Promises Fulfilled- Gen. 30:25–43

Genesis 3:15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.””

Genesis 12:1–3 “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.””

Genesis 26:3–5 “Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.””

Genesis 28:13–15 “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. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.””

God’s promises are always fulfilled, though differently than we might assume.

For us, the promise of Romans 8:28–29 will provide the focus.

This will help us evaluate all issues in our lives.

Are they painful? They are advancing God’s promise to make you into the image of Christ.

Are they good? They are advancing God’s promise to make you into the image of Christ.

Are they ordinary? They are advancing God’s promise to make you into the image of Christ.

I. God’s Promises Through Human Effort- Gen. 30:25–36

We see this theme throughout the Scriptures, but God’s promises are accomplished through human effort.

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 2:12–13– “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

It was through Jacob’s service to Laban (30:26) that God blessed him with children (albeit, this was accomplished despite Jacob’s sins).

God works through our effort, not in absence of it.

How can our efforts help or hinder the fulfillment of God’s promises?

II. God’s Promises Despite Human Opposition- Gen. 30:34–36

We are constantly prone to doubt the fulfillment of God’s promises because human opposition. Like the disciples in the Gospels, we are quick to assume a hopeless disposition.

Mark 4:35–41.

But God’s promises are always accomplished despite human opposition. There are several points we should remember here.

First, God tells us at the beginning that opposition will be a part of His promise (Gen. 3:15). There is conflict between the seed of the woman and the serpent. We cannot forget this vital point. It is displayed in all of Scripture, including the crucifixion of Christ.

What events, personal or national, have happened that you see as opposition to God’s promise?

Second, we must remember that this opposition brings real pain and suffering. In Jacob’s case, we will not see the suffering until we take up the next chapter. But this is clearly evident in the life of Job. Job experienced incredible suffering as God was fulfilling his promises.

2 Cor. 1:3–7 provides us a helpful anchor to minister and be ministered to.

God is the God of all comforts

God comforts us in our afflictions

God uses our afflictions to minister to others in affliction

Suffering brings cultivation of Christ’s image in our lives and advances the Gospel in others’ lives