Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: Genesis 28:10–22

Theme: Jacob the schemer flees from his fate, Jacob the sinner finds God in the desert, and Jacob the believer worship the One true God.

Date: 11/13/2022 File name: Patriarch_Lessons_06.wpd ID Number:

In 1988 promoters in London planned a Rock Concert in Wembley Stadium in London to celebrate the ending of Apartheid in South Africa.

Half-a-dozen of the world’s most famous Rock bands were enlisted to play in a twelve-hour concert.

For some strange reason the promoters scheduled Black American opera singer, Jessye Norman, as the closing act to sing, Amazing Grace.

For twelve hours various bands blasted the fans with high-volume rock-‘n-roll music.

Finally the time came for Ms. Norman to sing.

A single spotlight followed Norman as she strolled on stage.

No backup band, no musical instruments, just Jessye.

The crowd became restless.

Few young Britishers recognized the 43-year-old American opera diva.

A voice yelled for more [rock music].

Others took up the cry.

The scene was getting ugly.

And then Jessye, in her huge operatic voice, began to sing very slowly: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound; That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found — Was blind, but now I see.”

And then a remarkable thing happened ... 70,000 British rock fans fell silent.

By the time she got to the last stanza tens of thousands of fans were singing with her, “When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we first begun.”

Pun intended — she rocked the place.

Grace surprises us when we least expect it.

Everyone needs it.

It can come in a dream, by an angel’s voice, through a verse of Scripture or the encouraging words of a friend, and yes, even through a sermon.

But we can always trace it back to God.

Jacob is going to discover the grace of God at a place called Beth-el.

I. JACOB THE SCHEMER FLEEING HIS FATE

1. God chose to continue his covenant promises through Jacob, and He chose to do so even before he and his brother Esau were born

a. as the firstborn Esau should have been the primogenitor — the son who inherited the bulk of his father’s estate, who become the clan leader, who became the family judicial authority, and who was the family’s spiritual leader

1) God has a different plan for the boys

b. though Esau and Jacob are twins, they couldn’t have been any less alike

2. consider Esau ...

ILLUS.

He is Gaston of Beauty and the Beast.

“No one's slick as Gaston; No one's quick as Gaston; No one's neck is as incredibly thick as Gaston’s; For there's no man in town half as manly; Perfect, a pure paragon.”

And every last inch of him is covered in hair.

This is Esau.

a. he’s a hunter, a roving man of the open fields — he takes down what he wants with the bow

b. husbandry of animals, or planting crops for harvest is not for Esau — he was not one to waste time at home tending the flocks weeding gardens

c. he is a free-spirited man, a ‘man’s man’ who rejoices in being uncultured, and we’re told that Isaac loved him for it

d. on a deeper level, Esau is a man who did not take the responsibility of the birthright seriously —his true focus was on temporary desires over a lifetime blessing

3. consider Jacob ...

ILLUS.

He is Frank Burns of M.A.S.H.;

He is a chinless mama’s boy, and a mealy-mouthed, weasel of a man who is consumed with self-aggrandizement and self-promotion.

One who blames others for his own shortcomings and mistakes.

This is Jacob.

a. Jacob is not your typical biblical hero; he is a conniver and a deceiver and a schemer who is always plotting about how he can get ahead

b.

Jacob is described as a quiet man, dwelling in tents, and there is nothing necessarily wrong about that, but the implication is that he’s never cut the ‘apron strings’ with mama

c.

Jacob can’t string a bow or track an antelope, but he can mend a garment, and he makes a mean stew, and we’re told the Rebekah loved him for it

d. on a deeper level, Jacob is a calculating man who clearly takes advantage of others in order to gain what he covets

4. we look at Jacob’s life and wonder “Is this is the best with which God has to work?”

a. can the covenant survive the self-seeking interest of Jacob?

A. JACOB HAS EARNED HIS NAME

1. as most of you know, Esau was born first and thereby became legal heir to the family birthright which included, among other things, being heir to the Covenant between God and Abraham

a. this birthright was a link in the line of descent through which the Promised Messiah was to come

2. one day when Esau has been out in the wilderness hunting, he returns famished to the family residence wher e Jacob just happens to be cooking stew

a. when Esau begs for a bowl full of the stew Jacob seizes the opportunity, and cunningly said, “Sell me your birthright now” (Genesis 25:31)

b.

Esau, who is playing the “drama king” here, says “Of what use is the birthright if I’m about to die of hunger?” (which he’s not), and so Esau swore to Jacob his birthright and Jacob gave his brother bread and lentil stew

1) after that, it says, “Esau despised his birthright”

2) years go by and Isaac is nearing death, and Jacob is plotting his next move

3. Jacob took advantage of Esau years before, and at the end of Isaac’s life Jacob is going to deceive his blind, aged father ... and he’s going to do so with mom’s help!

Genesis 27:6–29

a. their rouse works, and Isaac gives the father’s covenantal blessing to Jacob

B. JACOB IS LIVING ON BORROWED TIME

“Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

42 But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah.

So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you.

43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice.

Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran 44 and stay with him a while, until your brother’s fury turns away— 45 until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him.

Then I will send and bring you from there.

Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?””

(Genesis 27:41–45, ESV)

1. it’s at this point that Rebekah plants a thought in Isaac’s mind — just as Abraham found a wife for Isaac back in Haran in the land of Mesopotamia, so Isaac now needs to send Jacob to her brother Laban for the same reason

a. Isaac agrees

“Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father, and take as your wife from there one of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother.

3 God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples.

4 May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!” 5 Thus Isaac sent Jacob away.

And he went to Paddan-aram, to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.”

(Genesis 28:2–5, ESV)

2. Jacob now flees to Paddan-aram where he will spend the next twenty years of his life

a.

there he will marry Leah and Rachel and begin to raise a family

3. important for us this morning is what happen on his way

a.

Jacob will have an encounter with God which is the focus of our story this morning

II.

JACOB THE SINNER COMING TO FAITH

“And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set.

Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep.

12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven.

And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!

13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac.

The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring.”

(Genesis 28:11–13, ESV)

1. personal crisis is often the occasion for deep spiritual experience

a. this was true for Jacob

1) running away from home to a foreign country, he lay down under the stars, and dreamed a dream