Connecting Through the Word
Knowing and Experiencing the God of Jacob
Genesis 25 – 35
Genesis 28:10-22
10 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran.
11 And he came to a certain place and stayed there
that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the
stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay
down in that place to sleep.
12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder
set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to
heaven. And behold, the angels of God were
ascending and descending on it!
13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I
am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the
God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to
you and to your offspring.
14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth,
and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the
east and to the north and to the south, and in you and
your offspring shall all the families of the earth be
blessed.
15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever
you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will
not leave you until I have done what I have promised
you.”
16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely
the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.”
17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this
place! This is none other than the house of God, and
this is the gate of heaven.”
18 So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that
he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and
poured oil on the top of it.
19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the
name of the city was Luz at the first.
20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be
with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will
give me bread to eat and clothing to wear,
21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace,
then the LORD shall be my God,
22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall
be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give
a full tenth to you.”
Genesis 32:22-32
22 The same night he arose and took his two wives,
his two female servants, and his eleven children, and
crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
23 He took them and sent them across the stream,
and everything else that he had.
24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with
him until the breaking of the day.
25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against
Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was
put out of joint as he wrestled with him.
26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless
me.”
27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he
said, “Jacob.”
28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called
Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and
with men, and have prevailed.”
29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your
name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?”
And there he blessed him.
30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel,
saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my
life has been delivered.”
31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel,
limping because of his hip.
32 Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat
the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket,
because he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip on the
sinew of the thigh.
Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all
that is in them; Who keeps truth forever,
Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives
food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the
prisoners.
When God wanted to reveal Himself to Moses and call
Moses to deliver the people of Israel, God identified
Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Exodus 3:6, 15, 16; 4:5
Interestingly, in the Bible
9 times we find the phrase:
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
3 times Abraham, Isaac and Israel
1 time – God of Abraham – alone
Never – God of Isaac alone
15 times – God of Jacob
200 times – God of Israel
Hebrews 11:21
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of
the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top
of his staff.
What does this mean to us? If God can be the God of
Jacob… He can be the God of Mike
He can be my God too!!!!!!
Psalm 146:5-7
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his
help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
The story of Jacob…
Son of Isaac and Rebekah
Twin brother of Esau – actually second born..
Favorite of mother..
Purchased the birthright from Esau
Stole the blessing
Fled for his life –
Went to his uncle Laben – his mother’s brother
Fell in love with Rachel
Purchased her with commitment of 7 years work
Was given Leah
Was told to work another 7 years for her
Then worked another 6 years for his herds and flocks.
Then has 11 sons and one daughter.
One son by Rachel – Joseph
6 sons by Leah
2 sons by Zilpah – Leah’s maidservant
2 sons by Bilhah – Rachel’s maidservant
Jacob – a picture of the Christian who knows and
experiences God but still tries to accomplish God’s will
in the arm of the flesh!
Jacob means – conniver – schemer – plotter - deceiver
After his breaking experience at Peniel – his name is
changed to Israel – Means literally – Prince with God.
Yet, his life story is still one of great suffering and pain.
At Shechem – his daughter is raped… his sons take
vengeance
He then goes back to Bethel – Gen 35:7 built an altar
and called the name of the place – El Bethel..
Rachel gives birth to Benjamin his 12th son – then she
dies.
In the same chapter – his oldest son Reuben went in
and had an immoral sexual relationship with Bilhah.
His son Judah has twin sons by his daughter in law –
Tamar. Gen 39
His son Joseph is sold into slavery by 10 of his sons
and then they led Jacob to believe that he was killed
by an animal.
After the famine in the land… Simeon is in prison in
Egypt… they need to take Benjamin…
Genesis 42:36
And Jacob their father said to them, “You have
bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more,
and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are
against me.”
Yet Jacob ends his life in Egypt blessing Pharoah, and
on his death bed, he blesses his 12 sons.
Hebrews 11:21
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of
the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top
of his staff.
of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God
and Father,
Ecclesiastes 7:8
The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The
patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it
not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ
at His coming?
For you are our glory and joy.
Some lessons from the life of Jacob…
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Despite Jacob’s short comings – God was still there for
him.
1 Peter 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has
begotten us again to a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that
does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
who are kept by the power of God through faith for
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
The lesson of hope….
Jacob felt like quitting – but he never did….
He reminded God of His promises….
Hope – has to do with the future… a better tomorrow…
Has to do with believing God’s promises…
1 Thessalonians 1
We give thanks to God always for you all, making
mention of you in our prayers, remembering without
ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience
The God of Jacob 15 times
The God of Israel… 200 times
Your God that is revealing Himself to you!!!!!
God never gives up on you!!!!!!
He has given you a new name!!!!!
Psalm 146:5-7
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his
help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God,