December 11, 2022

Jacob is growing & God is blessing

Preacher:
Passage: Genesis 30:25-31:13
Service Type:

Introduction

Rachel said to her son Jacob "flee for just a few days" … but Jacob was 20 years in Laban’s house
A lot can change in 20 years

Have you changed?
Has the word of God changed you over the years?
What has changed in your life – examples

The greatest change needs to occur in our hearts

We need to be born again
We need the forgiveness of sins
We need to say the "Lord is my Shepherd"

Are you growing as a Christian?
Gen 28 –

Jacob meets God at Bethel (Gen 31:13)

Jacob is Growing

Gen 28 onwards

Jacob meets God at Bethel (Gen 31:13)
We saw God’s providence towards Jacob – both blessing and discipline
God was working in him

He was a hard working man

God has blessed Laban because God’s hand was upon Jacob

Laban recognises this (Gen 30:27)

He was growing in integrity
This did not look spectacular – but Jacob was faithful

Jacob testifies of what God is doing in his life (Gen 31:5-7)

God is with him
God did not allow Laban to hurt him
He is growing in his love for God

Not Jacob first – but God first

God is blessing Jacob and he is growing
We must ask for God’s blessing in our lives

Growing in Humility (Gen 30:25-30)

Jacob is home sick but also knows that God has promised him land

He requests his wives and children for his service
He is humble and shows respect to his uncle

Laban wants him to stay

He asks him to name his wages
Jacob is humble and recognises he has been blessed because the Lord is with him

Jacob wants to provide for his own family

He has worked for 14 years with nothing to show for it
Yet there is no word of complaint
This is quite a change from his previous character
Psalm 15:1-2a,4b
We grow nearer to God the humbler we are
The Christian with the greatest fruit will be the most humble servant

Laban asks Jacob to request his wages

Do you see kindness or meanness in this?
Should it not be a gift?

Consider levitical law – to be released after 6 years

Growing in Wisdom (Gen 30:31-34)

Jacob needs to be wise in his approach to Laban

He asks for the undesirable of the flock
A modest request
There can be no dispute over which sheep are his

Christians can be unwise

We ought to fear God

Growing in love for God (Gen 31)

Jacob wants to return home

God comes (for only the second time) and speaks powerfully to him
He ignores laban’s voice and obeys the voice of God

Whose voice are we listening to?

The voice of God?
The voice of a loved one or friend?

Whose voice are we obeying?

We grow as Christians as we obey God

God has blessed him – v5, 7, 9

God has met with him – v11-13

He is speaking about God

Do you speak about God to those around?
Do you testify and witness?
The Christian as they grow speaks more and more about Jesus

Are we listening as God’s speaks to us?
Are we growing in Christ ?

2 Peter 3:8 ???
2 Peter 1:5-6

God is Blessing
Despite unfavourable circumstances

Jacob worked 14 years (for his wives)

Despite a cruel & crafty employer

Jacob had a cruel and crafty employer

Laban agreed to Jacob’s request … but gives the agreed sheep to his own sons
Laban changed his wages 10 times over

He kept changing the goalposts
It is difficult to understand the practice with the poplars? (Gen 30:37-43)

Was it superstition?
Was it a breeding practice?

Despite Jacob’s trickery

Yet God prospered Jacob despite this

Even despite Jacob’s own trickery

God blesses those whom He chooses

Gen 30:43
Jacob became exceedingly prosperous
God’s promise was that Abraham’s seed would be blessed

Those who blessed the seed would be blessed
Those who cursed the seed would be cursed

We are on our way to the promised land and God is with us

Closing Remarks

Are you growing?
Quote from Richard Baxter
This life is preparation for heaven
We are not perfect – but we need to grow in God