Dad Leads us to Responsibility

OPENING

We are on part 3 of our series, “what about Dad?”

Noah led us to new beginning

We talked about failures (mankind)

God is the God of Second Chances

We will not always understand God, but we can always trust in Him

Even the world things we are crazy, we must obey God

Abraham led us to faithfulness

We talked about fear (false evidence appearing real)

Be unquestionably obedient

Obedience should not be forced

Sacrifice isn’t supposed to be easy

Live a life of faith

Today I’ll be preaching on the life of Jacob

Who is Jacob and what can we learn from him?

Noah through Shem is the father of Abraham

Abraham is the father of Isaac

Isaac is the father of Jacob

Jacob’s name was changed to Israel after wrestling with God

Jacob had 4 wives, Rachel, Leah, Bilhah and Zilpah

And Jacob later on became the father of the 12 tribes

The Life of Jacob will teach us “Responsibility”

Are you a responsible Dad?

I’ve been a father myself for 33 years now

And if you’re going to ask me if I was a responsible Dad, it will be difficult for me to give a straight yes answer

Before I met my wife Joan, I already had 2 children, out of wedlock from 2 different moms. Thonet who is now 33 years old and Jason 30

Both of them grew up without a father

It must have been very hard for them through those growing up years coming to a home without a dad

Maybe some of you here had an experience, or currently in a situation similar to my children Thonet and Jason

Deprived of a father-figure, longing for daddy’s love

On behalf of your dads, we are very sorry

Do we deserve the honor? Maybe not..

When my children Aj, Jaja, Jada and Anton were growing up, I was super pre-occupied with my political & Business career

The need to work and provide for a more comfortable life was my justification (cover up) for my absence

They grew up without the intimacy that a normal father and child would have

I leave very early in the morning while they’re still sleeping, and I come home very late at night when they are already in bed

Greater than anything that I’ve given them, TIME is what I was not able to give them

If the Lord will give my a way to do it again, more than any treasure, it will be time that I will invest in them

TIME to Teach them God’s wisdom, trades, crafts and skills in life

TIME to Inspire them to follow their passion in life

TIME to Mentor them to learn values, principles and life lessons

TIME to Enjoy life together

I’d like to share with you today some timeless principles from the life of Jacob

Principles that through out the cultures are still applicable to our generation

Our reading for the week is from the book of Genesis, from chapter 29-33

My sermon will cover the overview of the life of Jacob but I’d like you to read those chapters throughout the week

TEXT: Dad Leads us to Responsibility

Isaac commanded his son Jacob not to marry a Canaanite woman but instead to go to Paddan Aram and marry his uncle Laban’s daughter

He spent the night while enroute to his destination, and there he had a dream.

He saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching heaven and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it

Genesis 28:13 NIV

13 There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.

Genesis 28:13–14 NIV

13 There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.

GOD HAS PLAN FOR EACH OF US

We can see from these verses that God has a plan for Jacob.

He has a plan for Abraham and Isaac.

And we can be certain that God has a plan for all of us as well.

The plan of God for Jacob spans for many generations.

Today, the promise of God is fulfilled through the modern-day descendants of Jacob.

They are the English-speaking nations and the Jewish state known as Israel.

We have seen the descendants of Jacob as the recipient of abundant physical blessings this world has never seen before.

No matter who you are, God has a plan for you. This plan has already been laid out even before the foundation of the world. God created human beings because He is reproducing Himself!

No matter who you are, God has a plan for you.

This plan has already been laid out even before the foundation of the world.

God created human beings because He is reproducing Himself!

You are not an accident. God has a plan for you.

That’s the plain truth: we will become future spiritual beings who will be part of the family of God.

That’s the plain truth: we will become future spiritual beings who will be part of the family of God.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT

tells us

Galatians 6:7 NIV

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

This is applicable to everyone and Jacob is no exception.

We have seen in the life of Jacob how this law of operates. Jacob has planted the bad seed that will later yield a bitter and unpleasant crop.

God has already determined that Jacob will rise higher than his elder brother, Esau ().

God has already determined that Jacob will rise higher than his elder brother, Esau (). However, He did not wait upon the LORD to fulfill this prophecy, but he took it upon himself and dealt deceitfully. He made Esau sell his birthright to him and through a cunning acquisition, he also got Esau’s blessings.

However, He did not wait upon the LORD to fulfill this prophecy, but he took it upon himself and dealt deceitfully.

He made Esau sell his birthright to him and through a cunning acquisition, he also got Esau’s blessings.

When Jacob arrived in Harran he saw a well and that was when he saw Rachel for the very first time

He fell in love at first sight with Rachel

When Laban heard about his nephew’s arrival, he hurried to meet him and welcomed him to his home

After staying with them for a month, Laban offered Jacob a job

Jacob, very in love with Rachel said he’s willing to work for Laban 7 years in return for your her younger daughter Rachel

After Jacob served Laban for 7 years, Laban deceived him by giving Rachel instead

What comes around, goes around, do you remember when Jacob stole the birthright of his brother Esau?

They had another deal that Jacob will serve Laban for another 7 years then he got the hand of Rachel in marriage

And his flock increased. After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Joseph asked Laban;s permission to leave

Laban won’t let him go right away, but Jacob cannot be prevented from leaving and so they split the flock

THE EXAMPLES OF PARENTS MAKE A GREAT IMPACT ON THEIR CHILDREN

The story of Jacob shows us how children tend to repeat the errors of their parents.

We have seen that Jacob’s parents, Isaac and Rebekah, had their own favorites. Isaac loved Esau while Rebekah loved Jacob.

This fatal error has led to the growing rivalry between Esau and Jacob.

Now that Jacob is a father and has his own family, he failed to learn from the life of his parents. He had two wives, Leah and Rachel. However, he loved Rachel more than Leah. Because of this, Rachel and Leah, who are supposed to be sisters, are now in competition for the love of Jacob.

Now that Jacob is a father and has his own family, he failed to learn from the life of his parents.

He had two wives, Leah and Rachel. However, he loved Rachel more than Leah. Because of this, Rachel and Leah, who are supposed to be sisters, are now in competition for the love of Jacob.

When Jacob had children, he favored Joseph more than his other sons. Because of this favoritism, the children of Jacob grew up to hate Joseph. The brothers of Joseph eventually sold him to the Midianite traders (). Even after this, Jacob did not learn the lesson and still chose his youngest son to Rachel, Benjamin, as his new favorite child.

When Jacob had children, he favored Joseph more than his other sons.

Because of this favoritism, the children of Jacob grew up to hate Joseph.

The brothers of Joseph eventually sold him to the Midianite traders ().

Even after this, Jacob did not learn the lesson and still chose his youngest son to Rachel, Benjamin, as his new favorite child

For this reason, parents must recognize the importance of their good example.

Whether they like it or not, their actions will speak louder than their words.

They will serve as an example to their children and the future of these children greatly depends upon the effectiveness of their parents’ child-rearing abilities.

To become a good example, parents must first develop their own character. The godly character God wants us to build does not come naturally. Parents must constantly seek God’s wisdom, will, and purpose to really be a man and woman who are equipped with the right character to guide their children.

To become a good example, parents must first develop their own character.

The godly character God wants us to build does not come naturally.

Parents must constantly seek God’s wisdom, will, and purpose to really be a man and woman who are equipped with the right character to guide their children.

Matthew 5:16 NIV

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

PERSEVERE UNTIL YOU RECEIVE THE BLESSING

Jacob is the man popularly known as the man who wrestled with God.

The Bible said that a “Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day” ().

We know this Man will later be known as Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ could have easily won the match. However, the point of the whole wrestling match is not about who will win or not, but to test the faith of Jacob. At this point in time, Jacob now recognizes that he can’t continue on relying on his own ability and wit to acquire blessings. He knows that it is only God who will be able to give him genuine blessings.

Jesus Christ could have easily won the match.

However, the point of the whole wrestling match is not about who will win or not, but to test the faith of Jacob.

At this point in time, Jacob now recognizes that he can’t continue on relying on his own ability and wit to acquire blessings. He knows that it is only God who will be able to give him genuine blessings.

Hebrews 10:36 NIV

36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

CLOSING:

God has plan for each of us

Do not underestimate the law of cause and effect

The examples of parents make a great impact on their childern

Persevere until you receive the blessing

PRAY: