Jacob - a man of blessing
Last week – breaking out of the “if only…” attitude – overcoming those paralysing thoughts
1. Too poor
2. Wrong job
3. Wrong place
4. Too weak
5. Not well enough
6. Bad history
7. Too old or too young
Today the life of one biblical character…
Jacob – a man of blessing and fruitfulness
Abraham and Isaac had the promises, but Jacob was the man who had 12 sons and through whom a nation was formed.
4 observations from his life:
1.Gen. 29:16-27
Sometimes it takes longer than we expect to see what we are working for.
Jacob worked 7 years motivated by love. He then had to work an unexpected extra 7 years to get what he had worked 7 years for.
Books available such as “100 places to visit before you die”, “100 things to do before you get old and boring”
These books have an urgency about them – assume a certain number of years that you need to fit a load of things into
God’s view of your life is not like this – firstly he is the only one who knows its length – secondly he is the only one who knows the significance of events in your life
You might think that things need to be now but he doesn’t necessarily share your urgency
Conversely he doesn’t share your patience when you are being slow to do the things you need to do now
The Bible is full of stories of people waiting a long time for things
Faith is not an amazing power that enables you to have what you want now so much as the ability to hold onto God’s promises even when they take a while to turn up
2. Gen. 27:41-43, 28:10-17
In the time of greatest difficulty and distress Jacob experienced open heaven.
His brother wanted to kill him – not a situation any of us would ask for – especially given that Esau was a big hairy hunter type and Jacob was a bit of a softy
Bridge on road to Wellington – never seen the writing on it until I was stuck in traffic not moving
Sometimes we need our lives to be interrupted so that we can see something different
Jacob’s home life was severely disrupted but he met with God
Maybe life is disrupted for you right now – when things are broken there is more space for God!
3. Gen. 31:1-9
Jacob received his payment from the Lord. Man is unreliable and inclined to let us down but God is faithful.
Children – not always good at sharing – can take control of all the toys – until dad intervenes!
A higher authority can overrule the schemes of those with less authority
Who has the authority in your life?
If Jesus is really Lord of your life then no one can rob you!
When you trust God you do not have to fear the schemes of man
Most people fear man too much and God not enough – need to remember who is really in charge
Jacob was a schemer – he didn’t always get this right but he acknowledges here that it is God who has the final say
When Jacob the schemer came up against Laban the schemer Jacob allowed God to overrule and provide for him
Have you met your match? That’s OK because God hasn’t!
4. Gen. 32:22-30
Jacob wrestled for a blessing that no one else even thought to ask for.
Crab fishing in Salcombe – everyone uses bacon – acknowledged as the bait to use – turned up with some mackerel carcases and a big bucket – filled it with crabs!
The majority are not right that often!
Most people you meet will not be people of faith
Most people you meet will not be living in God’s best
Doing what everyone else does, even if it is what most “Christians” do is unlikely to be the smart choice
Jacob knew there was more and he wrestled until he got hold of it
What lies have you swallowed?
What compromise have you accepted?
Are you going to stay in the place of second best or press into more?
Jacob: