Where Do I Find Help This Coming Year? – A Look At The Man Who Loved Rachel And Was Changed
INTRO: We are going to continue on for our theme…Where Do I Find Help This Coming Year?
Five weeks ago I talked about friendship and how it can help our lives. Honestly, which person among us does not want and covet true friendship? I spent time looking at Moses and how the Lord had friendships all through his life to help him along the way.
Four weeks ago I looked at Daniel. Yes, the same Daniel that spent the night in a den of lions--and lived to tell about it. Daniel could be listed as having several godly traits. Of all his traits I spent time on his faithfulness.
Three weeks ago I looked at teamwork and Joshua. Joshua was the Children of Israel’s leader after they lost a great leader named Moses. He was a great military leader, but he was also a team player.
Two weeks ago I spent time looking at David and our pursuing God. God’s Word teaches us that David was a man after God’s heart. We need to have a burning desire in our hearts to know more about God and be godly in our daily lives. We do this by pursuing God and godly ways.
Last week I spent time looking at obedience. Each week I have been looking at least one character from God’s Word and apply that person to our theme. Today I want o look at two men, father and son, Abram or Abraham and Isaac.
Today I want to look at Jacob’s life and how love changed him. Jacob was not a stranger to love. His mother Rebekah loved him (more than Esau) and it seemed to feed his bad side. Jacob was sneaky, crafty and selfish and it showed. He cheated his brother out of his birthright through a ruse that almost cost him his life. One might think that that was what changed him or turned him around, but I think it was when he learned to love that made a difference.
Jacob – He that supplants. (Supercedes)
Israel – Strives with God or Rules with God
I want to mention a few sayings that I think of when the word love comes up. “Love at first sight.” “A face only a mother could love.” “The love of my life.” “‘Til death do us part.”
Peter mentioned in his writing in 1 Peter 4:8 how important love is…
1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity [love] among yourselves: for charity [love] shall cover the multitude of sins.
Paul wrote about love in 1 Cor. 13.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 KJV 1Though I
speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as
sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all
mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could
remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and
though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me
nothing.
4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not;
charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily
provoked, thinketh no evil;
6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,
endureth all things.
8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they
shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there
be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part
shall be done away.
11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I
thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now
I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the
greatest of these is charity.
This truly was a fit for Jacob’s life. He found out possessions were nothing without love.
Let me tell you a little more about his life.
Jacob had a twin brother and Esau was the older of the two. Can you imagine how hard that was for him. To miss out on all the blessings of birthright by minutes? In Genesis 25, Esau despised his birthright and Jacob bought it for a bowl of pottage or soup. Later in Genesis 27 he cheated Esau out of his blessing. Esau was so upset that Jacob had to flee for his own life.
He went to live with his uncle Laban. In Laban Jacob found his match for his own craftiness. Laban tricked Jacob into serving for his daughter Rachel 14 years. WOW! I will guarantee having to work hard for a wife for 7 years would change things in our country. You may all know the story how Jacob woke up after his wedding night horrified to find he had married Leah not Rachel. Not to worry, Laban gave assurances you can serve another 7 for Rachel.
Well after settling in and having a bunch of grandkids for Grandpa Laban, you would think things would smooth out, but no Laban kept changing the rules, or moving the goalposts so to speak. Laban was allowing Jacob to tend his flock and gain the blessings that God was giving Jacob all for himself. Well they finally reached an understanding and Jacob began building a nest egg for himself before going home to face his brother Esau. He finally got home and patched things up with Esau and went on with his life. Not before God changed his name after wrestling with Him one night.
So there! In a nutshell you see Jacob. Let’s look closer at what he needed in his life – LOVE.
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Do you know how much a part of love God is?
1 John 4:9-11 KJV 9In this
was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only
begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and
sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
Romans 5:8 KJV But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Love truly is a choice.
God chose to love us – even when we were not loveable
We choose to love one another (or not).
Genesis 29:30 KJV And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
What was time to Jacob since he loved Rachel?
He was the one who offered 7 years
Genesis
29:18-20 KJV 18And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee
seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
19And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than
that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
20And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto
him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
Love as a gift – verse 18
We cannot steal love
Genesis
29:31-35 KJV 31And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he
opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
32And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name
Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now
therefore my husband will love me.
33And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the
LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son
also: and she called his name Simeon.
34And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time
will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons:
therefore was his name called Levi.
35And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I
praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
Love can “remove” an enemy
Love can bring great benefits
Of strength, sanctuary and safety
Of solace
Genesis 31:32 KJV 32With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
Jacob did not want to endanger his family
Genesis
33:1-3 KJV 1And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold,
Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto
Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
2And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and
her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
3And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground
seven times, until he came near to his brother.
Last, I want us to see…
Genesis 33:4 KJV 4And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
Love can cure selfishness
Love can change our outlook
Love can bring happiness
Will you allow His love into your heart and life?
Do you desire His love to touch and change your life?
Do you have the love of God?
Do you know His Son, Jesus?
Saturday is Valentine’s Day. I usually try to talk about love. We often think of Valentine’s Day as only for spouses, boyfriends and girlfriends, but love is so much larger, so more inclusive, so much more important, so wonderful. Take time to let those you love that you love them.
Also don’t be like Jacob and be selfish with your love. Let the love that God has for each of us shine in our lives for others to see and know.
We can see God’s love I His Choice, His Motivation, His Gift, His Opportunity, His Source of Help, His Protection, and His Healing.
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 020809am