There is a God. He has a plan. He has not forgotten you.

Alive and Well

(Genesis 33:1-20, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, May 31, 2015)

[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. [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.

Jacob had been through a powerful experience with God, but he was still afraid about what his brother Esau would do to his family. “He himself went on before them.” This was a change. He was ready to be the first who died. He showed great deference to Esau, and waited for the end.

[4] But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. [5] And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” [6] Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. [7] Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. [8] Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” [9] But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” [10] Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. [11] Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.

Jacob was greatly relieved by Esau's reaction and insisted on giving him the present he prepared.

[12] Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of you.” [13] But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die. [14] Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.”
[15] So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” [16] So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. [17] But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
[18] And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. [19] And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. [20] There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

But Jacob remembered God. He did not want to unnecessarily offend his brother, but he would not settle with Esau or live under Esau's protection. Jacob's trust was in God, the God of Israel.

Put the Word to Work: The providences of the Lord in your life have been used to form you into a person who knows that the Lord is your God. You have a life in His service for which you have been uniquely prepared. Live it out with gratitude and worship. You are alive and well.

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 131:2

But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Gospel Reading—Matthew 22:1-14 – The parable of the wedding feast

A Miraculous Injury

Overwhelmed, Limping, and Greatly Blessed

(Genesis 32:22-32, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, May 24, 2015)

[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.

Jacob had become a very prosperous man during his years away from Canaan. But now, because of his fear of his brother, Esau, he was alone in the wilderness. Or so it seemed...

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.

The chosen son of Isaac was not entirely alone. The Lord, perhaps through angelic mediation, was with him. Yet the experience was not entirely pleasant for Jacob. He wrestled with God. What are we supposed to think of such a strange event? Even more, how are we to deal with the announcement from the Lord's messenger, or even from God Himself, that “you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed?” How could Jacob win a wrestling match with Almighty God? What was the point of this encounter? We do know this: Jacob was a different man with a new name from this moment forward. Though this experience left him injured, it was a miraculous injury and formative for more challenging sufferings in the days ahead.

[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.

Jacob suffered and was blessed in this mysterious experience. The nation that would bear Jacob's new name, Israel, would know God as other people groups on the earth had not known Him, but they would often feel overwhelmed. Their relationship as the chosen nation would often leave them injured. They could remember this experience with Jacob for the centuries that would follow when they did not eat “the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket.”

Put the Word to Work: Close contact with God is not designed to be easy, but life-changing. Jacob's suffering and blessing tell a story that is revealed more powerfully in the life and death of Jesus. A wounded healer is now our glorious King (Isaiah 53:5).

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 131:1

O LORD, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.

Gospel Reading—Matthew 21:33-46 – The parable of the tenants

On the Way to the Promised Land...

I Go, Sir!

(Genesis 32:1-21, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, May 17, 2015)

[32:1] Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. [2] And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God's camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
[3] And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, [4] instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. [5] I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.’”
[6] And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” [7] Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, [8] thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.”

Even with the encouragement of an angelic visitation, and a plan for entreating the favor of Esau, Jacob was “greatly afraid.” He split up his family and possessions into two groups and cried out to God in his distress.

[9] And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ [10] I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. [11] Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. [12] But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”

In his prayer he reminded the Lord of God's own direction and prior promises. He also humbled himself before the Lord and admitted his fears. Finally, he asked for deliverance based on the Lord's own covenant promises that had been given to three generations of men.

[13] So he stayed there that night, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau, [14] two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, [15] thirty milking camels and their calves, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. [16] These he handed over to his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass on ahead of me and put a space between drove and drove.” [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.’” [19] He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed the droves, “You shall say the same thing to Esau when you find him, [20] and you shall say, ‘Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he thought, “I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.” [21] So the present passed on ahead of him, and he himself stayed that night in the camp.
Jacob was afraid of his brother. His plan remained the same. He would try to “appease him with the present” that he would send ahead. Jacob had more to learn at this critical moment in his life. The Lord would be his teacher. His God would meet with him in the midst of his fears and plans.

Put the Word to Work: In Christ we have the ultimate solitary warrior. His enemies were real. In order to accomplish our redemption, Jesus cried out to His Father, confronted His own very rational fears, and continued on the path of obedience. He said, “I go, Sir,” and He went.

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 130:7-8 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Gospel Reading—Matthew 21:28-32 – The parable of the two sons

The God of my Father Has Been with Me

Safety, Prosperity, and Direction from Heaven
(Genesis 31, Preaching: Pastor Nathan Snyder, May 10, 2015)

In this chapter Jacob parts ways with Laban, his father-in-law for thirteen years and employer for twenty years.  God instructs him to take his family and possessions and return to the land of Canaan.  Now is a good time to leave too, for Laban and his sons’ attitude toward Jacob is growing increasingly resentful.  Laban is the kind of man who likes you as long as he thinks he has the advantage over you and is profiting from you.  For the first fourteen years Jacob was with Laban, this seemed to be the case.  But over the last six years, Jacob has been gaining more and more of Laban’s flocks as wages, and Laban is not a happy camper.  Though he has tried to change the specifics of his wage arrangement with Jacob numerous times in order to gain the advantage, Jacob has always ended up coming out on top.

Jacob tells his wives God’s instruction to return to Canaan.  His speech is rather impressive considering what we have come to expect from Jacob.  Here is a man who, not unlike Laban, has always sought to gain an advantage for himself.  Yet now he has a lot to say about the faithfulness and blessing of God.  He recognizes that God has been with him despite Laban’s repeated attempts to take advantage of him.  He credits his prosperity to God’s kindness, not to his own scheming.  God has shown this to Jacob in a dream.  God also reminds Jacob of his experience at Bethel where God had promised to be with him and one day bring him back safely to Canaan.  Jacob had at that time vowed that if God would indeed be with him and take care of him then Jacob would have him as his God.  God has clearly kept his promise up to now and he reminds Jacob of his own vow.  Jacob is learning to trust in himself less and to trust in God more.  He obeys the command to return home.

Leah and Rachel are for their part ready to leave as their father has consistently treated them poorly.  Jacob sneaks his family away for fear of Laban, and Laban follows after them with enough men to do harm to Jacob.  Once again, it is not Jacob’s cunning that spares him but God’s mercy, for the LORD appears in a dream to Laban and tells him not to harm Jacob.  Though God is protecting Jacob, Laban at least believes he has grounds to accuse Jacob of wrong in sneaking away like this, and he accusing him of stealing his gods.  In truth, Rachel has stolen them, but Jacob knows nothing of her actions and claims innocence.  We are not told what Rachel’s motives were, but her theft was a sin which almost led to disaster for them.  Laban searches through all Jacob’s tents but cannot find the gods.  The last tent searched is Rachel’s.  The suspense builds, but Rachel successfully deceives her father, and he leaves without finding them.  At this point, Jacob loses it.  All his pent up frustration comes pouring out.  He recounts his twenty years of hard labor for Laban and Laban’s injustices against him throughout those years.  He also bears witness once again to the fact that God has continually blessed him despite all Laban’s attempts to take advantage of him.  Jacob’s words are true and all Laban can do in response is make an empty claim that everything Jacob has is Laban’s.  This is simply false.  He and Jacob had agreed upon terms which had been met.  Before the two men part ways, Laban makes a treaty of non-aggression with Jacob.  Because God has prospered and protected Jacob, Laban does not have the advantage over him anymore that he once had, and so he makes a treaty with him as an equal.  Why has God blessed Jacob as he has?  Not because of any merit in Jacob, or any merit in his wives, but because of God’s own gracious promise.

Put the Word to Work:  While we might often seek safety, prosperity, and direction through our own schemes, God has something better for us: his own heavenly presence and care.

Memory Verse from the Psalms of Ascents: Psalm 130:6 ...my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:23-27 – The authority of Jesus challenged

How Can I Get Really Rich?

Fading Prosperity and Eternal Blessing

(Genesis 30:25-43, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, May 3, 2015)

[25] As soon as Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country. [26] Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, that I may go, for you know the service that I have given you.” [27] But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you. [28] Name your wages, and I will give it.” [29] Jacob said to him, “You yourself know how I have served you, and how your livestock has fared with me. [30] For you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I turned. But now when shall I provide for my own household also?” [31] He said, “What shall I give you?” Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this for me, I will again pasture your flock and keep it: [32] let me pass through all your flock today, removing from it every speckled and spotted sheep and every black lamb, and the spotted and speckled among the goats, and they shall be my wages. [33] So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come to look into my wages with you. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, shall be counted stolen.” [34] Laban said, “Good! Let it be as you have said.” [35] But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in the charge of his sons. [36] And he set a distance of three days' journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob pastured the rest of Laban's flock.

Jacob knew that the time had come for him to leave Laban and to make his own life, but he found it hard to resist a man who said, “Name your wages, and I will give it.” Laban wanted to be seen as Jacob's benefactor, but Jacob knew that his father-in-law was just serving himself. Why then did he stay with him? Could a man like Laban ever be trusted?

[37] Then Jacob took fresh sticks of poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the sticks. [38] He set the sticks that he had peeled in front of the flocks in the troughs, that is, the watering places, where the flocks came to drink. And [since] they bred when they came to drink, [39] the flocks bred in front of the sticks and [so] the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted. [40] And Jacob separated the lambs and set the faces of the flocks toward the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban. He put his own droves apart and did not put them with Laban's flock. [41] Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding, Jacob would lay the sticks in the troughs before the eyes of the flock, that they might breed among the sticks, [42] but for the feebler of the flock he would not lay them there. So the feebler would be Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. [43] Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

Jacob had his own wild plan for prosperity, and it even seemed to work, but it would be the Lord who would bring greater blessings upon Jacob than anyone could imagine. See Genesis 31:9-13.

Put the Word to Work: Jacob was willing to do many things to try to attain what God would give to Him as a gift. The blessing that comes to us as the gift of Christ is better than all the kingdoms of the world. Wait for the Lord! He will bless His chosen people. We cannot scheme our way into God's finest gifts. They come to us despite all our tricks. Without the Lord's blessing, we could never have the finest jewels of Christian prosperity—the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and godliness with contentment which is great gain.

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 130:5

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.

Gospel Reading—Matthew 21:18-22 – Jesus curses the fig tree