BOOM, the Lord stood above it and said
“I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac.
The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring.
14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth,
and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south,
and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
“And BOOM, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Jacob is travelling along, he stops on the third night of his journey, he goes to bed. And BOOM
This is not about Jacob’s access to God but God’s access to Jacob. The Lord is able to reveal himself at any time and in any place.
This is not about Jacob and his goodness, (look at the mess of chapter 27 and the lies and the deception) - this is about the Lord and His faithfulness - the Lord who is freely gives us grace and blessing and mercy and love and forgiveness
This is the Lord who personally works in the lives of his children. Right when you think the lord has forgotten you - BOOM
This is the always present, always surprising and always undeserved grace of God
(3) Jacob transforms - a grace that creates spiritual life
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believ'd!
16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.”
His eyes were opened
17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
The grammar of this next passage is crucial - notice what happens when we place “then” at vs 22
If God will be with me and shall keep me in this way I’m going, and shall give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, and I shall return safely to my father’s house, and Yahweh shall be my God, then this stone which I have set up as a pillar will be the house of God, and as for all that you give me,I will give the tenth to you.
Jacob is not bargaining with God but vowing to God.
He is responding to what Yahweh had promised in verses 13–15, as if to say, ‘If Yahweh does all this for me, then I will respond in worship (22a) and giving (22b),
I will establish worship here at “Bethel” and I will give a tenth to Yahweh.’
If the Lord has opened your eyes, give your life to Christ, surrender completely to Christ, be saved by the grace of Christ
Just as Jacob responded, how will you respond?
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