Genesis 28:10-22
Key verse:
"Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring."
Genesis 28:14
God called Abraham away from his family. Now Jacob is being sent away by his family to meet God. Either way, the purpose is the same, to cause Jacob to be alone so that he may get to know God and be molded by him into a man worthy of the lineage of Messiah.
Jacob has nothing but a staff in his hand. There is no one to deceive here. Jacob will begin a walk of reaping the fruit of the seed that he himself has sown, but in doing so, will learn of God's faithfulness through it all.
"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son He delights in." (Proverbs 3:11-12) Jacob would learn this lesson the hard way, but it is all intended for his good for the role he would play in bringing Messiah to the world.
As we know from Jacob's story, he obviously needed a lot of discipline and correction. That is what should continue to give us hope. Abraham was a respectable elder gentleman. He needed guidance from the Lord to root out some unacceptable customs from the pagan practices of his forefathers, but he demonstrated faith and it would make sense, from our worldly perspective that the Lord saw in him, a person that God could work with.
Isaac is seen to be a man of peace. Again and again, Isaac took the burden upon himself to move on rather than struggle with those who opposed him over property and water rights. This could be said to be like Christ who took the burdens on himself for us. Isaac too, makes sense to us in the line of Christ.
Jacob, however, has few redeeming qualities in our human way of seeing things. Why in the world would the Lord use a wimpy, lying, trickster, a Mama's boy, to carry on the call in the line of Messiah? How in the world did the Lord see him as worthy? Yet, we know that, from forty years ago, while Rebekah was expecting the twins, the Lord told her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." (Gen. 25:23) Now, in this scene, we see the Lord affirming His choice of who will continue the line of the covenant. This does not necessarily mean that the Lord approved of the way that this scene came about, but the Lord is renewing His covenant to a third generation. Now, starting in this holy place, where Jacob recognized and honored God's presence, the sanctification of Jacob will begin.
Hymn: "Surely, the Presence Of The Lord Is In This Place"
Key verse:
"Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring."
Genesis 28:14
God called Abraham away from his family. Now Jacob is being sent away by his family to meet God. Either way, the purpose is the same, to cause Jacob to be alone so that he may get to know God and be molded by him into a man worthy of the lineage of Messiah.
Jacob has nothing but a staff in his hand. There is no one to deceive here. Jacob will begin a walk of reaping the fruit of the seed that he himself has sown, but in doing so, will learn of God's faithfulness through it all.
"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son He delights in." (Proverbs 3:11-12) Jacob would learn this lesson the hard way, but it is all intended for his good for the role he would play in bringing Messiah to the world.
As we know from Jacob's story, he obviously needed a lot of discipline and correction. That is what should continue to give us hope. Abraham was a respectable elder gentleman. He needed guidance from the Lord to root out some unacceptable customs from the pagan practices of his forefathers, but he demonstrated faith and it would make sense, from our worldly perspective that the Lord saw in him, a person that God could work with.
Isaac is seen to be a man of peace. Again and again, Isaac took the burden upon himself to move on rather than struggle with those who opposed him over property and water rights. This could be said to be like Christ who took the burdens on himself for us. Isaac too, makes sense to us in the line of Christ.
Jacob, however, has few redeeming qualities in our human way of seeing things. Why in the world would the Lord use a wimpy, lying, trickster, a Mama's boy, to carry on the call in the line of Messiah? How in the world did the Lord see him as worthy? Yet, we know that, from forty years ago, while Rebekah was expecting the twins, the Lord told her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." (Gen. 25:23) Now, in this scene, we see the Lord affirming His choice of who will continue the line of the covenant. This does not necessarily mean that the Lord approved of the way that this scene came about, but the Lord is renewing His covenant to a third generation. Now, starting in this holy place, where Jacob recognized and honored God's presence, the sanctification of Jacob will begin.
Hymn: "Surely, the Presence Of The Lord Is In This Place"
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