Jacob`s Testimony

Sermon notes from Sunday 18 November 2018 pm

Genesis 28 verses 10 - 22

Jacob`s Testimony

Although Jacob was Isaac`s son and Abraham`s grandson he needed to have a personal encounter with God.  We need that same encounter.   It is good to count the cost, to think and to reflect.  Have I had that experience?  A time when I came to the place where I knew I was genuinely saved?  Jacob would never forget this night.  We meet with God in a real way.

It was the resting place he was in.  He had come to the place.  Verse 11 he travelled from Beersheba and thought he would rest for the night.  This is the very latest moment in Jacob`s life.  He had lied to his father and deceived his brother.  He started to build a bed for himself at the end of the day.  It was the same procedure as any other night.  Nothing special about it.  He was tired, weary and settling down for the night`s sleep.  This would be a night he would remember for all his life.  This was the night he met with God.  Maybe this is what we need tonight.  We need a meeting with God for the first time or perhaps it is a fresh meeting with God.  Maybe it is like any other night.  This could be the night you could meet with God, whenever you could point back to this night when you met with God.  This is a spiritual picture for every man or woman.  The God of this world hath blinded the eyes of those who believe not.  There is blindness right from conception in the womb.  The God of this world has done that.  The bible says "who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." (Colossians 1 verse 14)    For all who have been saved, there was a time when you were in the snare of the devil but then he goes on to say "he hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."  It is not something we could do for ourselves, only the Lord can do that.  "And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sin."  This ladder came from heaven, the angels were ascending and descending on it and the Lord was standing at the top.  We are unaware of things around us spiritually because we are asleep.  Some times God deals with us in the crowds.  When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost 3000 souls were saved.  God moves into places and saves one, 2, 3 and 4.  He deals with numbers but then at other times he deals with individuals.  Just like here with Jacob, dealing with him as an individual.  In Acts 8 we read of a man coming from Jerusalem in a chariot.  God dealt with him.  God can be dealing with you just as an individual.  Jacob left his home behind, his father and his brother.  A situation he had to step away from.  Remember Abraham`s father Terah.  It was only when Terah died that Abraham moved on with the blessing of God.  Isaiah came into the temple when the king Uzziah died.  It was only then that God dealt with him personally.  Jacob walked away from the situation in his father`s house.  God was dealing with him.  We read later on that Jacob went back again.  Sometimes God does that.  Sometimes we are involved with things that we need to go back and sort out.  That is where God was dealing with him.

The revelation - verse 12.  In the darkness and sleep God came and suddenly everything is different.  God was breaking into his life, doing something for him right where he was.  God comes to the place where we are at.  Not one of us could be saved unless God comes to the place where we are.  God appeared and revealed this ladder from heaven to earth.  It is amazing how God breaks into a life.  Nicodemus came to Jesus at night  He had a few questions for Jesus.  Jesus told him "except a man be born again he cannot inherit the kingdom of God.  The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3 verse 8)  You can hear the wind but you don`t know where it is coming from.  That is the mystery.  God works in similar ways.  We don`t know how but he does it.  Here was a ladder set up on earth that reached to heaven.  Jesus is the one who reaches down from heaven to earth.  He bridged heaven and earth.  He came into the world to die on Calvary that he might reconcile man to God.  God hears and answers prayer.  Maybe God has been speaking with you today, this week, this month.  Maybe on other nights you have known God speaking with you.  It is amazing how he does that.  This was something that was undeserved.  God was revealing to this young man a past of deception and lies.  He laid claim to the things that were not his by his own devices.  We do not deserve the merits of God.  How the Lord came into this world, would give us life.  There is nothing that merits that God could look upon us in favour.  We were wretched, poor and naked and blind.  The Lord came into this world, endured the suffering, scorn and mocking that we might be saved.  "While we were yet sinners Christ died for us."

Notice the relationship  - verses 13 - 16.  A relationshp that is being formed.  God was not asking Jacob to fulfil a set of ideals of his own.  He would be with him.  God saves us but he doesn`t leave us.  He goes with us.  Many times people say "I would love to be saved but I couldn`t keep it."  God will never leave you when you get saved.  Have you a relationship with God?  When you get saved there is a relationship that is formed.  "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Chist in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1 verse 27)    

A realisation - verses 16 and 17.  It was beginning to dawn on Jacob`s mind what was going on.  God could be speaking and dealing with us for the final time, never to come again to speak again.  Your soul would be lost from this time on.  A crucial time as things fall into place.  God is doing this.  My heart is being affected.  How much care needs to be taken because God could be speaking with you, dealing with you.  Whatever is on your heart needs to be dealt with.

The responding - verses 19 - 22.  Jacob is bargaining with God.  What more could God do for you in giving you his only Son?  He is showing you his great love that if you believe he will become your Saviour.  The gospel is for you tonight - will you respond to him?