There and Back Again

Introduction

Well, good morning!

If you have a Bible — and I hope you do — go ahead and open it up with me to Genesis 32. We’re gonna start right at the beginning of this chapter as we step into another very critical moment in Jacob’s life.

Now, if you’ve been tracking with us through this series, you know Jacob’s story, it’s been more like a roller coaster ride — its been full of highs, full of lows, there’s been twists and turns.

Remember in the beginning of his story, he left home years ago running from his brother Esau…Esau wanted to kill him after Jacob stole his birthright and his blessing. And then for two decades, Jacob lived far from home, he wrestled with a very complicated family dynamic, there was deception, and manipulation under his father-in-law, Laban.

But here’s what we’ve been seeing: even in all the chaos, God was at work. He’s been quietly, patiently shaping Jacob’s character, preparing him for what was to come next.

And here’s where we pick up the story today: Jacob’s finally heading back home. But this isn’t just a simple trip down memory lane. It’s a spiritual crossroads. He’s about to face the past — a past full of fear, a past full of unresolved pain, a past of uncertainty.

His brother Esau’s waiting, and that’s not some small thing here. The man who once threatened his life, he’s now coming toward him with 400 men. It’s like Jacob can’t catch a break, right?

But listen, before we jump into this story, I wanna set the stage here— something I think’ll help us grasp the weight and the wonder of this moment. Something that’ll help us stay focused on the main idea of this passage.

You might be familiar with the phrase: “There and Back Again.” At least I hope you are…you stood be, if love you Jesus!

That’s the subtitle of one of my favorite books…The Hobbit. Bilbo Baggins (he’s the main character), he’s a simple hobbit, who’s pulled from his quiet life into an adventure that changes everything about who he is. He faces dangers, he wrestles with fears, he meets unexpected allies. And when he finally returns home, he’s not the same hobbit who left.

I think that’s exactly where Jacob is right now in Genesis 32. He’s on a journey back to where he started — but he’s not the same man he was all those years ago. The past, it’s still looming over him — especially the fear of Esau — but God’s with him, in a new and more powerful way.

This moment, it reminds us of something bigger about faith and life: On the journey back, God doesn’t just lead us home — He changes who we are along the way.

Think about that for a second.

When we face the past — whether that’s a painful relationship, or just a hard memory, or a failure we wish we could erase — God doesn’t just send us back to where we started. He meets us there. He walks with us through the fear, the uncertainty, the unknown. And listen, more than that, He changes us in the process. He shapes our hearts, He refines our faith, and He prepares us to move forward — not as the same person, but as someone transformed by His presence.

And so, whether you’re dealing with something from your past today, or if you’re facing a future that just feels uncertain or scary, I want you to hear this: God is with you. He sees you. He knows your fear…But listen, He also invites you to trust that He’s changing you — even now.

And that’s what we’re gonna see in the story of Jacob this morning. It’s a story about transformation.

And so, with all that in mind, let’s turn to God’s Word and walk through Genesis chapter 32 together, starting in verse 1. And if you would, let’s stand together.

It says this:

Genesis 32:1–21 ESV

Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim (Ma-ha-nai-ium). And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir (See-er) the country of Edom, instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.’ ” And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.” And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ” So he stayed there that night, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau, two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes (u’s) and twenty rams, thirty milking camels and their calves, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. These he handed over to his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass on ahead of me and put a space between drove and drove.” He instructed the first, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, ‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you?’ then you shall say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a present sent to my lord Esau. And moreover, he is behind us.’ ” He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed the droves, “You shall say the same thing to Esau when you find him, and you shall say, ‘Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us.’ ” For he thought, “I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.” So the present passed on ahead of him, and he himself stayed that night in the camp.

Thank you, you can be seated.

[Prayer]

If you’re taking notes this morning…I have four points as we walk through this passage together…Number 1, Remember who goes with you…Number 2, Be honest about your fear…Number 3, Stand on what God has said…and then Number 4, Move toward the heart of God.

And so, if you’re still there with me, let’s look at this first point together.

I. Remember Who Goes With You (vv. 1-2)

Remember who goes with you.

Look at verses 1 and 2 with me again:

“Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them he said, ‘This is God’s camp!’ So he called the name of that place Mahanaim. (Ma-ha-nai-ium)”

Now don’t miss this. Jacob, he’s just left the land of Laban, right? He’s crossed the boundary line. He’s done playing games. He’s moving forward — he’s going back to the land of promise. But right out of the gate, before anything else happens, what’s God do?

He sends angels.

Now, if you remember back in Genesis 28 — when Jacob was first running from Esau, afraid, alone, sleeping with a rock for a pillow — God gave him a dream of a stairway to heaven, right? You guys remember that?…What was on that stairway? Angels. Ascending and descending. It was God’s way of saying, “I’m with you. I’ve got armies you can’t see. You’re not alone.”

And now here, all these years later, as Jacob re-enters the land…as he steps into uncertainty and prepares to face Esau — God shows him the same exact thing. “Jacob, I’m still with you. I’ve still got armies surrounding you. You’re not walking alone.”

That’s actually what “Mahanaim (Ma-ha-nai-ium)” means — it means “two camps.” Jacob sees that he’s not alone — his little camp is surrounded by a heavenly camp. Angel armies, they go with him.

And listen to me — that changes everything.

Because fear feeds on isolation, right? Fear convinces us, “You’re on your own. No one else sees what you're going through. No one’s with you. You’ve got to figure this out by yourself.”

But right here, at the start, before Jacob takes even one step into the promise land…before he strategizes…before he sends gifts to Esau…before he prays — God reminds him: “You’re not alone. Heaven is camped all around you.”

And guys, that’s true for us too, if you're in Christ. Hebrews 1:14 says angels are “ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation.” Psalm 34:7 says “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.”

Listen — heaven’s not just some future thing…heaven’s not left you. God goes with His people.

But let’s just be honest for a moment— how often do you actually believe that? How often do we walk into fear like God isn’t there? How often do we make decisions, or carry burdens, how often do we spiral into anxiety — like the weight of the world’s on our shoulders and no one’s holding us up?

We say we believe God’s with us…but we function like atheists. We live like we’re abandoned.

And I just wanna say this as clearly as I can: that’s not faith — that’s forgetfulness.

We forget the promises of God. We forget His presence. We forget His protection. We get so focused on the problem ahead of us, that we completely lose sight of the army that’s beside us.

Let me ask you something: when the pressure hits your life — do you panic first, or do you pause and remember who goes with you?

Because the truth is this, you won’t walk faithfully into what’s next if you don’t first remember who’s walking with you.

Jacob didn’t need a better plan. He didn’t need better odds. He didn’t need to go and recruit more men. He needed to see God’s presence. He needed to be reminded — this journey isn’t about his strength. It’s about God’s faithfulness.

And listen, some of us need that same reminder this morning. You’re overwhelmed. You’re anxious. You’re carrying the pressure of your family, your finances, your future — and maybe deep down, you believe in God, but your life isn’t reflecting that trust. You’ve forgotten who walks with you.

And when we forget that, we start trying to control everything ourselves. We scheme. We stress. We overwork. We shut people out. We pray less. We trust less. We try to handle life in our flesh — and it crushes us.

But what if you just stopped this morning and said, “God, remind me that You’re with me”?

What if you looked at the path ahead — the Esau in your future, the fear in your gut — what if you looked ahead and said, “God, I know I’m not alone in this. Remind me that there’s another camp. Remind me that You’re not asking me to walk in my own strength. You’re asking me to walk with You, in yours.”

Guys, if you forget the presence of God, fear will own your life. But listen to me, if you remember who walks with you, you’ll walk in peace even through the valley.

You wanna face fear? You wanna take that step of obedience?

Start right here: remember who goes with you.

Take heart Paul’s words to the church of Corinth:

2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

for we walk by faith, not by sight.

That’s the first thing Jacob needed to see. And it’s the first thing we need to see as well. It’s the first thing we need to remember.

II. Be Honest About Your Fear (vv. 3-8)

Point number 2…Be honest about your fear.

Look at verse 3 with me again:

“And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir (See-er), the country of Edom, instructing them, ‘Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, “I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.”’”

Now, let’s pause right there.

This is a smart move — Jacob knows what’s waiting for him on the other side of the Jordan…Esau. And the last time Jacob saw Esau…he was running for his life.

So Jacob sends messengers ahead — a kind of ancient olive branch here. A peace offering. And he says, “Tell him I’ve got oxen and flocks and servants — I’m not coming to take anything. I’m not coming to start a fight. I just want peace.”

And there’s nothing wrong with that. He’s not being manipulative here — he’s trying to be wise. He’s trying to take some responsibility.

But then look at verse 6:

“And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, ‘We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.’”

And then verse 7:

“Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed.”

Now just stop and sit in that for just a second. “Greatly afraid… and distressed.”

Can I just say — that’s a very human response, right? Jacob’s not a coward here — he’s just being honest. Esau’s coming at him with 400 men. This looks like war.

Again, the last time Jacob saw his brother…Esau said, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob” (Gen. 27:41). And now…he’s marching toward him with a small army.

Of course Jacob’s afraid. This isn’t a lack of faith — it’s a confrontation with reality. Faith doesn’t mean pretending you’re not scared. Faith means being honest about your fear, and then choosing to walk in obedience anyway.

You know, there’s this moment early on in The Hobbit — maybe you remember it — when Bilbo finally realizes what he’s gotten himself into. He’s left the Shire, he’s on the edge of danger, he’s completely out of his comfort zone.

And at one point, he turns to Gandalf and he basically says, “I’ve never done anything like this before.” He’s not pretending to be brave. He’s not puffing himself up. He’s just being honest: “I’m afraid.”

And Gandalf doesn’t scold him. He doesn’t say, “Man up.” He simply reassures him that the journey is worth it — and that he won’t be walking it alone.

And that right there? That’s a picture of what real faith looks like. It’s not fearlessness — it’s trusting someone greater than your fear. It’s saying, “I’ve never been here before...but I believe the One who called me, He’ll walk with me.”

Jacob’s doing the same thing here. He’s afraid. But he’s still moving forward.

Scottish preacher William Philip, he put it this way:“Faith’s not the absence of fear. Faith’s what you do with your fear — who you bring it to, and who you trust to carry it.”

That’s exactly what we’re seeing in Jacob. He’s afraid — but he doesn’t turn back. He doesn’t run away. He keeps moving forward, and as we’ll see in the next verses, he takes that fear and he turns it into prayer.

But listen, before we get to that — let’s just apply this.

Let me ask you honestly: What are you afraid of right now? Like what fear’s shaping your decisions? What fear’s holding you back from obedience? From doing what you know God’s called you to do?

Maybe for you it’s fear of what people’ll think — so you stay quiet instead of standing for truth or proclaiming truth. Maybe it’s fear of rejection — so you avoid the hard conversation that needs to happen. Maybe it’s fear of failure — so you don't step into what God's calling you to do. Maybe it’s fear of being fully known — so you wear a mask, you stay hidden, you never let anyone in. Or maybe, like Jacob, it's fear of consequences. Fear of the past catching up with you. Fear that what's behind you, its gonna define what’s ahead of you.

Listen, can we just admit — most of us, we’re way better at managing fear than confessing it, right? We distract ourselves. We over-plan. We over-control. We act like we’ve got it all together.

But the truth is this, fear, its so often driving the bus. And until we’re honest about that, we’re gonna keep pretending we’re okay, while deep down we’re spiritually paralyzed.

Guys — God won’t heal what you won’t confess. And He certainly won’t bless a version of you that’s fake.

You wanna grow in faith? You wanna move forward with God? Start by being honest about what’s going on in your heart.

God already knows you’re afraid. He’s not disappointed by that. He’s not surprised by that.

What He wants is your honesty — your surrender. He wants you to bring that fear to Him — not bury it.

The most dangerous thing you can do with your fear, its try and manage it alone. Because when you try to manage fear in your flesh, you’ll either run from what God’s calling you to…or you’ll try to manipulate your way into control.

That’s not faith. That’s self-protection…it’s self-preservation.

Guys, listen to me — God’s not trying to destroy you. He’s trying to grow you. And the pathway to maturity is honesty. Jacob’s afraid. But this fear becomes the fuel that drives him to God in the next section.

We’ll see that in a moment. But before we go there, look at verse 7 again:

“Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, thinking, ‘If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.’”

So again — Jacob’s not panicking here, he’s planning. He’s honest about his fear, and he takes wise action.

Some of you need to hear that this morning — faith and planning, they’re not on opposite ends. You can trust God and still make a wise plan. But you’ve got to start with honesty. You've got to let God into that fear.

Listen — if fear has a hold on your life, don’t just “try harder to trust.” Start by getting honest with the Lord.

Say, “God, I’m afraid. I’m anxious. I’m overwhelmed. I don’t know what’s next.” And then ask Him to meet you there.

Because He will. You don't have to hide. He already knows what you're carrying. And listen, He's already gone ahead of you.

So remember who goes with you. And be honest about your fear.

Which leads us into what Jacob does next — that’s our third point…

III. Stand on What God Has Said (vv. 9-12)

Stand on what God has said.

Let’s keep walking through the text — pick it up with me in verse 9:

“And Jacob said, ‘O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, “Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,” I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But you said, “I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.”’” (vv. 9–12)

And so, stop right there — and really look at what Jacob’s doing here.

Because this is one of the most important moments in this entire passage.

Jacob prays.

And not just any prayer — he’s praying Scripture. He’s praying the promises of God back to God. He’s not leaning on his feelings, or his plans, or even his past experiences — he’s planting his feet on what God’s already said to him.

And guys — that’s the ground of faith.

It’s not your strength. It’s not your sincerity. It’s not even your tears or desperation. It’s the unchanging, unfailing, blood-backed promises of a covenant-keeping God.

Jacob’s holding up the receipts here — he’s saying, “God, You told me to come back. You said You’d be with me. You said You’d do good by me. So I’m standing on that. I’m not coming with entitlement — I’m not even worthy of Your mercy — but I’m coming with Your Word in my hand and I’m holding You to it.”

That’s not arrogance. That’s faith.

Charles Spurgeon said it like this: “God loves to be believed in. He loves to be trusted. And when we plead His promises, it’s a holy argument — not because we doubt Him, but because we honor Him.”

That’s what Jacob’s doing here — he’s honoring God by trusting His Word more than his fear. And let’s be clear — the fear hasn’t gone away yet. Esau’s still coming. The threat’s still real. The outcome’s still unknown.

But listen, Jacob, his posture, it’s shifted. It’s shifted from anxiety to intercession, from distress to dependence.

…

Let me just ask you — when life presses in on you… when the fear is real and the pressure’s mounting — do you know how to pray like that? Like we see Jacob here?

I’m not talking about vague prayers. I’m not talking about rehearsing your feelings or venting your stress. I’m talking about planting your feet on the promises of God and saying: “God, You said… You promised… I’m standing right here not because I feel strong, but because You’re faithful.”

Guys, that kind of praying? That’s not just therapeutic — that’s warfare.

When the enemy comes after your mind with fear… when doubt floods your heart… when your past rises up to accuse you… your only safe ground is what God has said.

Look at Jacob’s prayer again — look at the language he uses.

“O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac…” — that’s covenant language. Jacob’s rooting himself in the faithfulness of generations past. “God, I’ve seen what You’ve done. I’ve heard the stories. I know Your track record.”

He says, “I’m not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness…” — that’s humility. That’s repentance. He’s not coming demanding rescue. He’s coming in awe of mercy. He’s saying, “God, I don’t deserve to be rescued — but You’ve already shown me so much grace.”

He says, “But You said…” — guys, that’s the hinge of this whole prayer. That’s the boldness of faith. He takes God’s own words and he turns ‘em into his foundation.

Listen, when’s the last time you prayed like that?

When’s the last time you opened your Bible, and grabbed a promise, and said:

“God, You said You’d never leave me.” “God, You said You’d provide for my needs.” “You said nothing could separate me from Your love.” “You said You’d work all things for my good.” “God, You said You’d finish what You started in me.”

Some of us are wondering why our faith feels so weak — and guys, it’s because we’re trying to fight spiritual battles without a sword in our hand. You can’t walk in courage if you're not rooted in the promises of God.

And let me press in a little further for just a moment — maybe step on some toes here:

You say you trust God, but your prayer life says otherwise.

If your first instinct in fear is to Google, or to call a friend, or panic, or strategize — and not to go to God’s Word and plead His promises — then your trust, its misplaced.

You want peace? You want clarity? You want strength? Then stop trying to feel your way forward and start standing on what God’s already said.

Get your Bible open. Get your knees on the ground. Get the promises of God on your lips.

Spurgeon said it best again: “Don’t treat the promises of God as if they were curiosities for a museum; but believe them and use them.”

And I’ll just say this — some of us, we’re so spiritually dry right now, not because God’s gone silent, but because we’ve gone scripture-starved. You don’t know what God’s said… so you’ve got nothing to stand on.

No wonder fear owns you. No wonder you feel aimless. No wonder your walk feels fragile.

You need the Word of God — not just for information, but for foundation.

…

Let me get really practical: if you don’t already have a list of go-to promises from God’s Word — make one. Write ‘em down. Memorize ‘em. Preach ‘em to yourself. Pray ‘em when you don’t feel ‘em.

Because listen — the time to build a foundation is before the flood comes. And the only rock that’ll hold, its what God’s said.

And so again:

When fear rises, don't rely on your feelings — rehearse God’s promises. When the future feels uncertain, don’t grasp for control — grab hold of His Word. When your knees start buckling — get on ‘em in prayer, and stand on what God’s said.

Guys, you don’t need more faith — you need a clearer view of the One you’re placing your faith in. And that starts with Scripture.

And so, let’s follow Jacob’s lead here. Yes — he’s afraid. But he doesn’t let fear shutdown his faith. He takes it to God. He stands on the Word.

Let’s be a people who do the same.

Let’s not just hear the promises of God — let’s hold them.

Let’s not just sing them — let’s stand on them.

Let’s not just read them — let’s wield them.

Because God’s not a man that He should lie. If He said it — He’ll do it.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

Amen?

So — Jacob remembers who goes with him.

He gets honest about his fear.

And then he plants his feet on the unshakable promises of God.

And that leads us to the next thing we see in the passage — which is our final point this morning…

IV. Move Toward the Heart of God (vv. 13-21)

Move toward the heart of God.

Look again with me at verse 13:

“So he stayed there that night, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau… two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams… [and so on]… For he thought, ‘I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.’ So the present passed on ahead of him, and he himself stayed that night in the camp.” (vv. 13–21, summarized)

So, let’s just walk this out — because listen, there’s more going on here than just Jacob handing out livestock.

After the prayer we just looked at — after Jacob pleads God’s promises, after he confesses his unworthiness and appeals to covenant mercy — what’s he do?

He starts moving forward. He starts acting, right? But don’t miss it — this isn’t the same Jacob we saw twenty years ago.

He’s still careful. He’s still strategic. But he’s not scheming. He’s not manipulating like he did with Esau back in Genesis 27. He’s not leaning on deception — he’s humbling himself.

Notice his language: “Your servant Jacob... my lord Esau.” He’s posturing himself low. He’s sending gifts, not to bribe, but to seek reconciliation.

This is what repentance looks like with feet on it.

He’s not just praying about peace — he’s pursuing it.

He’s not just remembering who God is — he’s letting that remembrance shape how he walks, how he talks, how he moves toward the one he wounded.

And listen — that’s what spiritual maturity always does.

Real repentance moves toward restoration.

Real transformation moves toward reconciliation.

And real faith moves toward the heart of God — not just vertically, but horizontally. It doesn’t hide. It doesn’t pretend. It doesn’t stay in the tent after the prayer’s over. It moves. It obeys.

“Faith that works by love doesn’t sit still. It moves the feet as well as the heart.” — Thomas Watson said that.

And that’s what we see in Jacob. He’s stepping toward the mess he made. He’s not the same man who ran from Esau. Something’s different now. Something’s been broken in him… and now something’s rebuilt.

Look at verse 20 with me again — this is huge.

“For he thought, ‘I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.’”

Now hold on to that. Do you hear the weight of what he just said?

“Perhaps he will accept me…”

There’s vulnerability there. There’s uncertainty. There’s no guarantee. Jacob doesn’t know how Esau’s gonna respond. But he still moves forward.

Why?

Because he’s not driven by control anymore. He’s moved by conviction.

He’s not walking in manipulation — he’s walking in faith.

And listen to me guys — this is what the Gospel does to us. It humbles us, but it doesn’t paralyze us. It frees us to move toward others — even if the outcome is uncertain — because we’ve already been accepted by a greater face.

Sinclair Ferguson said, “In Christ, the face of God is turned toward us in grace. And that frees us to face the hardest places in life without fear of rejection.”

That’s what Jacob’s learning here…and that’s what we need to learn as well.

What would it look like for you to move toward the heart of God — not just with words, but with steps?

For some of you, that means you need to stop praying about reconciliation and start pursuing it.

That means the phone call. That means the hard conversation. That means the apology…the confession.

You’ve prayed. You’ve fasted. You’ve asked God for peace. But like Jacob, now it’s time to walk toward it.

For others, maybe God’s calling you to move toward Him — and you’ve been stuck on the edge of obedience. You’ve prayed the prayer, but you’re still sitting in the tent.

You’re delaying. You’re hesitating. You’re trying to control the outcome before you obey the call.

But listen — faith doesn’t wait for the outcome to be guaranteed. Faith moves forward because the character of God is secure.

Some of us want revival in our hearts and healing in our homes — but we’re not willing to move toward the places where God’s calling us to obey.

And maybe that’s the very reason your spiritual life feels stuck right now. Because faith, its always meant to move. Not to earn God’s grace — but to respond to it.

…

Let me bring it back full circle.

Remember our theme: There and Back Again.

Jacob’s going back — back to his family, back to the land, back to where it all began. But he’s not the same man who left. And that’s the whole point here.

God hasn’t just brought him back — He’s brought him through something.

Through Laban’s deception. Through years of discipline. Through fear and failure and uncertainty.

And now — Jacob’s finally learning to walk not by manipulation, not by fear, but by faith.

“He who brings us back brings us through. And when we return to the place of obedience, we return changed — not because we made it, but because grace carried us.” — John Calvin (paraphrased)

Listen — that’s your story too, if you’re in Christ.

The goal of the Christian life isn’t just to “go back” and clean up the past. It’s to walk forward as someone who’s been changed by grace. Someone who’s walked with God, wrestled with fear, stood on His promises — someone who now moves in obedience, not knowing what tomorrow holds, but confident in who holds it.

So let me ask you this as we close:

Where’s God calling you to move?

What’s He calling you to walk toward?

Don’t just sit in the camp. Don’t just stay in the safe place. Don’t just pray and then do nothing.

If God’s shown you His presence… If God’s met you in your fear… If God’s reminded you of His promises…

Then move. Move toward obedience. Move toward reconciliation. Move toward the heart of God.

Because there and back again is never just about going home — it’s about becoming someone different when you get there.

Jacob’s journey is our journey. A journey from fear to faith. From control to surrender. From striving… to grace.

And praise God — He walks with us the entire way.

Amen?

Closing

Would you bow your head and close your eyes with me?

Listen, our praise team, they’re gonna come back up and begin to play softly, I just wanna give us a moment to reflect on God’s Word.

If you’re here today and you know Jesus — maybe you’re here and you’re on the road back again… maybe God’s brought you through some things. You’ve seen His faithfulness. You’ve felt His presence. But now you’re standing on the edge of obedience… and fear’s still whispering in your ear.

I want you to hear me: He hasn’t brought you this far to leave you now.

You don’t have to scheme. You don’t have to control the outcome. Just move toward Him. Move toward the person He’s calling you to forgive. Move toward the purpose He’s been placing in your heart. Move toward the steps of faith you’ve been putting off.

He’s not looking for perfection — He’s looking for surrender.

So this morning, right where you are — get honest with God. Ask Him for the courage to obey. And guys, take whatever step that is. Trust Him and obey Him.

But listen, maybe you’re here today, and if you're honest — you’re far from Christ.

Maybe you’ve run for years. Maybe you’ve tried to build your own life, your own success, your own peace — but it’s left you empty.

I want you to hear this: The God who met Jacob on the way back home — He wants to meet you too.

You don’t have to clean yourself up first. You don’t have to fix everything. The invitation’s not to religion or self-improvement — it’s to a relationship with the living God through His Son Jesus Christ.

The gospel is this: that while you were still a sinner, Christ died for you. He took your place. He bore your guilt. He rose from the grave — and now He offers forgiveness, and freedom, and new life to all who come to Him in faith.

And just like Jacob — you don’t have to be the same person who walked in here this morning.

God can change your story. He can rewrite your past. He can redeem your future.

But you’ve got to come.

You’ve got to repent and believe. You’ve got to turn from your sin and trust in the Savior who gave His life for you.

So if that’s you today — don’t wait. Don’t stall. Don’t let fear or pride keep you in your seat.

Come to Jesus.

We’ll have people up front (if you come)…I’ll be in the back to talk with you, to pray with you — answer your questions. Don’t leave without responding to what God’s doing in your heart.

He’s calling you home.

The only question left is — will you come?

And so, you take this time…reflect on the Word of God…and then I’ll close us in a word of prayer.

[Prayer]