In
Genesis 28, Jacob had his Bethel Experience. He then spent 20 years in
Padan-aram
conniving with Laban. In our text verse God now calls upon
Jacob
to arise and go back to Bethel. WHY?
I.
GOD WANTED JACOB TO REMEMBER HIS CONDITION,
Genesis
28
It
was a dark night in Jacob's life when he came to Bethel.
A.
Think of the load of his guilt-
1.
He had cheated his brother out of his birthright.
2.
He had cheated his father out of his blessing.
B.
Think of the loneliness of his going
1.
His family and friends were not with him
2.
His future was uncertain He is homeless, helpless, and hopeless.
His
only hope for survival rested upon the action of another.
II.
GOD WANTED JACOB TO REMEMBER HIS CONVERSION,
Gen.
28:
A.
The Vision, Vs 12-13a, Behold the ladder, the angels, and the Lord
Gen 28:12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
Gen 28:13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
B.
The Voice, 13b ...I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou
liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
C.
The Victory, 13c-14,
Gen 28:13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
Gen 28:14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
God
ilterally said, "its not over yet, there is more to come."
Ill.
GOD WANTED JACOB TO REMEMBER GOD'S COVENANT
Notice
the covenant God made with Jacob in verse 13-15
A.
In verse 13, conceming a Place.
Gen 28:13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou
liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
B.
In verse 14, conceming a People.
Gen 28:14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be
blessed
C.
In Verse 15, concerning him Personally
Gen 28:15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
He
Promised him:
1.
His Presence, "Behold I am with thee..."
2.
His Pnotection, "and will keep thee in all places whither
thou goest,
3.
His Pmgression, "and will bring thee again into this
land~"
4.
His Perseverance, "I will not leave thee, until I have done
that which I have spoken to thee of"
IV.
GOD WANTED JACOB TO REMEMBER HIS COMMITMENT
A.
Jacob places a five-fold condition on God in verse 20-21a
1.
if God will be with me,
2.
if God will keep me in this way that I go,
3.
If God will give me bread to eat
4.
If God will give me raiment to put on,
5.
So that I come again to my father's house in peace;
These
are actually the same things that God has promised Jacob in verse 15
B.
Jacob makes a three-fold commitment to God.
1.
Then shall the LORD be my God:
2.
And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house:
3.
And of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto
thee.
