God's Big Picture: Genesis 29-33
Notes
Transcript
CIT: When we wrestle with God it changes how we love God and love our neighbor
CIT: When we wrestle with God it changes how we love God and love our neighbor
Hear the story (exegesis)
Believe the story (theological propositions)
Live the story (application)
Hear the Story
Hear the Story
Jacob goes to Laban, like Rebekah told him, and falls in love with Rachel (Gen. 29:1-30)
Laban tricks Jacob, after 7 years of hard labor, into marrying Leah instead of Rachel
Jacob works another 7 years to marry Rachel
Jacob has favoritism of Rachel over Leah, but only Leah can have children (Gen. 29:1-30:24)
Leah having kids shows God’s special love for oppressed women
Leah names her first 4 kids
Reuben - symbolizing her desire for her husband to love her for having a son (Gen. 29:32)
Simeon - symbolizing her desire to be heard by her husband (Gen. 29:33)
Levi - symbolizing her desire to be attached to her husband (Gen. 29:34)
Judah - symbolizing her change of heart to find her worth in God and not her husband (Gen. 29:35)
It is fitting that this is the child from whom Jesus comes!
Jacob deceives Laban to take more of his flock (Gen. 30:25-43)
Jacob flees from Laban (Gen. 31)
Jacob is scared of seeing Esau again (Gen. 32:1-21)
Jacob wrestles with God (Gen. 32:22-32)
Jacob’s name is changed to Israel, which is fitting for two reasons
Israel is constantly wrestling with God in the OT
When we wrestle with God our identity is changed to be part of Israel
Jacob is a changed man when he meets Esau (Gen. 33)
Instead of trying to cheat his way out of the situation he is humble before the brother whom he betrayed and cheated
Believe the story
Believe the story
Change like this is possible through two things
Faith in Christ
Mark 10:17-27
We cannot produce this on our own, only God can
Romans 6:5-14
this newfound identity, like Jacob, sets us free from sin to live like Jesus
Sanctification by the Spirit
2 Corinthians 3:18
This continuous change is powered by the Spirit
Live the story
Live the story
When we recognize the majesty of the incarnation and the crucifixion it changes how we love God and love our neighbor
Philippians 2:1-11
This should empower our worship, prayer, and evangelism
Philippians 2:5-11
This should destroy our gossip, pride, and selfishness
Philippians 2:1-4