WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 This morning, we return to our series in Genesis. 00:00:03.540 --> 00:00:07.259 We're making our way little by little throughout the book of Genesis. 00:00:07.740 --> 00:00:10.560 ! And if you remember, or you've been with us for any amount of time, 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:14.200 we're doing that as we work through Romans at the same time. 00:00:14.200 --> 00:00:19.960 So, we've taken a break from Romans and looking at the life of Jacob 00:00:19.960 --> 00:00:23.679 because those are the examples that Paul gives us in Romans. 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:27.120 So, if you have your Bible, turn with me to Genesis chapter 28. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.399 And we're returning to the story of Jacob after a week off, 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:38.960 hearing from Jeff Kreisel, one of our RUF guys at the Air Force Academy. 00:00:40.740 --> 00:00:46.519 This morning, we find ourselves in Genesis chapter 28, verses 10 through 22. 00:00:47.219 --> 00:00:48.740 This is God's word. 00:00:50.400 --> 00:00:53.600 Jacob left Beersheba and went towards Haran. 00:00:53.960 --> 00:00:59.439 And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night because the sun had set. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.180 Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:09.120 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, 00:01:09.239 --> 00:01:11.500 and the top of it reached to heaven. 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:16.159 And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 00:01:16.500 --> 00:01:19.260 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, 00:01:19.260 --> 00:01:24.180 I am the Lord, the God of Abraham, your father, and the God of Isaac. 00:01:24.540 --> 00:01:28.359 The land on which you lie, I will give to you and your offspring. 00:01:29.140 --> 00:01:32.080 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, 00:01:32.280 --> 00:01:37.560 and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south. 00:01:37.900 --> 00:01:42.660 And in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 00:01:42.659 --> 00:01:47.519 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, 00:01:47.719 --> 00:01:50.119 and will bring you back to this land. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:54.959 For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. 00:01:55.640 --> 00:01:57.939 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, 00:01:58.099 --> 00:02:02.039 Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it. 00:02:02.939 --> 00:02:04.319 And he was afraid and said, 00:02:04.420 --> 00:02:06.079 How awesome is this place! 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:09.240 This is none other than the house of God, 00:02:09.240 --> 00:02:11.800 and this is the gate of heaven. 00:02:12.659 --> 00:02:16.219 So early in the morning, Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head 00:02:16.219 --> 00:02:20.140 and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on top of it. 00:02:20.640 --> 00:02:23.040 He called the name of that place Bethel, 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:26.300 but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 00:02:27.060 --> 00:02:28.800 And then Jacob made a vow, saying, 00:02:28.980 --> 00:02:33.219 If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, 00:02:33.480 --> 00:02:36.379 and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 00:02:36.379 --> 00:02:39.659 so that I come again to my Father's house in peace, 00:02:39.740 --> 00:02:42.139 then the Lord shall be my God. 00:02:42.859 --> 00:02:46.819 And this stone which I have set up for a pillar shall be God's house. 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:51.479 And all that you give me, I will give a full tenth to you. 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:52.400 Let's pray. 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:58.060 Lord, this morning we come hearing your word. 00:02:58.420 --> 00:03:01.319 We pray that you might use it in our lives, 00:03:01.420 --> 00:03:06.780 allow us to see the glory that only you have. 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:11.500 Father, may we see who you are more fully. 00:03:12.259 --> 00:03:18.180 May we see Jesus and all the connections between him and this story. 00:03:18.540 --> 00:03:20.240 And we ask this in Christ's name. 00:03:20.580 --> 00:03:20.840 Amen. 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:20.980 Amen. 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:25.039 I'm thankful to be with you again this morning. 00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:29.020 I've been away for a couple weeks with Army training and then with vacation. 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:34.140 And as Matthew is taking some much-needed rest, I'm thankful to be here. 00:03:34.840 --> 00:03:39.700 And we spent some time on vacation with friends and family on the East Coast, 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:43.379 time outside, time watching the World Cup. 00:03:44.180 --> 00:03:47.439 I don't know if you're caught up in the World Cup fever 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:53.159 or you're mad that I brought up the World Cup on July 5th because it's very un-American. 00:03:53.159 --> 00:03:57.280 No matter where that finds you, I am a fan of the World Cup. 00:03:57.659 --> 00:04:03.219 But in watching some of the games, I was reminded of my favorite story about the World Cup. 00:04:03.219 --> 00:04:06.240 And it has nothing to do with soccer at all. 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:11.860 In fact, it has much to do with a dog. 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:13.539 A dog named Pickles. 00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:21.579 You see, Pickles was the black and white collie that was charged with saving the World Cup. 00:04:21.579 --> 00:04:26.939 The dog that found the thing that was most precious in all of world sports. 00:04:27.500 --> 00:04:30.719 And he did so while peeing on a parked car. 00:04:31.919 --> 00:04:34.439 You see, Pickles was out for a walk with his owner. 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:38.279 And he stumbled across something nearly 50 years ago. 00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:41.779 He leaned down to sniff something and use the restroom. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:45.639 And under the wheel of that parked car, he found something wrapped in a newspaper. 00:04:45.639 --> 00:04:49.959 And Pickles found something that had been discarded. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:54.419 Not leftover fish and chips, which you think a dog would find in London. 00:04:54.819 --> 00:04:59.079 But in fact, he found the World Cup trophy wrapped in newspaper. 00:04:59.620 --> 00:05:06.500 The trophy that weeks before had been stolen and then left out in the gutter like garbage. 00:05:06.839 --> 00:05:12.479 Right before the 1966 World Cup in London's backyard. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:15.700 Pickles was the savior of the day. 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:22.439 When Scotland Yard or Sherlock Holmes or James Bond had no clues, Pickles saved the day. 00:05:23.580 --> 00:05:26.180 There were no leads, no hope of recovery. 00:05:26.939 --> 00:05:31.900 And this dog saved the world's most famous sporting event. 00:05:32.640 --> 00:05:34.939 The most iconic trophy. 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:40.819 Now, simply put, Pickles didn't become a national hero just because of this. 00:05:40.819 --> 00:05:47.599 But England went on to win the 1966 World Cup in their own backyard with their own dog, saving the day. 00:05:50.980 --> 00:05:55.379 That seems really silly until we start thinking about this story. 00:05:55.759 --> 00:05:59.000 Something that was precious left in the gutter. 00:05:59.100 --> 00:06:02.339 Not wrapped in newspaper, but forgotten about. 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:06.199 Not the World Cup trophy, but something more valuable. 00:06:06.199 --> 00:06:10.240 The promises of God just thrown in the gutter. 00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:11.639 Forgotten. 00:06:12.740 --> 00:06:17.560 The promises like this that we see in verses 13 through 15. 00:06:17.560 --> 00:06:22.939 I am the Lord, the God of Abraham, your father, the God of Isaac. 00:06:23.079 --> 00:06:26.319 The land on which you lie, I will give to you and your offspring. 00:06:26.939 --> 00:06:29.879 And your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth. 00:06:30.620 --> 00:06:35.740 Spread abroad from the east to the west, to the north and to the south. 00:06:35.840 --> 00:06:40.079 And in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 00:06:40.860 --> 00:06:44.800 I am with you and will keep you wherever you go. 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:47.079 Those are the promises of God. 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:56.520 Now, you might be thinking, I'm not stupid enough to leave something so precious just in the gutter. 00:06:56.740 --> 00:06:59.660 To leave it under a parked car where it could be run over. 00:06:59.819 --> 00:07:01.280 To wrap it up in newspaper. 00:07:01.540 --> 00:07:03.439 To be found by some God. 00:07:04.379 --> 00:07:05.080 No, wait. 00:07:05.259 --> 00:07:06.060 Some dog. 00:07:07.480 --> 00:07:09.460 I'm not so silly to do that. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:10.680 No, you're not. 00:07:10.680 --> 00:07:14.439 I think we might actually be worse than that. 00:07:15.340 --> 00:07:19.240 You see, we have all these precious promises. 00:07:19.540 --> 00:07:22.800 But then we say things like, I just don't have time. 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:26.579 I would really like to read my Bible and know more about God. 00:07:26.939 --> 00:07:28.420 But I just don't have the time. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:29.639 I'm just way too busy. 00:07:30.519 --> 00:07:33.139 I wish I had time to spend with other Christians. 00:07:33.540 --> 00:07:35.379 But I'm so, so busy. 00:07:36.199 --> 00:07:38.060 Work is really heavy right now. 00:07:38.060 --> 00:07:40.600 I wish I prayed more. 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:43.720 But, you know, I'll get around to it when I feel like it. 00:07:44.439 --> 00:07:47.579 And then that time when you feel like it never comes. 00:07:48.379 --> 00:07:49.280 Weeks go by. 00:07:49.459 --> 00:07:49.899 Months. 00:07:49.980 --> 00:07:50.840 Maybe even years. 00:07:52.420 --> 00:07:55.699 I want to talk about the gospel with my friends and family. 00:07:56.360 --> 00:08:01.279 But, you know, I'm just really annoying at work. 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:04.699 Or I'm really annoyed with my annoying co-worker. 00:08:04.979 --> 00:08:06.879 And I don't actually want to talk to him. 00:08:07.559 --> 00:08:09.319 Because it's just so embarrassing. 00:08:09.779 --> 00:08:10.439 Or awkward. 00:08:10.899 --> 00:08:12.379 Or I don't really like him. 00:08:12.899 --> 00:08:15.000 I'll just wait for them to bring it up. 00:08:15.799 --> 00:08:18.039 And then they never bring it up. 00:08:19.099 --> 00:08:21.839 Or we get so frustrated with our spouse. 00:08:22.059 --> 00:08:24.119 And we think things will never change. 00:08:24.179 --> 00:08:27.539 Or as parents, we think, why am I spanking my child? 00:08:27.599 --> 00:08:28.779 Or disciplining my child? 00:08:28.779 --> 00:08:31.259 Or hoping that this will never happen again. 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:32.879 And yet, here we are. 00:08:33.220 --> 00:08:34.720 And we start to lose hope. 00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:39.179 We think things will never change. 00:08:41.100 --> 00:08:43.319 Or this is how it will always be. 00:08:44.459 --> 00:08:46.360 God's promise to be with you. 00:08:46.360 --> 00:08:48.779 His sovereign care. 00:08:48.899 --> 00:08:49.740 His love. 00:08:49.899 --> 00:08:52.960 Those become things that we don't draw strength from. 00:08:53.100 --> 00:08:54.200 Or think on. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:56.240 We just leave them aside. 00:08:57.159 --> 00:08:58.360 They're fairytale ideas. 00:08:59.060 --> 00:09:01.399 And our lives don't become marked by that. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:02.360 But by unbelief. 00:09:02.360 --> 00:09:03.000 Unbelief. 00:09:06.300 --> 00:09:09.519 We don't throw away promises in the gutter. 00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:12.480 But we don't wrap it up in newspaper. 00:09:13.259 --> 00:09:15.680 We don't leave it under a parked car. 00:09:15.860 --> 00:09:16.899 But we might as well. 00:09:16.980 --> 00:09:18.440 Because we forget about them. 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:20.740 And they don't affect our lives. 00:09:20.800 --> 00:09:22.440 They don't affect our dinner tables. 00:09:22.800 --> 00:09:23.759 Our offices. 00:09:24.180 --> 00:09:25.039 Our cubicles. 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:26.399 Our formations. 00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:28.700 They don't affect our parenting. 00:09:28.700 --> 00:09:31.340 They don't affect how we think with our checkbook. 00:09:31.620 --> 00:09:33.040 With our Netflix streaming. 00:09:33.300 --> 00:09:34.800 With our internet search history. 00:09:34.920 --> 00:09:37.860 How we parent and shepherd grandchildren. 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:39.980 Or how we think about our neighbors. 00:09:41.620 --> 00:09:44.180 And so we might as well leave it wrapped up. 00:09:44.400 --> 00:09:45.680 Under a parked car. 00:09:46.820 --> 00:09:48.280 But the good news is. 00:09:48.400 --> 00:09:49.420 God knows this. 00:09:49.940 --> 00:09:51.180 And it's not just us. 00:09:51.259 --> 00:09:52.379 It's Jacob too. 00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:55.620 So Jacob has forgotten the promises of God. 00:09:55.960 --> 00:09:57.480 But this morning we're going to see. 00:09:57.480 --> 00:09:58.779 He's recovering them. 00:09:58.980 --> 00:10:00.320 He's recovered them. 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:03.320 And then he responds to that recovery. 00:10:03.580 --> 00:10:05.000 So first let's turn our attention. 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:07.700 To that recovery of God's promises. 00:10:08.539 --> 00:10:10.480 Our passage begins this morning. 00:10:10.580 --> 00:10:11.620 Not with Jacob. 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:13.340 Pursuing after God. 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:14.259 As you might think. 00:10:14.700 --> 00:10:16.420 But he's doing everything but that. 00:10:16.620 --> 00:10:17.899 He's not running away. 00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:20.740 Like Nineveh running away. 00:10:21.460 --> 00:10:22.920 But he might as well be. 00:10:23.300 --> 00:10:24.759 He's on the hunt for something. 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:26.639 And he's not on the hunt for God. 00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:28.500 He's on the hunt for a wife. 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:30.600 And he goes on this journey as we see. 00:10:30.980 --> 00:10:32.080 He leaves Beersheba. 00:10:32.319 --> 00:10:33.779 And went towards Haran. 00:10:34.539 --> 00:10:37.000 Now he's not bopping down to fountain. 00:10:37.220 --> 00:10:38.720 Or braving Denver traffic. 00:10:39.059 --> 00:10:41.379 We need to think long journey. 00:10:41.740 --> 00:10:45.340 Like I'm going on a summer road trip of 500 miles. 00:10:45.740 --> 00:10:48.240 And please pack snacks kind of journey. 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:48.620 Okay. 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:50.480 Except he's not driving at all. 00:10:50.539 --> 00:10:51.120 He's walking. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:53.519 And why is he on this journey? 00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:55.220 Because he wants a wife. 00:10:55.220 --> 00:10:58.139 Look with me at verse 11. 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:02.040 And where does he find himself in the middle of this journey? 00:11:02.040 --> 00:11:06.399 He comes to a certain place and stayed there at night because the sun had set. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:10.040 And taking one of the stones of this place, he puts it under his head. 00:11:10.259 --> 00:11:12.720 And he lays down that place to go to sleep. 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:26.120 How many times throughout the Old Testament do we see weary travelers make their way to the city center only to find themselves in the comfort and hospitality, gaining hospitality from strangers? 00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:28.340 But that's not what happens here. 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:31.460 He's kind of alone and afraid out in the wilderness. 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:34.200 And remember, his brother, who? 00:11:34.700 --> 00:11:35.259 Esau. 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:41.379 Is not a man who's afraid of the dark or afraid of the wilderness. 00:11:41.379 --> 00:11:44.100 But he might be. 00:11:47.299 --> 00:11:50.759 And as he does so, God meets with him. 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:56.559 And it's precisely in the midst of this wild and under the stars that God meets with him. 00:11:56.980 --> 00:11:59.419 Not in any normal kind of way. 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:01.179 Verse 12 says this. 00:12:01.179 --> 00:12:05.000 And he dreamed and behold, there was a ladder set upon the earth. 00:12:05.359 --> 00:12:07.559 And on the top of it, it reached to heaven. 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:11.819 And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 00:12:12.839 --> 00:12:15.459 Jacob falls asleep with his rock pillow. 00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:17.559 And he dreams this dream. 00:12:17.739 --> 00:12:19.039 And God meets with him. 00:12:19.379 --> 00:12:25.879 And it's magical, otherworldly, indescribable, inconceivable. 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:29.679 And as he sees this, he sees angels coming up and down. 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:32.779 And if that's not enough, what happens next? 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:37.379 Not just angels, but God himself. 00:12:38.319 --> 00:12:44.239 If this sounds eerily familiar, but with a better ending, think about Genesis 11. 00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:50.739 It's a tower, but it's a tower full of stairs built from God's people up to God. 00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:51.159 Why? 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:53.959 Because they wanted to see him and enjoy his presence? 00:12:54.139 --> 00:12:55.259 No, not at all. 00:12:55.439 --> 00:12:57.379 But they wanted to be like God. 00:12:57.379 --> 00:13:01.340 And God comes down and says, what are these little ants doing? 00:13:01.899 --> 00:13:11.340 And he dashes down that staircase and that tower, spreading God's people all over the earth because of their disobedience. 00:13:11.340 --> 00:13:20.379 When we read this story, we need to think about a better version of those stairs or those tower of stairs or that ladder up to heaven. 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:33.139 And so when we read this story, we need to think about how God is coming down to Jacob instead of God's people and their disobedience building up to be like him. 00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:39.259 God descends down and sends angels down and angels coming back up. 00:13:39.659 --> 00:13:43.320 And just like that, God is with his people. 00:13:43.820 --> 00:13:45.399 God has come down to them. 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:48.159 God comes down in another form as well. 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:53.480 In the message of the gospel, God comes to us and meets with us. 00:13:53.539 --> 00:14:01.860 It's not us that goes up to him and makes ourselves worthy or palatable or clean or holy or lovely. 00:14:02.179 --> 00:14:09.259 But God comes to meet with us just like God comes to meet with Jacob by sending down a ladder. 00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:13.100 All of this is absolutely impressive. 00:14:13.779 --> 00:14:19.620 And it's not simply stairs with angels on it, but it's that something more that God's presence is there. 00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:20.779 God is really there. 00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:22.759 So look with me at verse 13. 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:38.799 He continues with all these promises. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:41.759 It's not just angels, but it's God himself. 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:48.479 And when he speaks, he communicates not something new like, hey, Jacob, I'm fixing to do something great in your life. 00:14:48.539 --> 00:14:49.779 Let me tell you something new. 00:14:50.179 --> 00:14:50.919 What does he say? 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:58.679 He reminds him of something old, something that he heard around the kitchen table that his parents reminded him of, 00:14:58.679 --> 00:15:04.139 something that he knew at every waking moment, but with a twist. 00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:05.479 What's that twist? 00:15:05.819 --> 00:15:15.039 It's not that God would do this all through Abraham, but now he applies it to Jacob and says, I'm going to give this to you. 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:25.819 We see a little bit of a shift in this and how God speaks of himself or how he recognizes him. 00:15:25.959 --> 00:15:27.399 We see a shift in names. 00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:39.799 And ultimately we end up with God declaring to him that familiarity that I'm your God and I'm the God of Abraham and of Isaac and all of these promises. 00:15:39.799 --> 00:15:52.839 And it's precisely those relationships with his forefathers that God reminds Jacob of and then says, all those promises are now yours and I'm giving them to you. 00:15:53.699 --> 00:15:56.279 And in you shall the earth be blessed. 00:15:57.719 --> 00:16:03.559 I will give you the land and to your offspring, not Abraham's, but yours. 00:16:03.559 --> 00:16:11.939 It's not just a repetition or reiteration of this promise, but it's given to Jacob as well. 00:16:13.819 --> 00:16:15.439 This is your land, Jacob. 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:16.819 These are your children. 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:20.659 But there's also something more. 00:16:21.079 --> 00:16:22.439 Look at verse 15 with me. 00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:34.260 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've done what I have promised. 00:16:36.140 --> 00:16:39.540 God's presence is the thing that he promises him. 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:46.160 That he ensures what could be more valuable than all these gifts. 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:48.560 It's the very presence of God himself. 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:57.739 Now, when we think about this story, it's really kind of dangerous if we think with the wrong perspective. 00:16:57.739 --> 00:17:08.399 To think that Jacob is rewarded because he is so faithful with this dream and this reiteration of promises or expansion or application just to him. 00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:12.839 Jacob is not the hero as we've seen in our time in Genesis. 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:14.740 He's a hero in some sense. 00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:17.059 Should we emulate Jacob? 00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:19.359 Yeah, with our faith in God. 00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:22.440 But Jacob does some really terrible things. 00:17:23.159 --> 00:17:29.419 And God meets with him, not because he's faithful, but because he's down and out. 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:31.539 He's not really trusting the Lord. 00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:34.099 And the Lord seeks him out. 00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:39.599 There's a famous theologian named Gerhardus Voss who's really nerdy. 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:41.220 And he says this about Jacob. 00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:46.319 Of all the patriarchs, Jacob lives the least ideal life. 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:52.779 And what he means by that is that God speaks to him at what he calls a low ebb of his spirituality. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:57.400 That Jacob is not faithful right now. 00:17:57.600 --> 00:17:59.279 That he's kind of running away. 00:17:59.600 --> 00:18:00.620 That he's not trusting. 00:18:01.140 --> 00:18:04.799 And so God invades his life and speaks to him in a dream. 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:09.899 In this dark reality, God seeks him out and comforts him. 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:14.639 It's the reason that we read John 1 earlier. 00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:18.139 Jesus kind of makes this connection and it can be difficult to see. 00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:20.960 He makes reference to himself and he says, 00:18:21.419 --> 00:18:23.720 like angels descending and ascending. 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:31.880 He's referencing himself, Jesus Christ, as that ladder that makes a bridge from heaven to earth, from God to mankind. 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:36.620 Christ has made a way for sinners through his sacrifice on the cross. 00:18:37.400 --> 00:18:43.460 And through our faith in Jesus Christ, we have access to God's presence. 00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:52.019 And that way, this ladder or staircase that Jacob sees is pointing forward to Jesus. 00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:57.639 Christ has made a way for us and God has come to sinners. 00:18:58.139 --> 00:19:00.000 We have not sought him out. 00:19:00.379 --> 00:19:07.579 And as we walk in darkness, we need to return to these promises and realize they're not just made to Abraham. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:12.160 They're not just applied to Jacob, but they're made to us too. 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:15.220 A promise of God's presence. 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:24.259 A promise of his mercy and all these other things, this heavenly land where all things are made right, 00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:26.980 where there's no more tears or darkness or sadness. 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:31.720 Of descendants, not of children, only of flesh and blood, 00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:35.279 but people that put their faith in Jesus Christ. 00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:38.819 Promise not just of that, 00:19:38.819 --> 00:19:44.839 but a promise of God's presence as well, just as it was made to Jacob. 00:19:45.659 --> 00:19:49.200 Christian, do we seek out the presence of God? 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:51.799 So often we do not. 00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:53.659 We do not. 00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:57.759 After recovering these promises, what does Jacob do next? 00:19:59.179 --> 00:20:01.659 He responds to these promises. 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:04.460 Let's turn our attention to that now. 00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:07.019 Look with me at verses 16 and 17. 00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:12.420 Responding to God's promise of his presence, he says this. 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:14.160 Well, he doesn't say anything first. 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:16.119 He wakes up out of this dream and says, 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:19.779 surely the Lord is in the place and I did not know it. 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:21.700 And he was afraid. 00:20:21.940 --> 00:20:23.920 I would be too if I just saw that. 00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:26.059 And said, how awesome is this place? 00:20:26.139 --> 00:20:28.160 There's none other than the house of God. 00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:30.440 And this is the gate of heaven. 00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:35.519 Jacob realizes what has happened and realizes the importance of this event. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:39.920 And he wakes up and he responds in two ways. 00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:41.940 He wakes up. 00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:45.480 He uses the pillow that he used that was a rock. 00:20:45.639 --> 00:20:48.639 And he constructs a pillar, a monument to God. 00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:51.039 And does so in response. 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:56.279 And says, not just this place is special, but it's special. 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:57.700 It is the place of God. 00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:58.839 And he renames it. 00:20:59.059 --> 00:21:00.559 And he builds a monument there. 00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:04.059 He calls it the gateway to heaven, the house of God. 00:21:04.059 --> 00:21:11.759 Now, some will look at this and say, clearly Jacob doesn't understand what has gone on because he builds a monument. 00:21:13.379 --> 00:21:15.179 And then he'll get it right later. 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:17.720 He'll understand his obligations to God. 00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:23.720 But Jacob's response here is one, I want to do something because of what I've seen. 00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:24.919 And then he makes a vow. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:27.759 Not just any vow like, Lord, please help me. 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:28.679 I'm about to die. 00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:31.759 And if you save my life, then I will do this for you. 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:33.880 Jacob's vow is somewhat different. 00:21:34.320 --> 00:21:38.279 He sees what God has done and he responds in faithfulness. 00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:42.860 I think that's why here that Jacob builds the monument. 00:21:43.120 --> 00:21:48.980 He responds in faithfulness, not just to build the monument, but as John pointed out, to give back to God. 00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:56.740 He's responding not in danger at his own life, but into peering into God's reality. 00:21:57.839 --> 00:22:07.740 In this vow, though, Jacob's coming back to what he heard already in verse 15, that God will be with him and will keep him wherever he goes. 00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:15.599 His rock, his life, his money, all the means are at his disposal and he gives them all back to God. 00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:24.899 Now, when we hear the story of an Old Testament figure, there can be some difficulty in trying to figure out what it means, not just for him, but for us. 00:22:25.439 --> 00:22:27.980 What is Jacob's response or Jacob's life? 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:30.059 Why does it matter to us? 00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:34.219 After all, isn't God different for him than he is for us? 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:45.920 I was with my kids this week and they were playing with these other children and this mom started talking to me about how God was different for David than he was for us. 00:22:46.600 --> 00:22:48.900 And I said, no, not at all. 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:55.860 God is the same then as he is now, just as God is the same for Jacob as he is for us. 00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:57.600 So what do we do with that? 00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:58.880 How do we figure that out? 00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:01.960 Does it mean that I want you to use a rock pillow? 00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:02.740 No, maybe. 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:04.980 No, not at all. 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:09.920 Does it mean that I want you to build a monument, a statue in Colorado Springs? 00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:11.019 No, not at all. 00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:17.559 But as we've seen over and over as we walk through Genesis and the lives of these Old Testament figures, 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:25.259 we're to respond to an interaction, to an experience with God with reverence and awe. 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:30.940 We're to respond not by running away, but by coming to him. 00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:33.500 And we see that in Jacob as well. 00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:37.860 We see a desire for God's presence now that he's experienced him. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:42.660 And we see that he wants more of the Lord. 00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:46.299 And as Christians, we should desire the presence of the Lord as well. 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:53.839 And Jesus has helped us in seeing that this ladder from heaven to earth is him. 00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:56.659 We should want more of Christ. 00:23:57.299 --> 00:24:04.299 And when John records this in his gospel, when he compares himself not to a ladder this time, but to a vine, 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:10.480 he talks to us about abiding in Christ, our connection to Christ. 00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:16.819 And in that, we're invited, just like Jacob, to be with the Lord. 00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:20.839 Not after we've dusted ourselves off. 00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:23.480 Not after we've put away all of our sin. 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:28.620 Not until we've picked ourselves up and cleaned ourselves off. 00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:30.120 And then we can come to him. 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:32.460 How often do we think that? 00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:36.720 No, Jacob is somewhat running. 00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:38.160 And God meets with him. 00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:44.740 Christ meets us in the midst of our sin and invites us to abide with him. 00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:48.720 He loves us in spite of our sin. 00:24:49.880 --> 00:24:52.019 And he wants to be with us. 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:55.339 Not after we've made ourselves right. 00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:59.099 He wants that for you, for me. 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.680 He wants that today. 00:25:01.819 --> 00:25:05.500 Our response to him should be desiring to do that. 00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:09.900 And using all the means necessary to pursue after that. 00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:16.400 And we experience him not through a dream, but through his word. 00:25:17.400 --> 00:25:19.100 Through time with other Christians. 00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:20.780 Through the sacraments. 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:24.700 And we experience God and abide with him. 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:27.600 Why would we not use the means that we have? 00:25:28.560 --> 00:25:32.120 Why would we say, ah, I just am so busy. 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:34.140 I'm just so tired. 00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:37.360 Maybe when it's a little bit easier. 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:38.920 Maybe when work calms down. 00:25:39.900 --> 00:25:44.620 Jacob represents to us a good charge to come to the Lord. 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:49.780 Jacob's actions when he wakes up are a good test for us. 00:25:49.860 --> 00:25:51.560 We see how much we kind of want it. 00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:57.860 Jacob responds not just to the ladders or stairs or dreams. 00:25:58.380 --> 00:26:03.120 But he responds in seeking out the presence of the Lord and delighting in him. 00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:08.200 How much more should we delight in the Lord now that we have Christ? 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:13.180 That we can see clearly what Jacob only saw through an image of a ladder. 00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:15.700 We should desire him. 00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:19.420 We should want God's presence. 00:26:20.080 --> 00:26:22.960 The question is, do you want God? 00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:25.600 Do you desire him? 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:30.659 Or do you want to be anywhere but with him? 00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:38.899 Jacob responds and says, well, that's cool. 00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:42.099 And then moves on and goes on his road trip of life. 00:26:42.699 --> 00:26:44.240 And it's meanders, right? 00:26:44.639 --> 00:26:45.079 Faithfulness. 00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:46.799 Knuckleheadedness. 00:26:46.919 --> 00:26:48.599 Doing all these kind of crazy things. 00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:52.579 But for a moment, his life has changed. 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:55.619 And ultimately, we'll see that later as we walk through Genesis. 00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:59.639 And he responds not by just thinking, oh, this has happened. 00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:03.079 But he moves towards worship with all that he has. 00:27:03.159 --> 00:27:07.919 His rock, his time, his money, his desire to be in the presence of the Lord. 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:15.279 When we think of Christ and his death on the cross, a more miraculous event has occurred. 00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:21.100 But do we respond by coming to him, desiring his presence in worship? 00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:24.460 Or do we respond with something else? 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:27.920 Let us not forget the promises of God. 00:27:28.600 --> 00:27:30.340 Let us recover them. 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.779 Be reminded of them. 00:27:32.060 --> 00:27:34.700 And respond by coming to him in worship. 00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:36.140 Let's pray. 00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:43.580 Lord, this morning we're reminded in the person of Jacob of our need of Jesus. 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:47.960 Your desire for us to respond in faith to Christ. 00:27:49.020 --> 00:27:50.280 And Father, may we do so. 00:27:51.060 --> 00:27:52.740 May we do so for the first time. 00:27:53.820 --> 00:27:59.680 And Father, may we respond with even greater faithfulness as Christians. 00:28:00.140 --> 00:28:02.060 And we pray these things in Jesus' name. 00:28:02.320 --> 00:28:02.560 Amen.