A Life Changing Encounter

Prayer: Father, we love you and adore you. We worship and praise you. Lords, We desire you. To be in your presence. We know you are here. We know the Spirit lives in every believer, yet in a special way, Lord, move in this place. Stir our hearts and pause our attention to the things of God. Teach us your word and your ways. Save the lost Lord, and revive your church. In Jesus name, Amen.

Introduction: One of the men who most influenced D. L. Moody was a young preacher named Henry Moorehouse. He once preached for Moody for an entire week using the same text every night—John 3:16. The preaching of Moorehouse, according to Moody, was much different from his own. Instead of preaching that God was behind people with a double-edged sword to hue them down, he told them God wanted every person to be saved because He loved them. Moody said of his preaching: “I didn’t know God thought so much of me. It was wonderful to hear the way he brought out Scripture. He went from Genesis to Revelation and preached that in all ages God loved the sinner.” In closing the final service of that series, Moorehouse said: “For seven nights I have been trying to tell you how much God loves you, and this poor stammering tongue of mine will not let me. If I could ascend Jacob’s ladder and ask Gabriel, who stands in the presence of the Almighty, and if Gabriel were to tell you how much love God the Father has for this poor lost world, all that Gabriel could say is: ( QUOTE John 3:16).” John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Church, God loves you. He loves each of you. And he loves the Church, the bride of Christ.

And I find it interesting the quote about, if he could ascend and descend Jacob’s Ladder, to talk to Gabriel. A wonderful visual.

Yet, as we look at Jacob’s encounter with God this morning, God comes to man.

And God comes to Jacob and meets Jacob in his time of need.

Remember, in Ch 27.

Jacob and his mother schemed to deceive Isaac, Jacob pretended to be Esau, brought a meal to Isaac, Jacob lied saying he was Esau, and he stole Esau’s blessing. He previously took Esau’s birthright trading it for a bowl of red stew.

But now, when Esau has found out that Jacob stole his blessing, Esau is irate, angry, hating his brother, and sets in his heart to Kill Jacob.

And as we left off, Rebecah pleads with her son to run away to his uncle Laban’s house.

but here we pick back up in Chapter 28.

God meets Jacob in his time of need

Genesis 28:1 “Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women.”

Genesis 28:2 “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.”

Genesis 28:3 “God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples.”

Genesis 28:4 “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!””

Genesis 28:5 “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.”

So here is Isaac’s blessing and parting words to Jacob.

He blessed him, but notice his first command, DO NOT TAKE A WIFE FROM THE CANAANITE WOMEN.

We have seen this repeated emphasis since Abraham, of marrying certain people and not marrying other people.

At this time, cultures were developed, and differing religions were established.

And really throughout all times, believers are placed in a culture where there is a temptation. temptation of varioius religiouns and various cultures and worldviews.

And in this context, we are faced with assimilation, and so in assimilation there is a characterization of mized marriages.

Now, in terms of Jacob, We could say that Jacob is leaving for two reasons,

first, to get a godly wife. a suitable wife. What is a spouse for the Christian? Another Christian.

But the narrative of the text is less about the wife, but that Jacob left in fear for his life. He was less worried about his families purity.

Once again, we in America, but really all over the world as people live and move, this is an issue in marriage.

yet, the Christian who is passionate for God, needs to see that assimilation through mixed marriages is not right.

He says, you shall not marry one of the canaanite. women.

You shall not be unequally yoked.

And this passage is undergirded with this warning about mixed marriages.

Why? Because it jeapordized the faith of the people of God.

And it’s not an issue of the cannaanites and hittites themselves.

It’s not about ethnic or racial purity.

but about the purity of the faith.

the church becomes endandered in two ways.

either persecution or accomodation.

Because when there is not distinction in marriages and in homes, there is a temptation to turn to other religions.

there are lines that must be drawned for the child of God.

We need to recognize the danger of the faith, when the church embraces the culture and accomodates to the ulture, instead of reaching the cultrue with the gospel.

Missions and outreach must be done and pusued, but it requires and ideological distincation and disicplined approach as we are in the world, we will be reminded as Jacob is instructed. Do no marry those outside the family

So Isaac blesses Jacob, tells him to go to his uncle Labans. And he blesses him and in a way transfers the Abrahamic blessing to Jacob, a blessing of family and lands.

And Jacob leaves.

Probaly, in a hurry, because big brother’s trying to get him.

Genesis 28:6 “Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women,””

Genesis 28:7 “and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and gone to Paddan-aram.”

Genesis 28:8 “So when Esau saw that the Canaanite women did not please Isaac his father,”

Genesis 28:9 “Esau went to Ishmael and took as his wife, besides the wives he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth.”

- Now, hears what Jacob was told by their father.

And so Esau goes to Ishmael, Isaacs brtoehr, and marries another wife, the daughter of Ishamael.

Although marrying into the family was an instruction back with Abraham, and the family of Ishamael appeared to be an effort to do that.

But Esau here marries into the wrong family adding a pagan wife. Ishamel was rejected by God, so Esau’s efforts were ill fated.

- God’s presence is a grace.

Genesis 28:10 “Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran.”

Genesis 28:11 “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.” Genesis 28:12 “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!”

Genesis 28:13 “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.”

God’s presence is a grace

it’s amazing to see, that a liar and deceiver. A man out on the lamb, running from his brother, is graced with God’s presence.

And for the first time in the life of Jacob, the Bible turns from family conflict to a direct communication with God.

God meets Jacob in his greatest time of need.

God’s presence is a grace.

it’s a gift.

Trust me, Jacob doesn’t deserve this. He’s not better.

He’s a sinner just like you and me.

And God met him in a dream.

A dream. He’s helpless in this endeavor. He has not religious ploy. It’s a dream.

And this exile, this fugitive, the amazing thing is God himself does this and reaches out to Jacob.

As Jacob is on his way to Haran, he takes a rock and uses it as a pillow and God came to him in a dream.

This is a theophony.

Friends, when you come in contact with a holy God. you are never the same.

And this dream, this life changing encounter.

It is not to shame Jacob. It’s not about his failures and his past.

But of Jacob’s present and the future.

Is that not what the gospel does?

God meets us where we are in our present. He forgives our past, and has a wonderful future for us.

I’m so glad God does keep bringing up my sins.

But God’s message for Jacob. A proclamation.

- God’s proclamation is a symbol.

of a ladder going from heaven to earth.

maybe a stairway. or a ramp. Likely and ancient ziggaret.

But angels are descending and descending this ladder. There is movement from heaven to earth.

And this is contrary to other religions.

where a man has to work their way to heaven, one rung at a time. And if you try hard enough, and be good enough, you can get to heaven.

This ladder is about the gospel.

That earth is not left to itself. Man is not left to live and die without any hope.

that heaven is not just a far away place we cannot go to.

No, God has made a way, a ladder from heaven to earth.

And JESUS IS THE LADDER.

JACOB’S LADDERS IS A SHADOW OR TYPE OF JESUS CHRIST.

John 1:47–51 “Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.””

Jesus told Nathaniel, you will see angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.

Referring to Jacob’s dream.

Yes, Jesus is the ladder, the way to heaven.

It’s not through human efforts. it’s through faith.

Jesus asked Nathanael, do you believe? And Nathaneal professed Jesus are the Son of God. The King of Isreal.

Friends, We as sinners, as fugites, as exiles. Are loved by God.

And Jesus seeks and saves the lost.

the great casm between heaven and earth. The great divide. The grand canyon.

A distance we could not reach by ourselves.

But Christ has made a way.

God meets Jacob where he was.

In Jacob’s dream,

This man was gripped with fear, shame, and loneliness.

Fear of Esau, shame of his deceit, and alll alone.

But God ministers to Jacob.

Shows him this ladder of angels.

These messengers. Surely they would be an encouragment.

For us, if we saw an angel or had a dream about an angel, surely an encouragement.

But these messengers, in two way traffic heaven to earth.

This vision says two things.

1. there is this great divide between heaven and earth.

Sin has cause a separation between God and man.

And to die in sin, man goes to hell.

so there is a great divide.

2. But there is a ladder.

a way. a bridge. Jesus.

And 1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”

But let’s notice with me the rest of the dream.

- God’s promise is reaffirmed.

Behold, Listen. Pay Attention.

The Lord is on top. Isn’t that God’s rightful place.

And the angels do not speak.

It is God who speaks. Angels are servants and messenger. They are not God and they are not gods.

There is one God.

He says I Am the Lord.

He reaffirms his convenant promise He made with Abraham.

Genesis 28:14 “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.”

Promise of land, and offspring, and protection.

I LOVE THIS NEXT VERSE.

Genesis 28:15 “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.””

Jacob thought to be alone, was not.

He would not be cut off. He would be loved by God and chosen by God and blessed by God.

He says, I Am With You.

Is this not the purpose of the ladder? I Am with you.

The purpose - heaven coming to earth and earth going to heaven.

heaven coming to earth, as Jesus came and the angels descend.

But earth going to heaven, in that sinful man, can go to heaven on this ladder.

Oh, that this would sink deep in our hearts.

That God seeks out and saves the fugitive, sinner. You are not abandoned.

God is calling out, I AM WITH YOU.

if you feel alone, child of God, God is saying, I AM WITH YOU. be not dismayed.

He is with you. and he is in this place.

And God says in vs 15. for i will not leave you.

Jesus said something similar and we say these words every week.

Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

Matthew 28:20 “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

Jesus said, I am with you always. He is present in this place.

As we come to a close, I don’t know what you are going through.

I don’t know you struggles, your trials. Maybe your gripped by fear.

Maybe your ashamed, you’ve messed up over and over.

Or maybe your all alone.

Friend, Our God is loves you.

He loves you so much, he sent his only begotten son. That if you believe in Him, you will not perish but have everlasting life.

This is what I want you to do.

If your here and your not a Christian, if you are not right with God, what I want you to do is come forward, as soon as I say amen.

Get up from your seat and come forward. I want to pray with you and tell you how to be saved.

Don’t wait another day, don’t way to another Sunday, today, is the day of salvation.

Be saved today, it will be the greatest decision you’ll ever make.

Let’s pray.

Jacob responds to encountering God

- Responds with worship.

Genesis 28:16 “Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.””

Genesis 28:17 “And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.””

Genesis 28:18 “So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.”

Genesis 28:19 “He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.”

he responds changed. The only thing that could change him this way. God himself.

- Responds with commitment.

Genesis 28:20 “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear,”

Genesis 28:21 “so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God,”

- Responds with gifts.

Genesis 28:22 “and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.””

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