My first sermon! :)

I haven't been blogging or cleaning or emailing sisters because my spare moments have been spent working on homework for my Hermeneutics for Preaching/Counseling and Biblical Interpretation course.

Don't worry; I'm not aspiring to be a preacher (neither would I). I would, however, like to teach a bible study at some point so I want to know how to rightly divide the word of God. The course has been absolutely excellent. I've been so inspired and motivated to get into the Bible more and really study the Word given to us by God so that we might know Him!

We just have a couple weeks left before the first term is over and I head off to the States for a wonderful reuniting with the my family!!!

This week I did my first teaching in front of the class. I was doing jumping jacks all day around the house to let off nervous energy. Studying and praying over Jacob's life has been so deeply rich and meaningful for me. I was discouraged before the presentation because I felt I couldn't do GOD'S GREATNESS justice. Looking over my notes I knew there were some really powerful truths but to speak about them in my unpersuasive, boring voice wouldn't be enough. God came through for me and their were a few wet eyes in the room after I finished (including my own). I actually enjoyed teaching on what I love! I didn't even get slaughtered when it came time for the class of six to critique the content of my presentation. Other than a few heretical errors (joking) it was encouraging.

I'm sharing the teaching here hoping you too might be encouraged.
 

Who are you?

I'm entitling my teaching “Who are you?” Think for just a moment about who you are. What defines you? How do people know you? What would your family tell me about you? We live in a culture searching for meaning and significance. People seeking to find out and express who they are. Sometimes we ponder and ask ourselves who am I really? God asked Jacob a question like this one. God changed Jacob's identity from that of a deceiver to the child of the Living God.

Lets start by reading a significant encounter in Jacob's life: Genesis 32:22-30

I've been looking in the second half of Genesis (Ch25-50) at who Jacob was and who God made him to be. Jacob's name means deceiver or heel grasper. He's known by his family as a deceiver. He wriggled his way into getting his brothers birthright over a bowl of soup (Ch25v29-34). He deceives his father Isaac in order to get the blessing (Ch27). To escape his brother, he runs off to his Uncle Laban(Ch28). Laban's son's don't trust him with their father's livestock (Ch31v1). Laban doubts and questions Jacob's dealings (Ch31v2). Jacob gets what he wants through whatever means he can. He looks after himself. Jacob even tries cutting deals with God. God promises blessing for Jacob before he's even born but Jacob goes after it by his own means. Jacob trusts no one. In Bethel, (when Jacob is running from his brother) God speaks to Jacob in a dream and gives him a beautiful and outstanding promise. Essentially Jacob answers back “If you will do this this and this for me then you can be my God and I'll give you some of my stuff and build a house for you. Jacob is bargaining with God. Jacob's name describes him well, he grasps for what he wants and gets it through whatever means. This method seems to be working out alright for him. He's got the blessing. He's accumulated lots of animals and a family.

However, on his return to his home country Jacob is met with a crisis. Esau is coming after him with four hundred men! Jacob is in the middle of a desert with all that he owns. His wives and children are there with him and they're about to be attacked in the wilderness. Jacob divides his family into two camps in a desperate hope that some might escape and live. He sends ahead gifts hoping to calm the wrath of his brother. He's in trouble and he's outnumbered. Jacob's afraid (Ch32v7). What is he to do?? Where can he turn?? He's burnt all his bridges. He's alone and he's vulnerable. Jacob's run out of idea's and he's out of resources. He's terrified. So he cries out to God. (Ch32v9-12).

In the middle of a sleepless night Jacob gets up and sends his family and all his possessions on ahead of him. He helps them cross the stream. Then all alone in the dark he meets with God. Yes God is there. He always has been but Jacob isn't used to receiving anything without a struggle so he spends much of the night wrestling with God. Jacob's spent his life stealing, bargaining, striving and working for what he has. To give up grasping is to go against who he is. If he's not Jacob the deceiver who is he? As the first gleams of daylight appear Jacob is still going strong but God seeks to end the fight. Jacob pleads “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” God asks him: “What is your name?”(Ch32v27) “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” And God blesses him there (Ch32v28). In Jacob's last fight he looses his identity and is blessed. Jacob wins because he's finally lost himself. God is calling Jacob his own. He's claiming him. Jacob is no longer identified by his sin, he's no longer son of Satan, the father of lies. (John 8:44) He's now Israel “My first born.” (Ex3v18,4v21ff)

This story is shocking to me?!! Can you believe The God of the Universe is identifying Himself with this scumbag Jacob?!!

Let's take a glance at God's hand in history up to this point. We see clearly that God hates wickedness and loves righteousness. Sin is punished while righteousness is rewarded. It's pretty black and white. When Adam and Eve sin they are punished (Gen3). Cain is cursed for murder (Gen4v11). Noah was 'righteous' and 'blameless' and found favor with God (Gen6v9). God preserves him and his family while punishing wickedness with a flood (Gen6v5-8). Abraham is righteous and blessed. God makes a covenant with him. Isaac is the son of promise and walks in God's ways.

Then you come to Jacob. He's not righteous. He's not even the first born. He's defined by deception. And yet God insists on pursuing and blessing him. This is different. It doesn't seem right. God seems to be confusing things. Shouldn't He have blotted out Jacob and forfeited the blessing the minute he lied to his father? Instead, God goes out of His way to save and bless this guy who continually screws up.

After encountering God Jacob declares “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” (Gen32v30)

Why was Jacob's life preserved? Why wasn't Jacob the deceiver punished and cursed for his sin? Because Jesus, God's firstborn paid, wrestled, struggled, died and was cursed. Jacob couldn't receive the blessing under his own name but under Israel (Prince of God, God's son) he received the firstborn blessing in Christ's place! God was willing to come down as man, wrestle and be defeated/die in order that Jacob might live.

This concept was not foreign to Jacob. Earlier in his life, Jacob was blessed by Isaac in the guise of Esau the firstborn. His father poured the whole blessing on Jacob while he wore the clothes of Esau.

Now, God pours the full blessing upon Jacob - knowing full well who he is but choosing to be blind to his sin and instead see Jacob clothed in the righteousness of His first born, Jesus Christ.

Jacob's older brother Esau is out to kill him because he's stolen the blessing. Jesus, on the other hand, willingly took the Father's curse in order that the one deserving the curse might be blessed (Col1v15,2Cor5v21,Rom8v29).

There's a lot to be said about Jacob's name change and his blessing from God but in the story Jacob is still in the desert with an angry older brother and his army after him. The suns now risen, the wrestling match is over. Jacob looks up and sees Esau and his 400 men coming. Jacob's had no sleep and sports a dislocated hip but he's a new man. Jacob divides his family and goes hobbling on ahead of them - bowing seven times to the ground. Esau runs to meet him with tears, hugs and all.

When Esau inquires about all the gifts of livestock Jacob has sent ahead and says he's got enough already. Listen to Jacob's response in verse 10-11 of Chapter 33:

And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in the sight of my lord, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face AS THOUGH I HAD SEEN THE FACE OF GOD AND YOU WERE PLEASED WITH ME. Please take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” So he urged him and he took it.

At the onset of this journey Jacob was trying to earn favor and appease the older brother whereas now he knows he is accepted by the very brother he's stolen the blessing from and he is giving him a gift from the bountiful blessings of a gracious God. He doesn't need to give it, he already has favor but he wants to give from a heart that is overflowing with grace and gratitude.

Before leaving this story I just have one more question to ask of Jacob: Why does God name him Israel?

Israel is the nation God builds up for himself. Israel is 'His own special people'. The people of God. God calls Israel “My son, my firstborn.” Lets read from Deut7v6-8 and Ex2v22. God names a sinful people Israel and He gives them the title of firstborn. Firstborn doesn't have a whole lot of significance in our culture but in Jacob's culture firstborn was huge! It means you get your fathers title. It means a double portion. This is who Jacob becomes. He leaves behind a deceiving scoundrel and walks off in the glory of God. Jacob stands not on his own name but on the Father's name- his Father's title. His Father's words about him. Jacob had to give up trying to pay for, steal, earn, repay and wrestle for God's favor. He had to fall empty and broken on God's merciful grace. God didn't have to save Jacob. I believe God saved Jacob to show his people who He is and give them a foretaste of His glorious redemption.

Through the story of Jacob we see God's grace and mercy. We see what we (the people of Israel) are in Christ. Through Jacob its clear that it's not by our striving or our righteousness but God's own doing. Jacob couldn't even give up his striving without God touching him. Jacob won by losing. Jacob screwed up miserably but God meets him with blessing and favor, delight and grace.

What does this mean for us? I don't know about you but for me this is good news!! When I was growing up I did all I could to avoid my parents disapproval. I was good and sweet and therefore avoided punishment. I can't fake it with God. I try and try to be good and sweet but I come up empty. I find myself alone in the desert without resources. God goes after this hard-hearted deceitful man and pours his mercy and redemption and blessing upon him over and over and over. This is my story too! I screw it all up and God says “That one's mine.” “She's called by my name.”

He was not ashamed to identify with us. Who are you? What's your name? Are you known by your striving? Something you've done in the past? Are you defined by your success? Or by shame? Or.... are you known as the CHILD OF THE LIVING GOD. Is your identity found in Christ? Or is it in yourself? It's not until the self dies and we take on Christ's life that we truly live.