Latest / Calvary Church with Ed Taylor Podcast / #10143 - God’s Protective Hand - Genesis 31:19-55

Transcript

#10143 - God’s Protective Hand - Genesis 31:19-55 · Calvary Church with Ed Taylor Podcast

0:04
Welcome to the study of God's word with pastor and author.
0:08
Ed, Taylor recorded live at Calvary Church in Aurora,
0:11
Colorado to learn more about the many resources available,
0:14
through abounding Grace Media or to tune into our live stream
0:17
Services. Visit us online at Calvary, Co
0:21
dot church or download our free Calvary Church app.
0:25
Now, here's Pastor Ed to take us into our study.
0:30
Amen. Genesis chapter 31.
0:33
Would you open your Bibles please?
0:34
Genesis chapter 31, we're going to pick up where we left off
0:38
last time in verse 19. And I've entitled our Bible
0:41
study today God's protective hand God's protective hand in
0:46
our last study. You remember that?
0:48
Jacob struck out on his own, taking his family and his
0:51
Newfound wealth along with them. Although he worked for it and
0:55
God gave it to him. It was time for him to break
0:58
free from laban's unequal. Yoke God, put that desire in his
1:03
heart. He used God, did difficult
1:06
circumstances to help move. Jacob away from something bad.
1:10
It was time to go home. Go back to Bethel.
1:14
And, you know, there are those times in our lives.
1:15
Listen, there are times in our lives when we have to break away
1:19
from those of those people in our lives that are pulling us
1:22
down. There's time to break away with
1:25
those things that in our life are spiritually.
1:28
Dragging us down. Jacob move.
1:30
Being away from Laban, this had to happen.
1:33
The Bible says in 2nd Corinthians chapter 6 and verse
1:35
14, do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers for
1:41
what Fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness.
1:44
And what communion Has light with Darkness.
1:49
First Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 33 do not be deceived evil
1:54
company corrupts good habits. We see the separation happening,
1:59
fulfilling. These new testament truths, the
2:02
life of Jacob in many ways. Reflects the Walk of the
2:06
Christian or the life of the Christian.
2:08
We can be so much like him with the ups and the Downs with the
2:13
victories and the defeats with hardship.
2:17
And disappointments, but we keep moving forward.
2:21
We step forward, we crawl forward.
2:25
We reach forward. Whatever you do.
2:27
Keep moving forward. It's easy to move forward in the
2:31
victories, but also in the defeats, it's easy to move
2:35
forward in the celebrations, but also the disappointments we need
2:39
to move forward Jacob's. Life is given to us from chapter
2:43
28, through chapter, 35, I've and we you're taking notes.
2:49
We subdivided that in the ages, or the seasons of his life.
2:53
In chapter 8, 28, we see that he's saved, he's there at
2:57
Bethel, the Lord is in this place, we're studying right now.
3:01
Chapters 29 through 32, where he subdued, there's much change
3:07
going on in his life. The Bible word for that is
3:09
sanctification and you see in Jacob's life, how difficult it
3:14
is. We talked about it, we hope for
3:17
it. The process can be very
3:19
challenging, very hard then in chapters 33 and 34 we're going
3:25
to learn his separation as a Sanctified man, separate it to
3:29
him. Or I should say is a subdued, a
3:31
man that separation. And then finally we see Jacob in
3:35
a place of sanctification, not the word that we would use of
3:39
completely changed. But we see great change in his
3:41
life. These chapters cover about 30
3:45
Years of the man's life. The work of God.
3:50
It reminds me is spread across a lifetime his will for your life
3:54
and mine is based on eternity. Not merely the things that are
3:59
pressed up against right now we get caught up in the days and in
4:04
the weeks and in the months. And in the years, I remember,
4:07
back when I was in the corporate world, we'd have weekly meetings
4:10
and we'd have to look at all the reports and all our numbers, and
4:14
all our Trends. And I remember preparing my part
4:16
of the report that I needed to turn in for my, Apartment and it
4:20
was miserable. I didn't want to present it.
4:24
It didn't reflect a good week, it didn't reflect positive cash
4:29
flow and all the things they were measuring.
4:30
I mean, it looked like we were all looking for a job with that
4:33
report, if I had to turn it in, but I had to turn it in.
4:37
And something in my boss, something in me, brought out in
4:40
my boss, he knew I was concerned because Ed, what's wrong?
4:43
And I said, man, didn't you see the report?
4:44
Maybe we're all going to be looking for jobs and he just
4:46
shook his head and I'll never forget this.
4:49
He says that I want you to understand something a bad week,
4:52
does not a trend make and he wanted me to understand
4:56
something that you're going to have bad weeks in this business.
4:59
This is part of the package and it's true.
5:01
We had bad weeks but then we have good months and we have bad
5:05
months that we had good years and I find that's true.
5:08
A bad day. Does not a lifetime make or a
5:12
bad week or a bad month. And even though the Bible does
5:16
teach us, and we should embrace this, The Bible encourages us to
5:20
teach us to number our days. We don't be so caught up in the
5:23
future that we don't live today. At the same time.
5:28
We don't want to let the failures of today.
5:29
Ruin us for tomorrow and he's like, look at this, he's
5:33
trusting the lord. It's a lifetime God's working.
5:36
He's not finished with you. He still working in, you drawing
5:40
it to himself. When looking at you Jesus is
5:44
bringing out the best. In you drawing you farther from
5:47
your flesh and closer to him. That's the life of Jacob.
5:51
Although there are some truly truly difficult times in his
5:54
life. He's making progress.
5:56
He's choosing to move forward when he falls, he gets up.
6:00
Okay verse 19. Now in Genesis chapter 31
6:05
actually pick up with a paragraph in verse 17, then
6:09
Jacob Rose and said his sons on his and his wives on camels.
6:13
And he carried away all of his livestock, and all the
6:15
possessions, which he had gained his quired livestock, which he
6:18
had gained in paddan-aram to go to his father, Isaac in the land
6:23
of Canaan. Now, Laban had gone to shear
6:25
sheep and Rachel had stolen the household Idols that were her
6:29
father's and Jacob, stole away unknown.
6:33
To Laban the Syrian in that he did not tell him that he tended
6:36
to flee. So he fled with all that he had
6:39
he arose and crossed over the river and headed toward the
6:42
Mountains of Gilead Laban is out in the field working.
6:47
Here's the scene. Rachel is in the house, stealing
6:50
the little Idols. The families are on their way
6:53
out fleeing running away. Basically Jacob is simply
6:57
repeating, the habit of running. And at this time has no idea
7:03
that his wife is a thief. You see?
7:06
Remember who rape? Who raised Rachel?
7:11
Her dad and her dad was not a good man.
7:17
And so as Rachel picks up the characteristics of her dad she's
7:22
repeating, she doesn't quite know Jehovah for herself.
7:27
She's still learning these Idols there in verse 19.
7:33
It's the phrase household Idols, you could translate them in the
7:37
Hebrew teraphim. They were used to consult demons
7:40
in the Demonic realm. Laban was a pagan Rachel still
7:45
had a lot of paganism in her unwilling to separate from her
7:49
parents unwilling to make the decision herself.
7:53
Although she's on the way as one commentator said and I quote
7:58
these gods were usually little small figurines 2 to 3 inches.
8:02
Long sometimes carried on the body as charms, many of the
8:07
archaeologists have discovered them and they've represented to
8:11
those that had them departed, ancestors or gods.
8:15
That little G that their makers worship.
8:18
Rachel may have hoped in stealing them, that these Gods
8:22
would make. Her a fruitful mother is that
8:24
was a difficulty for her. Apparently, Layman's, Family
8:27
Worship, false gods, as well as some reverence for the one true
8:32
God in quote. Leaving hears about it three
8:37
days later notice in. Verse 22 Laban was told on the
8:41
third day that Jacob fled. He has a three-day Head Start
8:44
and he took his Brethren with him and pursued him for seven
8:46
days journey and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead, but
8:51
God that phrase verse 24. But God had come to Laban the
8:55
Syrian in a Dream by night and said to him, be careful that you
8:59
speak to Jacob. Neither good nor bad.
9:04
I'm not going to develop it. In this study but I suggest that
9:07
you for homework take Blue Letter, Bible dot-org, or if you
9:11
own a bible program and just look at the phrase but God and
9:15
what great change that phrase brings into the life of those
9:20
that meet him. Jacob is in a very vulnerable
9:24
place here, but God is for him. He is protecting him and he
9:27
speaks to Laban in a dream. Laban is a bad man and he
9:35
travels hundreds of miles with very bad motive.
9:42
He's not a good man here. Matthew Henry puts it this way.
9:45
The truth is bad men. Like Laban will do more this
9:49
300-mile journey, they'll do more to serve their sinful
9:53
passions than good men will do to serve their just affections
9:58
and bad. Men are more vehement in their
10:00
anger than a In their love. It's amazing.
10:06
The Zeal that will be in a man that's resistant to God and
10:09
that's Laban here. Jacob, is obeying.
10:12
God moving on. This is a time of obedience but
10:15
it reminds us here. Not everyone.
10:18
Listen not, everyone will be happy with your obedience.
10:23
There will be negative responses to your choice to obey.
10:28
There will be those that resisted you'll make the right
10:31
decision and in their manipulative ways will I to
10:34
twist the whole situation so that you will go along with them
10:39
but your choice to obey is honored by God.
10:42
It may not be honored by men but it will be honored by God you
10:46
stand fast. You don't move you don't bend as
10:51
the pressure comes on. To back off that obedient
10:54
decision. What does God do?
10:57
He tells Laban. Don't you touch him and don't
11:00
you hurt him? Jacob was a man in progress.
11:04
Moving forward. He has a lot of things.
11:07
God still working out of him, he's a liar, he's a conniver,
11:12
he's a cheater, but God protects him.
11:17
God has a plan for his life that my friends is known as we've
11:21
learned through the life of Jacob.
11:23
The grace of God. You look at this and you go to
11:26
look at Jacob, I what does he deserve?
11:28
He deserves everything. He's not getting But instead,
11:32
he's receiving, not only the mercy of God, but the protective
11:36
grace of God. This is the grace of God that
11:42
God who loves you protects you and encourages.
11:46
You don't mistake the grace of God friend for the approval of
11:50
God. You might assess your life under
11:53
the banner of Jacob right now and say, well if Jacob can send
11:58
and receive the grace of God, I can send and receive the grace
12:02
of God. So I will continue in sin so I
12:05
can receive the grace of God. But Paul already the Holy Spirit
12:09
already made that statement in the Book of Romans already say
12:13
it, said it plainly, should we continue in sin?
12:16
So that Grace May abound certainly not, it is not God's
12:21
will for you. You to dabble in sin.
12:23
So you can experience the grace of God.
12:25
Jacob pays a high price and his family.
12:28
He's carrying on these bad habits.
12:31
Generationally in his life, things will improve for him, but
12:35
he doesn't get away with sin. Nobody Does even though they
12:38
experienced the grace of God, what else would you experience?
12:42
You're not coming to God. I hope saying God give me what I
12:46
deserve. I demand what I deserve When you
12:48
pray that just remind us to step back.
12:51
A few steps behind and just let you like, of course.
12:54
That's not that's not the heart of God.
12:56
Why? Because God sent his only
12:58
begotten son. Jesus Christ to take your just
13:01
punishment upon himself. If you were to pray, give me
13:05
what I deserve. I can almost hear Heaven.
13:07
Say I what you deserve is been poured out on my son Jesus
13:10
Christ. And I see you now through him
13:16
verse 25. So Laban overtook.
13:18
Jacob and Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountains and Laban
13:21
with his Brethren pitched in the mountains of Gilead.
13:24
And Laban said to Jacob, what have you done that?
13:28
You've stolen away on, you got to change your voice a little
13:30
bit because laban's kind of a whiner here.
13:32
What have you done that? You've stolen away unknown to
13:35
me? My son Jacob you know it's like
13:38
I love you so much, give me a hug.
13:41
Such a manipulator. This is this is classic
13:45
manipulation. Why do you gone away?
13:48
Carried away? My daughter like captives with
13:51
the sword. Did he do that church?
13:53
No, they all went willingly. This is not a kidnapping,
13:57
accuses him. Why did you kidnap my family?
14:00
It's not his family anymore for marriage to take place.
14:04
The the daughter is to leave her mother and father and cleave to.
14:08
Her husband Laban is not speaking truth here.
14:12
He says you didn't allow me or why did you flee away secretly
14:16
now? That's true.
14:17
Through and steal away from me. That's not true, and not, tell
14:20
me for might have sent you away with joy and songs in the
14:24
timbrel and the heart. Listen, a classic tool
14:27
manipulation always involves some truth enough to hide the
14:32
lie, some truth enough to hide the LIE, didn't you, why did you
14:38
steal away secretly? That's true.
14:41
But you kidnapped my daughter, that's not true.
14:44
Let's just get, you know, one of the one of the things to help
14:47
somebody that tries to play that on you is just a pause.
14:50
Let some quiet and then rephrase it.
14:53
This is what happened and just speak the truth.
14:57
This is how it went down. I know that you're rephrasing
15:01
The Narrative and I know that your change.
15:03
That this is what happened. It'll encourage you.
15:06
But it also put that person on notice and you'll see what Jacob
15:09
in a moment and then he says, I might have sent you.
15:14
Way with joy and songs and timbrel and harp.
15:17
That is a pure lie. That is not the character and
15:21
nature of Laban at all. And you didn't allow me to kiss
15:25
my sons and my daughters. Now you've done foolishly and
15:29
doing, did he do foolishly in so doing?
15:31
Yes or no church? No.
15:33
He's in obedience to God. But this is how the world
15:36
responds to obedience to God. That's foolish.
15:39
You did all of the descriptions, you can take it or leave it.
15:42
But here's this conclusion. What you Did was foolish.
15:45
What he did biblically. We know is not foolish.
15:48
This was a high moment in Jacob's life of time of
15:51
obedience. His obedience brought him to
15:53
this conflict. He says, in verse 29, it's in my
15:59
power to do you harm but the god of your father spoke to me last
16:03
night saying, be careful that you speak to Jacob, neither
16:06
good, nor bad and now you have surely gone because you greatly
16:10
long for your father's house. But why did you steal my gods?
16:17
Laban here trying to make him feel guilty.
16:20
If you would have told me, I would have thrown a party for
16:22
you, but Laban, you know, what's on his mind, murder.
16:26
He wants to destroy Jacob. Again, Matthew Henry writes, I
16:30
felt this is a great observation on this, he writes and I quote
16:33
it is common for bad men when they are disappointed in their
16:37
malicious projects to pretend that they design.
16:40
Nothing. But what was kind and fair, let
16:43
me repeat that. There's a great observation.
16:46
It is common for bad men when they are disappointed in their
16:50
malicious projects to pretend that they design, nothing.
16:54
But what was kind and fair. Fair.
16:57
When they cannot do the Mischief, they intended, they
17:00
are loath. It should be thought that they
17:02
never did intend it in quote, I believe.
17:07
Jacob knew this, he spent 20 years with him.
17:09
He knew the guy, Jacob met his match, I believe.
17:12
Jacob knew this not only because he experienced it because he
17:14
also had it in him. It was in him.
17:19
I believe he could sense and tell that Jacob or that Laban
17:22
was up to no good. The Bible often speaks of in the
17:25
New Testament, as the manifestation of the Discerning
17:30
of spirits, we may use the phrase the gift of discernment
17:33
or the need to discern. The sermon is so necessary in
17:38
the days, in which we live to be careful and seek the Lord's
17:41
counsel when you're approached by someone.
17:44
When when someone is, is in your life, pressing into your life,
17:47
when you see something, when you don't want to assume anything,
17:51
but you want to trust in the Lord, let Show you turn over to
17:55
1st Corinthians. Chapter 12.
17:57
I want to spend a few moments here.
17:59
We did. We studied these in-depth, these
18:01
manifestations of the spirit in depth, but I want to remind you
18:05
in light of Jacob, I believe senses, something's going on
18:09
here and I won't develop a deeply here because you can go
18:12
to our verse-by-verse studies and First Corinthians and
18:15
learning here. But turn over to 1st
18:16
Corinthians. Chapter 12.
18:18
And then pick up there in verse 6.
18:22
These are the presence of the holy spirit in your life when
18:26
you need them. Manifestations, God will use
18:30
them in your life to come alongside your spiritual gift
18:33
notice. It says there are diversities of
18:35
activities but it's the same. God who works all in all, but
18:40
the manifestation of the spirit is given to each one for the
18:44
profit of all four to one is given the word of wisdom,
18:47
through the spirit, to another the word of knowledge, through
18:49
the Same Spirit to another Faith by the same.
18:52
Same Spirit to another Gifts of healings by The Same Spirit to
18:56
another the working of Miracles to another prophecy.
18:59
And then Mark this phrase to another the Discerning of
19:03
spirits to another different kinds of tongues to another, the
19:06
interpretation of tongues, But one in the same Spirit works,
19:11
all these things Distributing to each one individually.
19:14
As he Wills the Holy Spirit, helps us in Discerning between
19:20
good and evil. Holy and Unholy righteous and
19:24
unrighteous some of you that receive the baptism in the Holy
19:27
Spirit. Tonight, you will see this more
19:30
active in your life. Now for some God empowered you
19:34
to be more discerning. You're going to trip out, you're
19:38
going to trip out that you didn't know that you could tell
19:41
more clearly now under the anointing of the spirit, the
19:45
between, right and wrong, good and evil, black and white.
19:48
You're going to see a change in your life.
19:51
The Holy Spirit helps us as we open ourselves up to this.
19:54
It's not unique, it's not limited.
19:56
Just to a few people, you can ask for discernment.
20:00
You can ask for a unique gifting of the spirit in the moment to
20:04
tell between writer you, you can also is this from the lore, you
20:08
can ask God is this from you? Even the pause just pausing
20:12
instead of running headlong into something is a gift of the Holy
20:15
Spirit. It is a manifestation of
20:18
discernment where you're not just running by emotion, you're
20:21
not just running by past experience, you're not just
20:24
running by the what's presented before you remember Joshua.
20:28
He made that Mistake. They came in like, to him with
20:32
the dirty clothes and the rotten bread saying that they travel
20:36
from a long distance, but they were very, they were liars and
20:39
God could give you the discernment when someone's lying
20:41
to you or not. When someone is not telling you
20:45
the truth and jot it down and First Corinthian, or excuse me,
20:48
first John chapter 4 and verse 1.
20:50
The Bible says, beloved do not believe every Spirit, but test
20:55
the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets
20:59
have gone. Gone out into the world,
21:01
beautiful use of this gift when it comes to teaching and to
21:05
Doctrine. The holy spirit will give you
21:07
the ability to take what somebody says and compare it to
21:11
the word of God. I know that's intimidating at
21:14
times when you hear me multiple times from the pulpit here.
21:17
Say hey, don't believe everything you hear test the
21:20
spirits test, what I say by the word of God and for some of you
21:23
it's very intimidating thing to hear.
21:25
Usually like I've never even read the read the Bible.
21:27
How can I do that? The spirit of God can Give you
21:30
direction to test, if something sticks out to you.
21:32
I wonder if that's true and not only that but you can learn how
21:36
to study the Bible. God can help you understand.
21:39
You can actually take classes and read books if you're looking
21:43
to take the next step and studying the Bible, pick up this
21:46
book and that's for you guys here, you guys online or on the
21:49
radio, pick up this book it's called how to study the Bible
21:54
and enjoy it by skip heitzig. Very thin, very easy, simple,
22:01
but don't let easy and simple fool.
22:03
You, it's an easy and simple introduction on the inductive
22:07
Bible, study method and even that can be intimidating, it's
22:11
like studying the Bible. No, you don't have to be, you
22:14
know, studying the Bible things. Well I need to be some professor
22:17
and submit you don't. If you're not called to be a
22:19
professor in seminary, I mean it let you off the hook, you will
22:22
not be a professor in seminary, you don't need to know the Bible
22:25
like some guy that lives in it. All the time and and is studying
22:29
one pretty, like I was thinking today, I recommended a Greek
22:33
dictionary, a lexicon, and I'm like, well, just follow this
22:36
guy's OD Otis. He lives in the Greek, like, you
22:39
don't need to be him. You can read his book, he put
22:42
his life, it's his life's work. And all you need to do is flip a
22:45
couple Pages or like, my bible program.
22:48
I just flip a word and boom, he pops up.
22:50
What he? What he studied, not only what
22:53
the definition is, but where it's used throughout the whole
22:55
Bible, you are going to be who God Made you to be but you do
22:59
need to study to show yourself approved learning how to handle
23:03
the Bible learning how to test all things, hold fast to what is
23:07
good. You have that responsibility.
23:09
It's not my responsibility for you.
23:11
It's my responsibility for me so that I might walk in
23:15
discernment. The manifestation of the
23:18
Discerning of spirits is Supernatural and it's super and
23:23
God gives you Supernatural information and knowledge.
23:27
Judge behind a spirit. What's behind that Spirit,
23:31
what's behind, that person, what's the motivation in?
23:34
What they're saying, and what they're doing?
23:37
It's the god-given ability to distinguish truth from error
23:41
based upon the word of God and not emotion or opinion.
23:47
Now God may use emotion to stop you.
23:54
Situations happening in your heart starts beating.
23:57
You like what's going on that? Could be a indication.
24:01
Not only physical response but the holy spirit's going to use
24:04
that physical responses. They stop right here.
24:05
Don't go any further. And you can pray in that moment.
24:10
Ask the Lord for wisdom with this gifting, this manifestation
24:14
when the Holy Spirit is with you in this, he helps you to
24:17
instantly cut, through all the confusion all confusing.
24:20
It can be and all the concerns to get right to the heart of the
24:24
matter. Many time it starts with an
24:26
uneasy feeling. It starts with what I like to
24:29
call the Holy Spirit alarm. And it's just a pause, you don't
24:32
have all. The information is just a pause
24:35
and you don't have to come to any conclusions when you have a
24:37
pause. Just pause the guys hear me.
24:41
You don't have to come to all the conclusions.
24:43
You don't have to solve it in that moment.
24:45
Just stop. Most likely that's from the
24:49
Lord. And what do you have to lose?
24:51
If it's not from the Lord, you have everything to lose if it is
24:54
from the Lord and you keep going forward?
24:57
But if it's not formally just I need to pray about this is it
24:59
just doesn't? It's uneasy, it's unsettling.
25:02
I don't know what I'm dealing with right here but I won't know
25:04
if what I'm dealing with. Unless I seek the Lord and you
25:08
pause, I think back here to the text although he doesn't have
25:12
the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
25:14
Jacob is, is he knows what's going on?
25:17
He senses. But the surprises, you I'm a lot
25:22
of things but you're accusing. Me of stealing your Gods.
25:24
I did. He knows.
25:26
He did not personally steal the gods, he know the little statues
25:31
and Idols he knows that and it offends him, notice Jacob
25:36
answers verse 31. He answered and said to leave
25:39
him because I was afraid. And I said, perhaps you would
25:41
take my daughter's from me by force with whomever you find
25:44
your gods? That was his answer to
25:46
everything. Hey, I took off because I didn't
25:48
want you to stop me. I thought you, you and I was
25:51
afraid of you. That's why I love all the stuff
25:53
that he said, he's simply. Hey, I left because I was
25:55
afraid. An easy answer.
25:57
He didn't try to explain every little point.
25:59
This is it? Because the more you try to
26:01
explain the more open, you are to be manipulated.
26:04
You don't need to explain anything, you don't need to
26:06
answer for anything. Here it is.
26:08
You know why I left? I was afraid of you because I
26:10
know you That was it, that was easy and he says, Hey whoever
26:15
you find your gods, don't let him live.
26:18
Is he really? He does not know this was
26:20
secret. Thus ends of his wife have
26:25
gotten him in trouble. And that is true.
26:31
Sins of the husband, get the family in trouble.
26:34
Sins of the wives, get the family in trouble.
26:38
We really have to walk in the spirit and unity together.
26:42
You've identify them. He says, in verse 32, what I
26:45
have of yours take it for Jacob, did not know that Rachel had
26:49
stolen them verse 33 and Laban went into Jacobs 10 and Alia
26:53
stent into the two Maids tense. He did not find them.
26:57
Then he went out of the his tent and entered Rachel's tent.
27:00
But Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in
27:03
the camel, Sato and sat on them and Laban.
27:05
Searched all about the tenant, couldn't find them.
27:08
And she said to her, father, let her not displease my Lord.
27:10
I cannot rise. Before you for the manner of
27:15
women is with me and he searched, but did not find the
27:20
household Idols, then Jacob was angry and rebuked leoben.
27:26
And Jacob answered and said, what is my trespass?
27:29
What is my sin? Why have you so hotly pursued
27:33
me? Although you've searched all my
27:35
things, what part of your household things?
27:37
Have you found set it here before my brethren and your
27:40
brethren that they made? Judge between us both.
27:44
And then he begins to think about the past.
27:46
He's like you really you want to know something twenty years and
27:51
remember you got to read this and we don't, we don't know.
27:53
We don't have the exact temperament here, but you got to
27:56
read this. These are the words being spoken
27:59
of by an angry man. He is displaying anger in this.
28:04
He's not having a little do. I hate.
28:06
Remember the last 20 years? He's mad.
28:08
And he's hot. This is his family.
28:11
It's time to move on. He sees himself as innocent and
28:14
especially innocent, as he sees himself an innocent and thinks
28:18
he wasn't innocent of but also sees himself innocent in
28:21
something. He was it's a very confusing
28:24
situation, very difficult. So 20 years he says, in verse
28:28
38, I've been with you, your, your use and your female.
28:31
Goats have not miscarried they're young, and I've not
28:34
eaten the Rams of your flock. I didn't take advantage of you.
28:38
That's what he thinks that which was torn by beasts.
28:40
I did not bring to you. Or the loss of it.
28:43
You required it from my hand, whether stolen by day or night
28:46
there, I was, we see the exclamation point, he's angry
28:49
there. I was in the day, the drought
28:51
consumed, me and the frost by night in my sleep departed, from
28:55
my eyes, I worked hard for you and we know we've seen that in
28:58
previous studies. He was a diligent strong, man
29:01
with a strong work ethic thus. I've been in your house 20
29:03
years. I served, he 14 years for your
29:06
two daughters and six years for your flock, which doesn't say
29:10
much for the wives. The only have to serve one more
29:12
year for the wives than he did for the flock.
29:14
But nonetheless, that was the price.
29:17
That Laban valued his family. 20 years, I served and you changed
29:22
my wages ten times. Unless the god of my father, the
29:26
god of Abraham, the fear of Isaac had been with me, surely
29:29
now you would have sent me away empty-handed.
29:32
God has seen my Affliction and the labor of my hands and he
29:35
rebuked you last night. And you can see in and out
29:40
Jacobs going from defense to truth to defense the truth.
29:45
He isn't have any idea what Rachel's brought into the camp
29:48
and how difficult it is. He's angry.
29:50
He's had enough defending himself, even talks about taking
29:54
losses on him. Personally, you were a bad boss
29:57
a mean, man. But I did what you asked me to
30:00
do. Those layers of obedience and
30:04
submission were in. Jacob for 20 years, verse 43,
30:08
and Laban answered and said, to Jacob, these daughters are my
30:11
daughters. And these children are my
30:12
children in. This flock is my flock, all that
30:15
you see is mine. But what can I do this day to
30:20
these? My daughters are to their
30:21
children whom they have born. Now again, where's 43?
30:26
If you like to ride in your Bibles, just right next to this
30:28
is not true. He's pressing pressing pressing,
30:32
still he does turn a corner in verse 44 but this isn't true.
30:37
Even if he used Common Sense logic, He could look back and
30:43
go, I made you work for my daughter and then I lied to you.
30:47
Then I made you work for my daughter and I lied to you.
30:50
And he knows, he's not defending, he's not defending
30:53
himself, labe in there. Now therefore verse 44, come let
30:57
us make a covenant. You and I let it be a witness
30:59
between you and me. So Jacob took a stone and set it
31:02
up as a pillar and Jacob said to his Brethren gather stones and
31:06
they took stones and made a heap and they ate their own.
31:08
That Heap. Laban called it Jaguar saw
31:11
hadatha, but Jacob called it. The lead which literally means
31:15
heap of witness and Laban said this Heap is a witness between
31:19
you and me this day. Therefore, it's name was also
31:23
called Khalid. Also, miss papa.
31:27
They can translate that watch because he said may the Lord
31:30
watch between you and me. When we are absent from one
31:34
another now, over the years, Christian bookstores, when they
31:36
were around even ours, had this little jewelry where you could
31:39
get a little hard, and that would separate, and it had Miss
31:42
paw. And the whole idea they'd use
31:44
this verse and I hope we're not separated, it's not that they
31:48
missed the completely misquoted. It it's basically I know you're
31:52
a rotten man and may the Lord watch between us that you You
31:55
don't break the Covenant. That's all like, it's not 0, we
31:58
have sweet love and while we're separate will be together and
32:01
got to watch over us. It was God watching I hope God
32:04
watches over you so you don't come notice in verse 50 flicking
32:07
my daughters or if you take otherwise, besides my daughter's
32:11
although no man is with us. See God is witness between you
32:15
and me and then Laban said to Jacob.
32:17
Here's the Heap, here's the pillar which I placed between
32:21
you and me. Jacob wanted distance that was.
32:24
That's what? Is pi is I want my distance from
32:27
you and God's going to watch you so you don't take take me as I
32:30
turn my back on you the Heap is a witness verse 52.
32:34
This pillars a witness I won't pass beyond this Heap to you you
32:38
won't pass beyond this Heap and Pillar To Me.
32:43
And the god of Abraham verse 53, the god of nahor, the god, of
32:46
the father of their father, judge between us and Jacob,
32:49
swore by the fear of his father, Isaac, and Jacob offered a
32:54
sacrifice on the mountain called his brother and eat bread, and
32:58
they ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain in early
33:01
in the morning Laban, arose, and kiss the sons and daughters and
33:04
bless them, then Laban, departed and returned to this place.
33:11
This is chapter 31, God is moving him on.
33:16
Moving him forward to when we get to chapter 32, it's a major
33:21
turning point in Jacob's life. It's taken a few chapters to get
33:26
there. It's taken 20 years of being
33:30
with Laban to get there. There's a patience and the
33:34
Persistence of God for the men and women that he loves.
33:39
And so read ahead in chapter 32 as now the subdued, you know,
33:45
Jacob that's subdued. He finally ends.
33:52
Fighting God. But how does he end fighting
33:55
God? He has to fight God first.
33:59
That's what chapter 32 is. Maybe that's you today.
34:04
God speaking to you. And we'll get to the Fuller
34:06
chapter next time but you got to end the fighting God.
34:10
And you don't have to fight God into in fighting God you can
34:14
surrender. You Bible students know that in
34:19
this wrestling with the angel? That finally, after hours of
34:24
exhausted, he just touches his hip And he walks away wounded,
34:31
you don't have to walk away wounded.
34:33
In order to be subdued by God, you can do that freely.
34:36
Now by faith. You can now buy free by faith
34:41
should be subdued and surrender. That hidden sent him.
34:46
You can surrender that pride and that arrogance, you can
34:50
surrender that opinion that his distance you from people that
34:56
you love and care for you can surrender that have to be right
35:01
in every situation. You can live a life that God
35:06
desires for you and unity and Faith.
35:09
Making a difference for the kingdom.
35:12
Following close after him read ahead.
35:15
So that you're prepared for our Bible study next time.
35:17
And so, father, I pray is we turn a corner today.
35:21
God, that again that manifestation of your spirits
35:24
Among Us, you're empowering and power and blessing.
35:29
And even tonight, there's going to be that Awakening of the
35:32
manifestation of discernment that ability to tell the
35:35
difference between, right and wrong.
35:37
That's not our senses and not our logic, but a presence of
35:41
your Holy Spirit. I pray God for Unity and
35:45
marriages. It's mid mentioned a few times.
35:47
That wives will not bring difficulty into their marriages
35:50
and husbands won't be difficulty into their marriages but that in
35:53
unity one one man, one woman, one flesh.
35:58
One lifetime would be that overwhelming.
36:03
Testimony of the men and women that are here today.
36:06
I pray it establishing strength and singles to say true and
36:12
loyal to you Lord. Not turning to the left or to
36:15
the right. I pray for the unequally yoked
36:20
today. Even as the sister that called
36:24
the station today and asked that question, God, that you would
36:27
give them the courage to separate.
36:31
Not until Bay, the verse don't be unequally yoked and so those
36:35
that are unequally yoked, that cannot separate because they're
36:38
married. That you would give and sustain
36:42
them with great strength and an overwhelming sense of your
36:45
presence. That they might be a powerful
36:50
influence on their spouse. Thank you for the life of Jacob
36:55
lordy encourages us that you're not finished with us either.
36:59
So we yield ourselves to unite fresh and new Jesus name.
37:04
Amen. We pray that you've been
37:06
encouraged by this Bible. Study delivered live from the
37:09
sanctuary of Calvary Church for prayer.
37:12
Call us at 877, 30 Grace. That's eight 77304, 703 to
37:21
listen to this message in its entirety or to For our lives
37:24
dream Services. Visit us online at Calvary.
37:28
Co dot church or download our free Calvary Church app be
37:33
blessed as you worship Jesus this week.
37:23
For our lives dream Services. Visit us online at Calvary.
37:28
Co dot church or download our free Calvary Church app be
37:33
blessed as you worship Jesus this week.