‘Jacob sees the blessing of the Lord’ (Genesis 30:25-43)

Through all the story of Jacob’s life, God’s providence and favour toward him is evident. This is never more so than in the outworkings of the evenst recorded in Genesis 30:25-43. While Jacob is trying to free himself from Laban’s hold, the Lord enables Jacob to see his flocks and wealth flourish under His good provision, so that when the time comes and Jacob flees from Laban and parapres to meet his brother, Esau, he also has much to give.

Message

Outline

• The ninth in this series
• Where we are in the story
• Jacob’s ‘itchy feet…’
• See how Moses tells us of Jacob and Laban and…

  1. The topic they discussed (v.25-28)
  2. The plan they formed (v.29-36)
  3. The result they noted (v.37-43)

Proposal, counter proposal and the Lord’s proposal…
Behind a ‘frowning providence’ – the hand of the Lord!

‘The sad tale of Jacob’s two wives’ (Genesis 30:1-24)

Although the Bible tells of men who had more than one wife (such as Abraham and Jacob) it never speaks favourably about it. Jacob is a case in point. Although he loved Rachel and ended up being married to her after marrying her sister, Leah, things didn’t work out well! Jacob soon found himself in a corner, unable to solved Rachel’s infertility and the centre of a squabble between his two wives and their maids. Not a good place to be in. It was a place however, where Jacob could not wrangle his way out of, but he, and his wives, all needed a good dose of wisdom that begins with the fear of the Lord.

Message

Outline

• The eighth in this series
• Where we are in the story
• The honest truth about the patriarchs and their wives!
• See how Moses tells us of…

  1. Rachel’s unwise decisions (v.1, 4-14)
  2. Leah’s unhelpful reaction (v.15, 17-21)
  3. Jacob’s unholy confusion (v.2-3, 16)

Relief for Rachel and lessons for Jacob and Leah…
The way of the truly wise…

‘Jacob meets his match’ (Genesis 29:21-35)

The ongoing story of Jacob and Rachel and Laban continues in Genesis 29:21-35. The text tells of how Jacob ‘met his match’ in Laban, that is, to say, his match in deception! For in having woken up the morning after his marriage to find that he had married Leah and not Rachel, Jacob had been deceived in a similar way to his own deception of his father and brother. But God had good to Jacob, and despite the ongoing saga this created, He blessed him with 4 sons – one of whom who would be the ancestor of the Lord Jesus!

Message

Outline

• The seventh in this series
• Where we are in the story
• It’s a win for Jacob and for Laban…but…!
• See how Moses tells us of

  1. Jacob reaping what he had sown (v.21-30)
  2. Jacob receiving what he didn’t deserve (v.31-35)

There must be consequences for sin…
There is grace for those who sin!

‘Jacob meets cousin Rachel and uncle Laban’ (Genesi 29:1-20)

In Genesis 29:1-20, so many of the promises of God that Jacob heard at Bethel began to be confirmed. No wonder he wept. He was aware of the goodness of God toward him, not only leading him to the place he set out for, but also providing for him a potential wife in Rachel. It remains to be seen how things will work out with his future father-in-law, Laban, but at this moment in his life, all was very good.

Message

Outline

• The sixth in this series
• Where we are in the story
• God’s providence for Jacob and his plans for him!
• See how Moses tells us of the providence of God in …

  1. His arrival at Haran (v.1-8)
  2. His meeting with Rachel (v.9-12)
  3. His employment with Laban (v.13-20)

God will guide you…
God will grow you…

‘Jacob dreams at Bethel’ (Genesis 28:10-22)

The next event in Jacob’s life as recorded in Genesis 28:10-22 is highly significant. Jacob was now an exile from home, and so it was while he was on his journey to his uncle’s that the Lord God appeared to him and gave him many assurances. The result was not only that Jacob had hist first encounter with God, but also called the Lord ‘my God’, proceeding from Bethel with the promise of blessing and protection by God – all undeserved and all of grace.

Message

Outline

• The fifth in this series
• Where we are in the story
• Jacob setting out on that journey!
• See how Moses tells us of …

  1. His temporary respite (v.10-12)
  2. His terrifying revelation (v.13-16)
  3. His grateful response (v.17-22)

What Jesus said about this event…
The promises of God – for you!

‘Thriving as a Christian’ (Psalm 1:1-6)

As the first of the book of Psalms, the one we know as Psalm 1:1-6 is very helpful. for many reasons. It not only sets the tone for many of the Psalms that follow, but it encourages God’s people to ‘walk in the ways of the Lord’ and to find blessing as we do, so that we might be a blessing to others.

Message

Outline

• Arriving at today’s message
• Revising “Blessed”
• Christians are blessed people.
• In Psalm 1, we are challenged with

  1. Practices To Avoid
  2. A Habit To Develop
  3. An Outcome To Strive For

Christians are blessed people
How we live should reveal this to others!

‘Remembering Him’ (Luke 22:1-23)

In Luke 22, Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper, saying, “Do this in remembrance of me”. As we gather again today to celebrate this meal in obedience to him – full of symbolism and scriptural allusions – what and who are we remembering?

Message

Outline

  • Life forever on earth?
  • Some comments on ‘being remembered’
  • How could Jesus ever be forgotten?
  • Is there more to remembering Him than remembering?
  1. The Old Covenant – remembered in repetition
  2. The New Covenant – remembered in symbol

The object of our faith
The test of our faith
The test of our remembering

‘Joy in Relationship’ (Philippians 1:1-11)

Where do you find joy? Paul, writing in Philippians 1:1-11, finds it in people, in relationships but specifically in partnership for the gospel. Despite his imprisonment, he is thankful that God is at work in the Philippian church and prays for their growth, to the glory and praise of God. If we are partakers of his grace, God promises to work in us, that we might grow in love, with knowledge and discernment, filled with righteousness and the joy Paul describes. Because ultimately Paul finds his joy in Jesus.

Message

Outline

Where do you find joy?
Paul is in Prison writing to the Philippians

  1. Partnership (v3-8)
  2. Prayer (v9-11)
  3. Praise (v11)

Joy in relationship with Jesus

‘Jacob steals the blessing’ (part 2) (Genesis 27:31-28:9)

There were repercussions for Rebekah and Jacob after they conspired to steal the blessing of the first-born from Esau. In Genesis 27:31-28:9 we find that not only was Esau very angry about this and wanted to enact revenge upon Jacob, but also that Jacob had to flee the family home to escape his brother’s designs. This was at great cost to Rebekah who would never see her son alive again on earth. Sin always brings repercussions and among them are the ugly fruit of seeds sewn.

Message

Outline

• This ‘daytime TV soap opera’!
• What we’ve seen so far
• Part 2 of the stolen blessing…
• See how Moses tells us of …

  1. The twin’s desperate response (27:30-41)
  2. The parents’ united advice (27:42-28:1)
  3. The son’s urgent escape (28:2-9)

The reality of the consequences of sin…
The usefulness of trials in growing faith!

‘Jacob steals the blessing’ (Genesis 27:1-29)

After stealing the birthright from Esau, Genesis 27:1-29 tells us how Jacob, led by his mother Rebekah, conspired to also steal the blessing that would normally be given by the father to the first-born, in this case his elder twin, Esau. By deceiving his father, and blasheming against God and following his mother’s instructions, Jacob succeeded. But all was not well within the family. And all is not well when we seek to manipulate others into doing (what we might think was) God’s will.

Message

Outline

• A well-known story
• Like a daytime TV soap opera!
• That recipe for disaster…
• See how Moses tells us of …

  1. Isaac, the spiritually blind father (v.1-4)
  2. Rebekah, the scheming mother (v.5-13)
  3. Jacob, the complicit son (v.14-29)

Aiming for the right goal but doing it the wrong way…
The blessing of the Lord – so needed!