7-23-23 Sermon "The Best Way" 19 Minutes

Genesis 28:10-19

This morning I'll be reading Genesis chapter 28 verses 10 through 19. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Genesis 28:10-19 In the verses before,,, you can see that Jacob and his mother had taken things into their own hands and she had helped Jacob trick his father into giving him Esau's blessing. After that Jacob needed to leave because of the anger of Esau. So he left,,, by using the excuse that he would go to his mothers family to find a wife. It's on this journey that he has this dream that we will look at this morning. Genesis 28:10–19 (HCSB) 10 Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11 He reached a certain place and spent the night there because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from the place, put it there at his head, and lay down in that place. 12 And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down on it. 13 Yahweh was standing there beside him, saying, “I am Yahweh, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land that you are now sleeping on. 14 Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out toward the west, the east, the north, and the south. All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven.” 18 Early in the morning Jacob took the stone that was near his head and set it up as a marker. He poured oil on top of it 19 and named the place Bethel, though previously the city was named Luz. The word of God for the people of God,,, thanks be to God! God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ___________________________________ Last Sunday we looked at Psalm 119:105-112 and we learned that God's word is what we need to help guide us through the trials and tribulations that this world will throw at us today.

It's God's word that lights our path and shows us when we lose our way!

It's God's words that help us to see the beauty during the day!

We must keep our covenant with God so that when we are afflicted,,, we can ask God to give us life through His word!

And because of that,,, we offer our praise in thanksgiving for all that He does for us,,, and then we are truly ready to learn from Him!

Especially since we are always under attack,,, and we must never forget His word so that they can help us each day!

Our relationship ensures us the heritage that God has promised,,, as we obey His words,,, all the way,,, to the end!

Because we know,,, that the end of this life,,, is only the beginning,,, of our life,,, spent in eternity,,, with God!

This morning we will look at these verses in Genesis 28:10-19,,, and see how they will help us in our walk with God this week.

___________________________________ Verses 10-11 said: 10 Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11 He reached a certain place and spent the night there because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from the place, put it there at his head, and lay down in that place.

In the previous verses,,, Isaac called Jacob and blessed him,,, and sent him to Paddan Aram,,, a district of Mesopotamia,,, so that he would find a wife among his mother’s people and not take a wife from the Canaanites.

At least that's what Jacob's mother told Isaac,,, of course the real reason was to get Jacob away from Esau,,, before something bad happened!

From Beer-sheba to Haran,,, it was,,, somewhere around a three-day’s journey.

Apparently,,, according to my Wesleyan commentary,,, Rebekah managed the actual departure of Jacob,,, for it seems to have been done in haste.

Otherwise,,, it would have been strange for the chosen son of a wealthy family to have embarked on such a journey with no accompanying servants.

The picture is one of complete aloneness.

No doubt,,, Jacob had plenty of time to think during those three days.

He found himself hated by his brother,,, and exiled from his parents and all that was familiar to him.

He was faced with all the dangers and uncertainties of a long journey,,, in a dangerous period of time,,, among people who were more likely to be hostile than friendly.

No doubt,,, he began to wonder about the “success” of his scheming,,, and the “wisdom” of his unbridled ambition.

He might have agreed with Esau’s earlier question about the present value of the birthright and the blessing.

It seems certain that by the time Jacob reached Luz,,, he was completely disillusioned with himself and his future.

He was indeed at the end of himself.

On the evening described in the Scriptures,,, Jacob reached the vicinity of the ancient city of Luz.

My commentary says,,, it's impossible to say whether the city had actually been established as yet.

But if so,,, either Jacob did not quite reach it before the gates closed,,, or,,, he chose to take his chances in the open,,, rather than among strangers.

The area was extremely rocky,,, and,,, strange as it seems in a day of foam-rubber pillows,,, Jacob simply followed a common custom of travelers in his day by propping his head on a stone.

___________________________________ Verse 12 said: 12 And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down on it.

It is not surprising that Jacob dreamed that night.

No doubt,,, his conscience was aroused.

No doubt,,, he was frightened by the uncertainties which faced him.

The area in which he slept was surrounded by piles of ledge-like rocks,,, which some have thought suggested to the physical eye,,, the form of giant stairways going up into the sky.

To what extent God used such natural means to reveal himself to Jacob we cannot be sure.

But it is quite evident that this dream was far more than just another dream.

In his dream,,, Jacob saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven,,, with the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

___________________________________ Verses 13-15 said: 13 Yahweh was standing there beside him, saying, “I am Yahweh, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land that you are now sleeping on. 14 Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out toward the west, the east, the north, and the south. All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

God,,, standing beside him,,, identified himself as the God of Abraham and Isaac.

The Lord spoke to Jacob,,, giving him,,, the full promise that was earlier given to the other two patriarchs,,, and by doing so,,, confirming Isaac’s blessings of Jacob.

___________________________________ Verses 16-17 said: 16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven.”

When Jacob woke up,,, he was first surprised, then frightened.

His surprise was due to his personal ignorance of God.

No doubt he had heard the story from Isaac about the earlier revelations.

But Jacob’s life up to this point,,, showed no personal acquaintance with the God of purity who commanded Abraham to walk before Him and be perfect.

Besides,,, the heathen nations around Jacob thought of their gods as local deities,,, exercising their authority only over a city,,,,,, or village,,, or small country.

And because of that,,, maybe Jacob thought in the same terms about Isaac’s God.

He thought Jehovah had been left at Beersheba.

His dream convinced him otherwise.

And since he has realized that God was with him,,, not left behind as he possibly thought,,, Jacob’s fear,,, was the natural fear that a sinful man always feels in the presence of a holy God.

___________________________________ Verses 18-19 said: 18 Early in the morning Jacob took the stone that was near his head and set it up as a marker. He poured oil on top of it 19 and named the place Bethel, though previously the city was named Luz.

My commentary says that when you break down the word Bethel,,, "Beth" is house,,, and "el" is God,,, therefore,,, Jacob declares,,, this is the house of God!

This name,,, later replaced that of Luz.

He also took his stone,,, that he used for a pillow,,, set it up as a pillar,,, and poured oil upon it.

This act of setting up the stones to mark a place of worship,,, and the pouring of oil upon them as an act of worship,,, is a custom known to have been used by many ancient peoples.

Jacob may have seen his heathen neighbors engaging in such practices,,, or even bowing down to such stones as rude idols.

But this wasn't idol worship,,, for him.

There was something so sacred about this spot,,, that he must remember what had taken place,,, and mark the spot for others,,, so that they would wonder,,, about this place as well!

Jacob was overwhelmed at the historic blessing,,, and personal assurance,,, given to him by God.

He had been promised multiplied descendants—a promise given to Abraham when he was childless,,, and now given to Jacob,,, when he was not even married,,, and,,, when his present circumstances threatened an end to his future.

He had also been promised,,, he would be a means of blessing for all nations.

Everything that his mother and he had stolen or tricked others to get,,, God now tells him is to be his by divine appointment.

But with it,,, would come a tremendous responsibility.

Because he wasn't going to receive this blessing from God,,, simply for his personal satisfaction,,, but for the benefit of the whole world.

And God told him that He would be his constant companion,,, from this moment on,,, never leaving him,,, until He had accomplished everything that God had promised him.

Jacob had been aware of his wrongdoing;,,, now he found his life in the hands of a holy God who intends to make him,,, a servant,,, suitable for His service.

He had been aware of his loneliness;,,, now he was assured of a divine Guide who would see him safely through his journey,,, and,,, return him to the promised land.

___________________________________ There is one thing that I want you to realize here,,, Jacob was not a very religious man up to this point,,, but where was God?

He was right there beside him,,, waiting for Jacob to realize,,, that He was there!

I also want you to remember that Jacob still has some tough times ahead of him,,, if you look further into the scriptures about his life!

Jacob's problems don't go away just because God is with him!

He must deal with several trials in the next few years.

Most of these may help him to see that tricking people is never the right thing to do!

The important thing is to realize that Jacob still had problems,,, but,,, he knew that God was watching over him,,, helping him,,, guiding him!

He didn't face these problems alone!

We don't have to either!

We live during a time,,, because of Jesus Christ,,, that we always have God with us,,, where during Jacobs day,,, He was with a chosen few,,, but not everyone!

We should acknowledge God's presence,,, answer His call,,, and follow His plan for the rest of our days,,, just like Jacob!

Like so many of those that came before us,,, he wasn't perfect,,, but God used him,,, and He will use us as well!

But we must realize that it's our decision!

God wants what's best for us,,, but He allows us to make our own choices,,, even while He knows that they aren't the best or right choices!

But like Jacob found out,,, God's way,,, and God's timing,,, is always,,, the best way!

___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Hymn: 337 - Oakdale Hymn: 337 - Seminary Benediction -----------------------------------------------------------