SERIES: The Gospel in Genesis — The life of Jacob
TEXT: Genesis 28:10-22
MESSAGE: “A Vision of God”
—————————————-
“…as a result of his trickery, his life was in danger. He had to flee from his home. His sin had come home to roost…he grew up understanding how to lie and cheat and deceive…Unlearning them would prove to be far more difficult. It would take long years in the wilderness before Jacob was ready for his place in God’s program, and even then the scars of his past would never disappear.” — Iain Duguid
“To live by grace means to acknowledge my whole life story, the light side and the dark. In admitting my shadow side I learn who I am and what God’s grace means.” ― Brennan Manning
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28
How do we get to this vision of God? We must see three parts to it…(1. The Spiritual Darkness 2. The Stairway 3. The Promise)
- The Spiritual Darkness (v. 10-11)
“Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep.”
“The setting of the sun was not merely an incidental detail in the story. This detail vividly depicts Jacob’s situation: night had caught up with him. The sun would not rise for him, from the perspective of the narrative, until Genesis 32.” — Iain Duguid
- The Stairway (v. 12-13a)
“And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it…”
“the majority of modern commentators prefer to translate (God standing) ‘over him.’” — Gordon Wenham
- The Promise (v. 13b-18)
“…I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” 18 So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.”
TAKEAWAYS: Three questions to apply to our heart…
- Have you come to terms with the spiritual darkness within yourself?
- Where do you believe God stands in your life?
- How will you respond to Him?
Aslan” said Lucy “you’re bigger”. “That is because you are older, little one” answered he. “Not because you are?” “I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.” — C.S. Lewis, Prince Caspian
“Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” — John 1:49-50
“…you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” — John 1:51