Blessings that Matter!

Intro

Good morning, Welcome! My name is Junior and I am the Assistant Pastor here of discipleship.

We are continuing in our “Back to the Beginning” series through the book of Genesis. It’s an honor have this opportunity to break the bread of God’s word with you!

Let’s pray........

Father, I have full confidence in you. Full confidence in your ability to use me today to teach your word to your people for your glory and for our good. I pray Jeremiah 15:16 over the lives of everyone under the sound of my voice; Jeremiah said, your words were found, and i did eat them, and your words became to me the joy and the delight of my heart, for i am called by your name. Oh Lord, God of hosts. May your word be found today, may we eat it, may we experience the joy and the delight that you died to give us in Jesus name amen.

My sermon is entitled “Blessings that matter!

The word blessing gets thrown around a lot. Someone asks; “how are you doing?” You respond; “I’m blessed!”. But are you actually thinking about the words you’re using?

what does it mean when we say I'm blessed? Does it mean that all is perfect in our lives? Does it mean we have it under control? What does it mean?

and to add to the fog surrounding the word and it’s supposed state, when is a blessing ever satisfactory? Are all blessings equal? If I have this one, does it negate the need to have that other one? Can blessings lead me astray from God And vice versa.

well to start our time today let’s define what we mean by blessing.

What does the bible mean by a blessing?

Blessings are spiritual and material benefits given by God to be enjoyed.

What you will see throughout these passages is that Jacob is apparently an insecure man. He’s been like this from birth. He comes out of the womb grabbing his brothers heel as if to take his place.

He swindles his brother out of his birthright. Most likely because he wants to be the person that get’s his fathers primary attention.

He deceives his blind, old father into blessing him instead of his brother. He is desperate to be affirmed.

So virtually all his life, he is pursuing acceptance and affirmation by getting things or blessings through deceit, but none of the blessings that he acquires ever satisfies him, because they can’t.

I want you to pay close attention because we are gonna be moving very fast through a few passages to get a full understanding of how God blessed Jacob, how he may have blessed you, and why we should pay attention to Blessings that matter. Because while some blessing should propel us further, sometimes we are are distracted by them, and so the progress those blessing could bring is stunted, because we arre fixated on what we get more than who gave us.

Let’s read together.. Picking it up from Chapter 27:46 - 28:9 (2 mins)

Genesis 27:46–28:5 ESV

46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I loathe my life because of the Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women like these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?” 1 Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women. 2 Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father, and take as your wife from there one of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. 3 God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. 4 May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!” 5 Thus Isaac sent Jacob away. And he went to Paddan-aram, to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.

This section introduces our first point on your outline:

1. God’s blessing leads to obedience. Blessings 1-3

Throughout our time today I will highlight all of the ways God blessed Jacob. As a matter of fact, as i studied the text I found several distinct blessings from God to Jacob.

The first blessing:

First Blessing: The Favor of his Parents 28:1-9

Back in Genesis 26:35, Esau’s choice of brides brought grief to his parents. Abraham in Chapter 24:3 sets the standard that wives for his lineage will not be chosen from Canaanite women. Why is that? Because they served other God’s!

And in this verse 46 of Chapter 27, Rebekah is reminding Isaac that Esau already made bad choices, and she’s saying here “I would die before I let my Son Jacob fall into that same trap.

So They sat Jacob down and gave him a good talk.

And guess what? he was obedient.

He could have just as well disobeyed his parents and married whoever he wanted. But he listened to his parents. Maybe out of some misguided need for their affirmation, but nevertheless he obeys.

Esau on the other hand sought to bring further grief to the family by disobeying his Parents and adding more ungodly wives to drive his parents nuts!

And so Jacob get’s favor from both Parents.

This is his first blessing we notice here in the text. The favor of his Parents

Second Blessing: Revelation from God! 28:10-22

Verses 10-22 let’s us in what went down: Jacob leaves home in Beersheba and now he is on his way to Haran to his Uncle Laban. On his first night out on the journey he experiences his second blessing. He’s found a place to sleep during his journey and while asleep he had this dream of a ladder from earth to heaven and angels were up and down on this ladder, the Lord was at the top of the ladder and he spoke to Jacob and reiterated the promise he made to Abraham: 1. that he will give him and his offspring the land where he was laying, 2. his offspring shall be like the dust of the ground, 3. he will be with him until he has delivered his promise.

And so Jacob wakes up, and sets up and pillar or a memorial stone, and makes a promise to God. You could say that he made a new years resolution.

So this was Jacob’s second blessing! Revelation from God.

Third Blessing: A new Home! 29:1-14

Chapter 29:1-14 says that Jacob got to his destination, the first person he met was Rachel, one of Laban’s daughter, then Rachel took him to Laban and Laban offered him a place to stay. Verse 13 of chapter 29 says:

Genesis 29:13–14 ESV

As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month.

Yet another blessing! Jacob finds a new home!

These 3 blessings we can see under this first point: The favor of his parents, Revelation from God, and a new home.

We see that God is continually blessing Jacob, not because Jacob is obedient, but Jacob is growing in obedience because God is blessing him.

Is that a mark of your life? Are you growing in obedience? We tend think that material blessings are a sign that God favor’s our lifestyle but it’s the opposite. God want you to turn away from ungodly lifestyles to him.

God’s Blessing should always lead us to obedience.

Point number 2:

2. Blessings are grace gifts, not earned by our efforts. Blessings - 4-6

This point stands very clear in blessings 4-6.

Fourth Blessing: Employment! 29:15-20

Not only did Jacob find a new home, but Laban offered him a job.

Genesis 29:15 ESV

15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?”

What do you think Jacob wanted as payment?

Genesis 29:18–19 ESV

18 Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.”

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel. We will see how that worked out in blessing number 5.

Fifth Blessing: Spouses! 29:21-30

Wedding time!

Genesis 29:21–30 ESV

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” 22 So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast. 23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. 24 (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) 25 And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” 26 Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” 28 Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) 30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.

Laban gave Jacob a taste of his own medicine. Deceit! It also appears that God is even using this to humble Jacob.

Sixth Blessing: Children! 29:31-30:25

The bible says children are a heritage from the Lord, blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!

Leah and her sister rachel with their servants bore Jacob 12 Children in this passage.

Leah’s Kids:

1. Reuben, 2. Simeon, 3. Levi, 4. Judah,

Bilhah (Rachel’s Servant)

5. Dan, 6. Naphtali

Zilpah (Leah’s Servant)

7. Gad, 8. Asher

Leah’s Kids

9. Issachar, 10. Zebulun, 11. Dinah

Rachel’s Kids

12. Joseph

So God thoroughly blessed Jacob with Children.

Bear in mind, that Jacob is the same crook who decieved his brother and his blind old father. God is not here showering him with blessing because he deserves it.

And we know that God is Holy, the book of Habakuk says “you who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong,”

So this is very clear that God is blessing Jacob because God is gracious, not because Jacob is Good.

Point number 3

3. All blessings aren’t equally valuable to us. Blessings 7-9

Seventh Blessing: Wealth! 30:25-43

Genesis 30:25–30 ESV

25 As soon as Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, that I may go, for you know the service that I have given you.” 27 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you. 28 Name your wages, and I will give it.” 29 Jacob said to him, “You yourself know how I have served you, and how your livestock has fared with me. 30 For you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I turned. But now when shall I provide for my own household also?”

Jacob is seeking his own wealth apart from Laban. And so Laban agrees to a proposition that Jacob makes; to work for him only taking the speckled, spotted sheep and goats, and black lambs as payment. But Laban sought to trick Jacob again by agreeing to what appeared to be a big disadvantage for Jacob, but the Lord providentially ensured that whenever the flocks bred, that they bred striped, speckled, and spotted just like what Jacob agreed to.

Verse 43 says

Genesis 30:43 ESV

43 Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

Jacob now has great wealth. yet another blessing. But guess what? Still no satisfaction!

Eight Blessing: Independence! 31:1-55

Genesis 31:1–9 ESV

1 Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has gained all this wealth.” 2 And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. 3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.” 4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was 5 and said to them, “I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I have served your father with all my strength, 7 yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me. 8 If he said, ‘The spotted shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore spotted; and if he said, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore striped. 9 Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.

Because of all this this Jacob now have the opportunity to leave, and so he does.

Genesis 31:17–18 ESV

17 So Jacob arose and set his sons and his wives on camels. 18 He drove away all his livestock, all his property that he had gained, the livestock in his possession that he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac.

He almost makes it out until Laban pursues him, accuses him of stealing his household gods, and gave give a full security pat down. Jacob now gets angry and berates Laban telling. Uncle what’s really wrong with you? I working for you for over 20 years, did everything you asked me, you changed my wages so much time, and now that i’m ready to go, you won’t let me!

So Laban backs up, he says ok, we are all family, let’s make a deal, you go your way with your stuff and I will go with mine and we will never see each other again.

Bam!! Jacob has now gained his independence! Freedom at last! But does this satisfy him?

4. Blessings that matter, changes us for the better. Blessings 9-12

Ninth Blessing: Growth in faith! 32:1-21

All through he previous passages we see God communicating to Jacob but not much, if any, communication from Jacob to God. This blessing shows up Jacob’s new dependence on God.

Genesis 32:1–8 ESV

1 Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim. 3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, 4 instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. 5 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.’ ” 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.” 7 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, 8 thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.”

Scared out of his mind. Jacob falls to his knees and prays:

Genesis 32:9–12 ESV

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,’ 10 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. 11 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. 12 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.’ ”

We are now beginning to see a totally different Jacob, different than the one that left home decades ago. He’s now seeking God’s face for deliverance.

He begs God for mercy and appeal to God’s promises.

A certain representation of Gods blessing over Jacob’s life by growing his faith.

You see blessing that matter! Changes us for the better!

Tenth Blessing: Affirmed by God! 32:22-32

Genesis 32:22–28 ESV

22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

Jacob now receives a blessing that matters. He’s been struggling his whole life to find acceptance in different things; his brother’s birthright, his parent’s favor, religious acts, houses, a job, a spouse, children, wealth, independence, but it is only when his faith began to grow that he found the blessing that matters. God.

Augustine was right when he said “you have made us for yourself oh Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in you”

Nothing can satisfy us unless this satisfaction is God himself!

You can have all the material blessings of this world, but none of it matters unless you have the one who gives it all. Jesus!

What’s the point of gaining the entire world and losing your soul. The bible tells us that Esau never got the opportunity to receive the blessing of repentance toward God.

Hebrews 12:15–17 ESV

15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

Two more blessings:

Eleventh Blessing: Family Reconciliation 33:1-14

Genesis 33:4–9 ESV

4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5 And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. 8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”

They reconciled their relationship

Twelfth Blessing: Safely Home 33:15-18

Genesis 33:18–20 ESV

18 And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. 19 And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

Jacob - the heel grabber or Deceiver is now totallly transformed to Israel - He struggles with God or God’s fighter. A remarkable work by God to tranform him.

All his life Jacob struggled to gain blessings that would never satisfy him. But now he has gain the blessing that matters most. He did not just get things from God. But he got God.

You see there’s a difference between God filling our lives up with stuff. And God filling our lives up with himself.

In other words you might be blessed with material things but they will never satisfy you. You might be blessed with a good man, a good woman, but they can never satisfy you, you might be blessed with a fat bank account, an awesome job, a nice church to attend, children, just like Jacob, they will never satisfy you.

It’s funny that we are talking about blessing in a time when people are broke, hungry, stressed, hopeless, and desperate. Hold it ! This is the perfect time to talk about this, so that we will not set our affections on being blessed with earlthy things, but that we would recognize that God is offering the greatest blessing that anyone can receive. His Son. Having him is the blessing that matters.

Let’s pray.....