Greater Grace

The Christian life is a journey. It begins with the first step but there are many more steps after that.

One encounter with God does not a full saint make.

Character is not developed in a momentary encounter with God, but in a lifetime of engaging with the process of God.

That process is called sanctification. Don't expect godliness to happen overnight and without pain. The rooting out of sin is often a long and arduous process.

We’ve been watching this play out in the book of Genesis. First with Abraham, Sarah and their children followed by Isaac, Rebecca and their children.

Last week the focus was on Jacob and Esau.

Today we’re going to introduce a few new characters into the narrative as Jacob makes his way to Uncle Laban’s house to find a godly wife.

Greater Grace

God uses this journey to develop Jacob’s faith and teach us some important truths about personal change and the faithfulness of God through all of life’s circumstances.

We’ve seen over and over again how God often chooses the weak and the unqualified to advance his redemptive purpose.

He chooses people who struggle with sin, who are spiritually blind and obtuse, to display his glory and ability to work all things together for good.

You’ve heard the phrase, “Where sin is great… God’s grace is greater.”

What does that mean practically speaking? That’s what I want us to look at this morning.

The Christian life is a journey and every step is an invitation experience God’s greater grace.

It’s one of the great truths of Christianity. God will MEET you wherever you are but he loves you too much to leave you there.

He will use the everyday struggles of life open you eyes to the thing you need most. The only love that can ever truly satisfy. The love of God.

Set the Table

Before we read our passage let me set the table for where we’ve been.

Jacob has left home because he deceived his dad and wronged his brother who now wanted to kill him.

His Father sent him away with instructions to go to uncle Laban’s house in Haran to find a godly spouse (same place where Isaac found his).

This was about a 30 day journey and big crisis for Jacob who was somewhat of a homebody and momma’s boy.

On the way, however, Jacob has an encounter with God who promises to bless him, be with him and make his journey a success.

Genesis 29-30 describe what happens AFTER that mountaintop experience with God. The normal everyday grind of living life and getting things done.

Read The Text

Let’s pick it up in Genesis 29:1 and read down to verse 15.

Genesis 29:1–15 CSB

1 Jacob resumed his journey and went to the eastern country. 2 He looked and saw a well in a field. Three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it because the sheep were watered from this well. But a large stone covered the opening of the well. 3 The shepherds would roll the stone from the opening of the well and water the sheep when all the flocks were gathered there. Then they would return the stone to its place over the well’s opening. 4 Jacob asked the men at the well, “My brothers! Where are you from?” “We’re from Haran,” they answered. 5 “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?” Jacob asked them. They answered, “We know him.” 6 “Is he well?” Jacob asked. “Yes,” they said, “and here is his daughter Rachel, coming with his sheep.” 7 Then Jacob said, “Look, it is still broad daylight. It’s not time for the animals to be gathered. Water the flock, then go out and let them graze.” 8 But they replied, “We can’t until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone is rolled from the well’s opening. Then we will water the sheep.” 9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 As soon as Jacob saw his uncle Laban’s daughter Rachel with his sheep, he went up and rolled the stone from the opening and watered his uncle Laban’s sheep. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly. 12 He told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father. 13 When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran to meet him, hugged him, and kissed him. Then he took him to his house, and Jacob told him all that had happened. 14 Laban said to him, “Yes, you are my own flesh and blood.” After Jacob had stayed with him a month, 15 Laban said to him, “Just because you’re my relative, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”

EVIDENCE OF GREATER GRACE

Verse one says Jacob “resumed his journey” but the literal Hebrew says “he picked up his feet.”

The idea is that Jacob is getting back on the horse with a spring in his step which is not uncommon given the experience he just had.

What’s crazy is the parallels between Jacob’s experiences in the land of Haran and the experiences we saw with Abraham’s servant in Genesis 24. Those are not accidental.

Both men make a long journey to find a wife from Mesopotamia. A woman from the family line.

In both cases a future bride is met at a popular well.

Both men are introduced to Uncle Laban who is initially very generous.

Moses is wanting us to interpret Genesis 29 with Genesis 24 in mind.

But the similarities are really less important than the differences.

Abraham’s servant expressed humility, confidence and dependency on the LORD. We don’t see any of that with Jacob. We see the exact opposite.

Abraham’s servant prayed at every opportunity. His plan for selecting a wife was intentional, proactive and reliant on the Lord’s confirmation.

He had a checklist for what a godly mate was going to look like and how should would behave.

When the servant finds the wife and stops and prays and at every point is very open about his convictions about the LORD.

To Show Mercy

With Jacob, NONE of those things were present. Why? Because Jacob isn’t yet the man of God he will eventually become.

How many of you can sympathize with Jacob? One encounter with God didn’t automatically undo 30 years of sinful habits and thought patterns.

Our students are one week away from their experiences at camp. I remember my camp experiences well. One of the things that often followed was a deep discouragement because that powerful encounter didn’t automatically make all my spiritual problems and weaknesses go way overnight.

Jacob - like many of us - is still a piece of work. But praise God we are all a work in progress.

Which leads me to the first big truth about God’s greater grace from this text.

God shows grace when we’re blind and self-reliant to reveal his heart of mercy.

Jacob is demonstrating self-reliance here because he’s yet to truly grapple with the depth of his sin problem.

He knows he’s messed up and he’s suffering the consequences of his sin.

But I don’t think he’s yet realized just now deeply he needs the grace of God in his life.

As a result, he demonstrates a spirit of self-reliance and spiritual blindness.

Never once does he pray. He engages people in conversation, gets the details he needs and goes to work.

When he sees Rachel it seems like his infatuation in purely physical. He even sorta shows off by trying to remove the big rock covering the well all by himself. (Watch this honey!)

He doesn’t watch her character (like the servant in 24) but begins to serve her and impress her right away (unlike servant).

He doesn’t ask for Rachel right away and return to Beer-Sheba (like servant) but stays for several months.

He's not really living a life of faith the way his father Abraham and Isaac had lived. He's still depending very much upon his own wisdom, his own strength,

God’s Mercy Undeserved

Even though all of this is true, God is incredibly kind to Jacob. The CSB doesn’t always translate it but in the original the Hebrew word for “behold!” is used over and over again.

The idea, “Look and see how God has made this happen!” Look and see that the LORD

brought Jacob safely to Haran.

brought him to the very well that Rachel would soon visit.

put him in contact with people who know his uncle Laban.

moved in Laban’s heart to let Jacob work for wages and not as a servant.

Mercy after mercy after mercy and not once does Jacob stop and give thanks to the Lord. Not once. The mountaintop experience has faded and he is living in the flesh.

This is true for many of us here today as well.

God’s mercy is a gift that often goes unnoticed.

There are many of us here today who receive INCREDIBLE levels of mercy from the Lord and we never give him thanks because we don’t have eyes to see.

You’ve shut God out of your finances and still he’s chosen to bless you.

You’ve shut God out of your relationships and he’s still chosen to bless you.

You’ve shut God out of your health choices and still he’s kept you healthy.

You’ve shut God out of your calendar and still he’s kept you moving.

Jacob’s success wasn’t because he deserved it. It was because God was gracious. And even in the face of blindness and self-reliances, the Lord showed his amazing mercy.

God’s grace is greater than our sin.

To Show Our Sin

But that’s not the only demonstration of God’s greater grace. After Jacob meets Laban and they negotiate terms for his stay at Laban’s house.

Jacob enters a new season of experiencing God’s greater grace.

Genesis 29:16–20 CSB

16 Now Laban had two daughters: the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel. 17 Leah had tender eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful. 18 Jacob loved Rachel, so he answered Laban, “I’ll work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay with me.” 20 So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

When verse 17 says Leah had “tender eyes” it doesn’t mean they were sensitive to allergies.

It’s similar to our phrase, “She’s real easy on the eyes.” The opposite connotes “Leah was UGLY.”

I’ve always remembered her as “lazy eye’d Leah” but I can say that because I have a lazy eye.

Rachel, on the other hand, was shapely and beautiful. That’s why Jacob agreed to work for Laban for seven years because Rachel was totally worth cost.

He seemed like a few days because of his love for her.

Genesis 29:21–25 CSB

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Since my time is complete, give me my wife, so I can sleep with her.” 22 So Laban invited all the men of the place and sponsored a feast. 23 That evening, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her. 24 And Laban gave his slave Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her slave. 25 When morning came, there was Leah! So he said to Laban, “What have you done to me? Wasn’t it for Rachel that I worked for you? Why have you deceived me?”

The question on our minds is “How did Jacob not know!?” Remember, there’s no electricity, it would’ve been late at night and she would’ve been veiled for the vast majority of the evening per the wedding customs of that day. Jacob also would’ve likely had a LOT of alcohol to drink.

The big idea is behind Jacob’s question, “Why have you deceived me?”

The SAME WORD Jacob used of himself when arguing with his mom about deceiving his dad. The word used by Esau to condemn the actions of his brother.

The deceiver has been deceived. The trickster has been tricked. What goes around comes around. Karma is a … well you get the idea.

Genesis 29:26–30 CSB

26 Laban answered, “It is not the custom in our country to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn. 27 Complete this week of wedding celebration, and we will also give you this younger one in return for working yet another seven years for me.” 28 And Jacob did just that. He finished the week of celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 29 And Laban gave his slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave. 30 Jacob slept with Rachel also, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.

The negotiation about money and premeditated deception on the part of Laban and his daughters is supposed to have echoes of Jacob and Rebecca deceiving Isaac to get the blessing from Esau.

Jacob - like Isaac and Esau - would’ve been furious and angry over the wrong that he just experienced.

But God is demonstrating grace in THIS moment just as he does in EVERY MOMENT of our lives.

God shows grace when we’re wronged and angry to reveal the heart of sin.

Have you ever heard the phrase that what you get angry about in others is the thing you hate in yourself?

I’ve certainly experienced this raising children. Sometimes I’ll get super frustrated because they’re doing this or that and when I stop to think about it there really just doing the very things I do with just a little less sophistication.

You’re best friend gets on your nerves because they keep doing this thing but if you were really honest you’d see how you do the very same thing but just never had eyes to see it.

That’s because idolatry is impossible to see in the mirror but easy to see in others.

Emotion and Idolatry

This principle really came home for me when I was studying Colossians 3 this past Easter. I saw a connection there between the emotions we sinfully express and idols our hearts protect.

Take, as an example anger or anxiety. These are two very common emotions and are very often expressed in a sinful way.

Anger is not always sinful. Anger is just “love in motion.” Anger is moved to protect threats against the beloved.

Sinful anger is sinful because of what it’s trying to protect.

Usually, we get angry because people are threatening our idols. They’re threatening the very thing we’re trying to protect.

Emotions are sinfully expressed when our idols are under threat.

Jacob’s idol was his personal image and what people thought about him.

I didn’t know this until this past week but the adjective used to describe Jacob in Genesis 25 ( quiet) is sometimes used to mean “wholesome” or “perfect.”

It’s true that Jacob was a homebody and a momma’s boy but I also think he cared a great deal about being seen in a certain kind of way.

This usually leads to a sinful sort of self-righteousness that the Lord is breaking inside of Jacob through this encounter with his uncle.

Like Nathan pointing his finger at king David the LORD is saying through Laban “You’re the deceiver!”

Perhaps up until this point Jacob was justifying his actions because he was only trying to prevent Esau from stealing what was rightfully his. But that indignation was really blinding him to the idolatry in his own heart. What he did to his father was WRONG.

Application

And the Lord will often do a very similar thing in us through personal grievance and anger.

Don’t waste your hurt! Don’t be ruled by your emotions. Let your emotions diagnose your heart!

It would’ve been easy for Jacob to point the finger and demonize his uncle but I think he allows this to be the Lord’s discipline in his life.

As Hebrews says, “All discipline is unpleasant at first. But then it produces something good in the end.”

Oh that we would allow the same thing to happen to us when we’ve been wronged.

Let the grace of God expose the idolatry in your heart.

I’ve seen it happen again and again in my life. It’s one of God’s greatest graces to me (especially in marriage and family.)

Your hurt is not always punitive by the Lord. You’re not “atoning for your sins” in every circumstance.

Jesus did that on the cross. God is giving you grace if you’ll have eyes to see it.

Instead of asking God “Why are you doing this to me?” Start asking, “God what are you trying to do IN me?”

That’s a heart of repentance that the Lord can use to change your life for the better.

That question will change everything.

To Create a Heart of Praise

But Jacob isn’t the only person to learn that lesson in this story. Like a good husband should, he’s going to walk with his two wives as they learn a similar lesson in their own way.

The first by Leah in her struggle to win the heart of her husband. Her whole life she’s been envious of her sister’s beauty and now she’s reminded of it everyday through her marriage.

Genesis 29:31–35 CSB

31 When the Lord saw that Leah was neglected, he opened her womb; but Rachel was unable to conceive. 32 Leah conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has seen my affliction; surely my husband will love me now.” 33 She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “The Lord heard that I am neglected and has given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon. 34 She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “At last, my husband will become attached to me because I have borne three sons for him.” Therefore he was named Levi. 35 And she conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.

So Leah is not loved as much as Rachel and she knows it. The one thing she has going over Rachel is that Rachel isn’t able to have any children.

So with each child Leah is calling out to her husband, will you finally notice me now? Will you finally accept me now?

The names of the first three children actually reflect this dynamic.

Ruben sounds like the Hebrew, “has seen.” God has seen my plight and will vindicate me.

Simeon sounds like the Hebrew “has heard.” God has heard my cries and will answer me.

Levi sounds like the Hebrew “attached to.” Maybe finally my husband will choose me instead.

But with each of those three children it seems as though Jacob STILL prefers Rachel for she is the true love of his life.

But through the pain and rejection Leah is learning to rely on the Lord. Which is why her fourth child is named Judah.

Judah sounds like the Hebrew word for “praise.”

God shows grace when we’re despised and rejected to create a heart of praise.

Counterfeit Saviors

I think Leah has put her hopes in her ability to have children to give her the one thing she wanted more than anything else; LOVE.

Her own life she’s been rejected because she wasn’t pretty like her sister. What a terrible curse to bear. Always feeling despised and rejected.

Leah’s not the only one who has ever felt that way is she. So many of us walk through life feeling like we’re worthless and unwanted.

The reason we feel that way is because we were made to love and be loved. It’s intrinsic to the human condition.

We are looking for love but, like Leah, we are drinking from a well that never fully satisfy.

The well from which we were made to drink was the well of God’s love for us in Christ.

When our idols disappoint us, we should look to the only one who won’t.

That’s person is the Lord Jesus Christ - who, interestingly enough comes from the line of JUDAH!

He’s the Lion from the tribe of Judah. The house of praise from a mother who was despised and rejected.

Jesus knows what it feels like to be rejected and scorned but his death on the cross is God’s love letter to you and to me.

He’s saying, “Come to me and be satisfied. Receive my greater grace.”

Our longing for love and acceptance is really a longing for God.

To Remove Shame

The story closes with similar lesson being learned by Rachel. Except Rachel wanted the one thing SHE didn’t have which was children of her own.

She, like Rebecca and Sarah before her - wasn’t able to conceive children on her own. Because of that, she decides to take matters into her own hands.

Genesis 30:1–24 CSB

1 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she envied her sister. “Give me sons, or I will die!” she said to Jacob. 2 Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God? He has withheld offspring from you!” 3 Then she said, “Here is my maid Bilhah. Go sleep with her, and she’ll bear children for me so that through her I too can build a family.” 4 So Rachel gave her slave Bilhah to Jacob as a wife, and he slept with her. 5 Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. 6 Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; yes, he has heard me and given me a son,” so she named him Dan. 7 Rachel’s slave Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Rachel said, “In my wrestlings with God, I have wrestled with my sister and won,” and she named him Naphtali. 9 When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her slave Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10 Leah’s slave Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said, “What good fortune!” and she named him Gad. 12 When Leah’s slave Zilpah bore Jacob a second son, 13 Leah said, “I am happy that the women call me happy,” so she named him Asher. 14 Reuben went out during the wheat harvest and found some mandrakes in the field. When he brought them to his mother Leah, Rachel asked, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” 15 But Leah replied to her, “Isn’t it enough that you have taken my husband? Now you also want to take my son’s mandrakes?” “Well then,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.” 16 When Jacob came in from the field that evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come with me, for I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So Jacob slept with her that night. 17 God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18 Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my slave to my husband,” and she named him Issachar. 19 Then Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. 20 “God has given me a good gift,” Leah said. “This time my husband will honor me because I have borne six sons for him,” and she named him Zebulun. 21 Later, Leah bore a daughter and named her Dinah. 22 Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb. 23 She conceived and bore a son, and she said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” 24 She named him Joseph and said, “May the Lord add another son to me.”

What an agonizing story of people's emptiness and self inflicted pain juxtaposed with God's gracious gift of hope.

These two women have lived blocked by sorrow, hostility, and competition.

Leah has children, but not the love of her husband. Rachel has the love of her husband, but no children.

Their family grows on the back of conflict, hostility, jealousy and favoritism.

This is why Lev 18:18 forbids marrying SISTERS!

How do we see the grace of God in this story? Two words are used to describe Rachel.

Verse 1 uses the word “envy” and verse 15 Rachel comes across as somewhat greedy. In the end, however, the Lord removes her “disgrace.” (verse 23)

God shows grace when we’re greedy and jealous to remove a heart of shame.

The word translated disgrace is a word that connects the shame and scorn we feel when we’re not measuring up to the standard.

Rachel - like most women in that day - knew that the standard for a pleasing wife was bearing children for your husband. Just as many women feel that same biological imperative today.

But she was unable to do so and so she goes through her maidservants instead.

The zeal with which we pursue a certain thing is often indicative of that fact we’re using that pursuit to cover and hide a deep shame in our heart.

Can I just stop to caution you women of seeking the love of a man to satisfy that longing in your heart?

Can I caution you against seeking some of the greatest gifts of God at the expense of the giver himself?

Did you notice the lesson Rachel learned at the end. She names one biological son “Joseph” and says “may the Lord another son to me.”

She’s finally come to rest in the fact that it is the LORD who opens and closes the womb and she content to rest in the Lord’s grace even if he fails to give her want she wants.

Because the thing she wants MOST is the love and presence of God.

God Works it For Good

Which is really a great way to conclude our passage this morning.

We are going to see in the life of Jospeh that he becomes hated by his other brothers (perhaps because of the unique details surrounding his birth.)

Like the family they came from they become ruthless and mean, envious and jealous of their brother such that they sell him into slavery and he experiences incredible pain and suffering.

But through it all God’s mercy and grace sustain him and prosper him.

The book of Genesis concludes with the thesis of his chapter. Where sin was great - God’s grace was greater.

You intended this or that for evil. But God used it for good. (Gen 50:20)

Human brokenness will never extinguish the redemptive plan of God.

Never more clearly do we see this truth than at the cross of Jesus Christ.

People intended to crucify Jesus and wipe away the movement he had established through his teaching.

Instead, the blood of those early Christian martyrs became the seed of a world wide church that doesn’t overcome evil with evil but overcomes evil with good.

This is the greater grace of God. We receive that grace today through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Even though you’ve been spiritually blind and self-reliant God has shown you mercy through the death of his son - making atonement for your sin.

All of life’s disappointments, rejection, searching and striving has always been a search for the love of God in Jesus.

And because your father in heaven loves you he doesn’t require you to try harder and climb a ladder of earning that love from him.

He’s come down in the person of Jesus so that God’s love can be freely received.

If you haven’t received that gift, today is the day to do so.

You sin may be great before the Lord, but God’s grace is GREATER.