Getting a new name

• 1^st – Time to move on… vs. 1-21
  • 1^st – Time to move on… vs. 1-3
    • Jacob OVERHEARD the sons of Laban…
      • They were saying Jacob had taken (perfect) all of the wealth of their father…
      • Jacob had become very wealthy – apparently at the expense of Laban!
      • As a result Jacob SAW – Laban was no longer very friendly to Jacob (he had been at first) …
      • Times had changed – Jacob was no longer the favorite son-in-law!
    • The Lord SAID – return (imperative) to the Land of your fathers…
      • Having HEARD and SEEN he was no longer welcome in Haran – Jacob did not argue…
      • Besides God had promised to one day bring him back to the Land!
      • Genesis 28:15 – “I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land.”
    • I will be (imperfect) with you…
      • The Lord was not just with Jacob in Haran – He was AWWAYS with Jacob!
      • No matter where Jacob went – God would NEVER leave him!
      • Matthew 28:20 – “I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
      • Everything in life is for a season – and we will have many seasons throughout life…
      • God does not call us to be in the same place with the same people always…
      • He often will change the SCENE to keep us looking to and dependent on Him!
  • 2^nd – Convincing the family… vs. 4-16
    • Jacob called (sequential) Rachel and Leah out into the field (secretly) …
      • The first thing Jacob had to do was convince his wives it was time to leave…
      • This might have seemed a quite the challenge – this was their home – their father…
      • Jacob tried a couple of different approaches to convince them!
    • First – Jacob tried to REASON with them…
      • Jacob SAW (participle – was seeing) – countenance of Laban was not very friendly…
      • He had served Laban with ALL his strength – YET Laban had deceived (hiphil) him…
      • Ten times Laban changed his wages – YET God did not allow Jacob to be hurt (hiphil) …
      • No mater what the wage (spotted – speckled) God has blessed Jacob…
      • If Laban agreed to give Jacob spotted animals – all the newborn had spots!
      • If Laban changed and said speckled – all the newborn would be speckled!
      • Therefore God took (hiphil / sequential) the flocks of Laban – giving it to him…
      • Jacob paints a picture that he was the good guy – Laban was the villain!
    • Second – Jacob tried the God ANGLE…
      • I had a DREAM – perhaps true – but more likely just a made up story…
      • The title – God of Bethel [הָאֵל בֵּֽית־אֵל] – is ONLY used here in the whole Bible…
      • Also God was NOT concerned about the VOW of Jacob – God made the important VOW!
      • Yet in his DREAM the Angel of God told him God had given him all the flocks of Laban…
      • Then commanded (imperative) Jacob to return to the LAND of his family….
      • The point being – God said it – therefore it must be what we should do!
      • I have known a lot of people – who like to use the GOD ANGLE – thus says the Lord…
      • The reason is because if God SAID it – how can we ARGUE with it…
      • But it is VERY dangerous – what we said does not happen – did God change His mind…
      • We end up misrepresenting God – as though He made a mistake…
      • How do we know if something is from God – or just from us…
      • We step out in FAITH – but with the condition – if it is from the Lord it will bear FRUIT!
      • James 4:14-15 – “You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
    • God had already prepared Rachel and Leah – they were ready to leave!
      • Laban was treating them like strangers – had wasted all their dowry…
      • All the riches God had taken (hiphil / perfect) from their father – was for them…
      • Therefore they simply answered – whatever God has said to you – do it (imperative)!
      • I knew a friend whom God called to church plant in Israel – his wife did not want to go…
      • Instead of trying to convince her – he simply asked her to pray about it…
      • A year later he came home one day – his wife was packing – to go to Israel!
      • When the Lord is actually in something – He does not need our help…
      • He will prepare the way – change hearts – and do the work for us!
      • We do not need to try and convince others we right – just point them to Jesus
      • If what we want is from the Lord – He will convince them for us!
  • 3^rd – Making a run for it… vs. 17-21
    • There were two options for Jacob on how to leave…
      • Option 1 – He could have gone and told Laban – trusting in the Lord to prepare his heart…
      • God had prepared the hearts of the wives of Jacob – no doubt He could have with Laban…
      • If Jacob had trusted the Lord – he would likely have left in a celebration!
    • Option 2 – run for it while Laban was not looking…
      • Jacob chose option 2 – while Laban was away sheering his sheep – he stole away and fled!
      • Rather than face confrontation – Jacob tried to avoid it!
      • An old farmer had plowed around a large rock in one of his fields for years….
      • One day he finally determined to do something about it…
      • When he put his crowbar under the rock – it was very thin – and he broke it up easily!
      • He had to smile – that rock caused so much trouble – he should have gotten rid of it sooner!
      • There is often a temptation to bypass problems in life…
      • We simply do not want to stop and take the time to deal with it…
      • Like the old farmer we PLOW around it – tell ourselves we will come back – but never do!
      • If we are tempted to avoid a problem – better to stop and ask – is worth it!
• 2^nd – The wrath of Laban… vs. 22-42
  • 1^st – Chasing Jacob… vs. 22-25
    • Three days after Jacob left – Laban heard (hophal – causative) about it…
      • After a 7 days chase – Laban caught up with Jacob in the mountains of Gilead…
      • This is a VERY impressive pace – from Haran to Gilead is over 600km (in 10 days) …
      • Meaning Jacob with women / kids / flocks – was moving VERY fast – he was scared!
    • Laban came with VERY hostile intentions – he brought his brothers with him…
      • But the Lord came to him in a DREAM – be CAREFUL (niphal – passive) …
      • Speak (piel – intensive) neither GOOD nor EVIL to Jacob – keep your mouth shut!
      • Jacob foolishly choose to run – but God was still faithful to protect him!
      • If we try to avoid our problems – they have a way of tracking us down…
      • We can try to go to a new place – make new friends – but matter where we go…
      • We are still there – turns out we cannot run away from ourselves!
  • 2^nd – Laban makes two accusations of Jacob… vs. 26-30
    • First – what have you done – stole away unknown – carried off my daughters as if captives…
      • Jacob did not allow Laban to even kiss his grandchildren goodbye!
      • Laban stated – he would have sent off Jacob in celebration (maybe not true) …
      • He calls it a foolish (hiphil) action – one that would have led to harm…
      • But the God the Isaac spoke to him to do nothing (piel) to Jacob!
    • Second – why did you take my gods…
      • The gods – [תְּרָפִים] – referred to household idols used for pagan worship…
      • Rachel had stolen them when they fled – but Jacob did not know about it…
      • Here you see the spiritual condition of Laban and Rachel – they worshiped idols!
  • 3^rd – The response of Jacob… vs. 31-42
    • I was AFRAID (perfect) – he feared Laban would take his daughters by force…
      • A reasonable concern – logically the most likely outcome of telling Laban!
      • Life can have a tendency to throw challenges / PROBLEMS our way…
      • We tend to spend much of our time FEARING about those problems…
      • The problem is FEAR does not help – it makes things worse…
      • When we focus on the PROBLEMS of this life – we are not focused on Jesus!
      • II Timothy 1:7 – “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love…”
    • With whomever you find your gods – do not let him live…
      • Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols…
      • Laban checked all the tents (starting with Jacob) and found nothing…
      • Last he came to the tent of Rachel – who HAD stolen the idols…
      • Laban searched (piel – intensive) the WHOLE tent – suggesting he suspected Rachel!
      • He did not find them – because she was sitting on the idols in a camel saddle…
      • She covered up her theft by saying she could not get up – (piel) monthly period!
      • What started out as idolatry – led to theft – and ultimately lying to loved ones!
      • Sin is NEVER satisfied – one sin always leads to more sin…
      • Like a drug – the most addictive kind of drug – sin will take over our life…
      • In the end we find we are in bondage to sin – morally and spiritually bankrupt!
      • The man who chooses to sin – gives up his freedom to choose!
      • John 8:34 – “I say unto you he that commits sin is the slave of sin…”
    • Jacob – feeling vindicated – rebukes Laban…
      • Why have you chased me – what have I stolen – put it here before us so we can judge…
      • 20 years he had served Laban – 14 years for Leah and Rachel / 6 years for the flocks…
      • All the while he ate none of the animals – none of the mothers miscarried
      • Any of the flock killed by wild animals or stolen – Laban made him pay (piel) for them…
      • He had worked through the heat of the day – cold of the long sleepless nights!
    • For all that – Laban had changed his wages 10 times…
      • Jacob realized had it not been for God – he would have walked away with nothing!
      • Luke 10:38-42 – “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part…“
      • Are we worried and troubled about MANY things in our lives…
      • Rushing around – busy – no time to spare – no time to sit at Jesus feet…
      • We are worried and troubled – BECAUSE – we did not find time for Jesus!
      • No matter what we do without the Lord – it will come to nothing…
      • When we follow the Lord – no matter what others do to us – we will be blessed!
      • When we take the time first to sit at Jesus feet – everything else falls in place!

• 3^rd – Let us make a covenant… vs. 43-54
  • 1^st – Laban saw there was nothing to be done…
    • His daughters / grandkids / flocks – belonged to Jacob – so he and Jacob made a covenant…
    • They made a pile of stones – Jegar Saladutha (Aramaic) or Galeed (Hebrew) – witness heap…
    • The other name given to the stones was Mizpah – watchtower…
    • It was a REMINDER – and a BOUNDARY – between Jacob and Laban…
    • It was a REMINDER – even if no one else saw – God was WATCHING them!
    • It was a BOUNDARY – they were not allowed to cross over to HARM one another!
  • 2^nd – Misinterpreting the Bible
    • You may or may not have heard of Mizpah…
      • It is often used in the church as a romantic or sweat gesture…
      • People give Mizpah necklaces – the Lord watch between us while apart…
      • The problem is it completely misses the point of the passage…
      • Mizpah was not a sweat gesture – it was a threat and a warning!
      • If Jacob or Laban crossed the stones – God (or the other person) would get them!
    • It is easy to change the meaning of a single verse when taken out of CONTEXT…
      • Most errors in Bible interpretation come from taking a verse out of CONTEXT…
      • Matthew 18:20– “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them…”
      • This verse if often quoted when people are praying – Jesus is here with us
      • Yet the context of this verse is not prayer – it is church discipline…
      • The idea is if you remove someone from fellowship – Jesus is there to confirm it!
    • One of the most important concepts in understanding the Bible is CONTEXT…
      • Understanding a verse in the context of the other verses before and after…
      • The context within the chapter / within the book / within the whole Bible!
      • That is why we study the whole Bible – teachings chapter by chapter…
      • We learn the Bible in CONTEXT – having an accurate understanding of the Word!

• 4^th – A rock and a hard place… vs. 55-12
  • 1^st – Early in the morning… vs. 55-2
    • Genesis 31:55 – likely should be the start of Genesis 32 (according to the Hebrew Bible) …
      • Laban got up early the next morning and left – he would never see Jacob again!
      • Because of how Jacob chose to deal with Laban – the relationship was lost!
    • When Jacob got up to leave – the angels of God [מַלְאֲכֵי אֱלֹהִֽים] met him…
      • Therefore he called the place Mahanaim (double camp) – he was in the camp of God…
      • The angels did not arrive as Jacob left – they had been there all along protecting him!
      • John Paton was a missionary – local thugs surrounded his house intent on killing him…
      • He and his wife prayed all through the night – in the morning – no one was outside…
      • A year later the leader of the thugs got saved – John asked why they did not attack…
      • Because of hundreds of large men with swords that were guarding the outside of the house!
      • Psalm 91:11 – “He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your way.”
  • 2^nd – Jacob sent messengers to Esau… vs. 3-8
    • There was still the unfinished business with Esau who wanted him dead – Genesis 27:41
      • I am sure Jacob thought – hoped – Esau had gotten over their last encounter…
      • It had been 20 years since he scammed him out of the Blessing of Isaac…
      • Even though he had wanted to kill Jacob – time heals all wrongs…
      • When we run from consequences – they do not go away – they tend to wait for us
      • When we avoid our problems – more often than not we magnify them!
    • Jacob commands the messengers (piel) to tell his Lord Esau he is coming home…
      • They returned with the word – Esau is coming – with 400 of his men!
      • If he were coming in peace – he would not bring 400 men with him…
      • Jacob was GREALY AFRAID – he was not prepared to go to war with his brother…
      • He could not go back (Mizpah) – Laban was just as angry with him as Esau…
      • He separated his family and possessions into two groups – if one died the other might live…
      • He was caught between a rock and a hard place – nowhere to go – nowhere to run!
      • When we make a habit of trusting in ourselves – then running from consequences…
      • Eventually we will end up in – like Jacob – between a rock and a hard place…
      • It is not that God cannot help us – or that He does not want to help us…
      • It is us who tend not to look to the Lord – so He allows our circumstances to teach us…
      • When we cannot run back – and are scared to move forward – we tend to look up!
  • 3^rd – The prayer of Jacob… vs. 9-12
    • Jacob was infamous for trusting in HIMSELF…
      • He COOKED to get the birthright / LIED to get the blessing…
      • NEGOTIATED with God at Bethel / SWINDLED Laban to get the best flocks…
      • But this time Jacob was in trouble – and knew it – and there was NO WAY OUT!
      • So Jacob PRAYED – perhaps the first time – to the God of Abraham and Isaac…
      • Jacob found comfort in his prayer – because of TWO things!
    • He remembered what the Lord had done…
      • Jacob acknowledged he was not worthy of the least of Gods mercies…
      • He had run away from Esau – crossed over the Jordan – with only his staff in his hand…
      • Yet he was returning with two great companies – family / servants / and flocks!
      • When we look back on how God has provided – we will see He has always been faithful…
      • We have everything we need for TODAY – we lack nothing – Luke 12:31-32
      • Looking at how faithful God has always been – gives us confidence He always will be!
      • When we get scared – worried – is when we try and look to tomorrow!
      • Matthew 6:34 – “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
    • The remembered what the Lord has said…
      • Deliver me (hiphil / imperative) him from the hand of Esau – because I FEAR him…
      • He reminded God He commanded Jacob to go back home – Genesis 31:3
      • Also the Lord who promised multitudes of descendants – Genesis 28:14
      • Ever walked into a dark – unfamiliar place – it can be frightening – intimidating…
      • But the moment the lights are turned on – all the uncertainty is gone!
      • When we go to the Word – it is like turning on a light in a dark place…
      • Where things seemed uncertain – scary – overwhelming before…
      • Once we open the Word – perspective changes – we see our circumstances in a new light…
      • We no longer see our problems – instead our God who is greater than any problem!

• 5^th – Wrestling with God… vs. 13-32
  • 1^st – Still scheming… vs. 13
    • Having prayed to the Lord – Jacob got busy preparing to save his himself…
    • You would think based on his prayer – Jacob would wait on the Lord…
    • But there was still a lot of Jacob there – he was manipulative and self-reliant…
    • It was not that Jacob did not trust in the Lord – he just trusted himself more!
    • We can relate – we believe in the Lord as our savior – but we trust in ourselves…
    • We think God needs our help – we think we have to do something…
    • One of the hardest lessons to learn – stand still and trust God to take care of it!
    • Exodus 14:13 – “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today.”
  • 2^nd – Presents for Esau… vs. 14-23
    • First Jacob took from his flocks and herds…
      • 220 goats / 220 rams / 30 camels / 50 cows / 30 donkeys – a huge herd!
      • He then sent each herd off by itself – with distance between each one…
      • He commanded each to say when they got to Esau…
      • These are a present to my Lord Esau – and behold – Jacob is behind us…
      • Jacob thought this might dull the anger in Esau by lavishing him with gifts!
    • Last of all Jacob sent his family over the brook Jabbok…
      • Perhaps to spend the night in prayer – perhaps to get a good night sleep…
      • Perhaps to put everything – EVEN his family – between him and Esau…
      • Jabbok [יַבֹּֽק]– emptying – Jacob was left with nothing and no one…
      • He had been stripped of everything – left terrified / uncertain / and ALONE!
  • 3^rd – That night Jacob wrestled with a MAN… vs. 24-32
    • THE MAN (Jesus) came a wrestled with Jacob till morning…
      • Jacob was a tough – strong willed – stubborn – self-reliant man!
      • From the very beginning – fought with Esau in the womb – Hosea 12:3
      • He had fought with Isaac – to deceive him and get the blessing – Genesis 27:24
      • He had fought for years with Laban – for his wives – for his wages!
    • Now at last he faced his greatest battle – he fought with God!
      • Esau was not the problem – Laban was not the problem…
      • All along God had just used circumstances – to try and teach Jacob a lesson…
      • Not to depend on himself – but to learn to trust wholly in the Lord!
      • Perhaps we have our own Laban and Esau – thorn in the flesh!
      • Something or someone in our lives that just will not go away!
      • II Corinthians 12:7-8 – “I was given a thorn in my flesh… to keep me from getting proud.  Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.”
    • When THE MAN saw he could not prevail…
      • It is not that Jesus could not win – Jacob was just too stubborn to give up…
      • So THE MAN touched his hip – and it withered the muscle there…
      • Because it turns out the way to win – is to lose!
      • II Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
      • Often God does not take away the problems – He allows them to get worse…
      • The reason why God will not take away the problem is because it teaches us…
      • When we trust in ourselves – our abilities – our understanding – we are weak…
      • When we look to the Lord – depend upon the Lord – we are unstoppable!
      • II Corinthians 12:10 – “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
    • Jacob refused to give up the fight until he received a blessing…
      • THE MAN asked his name JACOB – dirty / sneaky / thief – heal catcher
      • He renamed him ISRAEL – Governed by God
      • Because Jacob had struggled with God and men – and prevailed – by losing!
      • A GENUINE new character with – a new name – because he was a NEW CREATION!
      • Like Saul who had his name changed – from Saul (great) / to Paul (little)…
      • A man with a tainted history – murderer – never really used by God…
      • Who became one of the greatest men used by God in history!
      • Proverbs 22:1 – “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches…”
      • God wants to give us a new name – Revelation 2:17 – change our character…
      • Jesus does not see us as we are – He sees as a new creation – II Corinthians 5:17
    • Jacob asked – what is YOUR name…
      • Jacob knew this was not just an ordinary man – he knew it was God…
      • He named the place – Peniel – facing God
      • He had always known about the Lord – He was the God of Abraham and Isaac…
      • But now he KNEW him personally – the God of Abraham / Isaac / and Israel (Jacob)!
      • Hosea 12:4-5 – “Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. There at Bethel he met God face to face, and God spoke to him—the LORD God Almighty, the LORD is his name!”
    • Jacob crossed over the river…
      • He limped with a bad hip – he could no longer run – but he no longer needed to!
      • He still did not know what tomorrow held – what Esau would do…
      • But know he knew and trusted the one who did – Jesus!