Sermon Tone Analysis

Good Morning Family!

It is great to see all of you this morning.

Even when I have work to do during the gathering it’s one of my very favorite times every week.

If you’re new or passing through Welcome!

My name is Rob.

I’m one of the elders and pastors here at Hillside.

If we haven’t met, I’d love to meet you after this.

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Today, we’re going to be in Genesis Chapter 29.

Genesis has 50 chapters so we’re a few chapters over that halfway point in our Journey through the Gospel in Genesis now.

Chapter 29 is the beginning of what is really a two part saga in the life of Jacob

So, the two part saga that begins today is the story of Jacob arriving in Haran - working for his uncle to gain a wife - and ultimately begin a family.

Big picture :: He gains two wives, two baby mama’s, a huge dose of his own medicine and through all of it we see God’s providence shine through as we eventually see all 12 tribes born out of this complete mess of a situation.

God Works Through Our Mess

If you would grab your Bible and stand IF YOU’RE ABLE and I’ll read Chapter 29.

- - - - - - Read Chapter 29 - - - - I’ll Pray - - - - Then we’ll get going - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - Pray - - - - You may be seated - - - - - - -

Explanation

During our journey through Genesis we have almost always gone through an entire chapter or a larger section at a time.

So, every time I begin preparing for a sermon in this series I struggle through it

because in every large section I’ve had to dissect there has been room for two, three, or four sermons.

It’s just rich with material and meat for us to chew on.

But I’m going to do my best to get through verse 30 this morning with you.

Verses 1-14 are the initial happenings of the story that set us up for

the main point - the problem that happens - the main conflict - with Laban’s deception

Jacob arrives in Haran (1-8).

Jacob meets the family (9-14).

In this first verse we get a glimpse of Jacob being led by God…and believing God.

Though it’s a subtile glimpse.

When it says, “Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land”

The Hebrew actually says that Jacob “lifted up his feet”.

paints a picture of him walking with a lighter step.

going on this journey in light of his encounter with God (gen.

28:13-15), rather than if he hadn’t heard from God.

God will give Jacob and his descendants the land.

Jacob will have MANY descendants.

The whole of the earth would be blessed by Jacob and his family.

God would be with him, would keep him, would bring him back to the land, that God would indeed fulfill his word to Jacob.

So he’s traveling in light of his encounter with God rather than if he’d never had it.

He didn’t ignore that it happened.

Secondly, This one verse takes place over the course of what was likely around 3 weeks, depending on how hard they pushed.

15 days at 30 mi. per day.

This takes place over the course of a few weeks.

The fact that he reaches his destination is at least some proof that God was with him and was guiding him.

So already Jacob sees and witnesses to some degree that God’s words can be trusted and they’re reliable and true.

already Jacob sees that God is indeed working in his life and is with him and is guiding his steps.

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Jacob goes on to meet some shepherds and through his interaction with them he knows that he’s where he should be.

We see more of God providentially working around Jacob in verse 9.

We see God’s perfect timing at work in verse 9 when, in the middle of Jacob talking with these shepherds, Rachel appears with Laban’s sheep.

Of all the times that Jacob could’ve arrived

Of all the times that Rachel could’ve showed up with the sheep

Of all of the places for Jacob to show up — Of all of the directions for him to go.

Marine Corps Land Navigation

If your off course by only 1 degree...

After 100 yards, you'll be off by 5.2 feet.

After a mile, you'll be off by 92.2 feet.

After traveling from San Francisco to L.A., you'll be off by 6 miles.

If you were trying to get from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., you'd end up on the other side of Baltimore, 42.6 miles away.

It’s been a long time since I’ve studied that or haven’t had some sort of electronic device to help guide me

so If I were to use these same tools today to try and reach Williston

there’s at least a chance I’d end up visiting with Brian and Ruth in the cities.

If Jacob would’ve only been a degree or two different on his journey this wouldn’t have been part of the story.

God orchestrated this one moment for them both to show up in the same place at the same time.

Because that’s how powerful and in control God is.

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So, in all those areas in life that feel so desperately out of control

and in all those moments when we strive with all our might to make something happen

feeling like we just have to be in control.

We don’t have to be in control because God is in control and Jacob got to witness this first hand

In God getting him to Haran safely

and in God getting him there at just the right time

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The story continues and Jacob is overcome with emotion when he hears this is indeed his family that he’s set out to reach.

Rachel is excited and she goes and tells Laban (her father) and he’s excited

Laban runs out to meet Jacob - There was some family reunion hugs and kisses that took place

Followed by Laban stating that Jacob was surely his bone and flesh.

“We’re Family”

So Jacob stayed.

The plot thickens in verses 15-20 when Laban offers to pay Jacob.

Jacob wasn’t rich at this point in his life.

All he had to offer was his sweat and work.

Notice the explicit language of Jacob.

“I will serve you 7 years for your YOUNGER DAUGHTER RACHEL.”

Entering into this deal he had no reason to believe that anything other than what he had asked for would come out of it.

Laban’s answer was clever

He didn’t say no. or yes.

He said I’d love for her to be your wife…stay.

This is Jacob beginning to get a taste of his own medicine.

Remember Jacob has already selfishly taken his brother’s birthright

He’s deceived his Father — Lied to him to take his brother’s blessing away as well — So stealing and deceiving.

Deceiving and looking out for ole number 1 has been the biggest part of what we see of Jacob’s life.

So this is Jacob learning not to do that.

Learning what the other side feels like.

On any other day having to do with any other issue

Jacob might’ve seen through this or asked for it in writing or something

But in verse 20 Moses makes it clear that he’s in love — And that make a difference

Verse 20 also sets us up for the rest of the story — Because part of the story has everything to do with Jacob loving Rachel MORE than Leah.

That becomes a huge part of Leah’s life and spiritual growth.

However, Jacob did this gladly — did it without hesitation — And it flew by because of his love for Rachel.

We can infer that God was still with Jacob, guiding him and blessing him, because that’s essentially the big reason Laban deceives —

He doesn’t want to lose Jacob.

Jacob being there has been blessing the whole operation.

BUT...The time came when that 7 years was up,