8/14/22 - A New Start - Genesis 31 - Pastor Jason Fritz

For the last few weeks, we’ve been reading about the life of a man named Jacob. He is the third generation recipient of God’s specific promises spoken to his grandfather Abraham. Jacob began his young life living up to his name which means “deceiver.” He deceived his father and stole a blessing from his brother Esau. This caused Esau to be violent with anger so Jacob fled. The family is torn apart. Jacob travels many miles away and finds a wife. However, his father-in-law double-crosses him. The man whose name means deceived gets deceived. He gets a taste of his own medicine. However, through this pain we begin to see glimmers of spiritual progress. You see there was a time when he referred to God as being the God of his father but not his own. That changes over time.

Kids raised in Christian homes must make their own faith decisions. These choices cannot be made for them. Good parents guide and set an example, but everyone must make his or her own decision to follow God or not. If you have a child and you’ve raised him or her in a God-centered home and they have chosen to walk away, know that the final chapters have yet to be written. It took Jacob decades to say, “God is my God.” And this happened as a result of much pain and heartache.

Let’s remember where Jacob has come from. He lied, betrayed and stole from his own family. He is on the run from a murderous brother and far from home. God is changing his character though his failures. There are no more lies and deceit. Jacob has moved from poverty to wealth and he has a family with whom he is returning home. Certainly God has done much for Jacob!

Yet this is a mere shadow compared to what Jesus has done for us.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? -Romans 8:28-32

God, "graciously gives us all things," not the least of which is eternal life!