LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH
SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 28 MAY 2023
GENESIS 33 VERSES 1 – 15
How important it is to have a meeting with the Lord. Yes, it is good be here and have fellowship with each other, but we need however an individual meeting with God. Gideon met with God and God opened up the task before him. Some of the lonely moments we have are with the Lord. Gideon was a man threshing wheat when the Lord came down. The enemy had come into the land and there was great poverty and starvation as a result. One man Gideon worked away bringing in a little sheaf and threshing it in the quietness of the night. Moses was a man quietly tending to the needs of his sheep. He would take them out into the pasture and still waters, made sure they were fit and healthy. When God met with him Elijah was out in the wilderness quietly thinking of the persecution he has come under. The threat made on his life was going through his mind. Genesis chapter 32 tells us the crux of what we want to think about today. Jacob met with God while he was having quiet thoughts about the next day. As he divided his family up, he is troubled about what that meeting will mean. God had it all in hand. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. He stepped away from all his religious friends. He wanted to come privately. To speak with Jesus. He said to Jesus “we know thou art a teacher come from God for no man can do these miracles except God be with him.” He knew there had to be more. Jesus told him “Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” All his churchianity was washed away in that one statement. A personal encounter with Christ. It can be a lonely place. Here was this man Jacob who wrestled with God all night. In chapter 33 he lifted up his eyes. As another day dawned on his soul God has changed him. Verse 31 “And as he passed over Peniel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.” The results of a night wrestling with God could be clearly seen in his life. Remember when Moses came down from the mountain – he had to veil his face because his countenance shone. Remember when Peter came from a time of prayer – the people brought their sick into the streets just for his shadow to fall over them as he passed by. When we come out of our meeting with God it has to tell on us. Jacob knew this was the day he was going to meet his brother, but he spent a night in prayer wrestling with God first.
What did he face? He had an uncertain event to face, and he knew it was not going to be easy. He knew he had to cross the river and face his brother, to look into his eyes. Sometimes we have to face difficult situations. We feel that everything should be plain sailing when we get saved but we forget that we make a great enemy of the devil himself. Actually, we face more problems when we get saved than before. Sometimes we think we should be able to leave them behind. Jacob knew what was going to happen to him that day. He would be in a difficult situation. Sometimes they pile up on us. Hezekiah was a good king in Jerusalem. He was facing the Assyrian army coming up at a time when he himself was sick, actually dying. The enemy came to his door. Jacob had left home 20 years previously. He didn’t leave on good terms. He left a trail of hurt behind him. He must now address that hurt. He had to go back, make an apology, to say sorry. Remember that he tricked his brother out of his birthright. One day Jacob had a stew cooking when Esau came in from the fields. Jacob asked Esau to give him the birthright in exchange for the bowl of stew. Jacob then went in to his father and tricked him into believing he was Esau. He prepared some venison for his father to eat so that he would receive a blessing. Jacob tricked his father out of the blessing meant for Esau. Jacob had to leave as Esau threatened to kill him. This would be a difficult day for Jacob. Maybe even a dangerous day. Jacob had to face the situation for himself. There are things in our previous life we have to sort out. Maybe someone was hurt because of something that was said or a wrong attitude was shown. In chapter 31 the Lord told Jacob to return to the land where he had been born. I am sure Jacob quizzed God about why he was being sent back. Maybe there is something you are facing tomorrow that is making you fearful in heart. Remember God has it all sorted out.
What Jacob feared. As Jacob lifted up his eyes in verse 1, he saw Esau coming with 400 men. Something is dawning on his soul. He recognised his brother coming with an army of men. That only meant one thing. He was going to take his revenge. There was the fear of the unknown before him. If you are asked to do something you are not sure about are you not afraid? Nothing takes God by surprise today. Maybe Jacob thought something else, but God had it under control. I am sure Jacob wondered “am I right, did I get it wrong when God told me to come back?” The only ground we can stand on is the ground God has given in his word. You and I need to be standing on that ground. Maybe fear is gripping his heart. This man should be depending on the Lord. But Jacob starts making his own plans in case things go wrong. Jacob divided his children, his wives, his handmaids. He kept Rachel and Joseph to the back. How difficult it was for that father and mother back in Egypt with their son called Moses. They knew God had his hand on their son, yet the decree went out that all baby boys should be put to death. What did they do? They hid him. They were not afraid of the king’s commandment. In World War 2 General Patton was a decorated man. In his commission they said they never saw a man as brave in his actions. He replied “I never entered a battle, but I was terrified. I never took counsel from my fears.” Don’t let fear overrule you. Get your eyes on the Lord today.
What he forgot. In this situation Jacob forgot about God’s leading in his life. Remember the night he lay under the stars when he fled from his father and brother, Jacob had a dream of a ladder reaching to heaven. He saw the angels ascending and descending and the Lord standing at the top of the ladder. God promised to be with him and that one day he would return to inherit the land. Genesis 28 verses 13 – 16. It has taken 20 years for this plan to materialise. Remember – God is in control whilst it may not look it at present. There has to come a time when we step out and face our fears.
What Jacob found.
Not a violent force coming against him.
Jacob approached Esau and bowed 7 times.
Esau kissed him. Remember the
story of the Prodigal Son. It was while
he was feeding the pigs that he remembered his father’s house and what the
servants had to eat. But he had to get
up and go back to his father, admit to what he had done wrong. When he did that, his father embraced and kissed
him. He was brought back into the family
again. It was all worked out long before
the returning.
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