God's Work in Complex Lives

Genesis 29-30

Does God’s display of grace in your life depend on your goodness or obedience?

Search for a bride (29:1-30)

The land of the people of the east

Jacob meets some shepherds

Jacob meets Rachel

Jacob works for Rachel

Jacob loves Rachel

Laban agrees to seven years of work for Rachel’s dowry

These years went by quickly because of Jacob’s love for Rachel

Moses is setting us up for what is to come- he is getting our hearts primed to feel something specific

Laban deceives Jacob

Jacob asks for Rachel

Laban throws a great wedding feast/ceremony

However, he deceives Jacob by giving him his older daughter, Leah

“It is not so done in our country”

Jacob realizes he has been deceived

Jacob’s poor solution

Laban and Jacob agree on 7 more years of work for Rachel

But God’s design was for one man and one woman to be joined together in marriage

Jacob sins by taking Rachel as his wife, as it rebels against God’s clear intention for marriage

The counter-cultural call of self-denial

Sometimes, our personal desires must be denied for the sake of faithfulness to God

And the reality is that we should plead for God to change our desires when they are out of step with God’s

Deny yourself and take up your cross

Luke 9:23- And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Set your mind heavenward

Colossians 3:1-4- Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Struggle between wives (29:31-30:24)

Womb wars!

God opens Leah’s womb (29:31-39)

He sees that Jacob hates her

This is probably largely because of the deception she took part in

It is certainly also partly because she was unattractive to Jacob

He grants her to have 4 children- Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah

Rachel envies Leah, so she gives Jacob her maidservant Bilhah as a wife (30:1-8)

Bilhah bears 2 sons- Dan and Naphtali

Leah gives Zilpah, her maidservant, as a wife to Jacob (30:9-13)

She bears 2 sons- Gad and Asher

Leah hires Jacob for sex and a chance for more children (30:14-21)

She gives birth to 2 more sons- Issachar and Zebulun

She bears a daughter, Dinah

God opens Rachel’s womb (30:22-24)

She bears a son- Joseph

This is the reason that Jacob will come to love Joseph above all of his other children

Sin has serious consequences

The turmoil, strife, contention, and dysfunction are staggering for Jacob’s family

Our sin does not go without heavy consequences

Sin complicates some lives and devastates others

Some sins leave immediate consequences, while other sins leave their mark later, but all sin brings terrible consequences

Thomas Brooks’ Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices

SATAN'S DEVICES TO DRAW THE SOUL TO SIN

Device 1- By presenting the bait and hiding the hook.

Remedy 2- Remember that sin is but a bitter sweet

Remedy 3- Remember that sin will usher in the greatest and the saddest losses

Device 2- By painting sin with virtue's colors.

Remedy 4- Remember that sin cost the life-blood of the Lord Jesus

Spotted and speckled sheep (30:25-43)

Jacob and Laban make an agreement

Jacob wants to return home, but Laban wants him to stay because God has blessed him

Laban tells Jacob to name his price to keep him around

Jacob will take all of the spotted and speckled sheep and goats from the flock

These would have been considered less desirable

Laban tries to cheat Jacob

He takes all of the speckled and spotted sheep and goats and creates 3 days of distance between them

This is his attempt to keep all of the livestock for himself, while Jacob continues to labor and prosper for him

Jacob acts craftily

He devises a plan for breeding (30:37-43)

Poplar, almond, and plane tree sticks

He shaves all of the bark from the sticks and places them in the watering troughs

He sorted the flock based on traits and had the stronger and desirable sheep and goats to breed by the sticks

God prospers Jacob’s house

He is given strong flocks, many servants, and many camels and donkeys

In spite of Jacob’s sinful and messy life, God is faithful to keep His promises and is pleased to show His mercy to Jacob

The Lord is exceedingly faithful, gracious, and merciful

His faithfulness does not rest on us

The display of His mercy is not based on our obedience

His faithfulness and mercy are rooted in who He IS and His promises are guaranteed to His saints by the blood of His Son

2 Timothy 2:8-13- Bible