February 01, 2024 | Pastor Robert Lee
Passage: Genesis 28:10-22
God can take even the greatest lying, two-timing cheaters and completely transform their lives. In this message titled, Jacob Meets God, we see the beginning of Jacob's massive spiritual transformation start to take place as he meets God for the very first time.
► 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.”
Cross References
- 41 Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 42 But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran… (Genesis 27:41–43)
- Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)
- 8 And the Scripture … preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” (Galatians 3:8)
- 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles (nations)… (Galatians 3:13–14)
Discussion Questions
- What were some of the highlights and lowlights of your week? Everyone needs to get a chance to answer!
- Before meeting God, Jacob didn’t have a faith of his own, but rather he relied on the faith of his parents. What do you think it means to have your parents’ faith instead of a faith of your own? And if you now have your own faith, what did that transition look like? How did it happen?
- The first step of Jacob’s spiritual transformation was hearing and believing the promise of the gospel. How has understanding and believing the gospel been important to your own spiritual transformation?
- After meeting God, Jacob responded by first setting up a pillar and pouring out precious oil on it, which shows us that worship is a natural response to hearing and believing the gospel. What might heartfelt worship of God look like today? If you’ve had any moments like this, please share!
- After meeting God, Jacob also responded by committing his entire life to God. What do you think holds people back from committing their lives to follow Jesus? And how about you? Have you made that decision? Explain.
- Pray!
RISEN is a ministry of the Sheboygan eFree Church for students in grades 6 - 12 that aims to transform lives by proclaiming the resurrected Jesus Christ in all of His grace and glory.
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