WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.580 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone and I'm one of the pastors here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:10.720 --> 00:00:20.640 We are continuing our series in the book of Genesis. Really, we're ending our series in the book of Genesis. We just have a little bit left this week and two more weeks. 00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:34.420 You'll remember that Genesis is the first book in the Bible. It's the origin story of God's people, Israel. And this summer we have been looking at the story of Jacob found in chapters 25 through 36. 00:00:34.859 --> 00:00:43.780 And as we come near the end, we are tying up some loose ends. In many ways, the story of Jacob has been one big character study. 00:00:43.780 --> 00:00:50.679 We've seen dramatic transformation. Jacob has changed so much and we've also seen dramatic failure. 00:00:51.240 --> 00:00:57.740 Last week, failure with Jacob's deafening silence in the face of great evil. 00:00:58.439 --> 00:01:05.200 And so one of the questions that comes from our passage this morning is this, how do we recover from failure? 00:01:06.420 --> 00:01:13.219 How's Jacob going to pick up the pieces after what happened in chapter 34 last week? 00:01:13.780 --> 00:01:19.340 And now as I began studying this passage at the beginning, you know, we're just doing half of chapter 35. 00:01:19.620 --> 00:01:23.719 And the beginning of the week, I thought, oh no, there's not enough material. I should have done all of 35. 00:01:24.439 --> 00:01:27.079 Then I kept going and I thought, no, there's way too much material. 00:01:28.120 --> 00:01:33.980 So I'm going to say this, as I often do, there's a lot going on in the first 15 verses here. 00:01:34.040 --> 00:01:40.599 And so I'm going to say something, not everything. Our goal is to always hit the high points, if nothing else. 00:01:40.599 --> 00:01:47.059 We're going to look at two things in this passage, God's faithfulness and God's promises. 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:51.879 You don't need to write that, Dan. You'll see it on page 8 of your worship guide as the sermon title. 00:01:52.780 --> 00:01:58.719 With that, I invite you to turn with me to Genesis chapter 35, which you'll find on page 7 of your worship guide. 00:01:59.079 --> 00:02:01.379 As we turn to it, remember that this is God's word. 00:02:01.379 --> 00:02:09.120 In Isaiah chapter 40 tells us, the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. 00:02:09.859 --> 00:02:14.340 And so that's why we read now Genesis 35, starting at verse 1. 00:02:14.340 --> 00:02:44.319 God said to Jacob, 00:02:44.340 --> 00:02:54.719 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gold gods that they had and the rings that were in their ears. 00:02:55.379 --> 00:02:58.439 Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree that was near Shechem. 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:03.860 And as they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, 00:03:04.420 --> 00:03:07.340 so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 00:03:07.340 --> 00:03:14.780 And Jacob came to Luz, that is Bethel, which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. 00:03:15.400 --> 00:03:18.480 And there he built an altar and called the place El Bethel, 00:03:18.920 --> 00:03:23.219 because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother. 00:03:23.219 --> 00:03:30.500 And Deborah, Rebecca's nurse, died, and she was buried under an oak below Bethel. 00:03:31.020 --> 00:03:33.199 So he called its name Alan Bacchus. 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:38.459 God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan Aram and blessed him. 00:03:39.219 --> 00:03:40.259 And God said to him, 00:03:40.739 --> 00:03:42.060 Your name is Jacob. 00:03:42.759 --> 00:03:46.859 No longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name. 00:03:47.679 --> 00:03:49.579 So he called his name Israel. 00:03:50.659 --> 00:03:51.579 And God said to him, 00:03:51.580 --> 00:03:55.280 I am God Almighty, be fruitful and multiply. 00:03:56.020 --> 00:03:59.040 A nation and a company of kings shall come from you, 00:03:59.440 --> 00:04:01.939 and kings shall come from your own body. 00:04:02.720 --> 00:04:06.220 The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, 00:04:06.880 --> 00:04:10.020 and I will give the land to your offspring after you. 00:04:11.140 --> 00:04:14.740 Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him. 00:04:15.160 --> 00:04:18.800 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, 00:04:18.900 --> 00:04:20.360 a pillar of stone. 00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:25.000 He poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:29.879 So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel. 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:34.379 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:38.620 Our Father in heaven, we do praise you, 00:04:38.699 --> 00:04:42.020 and we thank you again for bringing us together as your people. 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:44.680 We also ask for your help. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:48.300 We admit that we are feeble and frail, 00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:49.920 often distracted, 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:53.060 not as smart as we wish we were. 00:04:53.540 --> 00:04:55.420 And so we need your help by your spirit. 00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:58.720 I ask that you would use your word, 00:05:00.100 --> 00:05:02.860 you'd use my ordinary words in a powerful way, 00:05:02.860 --> 00:05:08.520 that you would make what we do here this morning greater than the sum of its parts, 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:11.720 that ultimately you would speak to us by your spirit, 00:05:12.080 --> 00:05:13.720 that you would soften our hearts, 00:05:14.860 --> 00:05:17.199 grow our love and affection for you, 00:05:17.540 --> 00:05:21.660 and that you'd help us to see clearly what you have for us in your word, 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:23.500 and most of all, you'd help us to see Jesus. 00:05:23.500 --> 00:05:26.660 We ask all of these things in his mighty name. 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:27.660 Amen. 00:05:31.019 --> 00:05:36.000 Counselors and psychologists have a concept that they call splitting. 00:05:36.620 --> 00:05:39.519 It's the same word we would use if we talk about splitting wood. 00:05:40.500 --> 00:05:47.120 And splitting is when you decide to see people as all good or all bad. 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:51.680 So someone is either a hero or they're a villain. 00:05:52.379 --> 00:05:54.000 And that's typically not a good thing. 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:59.160 And so it's the work of counselors and psychologists to try to move people away from that, 00:05:59.220 --> 00:06:02.780 that they're able to hold the good and the bad together, 00:06:02.780 --> 00:06:08.660 so they can move away from black and white thinking as they look at the people in their lives. 00:06:08.699 --> 00:06:11.480 And that's one of our challenges with Jacob. 00:06:11.860 --> 00:06:13.459 Jacob has been back and forth, 00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:15.060 sometimes a hero, 00:06:15.280 --> 00:06:16.399 sometimes a villain. 00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:18.819 Jacob had this huge growth spurt. 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:21.560 You'll remember in chapters 31 through 33, 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:25.539 we saw Jacob begins to finally give thanks and praise to God. 00:06:25.659 --> 00:06:27.419 He realizes, hey, all these blessings, 00:06:27.620 --> 00:06:29.519 they didn't come because I'm smart, 00:06:29.620 --> 00:06:31.899 but because God is great. 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:35.620 Chapter 32, we got to see Jacob pray his very first prayer. 00:06:36.159 --> 00:06:38.959 He's finally willing to be dependent on God 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:41.099 and not just his own scale. 00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:43.039 And so we were cheering during those moments, 00:06:43.139 --> 00:06:44.579 thinking, wow, isn't God so great? 00:06:44.579 --> 00:06:46.219 He's been at work in Jacob's life. 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:49.739 Jacob has been changing and moving and growing. 00:06:51.359 --> 00:06:56.919 And then chapters 33 and 34, we have this huge setback. 00:06:56.920 --> 00:07:05.540 End of chapter 33, Jacob doesn't return all the way to the promised land. 00:07:05.540 --> 00:07:11.819 He stops at Shechem, just 20 miles short of where he's supposed to be. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:15.780 And Andy pointed out last week, as we were looking at chapter 34, 00:07:16.080 --> 00:07:23.040 Jacob's enamored by the wealth, the prosperity, the opportunities that Shechem presents. 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:29.700 Man, none of 34 would have happened if Jacob had just gone all the way, 00:07:30.280 --> 00:07:32.660 just returned to Bethel. 00:07:32.660 --> 00:07:43.220 His compromised heart cares more about safety and comfort than his daughter. 00:07:44.220 --> 00:07:49.360 It was last week, his deafening silence in the face of great violence. 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:50.879 So we can't split Jacob. 00:07:51.500 --> 00:07:53.199 We can't see Jacob as all good. 00:07:53.300 --> 00:07:54.740 We can't see him as all bad. 00:07:54.819 --> 00:07:56.319 No, he's a human. 00:07:56.540 --> 00:07:57.300 God's at work. 00:07:57.420 --> 00:07:58.220 Jacob's growing. 00:07:59.840 --> 00:08:04.000 And at the same time, he hasn't arrived, right? 00:08:04.420 --> 00:08:09.400 There's always things pulling him away, tempting him, distracting him. 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:12.079 And the point is this. 00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:14.179 Same is true for us. 00:08:14.899 --> 00:08:19.000 There are always things trying to pull us away from God, 00:08:19.319 --> 00:08:22.399 calling us away from where he's pointed us. 00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:25.759 There's always these lesser things that are trying to grab at our hearts, 00:08:27.019 --> 00:08:30.379 chasing after these trinkets instead of real treasure. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:34.360 We're never immune from that in the Christian life. 00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:39.360 Part of the Christian life is turning back to God again and again. 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:42.080 That's part of the point of our worship, by the way. 00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:46.980 We come back Sunday after Sunday because part of what it means to be human 00:08:46.980 --> 00:08:49.500 is to constantly be distracted, 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:54.120 constantly face the temptation to be pulled away. 00:08:54.259 --> 00:08:57.860 And so we come every week to reorient ourselves, 00:08:57.960 --> 00:08:59.720 to remember where true north is, 00:09:00.100 --> 00:09:04.240 to reset, put our eyes back on the right place. 00:09:04.940 --> 00:09:06.600 Sometimes we sing that hymn, right? 00:09:06.680 --> 00:09:08.279 Come thou fount of every blessing, 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:11.600 which says, prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. 00:09:12.180 --> 00:09:13.960 Prone to leave the God I love. 00:09:14.800 --> 00:09:15.860 That's the Christian life. 00:09:16.820 --> 00:09:19.419 That same hymn says we need God's grace to act like a fetter, 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:21.460 to bind us to him. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:24.259 So that's Jacob. 00:09:25.860 --> 00:09:26.620 Can't split him. 00:09:26.659 --> 00:09:27.220 He's not all good. 00:09:27.279 --> 00:09:28.039 He's not all bad. 00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:30.620 Great success, great growth, also great failure. 00:09:30.620 --> 00:09:31.799 God's grace to act like a fetter. 00:09:31.799 --> 00:09:35.519 Still faces the temptations of any human. 00:09:36.779 --> 00:09:37.960 The good news is this. 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:42.620 In the midst of our failure and our sin, 00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:46.700 God is always calling us back. 00:09:46.700 --> 00:09:50.740 In the midst of our failure and sin, 00:09:50.940 --> 00:09:54.620 God continues to pursue his people. 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:56.740 It's true of us, by the way. 00:09:57.200 --> 00:09:58.700 Our call to worship this morning, 00:09:58.780 --> 00:09:59.879 really every Sunday, 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:01.620 it's a call that comes from God, 00:10:01.700 --> 00:10:02.300 not from us, 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:03.080 which is a recognition. 00:10:03.320 --> 00:10:08.520 God's always the one drawing us back in. 00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:14.079 Jacob's great failure last week with Dinah, 00:10:14.819 --> 00:10:16.799 his silence, his passivity, 00:10:17.439 --> 00:10:19.899 and yet God doesn't give up on him. 00:10:21.199 --> 00:10:25.379 God comes to Jacob and calls him back. 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:27.360 That takes us to verse one. 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:28.779 God said to Jacob, 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:32.480 Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:35.340 Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you 00:10:35.340 --> 00:10:37.759 when you fled from your brother Esau. 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:38.980 In other words, 00:10:39.460 --> 00:10:40.980 do what I told you to do. 00:10:41.379 --> 00:10:43.299 Back in chapter 31. 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:45.500 Four chapters ago. 00:10:45.939 --> 00:10:48.860 Do what I originally said and go home. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:51.299 If you'd done that to begin with, 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:54.139 you could have skipped all that pain. 00:10:54.740 --> 00:10:56.559 Jacob rightly recognizes here 00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:58.439 that turning back to God 00:10:58.439 --> 00:11:01.740 means he has to turn away from other things, 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:03.179 turn away from sin. 00:11:03.539 --> 00:11:05.139 Last week he was at his worst. 00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:06.600 He was incredibly passive. 00:11:06.600 --> 00:11:10.240 Now Jacob takes on the mantle again of family leadership. 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:11.580 He's finally active. 00:11:11.700 --> 00:11:15.019 He is leading his family back to the Lord. 00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:16.460 That takes us to verse two 00:11:16.460 --> 00:11:17.040 where he tells them, 00:11:17.240 --> 00:11:18.720 put away these foreign gods, 00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:20.399 purify yourselves. 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:21.320 Verse three, 00:11:21.420 --> 00:11:22.960 this is so that we can go to Bethel, 00:11:23.800 --> 00:11:24.420 make an altar. 00:11:24.820 --> 00:11:26.659 So we're going to have to go to Bethel to do that, 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:27.779 to go towards God. 00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:28.659 We're going to have to leave 00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:30.600 all these other things behind. 00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:32.600 And so there's this purification 00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:34.960 that happens in verse two. 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:37.279 Part of the reason for that purification 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:39.399 is everything that's happened in the last chapter. 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:42.060 All the violence and the war and the battling. 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:44.000 Verse four, 00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:46.680 they have to get rid of their gods. 00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:50.019 Remember Rachel took some of Laban's gods with her. 00:11:50.580 --> 00:11:52.300 Now a number of chapters ago. 00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:53.399 Remember she sat on them. 00:11:53.460 --> 00:11:54.639 She put them in the camel saddle. 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:56.139 She has to get rid of those 00:11:56.139 --> 00:11:57.460 and all the other foreign gods 00:11:57.460 --> 00:11:58.740 and the rings and they hide on the tree. 00:11:59.580 --> 00:12:01.320 The tree that is in Shechem. 00:12:03.139 --> 00:12:03.680 In other words, 00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:05.240 we're going to leave all these things behind. 00:12:05.560 --> 00:12:07.420 We're not taking them with us to Bethel. 00:12:07.420 --> 00:12:09.120 Now we're burying them. 00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:10.460 They're in the past. 00:12:11.860 --> 00:12:13.440 And so the point is this. 00:12:14.800 --> 00:12:16.940 As long as you have breath, 00:12:18.340 --> 00:12:22.040 it is never too late to return. 00:12:23.820 --> 00:12:25.220 As long as you're alive, 00:12:25.220 --> 00:12:30.279 it is never too late to turn around. 00:12:31.540 --> 00:12:32.120 You know what Jacob? 00:12:32.420 --> 00:12:33.340 You messed up. 00:12:34.040 --> 00:12:35.860 And you didn't just mess up in a little way. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:38.779 You messed up in a big way. 00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:42.220 And you can still choose. 00:12:43.060 --> 00:12:45.700 You can choose to do what God told you to do 00:12:45.700 --> 00:12:49.000 all the way back in chapter 31. 00:12:49.740 --> 00:12:50.519 It's never too late. 00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:53.580 Remember I told you one of the questions 00:12:53.580 --> 00:12:55.100 this passage brings up is 00:12:55.100 --> 00:12:57.379 how do we recover from failure? 00:12:58.360 --> 00:12:59.399 And the answer is this. 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:01.820 We receive God's grace. 00:13:03.420 --> 00:13:04.899 God's always calling us back. 00:13:06.460 --> 00:13:08.420 We put away our sin 00:13:08.420 --> 00:13:11.700 and we turn towards righteousness. 00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:14.620 As long as you're still alive, 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:16.800 your story isn't over. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:19.419 God never gives up on you. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:25.159 Always an opportunity to repair and return. 00:13:26.079 --> 00:13:27.259 Now there's two different mistakes 00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:29.039 that we can make in that. 00:13:29.979 --> 00:13:31.519 Thankfully Jacob doesn't do these, 00:13:31.599 --> 00:13:32.459 but I want to point them out. 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:33.959 One mistake, error one, 00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:36.319 is that we despair in the face of failure. 00:13:36.819 --> 00:13:37.779 This is where you believe 00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:39.779 there's no future for yourself. 00:13:40.740 --> 00:13:42.219 Satan's the father of lies 00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:44.600 and this is one of his favorite lies. 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:47.519 Satan loves to come to you and say, 00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:48.639 you know what, 00:13:48.660 --> 00:13:49.879 you messed up in that way 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:52.279 and so you don't have a future. 00:13:54.340 --> 00:13:55.759 You said the wrong thing. 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:57.180 You did the wrong thing. 00:13:57.860 --> 00:13:58.860 You know what God did? 00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:00.519 God gave up on you. 00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:04.480 And so it's time for you to give up as well. 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:07.500 That's a lie from the pit of hell, by the way. 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:10.980 And it's a lie that Satan loves to tell us 00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:12.360 in the midst of failure. 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:14.539 Don't believe it. 00:14:15.419 --> 00:14:16.139 Remember Jacob. 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:19.960 God is always calling his people back. 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:22.639 Error two is denial. 00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:24.000 So error one, despair. 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:25.379 Error two, denial. 00:14:25.539 --> 00:14:26.960 Thankfully Jacob doesn't do this, 00:14:27.019 --> 00:14:29.980 but denial is refusing to acknowledge our sin. 00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:32.200 It's always someone else's fault. 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:35.000 You know people like this. 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:37.539 All of us have been like this at certain times. 00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:39.259 You know you're always the victim, 00:14:39.940 --> 00:14:40.940 never the perpetrator. 00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:44.920 Somehow it's always someone else who met, 00:14:45.300 --> 00:14:46.480 who's messed things up. 00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:50.860 The scary news of Christianity is this, 00:14:52.180 --> 00:14:54.560 that you and I are the problem. 00:14:54.559 --> 00:15:00.719 And Christianity is the only religion 00:15:00.719 --> 00:15:03.339 that makes it safe to admit that. 00:15:04.359 --> 00:15:05.899 Safe to say out loud, 00:15:06.059 --> 00:15:08.399 no, it's not everyone else around me. 00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:10.539 No, it's actually me. 00:15:12.199 --> 00:15:15.959 And the reason Christianity makes it safe to do that 00:15:15.959 --> 00:15:17.859 is because in Christianity, 00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:20.459 our hope is not in our performance, 00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:24.040 but in God's faithfulness. 00:15:25.540 --> 00:15:28.780 Our hope is not in our performance, 00:15:28.780 --> 00:15:31.139 but in God's faithfulness. 00:15:31.280 --> 00:15:35.280 And that's why our failure is not the end of the story. 00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:42.300 Real repentance means we do not ignore the past. 00:15:42.680 --> 00:15:43.800 We repent of it. 00:15:44.220 --> 00:15:45.360 We move away from it. 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:48.779 So not despair, that's error one. 00:15:49.220 --> 00:15:51.060 Not denial, that's error two. 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:53.060 But repentance, 00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:55.340 the reason we can repent 00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:57.500 is because our hope is not in our performance, 00:15:57.879 --> 00:16:00.139 but in God's faithfulness. 00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:02.180 And our hope is in God's faithfulness 00:16:02.180 --> 00:16:03.259 because of Jesus Christ. 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:05.800 That it is his performance 00:16:05.800 --> 00:16:08.180 that we rest on and look to. 00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:10.259 That in the midst of our failure, 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:12.200 we're able to say, 00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:13.340 I still have a future. 00:16:13.340 --> 00:16:15.460 It's not over for me. 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:18.899 Not because of some pie-in-the-sky hope, 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:20.139 but because Jesus, 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:22.700 in real time and real space, 00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:24.500 came and lived as a man on this earth. 00:16:25.800 --> 00:16:28.399 Lived the perfect life that I should have lived, 00:16:29.300 --> 00:16:30.139 gave that to me, 00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:33.240 died the death I should have died, 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:36.680 spared me from that. 00:16:37.940 --> 00:16:39.240 That's the hope of a Christian. 00:16:40.160 --> 00:16:41.500 That's why we don't despair. 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:43.100 We don't give up. 00:16:43.259 --> 00:16:44.039 Your story's not over. 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:46.159 That's why we don't deny. 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:50.500 It's safe to tell the truth. 00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:54.360 Remember, 2 Timothy chapter 2. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:56.200 If we are faithless, 00:16:56.700 --> 00:16:57.720 he remains faithful, 00:16:58.179 --> 00:17:01.360 for he cannot deny himself. 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:07.360 I don't want you to miss the grace in Jacob's story. 00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:10.000 Jacob's story is not the story of a man 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:12.299 who pulls himself up by his bootstraps. 00:17:12.360 --> 00:17:14.460 That's what Jacob believed at the beginning of his life. 00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:16.319 Jacob believed it was all up to him, 00:17:16.360 --> 00:17:18.860 that he was smart enough and cunning enough. 00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:23.480 No, Jacob's sin is not the end of his story. 00:17:23.860 --> 00:17:26.759 Not the end of his story because of God's grace. 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:30.259 Our sins, our mistakes, our failures, 00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:33.559 not the end of our stories either, 00:17:34.099 --> 00:17:35.799 if we're in Christ. 00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:39.740 But, here's the kicker. 00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:42.039 We have to have real repentance. 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:44.599 A real turning away from sin. 00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:47.759 A real turning towards new paths. 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:52.059 I also want you to notice God's grace 00:17:52.059 --> 00:17:53.059 in protecting Jacob. 00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:55.759 Look at verse 5 with me. 00:17:56.819 --> 00:17:57.599 And as they journeyed, 00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:59.920 a terror from God fell upon the cities 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:01.019 that were around them, 00:18:01.319 --> 00:18:03.779 so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:06.000 In other words, what Jacob does here is risky. 00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:08.200 God calls him to Bethel. 00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:10.099 You might think, oh, that's not hard. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:11.099 He has to go 20 miles. 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:12.660 Right, but he's going 20 miles 00:18:12.660 --> 00:18:14.299 as he passes by these cities 00:18:14.299 --> 00:18:16.680 that now hate him because of chapter 34. 00:18:16.680 --> 00:18:18.920 The end of chapter 34, 00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:20.080 remember his great fear. 00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:21.220 The indictment on Jacob 00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:23.360 was that he didn't care about Dinah, 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:24.680 but he cared about his own skin. 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:27.060 He cared about his own skin 00:18:27.060 --> 00:18:27.900 because he realized, 00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:30.360 hey, we've made a stench of ourselves here. 00:18:32.060 --> 00:18:33.100 Odds are good 00:18:33.100 --> 00:18:37.180 the other cities are going to come after us. 00:18:38.920 --> 00:18:40.360 God says, no, I'm going to protect you. 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:42.560 As you follow me in obedience, 00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:43.779 we've talked about this before, 00:18:44.080 --> 00:18:45.420 as you follow me in obedience, 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:46.560 I'm going to give you what you need. 00:18:47.580 --> 00:18:51.039 I haven't left you out to dry or to hang. 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:54.140 There's one more thing on this point 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:55.519 that I don't want us to miss, 00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:58.220 which is that in the midst of God's grace, 00:18:58.380 --> 00:18:59.259 which is real, 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:02.400 there is also some bitterness here. 00:19:03.080 --> 00:19:04.100 There's a bitter moment 00:19:04.100 --> 00:19:06.140 in the midst of the return. 00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:08.180 I mentioned at the beginning of this sermon 00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:10.200 that we're tying up loose ends. 00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:12.440 Jacob's life over the next two chapters, 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:14.039 I almost thought about calling the sermon 00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:14.879 loose ends, 00:19:14.879 --> 00:19:16.960 but there's one loose end 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:19.440 that doesn't get tied up. 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:21.240 You could easily miss it 00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:22.399 because it's a side comment, 00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:23.799 but look with me at verse eight. 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:25.720 And Deborah, 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:28.099 Rebecca's nurse, 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.139 died. 00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:31.740 That's kind of odd. 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:36.599 Why are we being told about Rebecca's nurse's death? 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:39.799 Whose death should we hear about? 00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:43.299 Rebecca. 00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:45.859 Rebecca, his mom. 00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:47.420 We want to know what's going to happen, right? 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:49.160 Remember when she sent him out 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:49.940 to escape, 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:51.000 to run from Esau 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:52.859 because Esau had threatened to kill him. 00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:53.480 She said, 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:54.680 I'm going to call you back. 00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:56.720 I'll let you know when it's safe 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:58.000 so you can return home. 00:19:59.099 --> 00:20:00.799 We've had that hanging ever since. 00:20:01.099 --> 00:20:02.299 When is Jacob and Rebecca 00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:03.200 going to be reunited? 00:20:03.380 --> 00:20:03.660 Remember, 00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:05.599 Jacob is her favorite son. 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:08.740 She loves him so much. 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.140 Rebecca's nurse died. 00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.940 No mention of Rebecca. 00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:17.059 Rebecca. 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:24.880 Presumably, 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.019 we don't hear about Rebecca 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:28.240 because Rebecca died long ago. 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.819 Because of Rebecca's sin, 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:34.599 because she tricked her husband 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:37.180 and coached her son to do the same, 00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:41.259 she is never reunited with Jacob. 00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:44.740 Some commentators even think 00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:46.680 her name is left out completely 00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:48.680 as an indictment on her. 00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:51.299 We don't hear about her again 00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:53.039 until the end of the book of Genesis 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:53.980 when we're told 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:55.700 where she was buried. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:57.579 Why aren't we told that here? 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:00.519 To remind us. 00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:03.279 Yes, grace is real. 00:21:04.139 --> 00:21:05.899 God is showing mercy to his people. 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.299 He's calling them back. 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:11.940 Consequences are also real. 00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:15.680 Consequences of Rebecca's sin, 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:16.819 of Jacob's sin, 00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:18.180 continue. 00:21:19.399 --> 00:21:21.079 So we hold both of those things 00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:21.720 in our hands. 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:23.240 There's real grace. 00:21:23.360 --> 00:21:24.759 There's real mercy for Jacob, 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:26.059 the family of Abraham. 00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:28.120 There's also real consequences 00:21:28.120 --> 00:21:30.900 that echo throughout the generations. 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:35.620 Rebecca never sees her favorite son again. 00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:37.860 In fact, she isn't even mentioned. 00:21:38.860 --> 00:21:40.380 And so as we think about this idea 00:21:40.380 --> 00:21:41.160 of God's grace 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:42.299 and him calling us back 00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:43.059 and his mercy, 00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:44.640 I don't want you to miss that 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:45.500 on the one hand. 00:21:46.339 --> 00:21:47.360 But I also don't want you 00:21:47.360 --> 00:21:48.400 to grab cheap grace 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:49.100 on the other hand 00:21:49.099 --> 00:21:49.480 and think, 00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:51.059 man, what I do doesn't matter. 00:21:51.899 --> 00:21:53.659 No, it matters enormously. 00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:56.119 The things that we do 00:21:56.119 --> 00:21:57.319 impact us 00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:59.259 and those around us. 00:21:59.959 --> 00:22:01.379 Sometimes for generations. 00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:04.319 The good news is that 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:05.419 it's not the end of our story. 00:22:06.139 --> 00:22:07.419 The good news is that 00:22:07.419 --> 00:22:08.419 it doesn't get 00:22:08.419 --> 00:22:10.659 the last word. 00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:12.400 But never think, 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:14.519 never think that sin 00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.800 doesn't matter. 00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:18.680 Rebecca's nurse died. 00:22:20.120 --> 00:22:21.300 What happened to Rebecca? 00:22:23.300 --> 00:22:25.220 Consequences are real. 00:22:27.300 --> 00:22:29.120 We talked about God's faithfulness, 00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:29.920 his faithfulness 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:30.480 and his mercy 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:31.440 and his grace to Jacob. 00:22:31.580 --> 00:22:33.380 Next we see God's promises. 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.700 We've already talked about 00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:35.519 Rebecca's promise 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:36.680 from chapter 27. 00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:38.480 Rebecca promised Jacob 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.759 she was going to call him back 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:40.559 when it was safe. 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:43.079 Rebecca does not 00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:43.860 keep her promise. 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:46.680 Rebecca never calls 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:48.579 Jacob back home. 00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:50.259 That's chapter 27. 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.400 Chapter 28, 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.720 God made a promise. 00:22:53.099 --> 00:22:53.980 Remember the dream 00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:54.660 of the ladder 00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:55.599 that was from earth 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:56.079 to heaven 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:56.819 and the angels 00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:57.660 were climbing 00:22:57.660 --> 00:22:59.079 up and down the ladder 00:22:59.079 --> 00:23:00.200 and God comes to Jacob 00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:00.799 and he says, 00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:01.059 look, 00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:02.519 I'm going to be with you 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:04.720 and I am going 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:06.059 to bring you home. 00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:09.059 What do we see now? 00:23:09.679 --> 00:23:10.980 God's protecting him, 00:23:11.099 --> 00:23:11.980 causing fear 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:12.960 among these cities 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:14.279 so that they don't attack. 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:16.759 God keeps his promise. 00:23:18.539 --> 00:23:18.899 Jacob, 00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:21.200 after all these years, 00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:22.799 after literally decades, 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.399 Jacob comes home 00:23:24.399 --> 00:23:26.919 and God has been with him 00:23:26.919 --> 00:23:28.940 the whole time. 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:30.919 And in case we miss it, 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:32.240 Jacob tells us that, 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:34.019 the passage tells us that 00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:34.059 twice. 00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:34.659 twice. 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:35.579 Verse 1, 00:23:35.659 --> 00:23:36.899 when God tells Jacob 00:23:36.899 --> 00:23:37.539 to go to Bethel, 00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:37.879 he said, 00:23:38.059 --> 00:23:38.740 make an altar there 00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:40.240 to the God 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:41.299 who appeared to you 00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:41.940 when you fled 00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:43.059 from your brother Esau. 00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:45.799 Remember all the way back 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.879 when I told you 00:23:46.879 --> 00:23:47.919 I would be with you, 00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:49.500 make an altar 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:50.359 to that God. 00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:52.019 Verse 7, 00:23:52.819 --> 00:23:54.259 the same thing. 00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:55.940 And there he built an altar 00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:57.240 and called the place El Bethel 00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:58.000 because there God 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:59.619 had revealed himself to him 00:23:59.619 --> 00:24:00.599 when he fled 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:01.279 from his brother. 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:03.440 God has kept his promise. 00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:05.000 God's kept his promise 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:06.019 to be with Jacob. 00:24:06.399 --> 00:24:07.500 He's kept his promise 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:09.960 to bring him home. 00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.399 Now we don't just see 00:24:12.399 --> 00:24:14.500 the keeping of past promises. 00:24:15.159 --> 00:24:16.879 We also see the repetition 00:24:16.879 --> 00:24:19.599 of future promises, 00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:21.339 especially in this renaming. 00:24:21.879 --> 00:24:22.419 Verse 11, 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:23.240 we're told again 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:24.200 the same thing we saw 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:25.319 earlier in the narrative. 00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:27.019 Jacob's name is changed 00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:28.339 from Jacob to Israel. 00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:30.000 You'll remember Jacob 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:31.460 means heel grabber 00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:33.099 because he grabbed Esau's heel 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:34.180 on the way out of the womb. 00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:36.099 You'll also remember 00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:37.000 that heel grabber 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:37.839 is a way of saying 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:39.400 he's a dirty little cheater. 00:24:40.900 --> 00:24:42.000 Israel means 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:43.019 he strives with God 00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:44.079 or God strives for him. 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:45.200 So the idea is this, 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:46.140 that in the past, 00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:47.680 Israel was the one 00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:49.180 fighting for himself. 00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:50.799 Jacob was running 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:52.059 to his own strength. 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:54.059 Now instead of Jacob 00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:55.079 fighting his battles, 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:57.019 God fights Jacob's battles. 00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:58.299 Of course, 00:24:58.359 --> 00:24:59.379 that's what we've just seen, right? 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.519 God causes the fear 00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.500 on these other cities 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.940 because he's the one 00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:05.160 who fights for him. 00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:06.839 Now you might be wondering 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:07.960 why are we repeating 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:08.740 the renaming? 00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:09.799 We already saw this 00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:11.139 in chapter 32. 00:25:11.859 --> 00:25:12.900 Well, there's a few reasons. 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:14.279 First, in chapter 32, 00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:15.319 the emphasis was on 00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:16.480 Jacob the individual. 00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:18.299 Jacob as a person 00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:19.539 is being transformed 00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:20.900 from self-reliant 00:25:20.900 --> 00:25:22.339 to God-reliant. 00:25:22.599 --> 00:25:23.460 Now the emphasis 00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.619 is actually on the nation, 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:26.519 the family as a whole. 00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:28.200 The promises he gives him 00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:29.259 are about what's going to come 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:29.940 from Israel, 00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:32.059 kings, and nations. 00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:34.059 That time it was an angel 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:35.019 representing God 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:35.920 who renamed Jacob. 00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:38.339 This time it's God himself. 00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:40.279 And this, 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.440 this renaming, 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.619 happens after he's returned 00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:46.599 to God's ways. 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:49.639 Which tells us another point, 00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:51.139 another principle of life. 00:25:52.619 --> 00:25:54.000 Blessing comes 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:55.519 when we return. 00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:59.920 don't expect the blessing 00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:01.660 to come 00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:03.400 before you repent. 00:26:05.139 --> 00:26:06.539 No, God loves 00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:07.559 to work through 00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:08.660 and in his people 00:26:08.660 --> 00:26:09.960 who come back to him, 00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:11.900 the ones who answer 00:26:11.900 --> 00:26:12.859 his call. 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:14.559 It's in the coming back 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:15.859 that we experience 00:26:15.859 --> 00:26:16.539 God's blessing. 00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:17.500 It's in the coming back 00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:18.859 that God sends us out 00:26:18.859 --> 00:26:20.980 in his mission. 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:22.799 You could put it another way. 00:26:23.319 --> 00:26:24.860 Remember back in chapter 12, 00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:26.259 God gives Abraham 00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:26.860 his promise. 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:27.160 He says, 00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:27.839 you're going to be a blessing 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.519 to the nations. 00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:31.160 Abraham was not, 00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:32.640 or Jacob was not a blessing 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:33.240 to the nations 00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:34.140 in chapter 34. 00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:36.600 He was not blessing 00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:37.720 the nations in any way 00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.300 last week. 00:26:38.820 --> 00:26:40.060 No, he has to return 00:26:40.060 --> 00:26:40.880 and repent 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:42.600 before that can happen. 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.360 And then God repeats 00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:45.880 his promises. 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:47.620 Promises made to Abraham 00:26:47.620 --> 00:26:48.680 in chapter 12, 00:26:48.820 --> 00:26:49.460 I'm going to make you 00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.200 a great nation. 00:26:50.800 --> 00:26:51.480 I'll bless you 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.500 and make your name great 00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.620 so that you will be a blessing. 00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:55.400 Remember, God says, 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:56.820 I'll bless those who bless you. 00:26:56.920 --> 00:26:57.960 I'll curse those 00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.860 who dishonor you. 00:26:58.859 --> 00:26:59.899 And you, 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:01.559 all the families of the earth 00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:02.839 shall be blessed. 00:27:03.939 --> 00:27:05.279 Here, same thing. 00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:05.799 Verse 11, 00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.899 a nation and a company 00:27:07.899 --> 00:27:08.500 of nations 00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.619 shall come from you 00:27:09.619 --> 00:27:10.859 and kings 00:27:10.859 --> 00:27:12.179 shall come 00:27:12.179 --> 00:27:13.519 from your own body. 00:27:14.879 --> 00:27:15.539 Verse 12, 00:27:16.379 --> 00:27:17.659 the land that I gave 00:27:17.659 --> 00:27:18.799 to Abraham and Isaac 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.859 I will give to you 00:27:19.859 --> 00:27:21.699 and I will give the land 00:27:21.699 --> 00:27:22.519 to your offspring 00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:24.240 after you. 00:27:26.699 --> 00:27:27.759 God hasn't given up 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.259 on Jacob. 00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:31.539 God still keeps 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.699 his promises to Jacob. 00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:35.559 God is still going 00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:36.819 to use Jacob 00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:39.599 to fulfill his mission. 00:27:41.399 --> 00:27:42.599 Same with us. 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:46.299 God promises to bless us 00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:47.479 and use us 00:27:47.479 --> 00:27:50.559 when we turn back to him. 00:27:51.479 --> 00:27:52.379 That's our hope. 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:52.939 It's our hope 00:27:52.939 --> 00:27:53.859 in the midst of failure. 00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:57.279 God is always calling us back. 00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:58.359 His promises 00:27:58.359 --> 00:28:01.299 are still good. 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:02.579 Of course, 00:28:02.639 --> 00:28:03.339 we can see now 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:04.039 as we look back, 00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:05.199 we see that God kept 00:28:05.199 --> 00:28:06.179 all those promises 00:28:06.179 --> 00:28:06.759 to Jacob. 00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.879 God did, 00:28:09.139 --> 00:28:09.459 in fact, 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.139 make Jacob 00:28:10.139 --> 00:28:11.339 the father of many nations. 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:12.740 God did, 00:28:12.899 --> 00:28:13.119 in fact, 00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:14.759 cause many kings 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:16.299 to come from Jacob. 00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:17.799 One king 00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:19.240 more important 00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:20.039 than all the others, 00:28:20.699 --> 00:28:21.859 which is King Jesus. 00:28:21.859 --> 00:28:23.819 the one who comes 00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:24.679 and makes 00:28:24.679 --> 00:28:26.539 all of these promises 00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:27.279 true 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:28.559 and good. 00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:32.500 And there's one thing 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.399 we can't miss 00:28:33.399 --> 00:28:34.179 in this passage, 00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:34.740 it's this. 00:28:35.399 --> 00:28:36.699 It is all 00:28:36.699 --> 00:28:37.979 God's grace. 00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:39.959 It's part of the purpose 00:28:39.959 --> 00:28:41.000 of chapter 34. 00:28:41.699 --> 00:28:42.779 In case we missed it, 00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:43.659 in case somehow 00:28:43.659 --> 00:28:45.319 we thought 00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:46.379 that Jacob 00:28:46.379 --> 00:28:47.500 was good enough, 00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:49.059 that he had figured it out, 00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:50.519 that he pulled himself along. 00:28:51.099 --> 00:28:52.000 The author of Genesis 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:52.259 says, 00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:52.460 no, 00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:53.119 look at this. 00:28:53.919 --> 00:28:55.159 Look at how great 00:28:55.159 --> 00:28:56.200 he failed. 00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:58.159 God still used him. 00:28:59.059 --> 00:28:59.859 Look how much 00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:00.960 he messed up 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:02.220 God's grace 00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:04.220 still real 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:04.919 and true. 00:29:05.919 --> 00:29:07.179 All because of Jesus. 00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:08.960 So that's why we sing, 00:29:09.059 --> 00:29:10.480 marvelous grace 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.480 of our loving Lord, 00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:13.159 grace that exceeds 00:29:13.159 --> 00:29:13.779 our sin 00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.519 and our guilt, 00:29:15.639 --> 00:29:16.839 yonder on Calvary's 00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:18.000 mount outpoured. 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:19.900 there where the blood 00:29:19.900 --> 00:29:20.420 of the lamb 00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:21.160 was spilled. 00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:23.259 God's faithfulness, 00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:24.539 God's promises. 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:25.720 Let's pray. 00:29:26.940 --> 00:29:28.099 Our Father in heaven, 00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:29.680 we do praise you 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.319 and thank you 00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:31.180 that you are a God 00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:32.460 of mercy and grace. 00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:34.299 That our failures 00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:35.740 don't end us 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:37.960 if we choose 00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:38.380 repentance 00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:39.700 and faith in you. 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:41.059 That you're always 00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:41.940 calling us back. 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:43.140 We ask that you'd 00:29:43.140 --> 00:29:44.059 remind us of that, 00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:45.200 that you would move us 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:47.079 to put aside 00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:47.639 our idols 00:29:47.639 --> 00:29:48.299 and our sins 00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:49.399 and to run after you. 00:29:50.179 --> 00:29:51.639 We ask all of these things 00:29:51.639 --> 00:29:52.419 in Jesus' name. 00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:53.099 Amen.