Journey of Grace Genesis 28

September 22, 2013

A. Introduction ! Why is Jacob an important person in God’s drama of redemption? Genesis 35:9-13 • The remainder of Genesis is centered around the life of Jacob. He had twelve sons who became fathers of the 12 tribes of Israel. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel signifying a new relationship with God.

B. Jacob’s venture ! For what two specific reasons did Jacob leave home on a long journey to Padan-aram? 27:41-45, 28:1-2 1. __________________________________________________________________________________ 2. __________________________________________________________________________________

! How long did Rebekah anticipate that her son would be gone and how long was he gone? 27:43-44, 31:41 • __________________________________________________________________________________

! What did Isaac do just before Jacob departed? 3-4 • He blessed Jacob, praying that God would bless him, make him fruitful and multiply him.

C. A divine vision ! While on his journey, what three things did Jacob see in his dream as he slept? 12-13a 1. A _____________ or ________________ reaching down from heaven 2. ___________ of _________ ascending and descending on the ladder 3. The ______ standing above the ladder, reviewing the covenant He had made with Jacob’s grandfather

D. God’s voice ! What specific promises did God speak to Jacob in his night vision? 13b-15 1. He will give Jacob the land 4. He will be with Jacob and keep him. 2. His descendants will be as the dust of the earth. 5. Wherever he goes God will bring him 3. All families of the earth will be blessed through him. back to the land and never leave him.

! When Jacob awakened, what did he realize that he had not been aware of before? 16 • __________________________________________________________________________________

! What did Jacob do when he arose early the next morning? 18-20a 1. He took the stone he has used for a pillow and set it up for a pillar (a monument to the vision he had). Then He poured oil on top of it to consecrate it as a memorial to the mercy shown him by God. 2. He called the name of the place Bethel, house of God. 3. He made a vow.

E. Jacob’s vow ! What three things did Jacob want God to do for him? 20b-21a 1. __________________________________________________________________________________ 2. __________________________________________________________________________________ 3. __________________________________________________________________________________

! What then did Jacob promise in return if God would do these things? 21b-22 1. __________________________________________________________________________________ 2. __________________________________________________________________________________ 3. __________________________________________________________________________________

! How could Jacob have improved his prayers and promises? Psalm 32:5; 34:1-4; 92:1-5; 36:10 • Jacob could have added some confession, praise, thanksgiving and intercession instead of just trying to bargain with God.

! In what ways were God’s grace and mercy poured out on Jacob during this venture? Genesis 28 1. God restrained Esau from killing Jacob before he departed from Beersheba. 2. God spoke to Jacob in a dream and blessed him even though he had just lied to his father and cheated his brother out of his birthright and his blessing.

September 22, 2013Journey of Grace

A. Introduction

B. Jacob’s venture – 1-9

C. A divine vision – 10-12

D. God’s voice – 13-17

E. Jacob’s vow – 18 - 22

A. Introduction

Luke 18:11-14 – “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not

like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give

tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his

eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,

and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

James 2:10 - For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one

point, he is guilty of all.

Exodus 33:19 - Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will

proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will

have compassion."

Romans 9:10-16 - And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac for the children not yet being born, nor having done any

good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls, it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger." As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated."

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness [injustice] with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I

will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." So then it does not depend on the man who

wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy.

B. Jacob’s venture

Genesis 26:34-35 - And when Esau was forty years old he married Judith the daughter of

Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite; and they brought grief to

Isaac and Rebekah.

Genesis27:46 - And Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of

the daughters of Heth . . .”

Genesis 27:42-43 - And the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him,

“Surely your brother Esau comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you. Now

therefore, my son, obey my voice: arise, flee to my brother Laban in Haran.”

Genesis 28:1-2 - Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of

Canaan. Arise, go to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father; and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your

mother's brother.

C. A divine vision

John 1:47-51 - Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in

whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him,

"Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered Him,

"Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel." Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you

believe? You shall see greater things than these." And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you shall see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending

and descending on the Son of Man."

Christ is like a ladder reaching

between heaven and earth.

He is the only ladder between heaven and earth.

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ

whom Thou hast sent.

I Corinthians 3:11 - For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which

is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to

the Father except through Me.”

I John 2:6 - the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same

manner as He walked.

How did Christ live?

Philippians 2:3-8 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider

others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a

servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself

and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!

“An unchanged life is the mark of an

unchanged heart and an unchanged heart is

a sign of an unregenerate life.”

- Charles Spurgeon

"Truly, truly, I say to you, you shall see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending

and descending on the Son of Man,"

Daniel 7:13-14 - I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the

clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there

was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting

dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

D. God’s voice

Specific promises God spoke to Jacob in the night vision

1. He will give Jacob the land

2. His descendants will be as the dust of the earth.

3. All families of the earth will be blessed through him.

4. He will be with Jacob and keep him.

5. Wherever he goes God will bring him back to the land and never leave him.

E. Jacob’s vow

Jacob wanted God to do three things for him. 20b-21a

1. Be with him and keep him on his journey

2. Give him food to eat and clothes to wear

3. Return him to his father’s house in peace (safety)

Jacob’s promise in return to God. 21b-22

1. That the Lord would be his God

2. That the stone he set up would be God’s house (a holy place of sacrifice)

3. That he would give a tenth of everything back to God acknowledging that everything belonged to God.

Advice to Climbers

1. Be certain that you are climbing on the right ladder.

Acts 4:12 – “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been

given among men, by which we must be saved.”

Advice to Climbers

1. Be certain that you are climbing on the right ladder. - Acts 4:12

2. The ground is a good place to begin but a poor place to stop.

I John 5:13 - These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

I Peter 2:2-3 - as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you

have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Advice to Climbers

1. Be certain that you are climbing on the right ladder. - Acts 4:12

2. The ground is a good place to begin but a poor place to stop. - 1 John 5:13, 1 Peter 2:2-3

Advice to Climbers

1. Be certain that you are climbing on the right ladder. - Acts 4:12

2. The ground is a good place to begin but a poor place to stop. - 1 John 5:13, 1 Peter 2:2-3

3. You have to begin on the first rung and slowly climb up one step at a time.

I Thessalonians 4:1-3 - Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should

abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you

know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your

sanctification . . .

“I am not what I ought to be; I am not what I

want to be: I am not what I hope to be in

another world; but still I am not what I once

used to be, and by God’s grace I am what I am.”

- John Newton

Advice to Climbers

1. Be certain that you are climbing on the right ladder. - Acts 4:12

2. The ground is a good place to begin but a poor place to stop. - 1 John 5:13, 1 Peter 2:2-3

3. You have to begin on the first rung and slowly climb up one step at a time. - 1 Thess. 4:1-3

4. You will need both hands to take a firm grip on the ladder, (and one foot).

Proverbs 4:13 - Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her, for she is your life.

I Thessalonians 5:21-22 - Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

II Thessalonians 2:15 - Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught,

whether by word or our epistle.

Revelations 3:11 - Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no

one may take your crown.

Advice to Climbers

4. You will need both hands to take a firm grip on the ladder, (and one foot). - Prov. 4:13, I Thess. 5:21-22, II Thess. 2:15, Rev. 3:11

5. Don’t look down. You’ll become dizzy when you see all that the world has to offer you.

Colossians 3:1-2 - Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your

minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Hebrews 12:2 - Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith . . .

Advice to Climbers

4. You will need both hands to take a firm grip on the ladder, (and one foot). - Prov. 4:13, I Thess. 5:21-22, II Thess. 2:15, Rev. 3:11

5. Don’t look down. You’ll become dizzy when you see all that the world has to offer you. - Col. 3:1-2, Hebrews 12:2

6. Listen to the encouraging words from God at the top.

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee;

yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Advice to Climbers

4. You will need both hands to take a firm grip on the ladder, (and one foot). - Prov. 4:13, I Thess. 5:21-22, II Thess. 2:15, Rev. 3:11

5. Don’t look down. You’ll become dizzy when you see all that the world has to offer you. - Col. 3:1-2, Hebrews 12:2

6. Listen to the encouraging words from God at the top. - Isaiah 41:10

7. When the winds of adversity begin to blow, hang on to the ladder. - Psalm 34:19; 138:7, Heb 1:13-14

Psalm 34:19 - Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Psalm 138:7 - Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand

shall save me.

Hebrews 1:13-14 - But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine

enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be

heirs of salvation?

It’s a journey of grace.