Faith of Jacob
•Download as PPTX, PDF•
0 likes•533 views
The seventh message in the Faithbook series focuses on the Faith of Jacob, a self-reliant schemer who wrestled with God and became a God-dependent worshiper of the God of his fathers.
More Related Content
What's hot
What's hot (19)
Viewers also liked
Viewers also liked (13)
Similar to Faith of Jacob
Similar to Faith of Jacob (20)
More from Stephen Palm
More from Stephen Palm (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (16)
Faith of Jacob
- 1. Connecting with God’s Faith-filled Friends
- 2. Search Faithbook Home Jacob Edit Profile I can’t wait to lose this limp! Someday… Elohim 5 hrs Love the progress you’ve made Israel! Esau 4 hrs I still call him by his given name… TRICKSTER. Groups Hebrew Patriarchs Abraham and Isaac
- 3. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Jacob’s Journey •77 years in Canaan. •20 years in Haran. •33 years in Canaan. •17 years in Egypt.
- 4. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob 15 Abraham died 77 Fled to Haran Married Leah and Rachel 84 97 Returns to Canaan 130 Moves to Egypt Jacob’s Age During Key Life Events Jacob dies 147
- 5. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Edit Profile Hebrews 11:21 Genesis 25-50 Instilling a Sense of Worship to the Next Generation
- 6. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Hebrews 11:21 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.
- 7. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob First Post We cannot instill what we ourselves lack.
- 8. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob There are times when God uses reprehensible men in incomprensible ways in order to reshape an unpliable man into a mighty man of God.
- 9. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob God enrolled Jacob in the Uncle Laban Institute of Family Deceit. Comment
- 10. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Jacob had a natural flair for deceit. Laban was Grand Master. Comment
- 11. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob “A man’s life is always more forcible than his speech. When men take stock of him they reckon his deeds as dollars and his words as pennies. If his life and doctrine disagree the mass of onlookers accept his practice and reject his preaching.”
- 12. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Second Post We cannot instill a sense of worship until we have truly wrestled with God.
- 13. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Genesis 32 22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had.
- 14. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Genesis 32 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.
- 15. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Genesis 32 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”
- 16. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Genesis 32 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
- 17. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Genesis 32 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”
- 18. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Genesis 32 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Peniel, limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh.
- 19. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob A Bizarre Account 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.”
- 20. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Genesis 32 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”
- 21. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob A true worshiper is a person who clings tightly to God. Comment
- 22. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob “If you want God to bless you and use you greatly, you must be willing to walk with a limp the rest of your life, because God uses weak people.” Rick Warren
- 23. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Third Post We cannot instill a sense of worship until we have learned to depend upon God.
- 24. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Jacob has been described as an independent man. Comment
- 25. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Genesis 32:17-18 17 He instructed the first, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, ‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you?’ 18 then you shall say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a present sent to my lord Esau. And moreover, he is behind us.’”
- 26. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Israel, the new man born at Peniel, is a dependent man. Comment
- 27. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Genesis 33 1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants.
- 28. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Genesis 33 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
- 29. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Genesis 33 4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
- 30. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Hebrews 11:21 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.
- 31. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Genesis 47:3 NIV "Swear to me," he said. Then Joseph swore to him, and Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. Genesis 47:3 ESV And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed.
- 32. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob Genesis 47:3; 48:2 47:3And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed… 48:2And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. Hebrews 11:21 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.
- 33. Instilling a Sense of Worship Jacob “If he had different gods, he would have been a different man.” Urbaal’s Wife
- 34. Connecting with God’s Faith-filled Friends
Editor's Notes
- Passing on the Blessing to the Next Generation
- Hebrews 11:21 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.
- First Post We cannot instill what we ourselves lack. It was God’s sovereign purpose to transmit the blessing through Jacob; Rebekkah and Jacob’s deceit notwithstanding. However, Jacob’s deceitfulness had to be purged, in order for him to become a true worshipper of God.
- Comment: There are times when God uses reprehensible men in incomprensible ways in order to reshape an unpliable man into a mighty man of God. That’s what God did to Jacob.
- Comment: God enrolled Jacob in the Uncle Laban Institute of Family Deceit.
- Jacob had a natural flair for deceit. Laban was Grand Master. Genesis 29 Jacob fell in love with Laban’s younger and fairer daughter, Rachel. Jacob offered to work for seven years in order to gain Rachel’s hand. Imagine a seven year engagement! Uncle Laban pulled off the greatest switcheroo of all time. I suspect that Uncle Laban got his son-in-law good and drunk, because in the morning, after having consummated the marriage, Jacob finds that he is in bed with the older sister Leah, who is described as being the sister with the wide hips and weak eyes. Laban offered Jacob Rachel as well, but it would cost him 7 more years of labor. Jacob spent a total of 20 years at Laban Institute. God was purging Jacob of his deceitfulness.
- “A man’s life is always more forcible than his speech. When men take stock of him they reckon his deeds as dollars and his words as pennies. If his life and doctrine disagree the mass of onlookers accept his practice and reject his preaching.” The younger Jacob had little to teach his children about faith in and worship of the God of His fathers. His words would have been empty. What about you? Are you in a position to instill godly values to your children? Is there a consistency in your life? If not, be prepared for Uncle Laban. God will find a way to reshape you.
- Second Post We cannot instill a sense of worship until we have truly wrestled with God.
- Genesis 32 22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had.
- 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.
- 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”
- 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
- 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”
- 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh.
- Look again at verse 25: 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. This is one of the most bizarre accounts in all of the Bible. It is bizarre in that God seems outmatched. V. 25 – The theophany cannot overpower Jacob. So, God dislocates Jacob’s hip. Nevertheless, Jacob maintains his grip. He refuses to let go, unless He is blessed. God complies with Jacob’s demands. On first glance, this passage gives us a very low view concerning God’s sovereignty. However, a closer look at verses 26 and 30 helps us to resolve these difficulties. Why does God say “let me go” in vs 26? What is the significance of daybreak? Did God have another appointment? Daybreak would have revealed His face to Jacob and Jacob would have died.
- Genesis 32 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” Jacob understood that he had not bettered God. God had allowed him to wrestle with Him. The hip was God’s thorn in Jacob’s flesh to remind Him of his place in the universe.
- In order to become a true man of worship, we too must wrestle with God, and learn of his sovereign might and mighty grace. Jacob received a new name at Peniel. From this day forth he is no longer called “deceiver.” He is called Israel, which means, “He struggles with God.” A true worshiper is a person who clings tightly to God, one who is not content for anything short of an intimate knowledge of God.
- “A man’s life is always more forcible than his speech. When men take stock of him they reckon his deeds as dollars and his words as pennies. If his life and doctrine disagree the mass of onlookers accept his practice and reject his preaching.” The younger Jacob had little to teach his children about faith in and worship of the God of His fathers. His words would have been empty. What about you? Are you in a position to instill godly values to your children? Is there a consistency in your life? If not, be prepared for Uncle Laban. God will find a way to reshape you.
- Third Post We cannot instill a sense of worship until we have learned to depend upon God.
- Jacob has been described as an independent man. In the earlier chapters of the Jacob narrative, Jacob is constantly solving his own problems. Right up to the moment that he “wrestles with God,” he is trying to solve his problems with Esau, who is about to avenge himself for the stolen birthright and blessing.
- Jacob has prepared a gift for Esau. Notice Jacob’s plan: 17 He instructed the first, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, ‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you?’ 18 then you shall say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a present sent to my lord Esau. And moreover, he is behind us.’” Jacob actually planned on dispatching three such delegations to precede his arrival. He is trying to soften Esau’s heart independently.
- Jacob’s plan had him coming at the rear. Israel, the new man born at Peniel, is a dependent man.
- Genesis 33 1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants.
- Genesis 33 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. The independent Jacob pridefully tried to finesse his way through every situation. The dependent Jacob humbled himself and depended upon God for his protection. The outcome is instructive.
- Genesis 33 4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. God had softened Esau’s heart. At long last, at the very conclusion of this morning’s sermon, we are ready to look at this morning’s text in Hebrews 11:21:
- Hebrews 11:21 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.
- There are some difficulties in the text which I could have focused on: The same Hebrew root is used to make the word bed and the word staff. It is, therefore, unclear whether this blessing was given by a standing Jacob leaning over his staff or a bed-ridden Jacob leaning up in bed. There is also the difficulty of the event described. The occasion where Jacob worships over his staff is found in Gen. 47 where Jacob asks Joseph not to bury him in Egypt. The blessing of Joseph’s sons occurs in chapter 48.
- Clearly, the author of Hebrews is conflating these two events into a single event, for the purpose of making a simple point. Having shared these challenges, let’s be sure that we don’t miss the main point. The elderly Jacob, now called Israel, was a new creature. What he once lacked, he now possesses. Though once distant from God, he has wrestled with God and experienced a radical transformation. Though once self-reliant, he has learned how to depend upon God for everything, including his own safety. Though once a man who tolerated idolatry within his own house, he is now a passionate worshiper of God whose dying moments were spent instilling a sense of worship to his children and grandchildren.
- James Michener, writing in his book, The Source, tells the story of a man named Urbaal, who was a farmer living about 2200 B.C. He worshiped two gods, one a god of death, the other a goddess of fertility. One day, the temple priests tell Urbaal to bring his young son to the temple for sacrifice—if he wants good crops. Urbaal obeys, and on the appointed day drags his wife and boy to the scene of the boy’s “religious execution” by fire to the god of death. After the sacrifice of Urbaal’s boy and several others, the priests announce that one of the fathers will spend next week in the temple, with a new temple prostitute. Urbaal’s wife is stunned as she notices a desire written more intensely across his face than she had seen before, and she is overwhelmed to see him eagerly lunge forward when his name is called. The ceremony over, she walks out of the temple with her head swimming, concluding that “if he had different gods, he would have been a different man.” Altar Call Who is your God? The God of Death? Are you living a self-destructive lifestyle that inflicts others with the consequences of your bad choices? The Goddess of Fertility? Are you living for the pleasures of this world, no matter who you disappoint? You need a new God – The God of Jacob.