The Life of Jacob

Today is our final sermon on the life of Jacob. We are going to be looking at how this man who craved the blessing of others then blessed his family at the end of his life. Blessing in the Bible is more than just saying nice words about a person. It was a combination of prophecy, destiny, and evaluation of character. Genesis 49:28 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.

When we read about lives like Jacob, we have a tendency to think that we will never have any kind of part in the purpose and plan of God. But the truth is that, through Christ, the promise to Abraham, Issac and Jacob to be a blessing to all nations has found its fulfillment in you. You have been included, chosen, to be part of a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 1:20 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

Jacob wrestled with God. We are called to do the same. Not physically, but spiritually and emotionally. We are called to bring our questions, doubts and frustrations to God instead of keeping them to ourselves. If we work them out together with Him our faith will be strengthened instead of weakened. 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."

Today is Palm Sunday where we celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. It is a homecoming of a sort. Many of us have experienced “homecomings” and it can sometimes be great, but sometimes bittersweet. Today we will look at Jacob’s homecoming and Jesus’ homecoming. Genesis 33:4 4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. Matthew 21:9 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!"

Today we continue the life of Jacob. So far, he has not been a model of good behavior! Today we look at a famous story of a dream he had of angels ascending and descending and what this means to us today. Genesis 28:16-17 16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." 17 He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven."

Today we are looking at how Jacob stole the blessing of the firstborn from his brother Esau. Again, we are reminded that God works through sin and imperfection to bring about redemption and holiness. The blessing stolen from Esau eventually led to the blessing of Christ in our lives. Genesis 27:36 36 Esau said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!"