Undeserved Promises (Genesis 28)

ever had pig slop? I have

felt like prodigal son eating slop (double-life)

enjoying the things of this world, yet feeling miserable and empty

eating slop right now?

enjoying the things of this world, yet feeling miserable and empty

God’s way is so much more fulfilling

I pray God shocks every single person that hears this message

shocks you with His grace

for those who feel unworthy

I pray God shocks you with His unconditional love that only comes through Jesus

Undeserved Promises

meant to be an encouraging message, but only for people who know they are scoundrels in need of God’s mercy

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)

background (27:1-28:5)

Jacob stole Esau’s blessing (inheritance) from Isaac

the last person on earth that deserved his daddy’s blessing was Jacob

Esau vowed to kill Jacob

Jacob has to flee Esau’s wrath

Rebekah hatches another plot

Jacob needs to got to Paddan-aram for a wife from Uncle Laban’s daughters

not Hittite women like Esau

Isaac sends him off…with another blessing

but Jacob doesn’t have to steal this blessing this time

28:1-5 pew Bible # 26

Esau then took yet another wife (28:6-9)

an Ishmaelite woman, because Hittite women didn’t please Isaac

be careful that your wife worships the same God and will not lead heart away

we will now focus starting at

28:10-11

map

blank screen

consider Jacob

quiet man, dwelling in tents (25:27)

home body is about to embark on a 400 mile journey (one month)

frightened, depressed

forced to flee because of Esau (own doing by stealing blessing)

this may be the part of the plot that Jacob didn’t foresee

become a fugitive

1st night

couldn’t find host, so no bed

slept under the stars

with a rock for a pillow

but this will not be a normal night

this night will be filled with a dream and so much more

28:12

map

stops between Salem and Shechem

Jacob is not inheriting the promised land

he is leaving it

while Esau lives in the promised land

blank screen

of all that happened with Jacob over a month long journey

God saw that we know only 1 night

the most important—a dream

ladder = stairs (ziggurat)

from earth to heaven with angels going up and down

“ladder” links heaven to earth

signifying that God still intends to make earth His dwelling place

Jesus would later see Himself as the “ladder” linking heaven and earth

blank screen

place (3x)

little does Jacob know this “place” is where Abraham built an altar when he first arrived

Jacob has heard about this God

but Jacob has never met Abraham’s God

that changes tonight

will God rain down judgment on Jacob like he deserves???

28:13-15

do what???

The Lord blesses Jacob with a promise

God startles us

see this in context of stealing Esau’s birthright and blessing

we are used to

James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”

but not here

much more like

Acts 26:14 ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

Saul nor Jacob were pursuing after God

God was pursuing after them…despite being undeserving

God takes all the initiative

Jacob is not looking for God

Jacob does not deserve God’s promises

grace is a hard concept for us to grasp

we know the definition

grace = getting something wonderful you do not deserve

but somehow think it’s tied to performance

grace is NOT = getting something because you earned it

Jacob deserves God’s curse

we can name the sins (lying, conniving, deceit, BLASPHEMY)

but receives God’s blessing

that shocks us to the core

we think God blesses good people

then we see God bless Jacob and are appalled

I was appalled

deep down this exposes our self-righteousness (we deserve God’s blessing)

BUT we are not much different than Jacob with our depth of sin

we are not as good as we think

you don’t want God giving you what you deserve

you want grace…I promise

H. A. Ironside

brand new Christian gave his testimony during church service

smile on his face and joy in his heart

clearly relayed how he had been delivered from a life of sin through Jesus

he gave all glory to the Lord

a man struggling with the grace of God responded,

“You seem to indicate that God did everything when He saved you. Didn’t you do your part before God did His?”

The new Christian jumped to his feet and said,

“Oh yes, I did.

For more than 30 years I ran away from God as fast as my sins could carry me.

That was my part.

But God took out after me and ran me down.

That was His part.”

God makes 3 promises to Jacob despite his sinful conniving

1. God promises Jacob land (28:13)

ironic that it is as Jacob leaves

2. God promises Jacob descendants (28:14)

and to be a blessing to all families

3. God promises Jacob that He will be with him (28:15)

HUGE—despite leaving promised land alone, Jacob has God as a traveling companion

ANE believed gods were local deities that protect their territories

YHWH will cross the borders with Jacob

more on God dwelling with man later

how will Jacob respond to God’s graciousness???

28:16-22

after recognizing this encounter with God to be significant (great time at summer camp)

Jacob anoints the rock/pillow with oil (28:18-19)

but doesn’t build an altar

doesn’t worship like Abraham did when God made promises to him

Jacob likes the thought of God’s commitment to him

but hasn’t made a commitment to God…yet

on top of that, he bargains with God (28:20-22)

yuck!

God made unbelievable promises to Jacob

Jacob remains a suspicious bargainer

creating conditions as to when God will be his God

our minds are blown!

we think God rewards the good, not blesses the bad

but Jacob’s story is not over

Jacob is (being drawn by God—John 6)

his life hasn’t been transformed yet

but Jacob is thinking and considering God in ways he had not before

he is a man on a journey

we like Biblical characters to have it all together (superheroes) Superman

problem is we don’t have it all together—Spiderman (Peter Parker)

thus it is encouraging to see Jacob as a flawed man whom God pursued unconditionally

Jacob will have a far more significant encounter with God

where he will never “walk” the same

the most important part of God’s promise to Jacob is where we should focus

God promises to be with His people (undeserving as they may be)

Genesis 28:15

Genesis 31:3

Genesis 46:4

Exodus 3:12

Deuteronomy 31:6

Joshua 1:5

Isaiah 43:2

Isaiah 7:14

Matthew 1:23

John 1:1

John 1:14

Matthew 28:20

Revelation 21:3

wonderful promises

BUT maybe you feel forsaken by God TODAY

because ensnared in a certain sin

& now feel forsaken by God

because living completely opposed to the way God wants you to

& now feel forsaken by God

you have tried and tried to find your way back to God, but can’t

but we just learned from Jacob’s situation

you cannot earn God’s promises or blessings

you can only receive them with a grateful heart

Jesus invites you (Matthew 11:28–30)

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden (carrying heavy burdens), and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.””

believer, repent and believe again

unbeliever, repent and believe for the first time

is the Lord pursuing you?

God after Jacob

Jesus after Saul

Jesus after John

college class at Central Baptist Church

convicted of living 2 lives

time for prodigal season to end…TODAY

time for you wandering away from God to end…TODAY

there is no greater blessing than to have God promise to be with you

even if you have nothing else

only in Christ