Get Out Of God's Way

WHY CANT WE GET OUT OF GOD'S WAY?

God Still Provides Providentially

Text: Genesis 27-29

Focus: Genesis 27:28-30,41; 28:1-3, 13-15, 19-22; 29:25-30

Forty years had passed and Esau had taken him a wife. In fact, Esau had taken him two wives and both were Canaanite women. We know in the life time of Abraham and Isaac this was not taught, so we have to believe Esau had learned this from his surroundings. In other words this was common among the Canaanite clan.

To revue:

Gen 25:20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
Gen 25:21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
Gen 25:22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
Gen 25:23 And the LORD said unto her, [Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger].
Gen 25:24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

Let's add this verse:

Gen 25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: [thus Esau despised his birthright].

What was the birthright of Esau?

Gen 26:3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
Gen 26:4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
Gen 26:5 [Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws].

Esau didn't want to have anything to do with the covenant God had made with his grandfather and passed down to his dad. He despised it! He hated it!

God later said of this incident:

Mal 1:2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
Mal 1:3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

The Apostle Paul wrote also of this when he was referring to the promise God had made. Paul was saying not all in Israel were true Israel and that holds true even unto our day:

Rom 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

Rom 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

In fact we have another description that also doesn't paint a pretty picture of Esau:

Heb 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, [as Esau], who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Esau is one of the first character stories of someone that knew God and lived in a godly family but refused to accept the blessings of God because he just was not going to obey the Word of God. He still wanted the blessings but he was not going to obey God. The world is full of people like Esau today. They want to go to Heaven and get God's blessings and they feel like God owes them that, but they despise the Word of God. They live for today with no regard for what may come tomorrow and don't care how it affects their family and friends. With these things in mind let's continue. Remember Isaac and Rebekah had had what many would consider a story book romance. Now we will see that with some scheming on the part of both of them there was friction between this family that would go all the way to the day of Jesus and even further.

Our Text:

Gen 27:28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
Gen 27:29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
Gen 27:30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

Gen 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

Gen 28:1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.
Gen 28:2 Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.
Gen 28:3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;

Before we begin let's be clear on Isaac. Isaac live for close to fifty years after this incident. I believe he lost his vision at this age and felt he could not have many more years which turned out not to be true. He still wanted to pass the leadership role of the family over to his son and he chose Esau.

What we actually see is that Isaac may have lost his spiritual vision also. He chose Esau because he was a man's man. What we know is that God had chosen Jacob.

God had told Rachel:

"the elder shall serve the younger"

God would see that this would take place. He didnt need the help of Rachel nor that of Isaac.

"We simply need to stay out of God's way"!

With the interference of Isaac and Rachel and also Jacob himself, we can see this family would live in strife their remaining days.

Rachel wanted Jacob to have the blessing of his earthly dad which shows she had no faith in the Heavenly Father. Isaac was doing as a normal dad would do in passing his wealth over to his eldest son but he had no reason to do this at this time because his life was not over and he would live for many more years.

To me, I believe it was when I turned 55 years old that I felt my days were numbered and when I was diagnosed with cancer at 59 years old, I just knew my days were numbered. I believe Isaac let his blindness do this to him. By the way at this time I have no signs of cancer because I have a healing God.

Rebekah and Jacob conceived a scheme against Isaac and it had worked. Isaac had been deceived into believing Jacob was Esau and it was Jacob that received the blessing of Isaac instead of Esau.

It was not God behind this deception, God does not need our help to get His will done. What happens is we will get left out of the blessings of God and deception would follow Jacob for most of his life. Rachel had said that let God curse her instead of Jacob and so it was. God will punish our sin. He will forgive us if we pray with a repentant heart but we will still feal that Heavenly Hickory and so it should be. We that believe are truly blessed just to miss out on Hell. Certainly we deserve to be punished for our failures. God has dusted my britches a few times and I will be quite honest with you, I dont want anymore whippings. They hurt!

We can see that no one sought the will of God in this matter. The name Jacob means to supplant or to defraud the efforts of another. It would be God that would change that name in a few years. At this time this family was divided and things would never be the same for any of them.

This family had forgotten three things:

1.) 1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

2.) 1Pe 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

3.) 1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Verse 40 is not part of our lesson but in this blessing of Isaac we see that the descendants of Esau would serve the descendants of Jacob. God had said that much to Rebekah. What else do we see. This verse says that one day those of Esau would break the yoke of servant hood off their neck. Not many realize that this happened in the rule of the Herods. Though many times in the Bible it tells us where Edom revolted from Judah the yoke was actually broken by the Herods.

The Herods were of Idumean descent!

The Bible says:

Eze 35:15 As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it: and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Compare:

Gen 36:8 Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.
Gen 36:9 And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:

The Herods broke the yoke of the rule of Jacob/Israel over them when they ruled as
kings of Israel and after this the descendants of Esau more or less are never heard of
again.

Of course we know that these stood against Our Lord And Savior Jesus the Christ.

Peter said:

Act 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

In other words the World treated Jesus just like God said it would.

And God knew it would happen though had they realized what they were doing there
might not be salvation for anyone.

1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

It's best we stay out of God's way and make the World a safer place while we are still
here.

If we are being led by the Holy Spirit, we will not have our nose in God's business!

Jesus said to follow Him. He did not say to try to trip Him up by trying to pass Him.

(Verse 41)

The results: Esau hated Jacob and he was planning a murder after the death of his
father.

Also not covered in our lesson but in verse 45:

Gen 27:45 Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: [why should I be deprived also of you both in one day]?

We see some strong words of Rebekah. Had Esau slain Jacob it was her intent to slay
Esau. We can see how this once solid family could fall into the traps of murder and
evil over something that God said He would do without their help.

If we cannot see the hand of the Devil/Satan in this we are missing something. Had
Rebekah slain both these sons it would have ended the line to the Messiah. Satan did
not know which one would be used of God and his plan could have succeeded in his
evil mind.

(verse 28:1)

Now we can see the truth in the wisdom of God:

Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

The best thing of the worse things happening in this family is that the Husband Isaac
and the wife Rebekah still kept their heads about them. They realize some of their
error and knew it was best to send Jacob away. Rebekah knew it was best that Jacob
take a wife from her family and Isaac agreed. She also knew Jacob would nor go
unless sent by Isaac his dad.

Before Jacob left, Isaac spoke to him of the covenant blessing that would be on his
shoulders but he must trust in God. It seems that none of this family at this time
really trusted in God. We will see how God will work through Jacob while correcting
his errors in judgment. Remember Jacob is over 4o years old at this time. By the Bible
a man is mature at 50 years old.

Just to touch on a couple of things. The Bible teaches against interracial marriage.
God because God chooses one race above the other. There are so many differences in
all us culturally and physically that so many problems come up that it makes the
marriage vows harder sometimes to fulfill. Not only that but the children of these
marriages struggle sometimes with their identity and life is hard enough. God knows
what he is doing and it's best we trust in His ways. The only ground of equality we
have on this Earth is in the Church. Everyone is on equal standing in the Church at
least in the true Church, those that follow God's Word.

Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom 10:12 [For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him].
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

God puts all races of people back together in this one place only! The World will never
see it this way, though it try.

*****Our text:

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.
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.

Gen 28:19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
Gen 28:20 And Jacob vowed 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 raiment to put on,
Gen 28:21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
Gen 28:22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

Before we further we can see where Esau is watching everything that is going on. He
already had two wives, not Biblical teaching, and either out of spite or out of
ignorance he went to Ishmael and married one of his daughters. The line of Ishmael
had already been rejected by God as we have learned but his daughters were not from
Canaan. The wife of Ishmael was Egyptian. Either way this would bring no further
blessing from his father Isaac.

The line to the Messiah would be through Jacob and the Book of Genesis will
concentrate for the most part on Jacob for awhile.

Jacob's ladder:

Verse 12 tells us Jacob had a dream. 85 five times in the Book of Genesis God uses the
word dream or dreams or dreamed. They are used only 114 times throughout the Bible. God
used the dream in communicating His Will to men. The Scripture declares that the influence
of the Spirit of God upon the soul extends to its sleeping as well as its waking
thoughts.

What we find of dreams for the most part is that where dreams are recorded as means
of God's revelation to his chosen servants, they are almost always referred to the
periods of their earliest and most imperfect knowledge of him. A dream in reality is a
vision while sleeping.

It is in this passage that God reveals Himself to Jacob and reaffirms the covenant He made with Abraham, promising Jacob that his offspring will be many and that the Promised Land will one day belong to his descendants. In this vision Jacob sees something similar to a ladder or a stairway (Hebrew word: Sullam) which signifies a connection between God and man. In this instance, it was God who provided the means necessary to link Himself to man as opposed to the men of Babel in Genesis 11 who tried to reach heaven by their own actions, aside from the help of God.

Remember at the Tower of Babel, those people tried to reach heaven based on their own actions aside from God's help, but here with Jacob the access to heaven is based on the provisions of God and only the provisions of God.

As Christians we see this dream of Jacob's as highly symbolic, representing the Mediator, Jesus Christ, who came to earth and became that ladder or stairway for us to reconnect the relationship with God that was severed because of sin.
The Bible says:
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
According to the Bible, Jesus was our ideal "Jacob's Ladder" who came to earth, from the line of Jacob, through the provisions of God, and redeemed us so that we may live in heaven for eternity.
*****Verse 15:
God not only presented Himself to Jacob as the God of his fathers, and He confirmed
to him all the promises of the fathers in their fullest extent, but promised him
protection on his journey and a safe return to his home.

You know God promises every born again Christian this same promise:

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

When we have accomplished the work God has for us, He will then take us home.
Just like Abraham:

Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

*****verse 19:

Luz the word means: "separation and departure".

Bethel means "The House of God" [Beth means house and El means God]

We can see that a place of separation had become a place of assembling once God
entered the picture.

If we refer back to verse 16 we see the words "Surely the LORD is in this place; and I
knew it not".

I just wander how many other people just like myself went into the
House of God and once they realized, like myself that I'm a dirty sinner and then find
the grace of God, have these very words.

Surely God is in this place and I knew it not!

The Bible tells us to not forsake the assembling in the House of God.

Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

And in these "end times" to assemble more often and not less as many Churches in
my area are limiting them selves to only the Sunday service or leaving out the
Wensday service or prayer meeting.

It's a sad day to see the Church house closed when they should be open! I know that
where ever people are they can worship God. I also know that in the Book of
Revelation, Jesus said the seven stars were the angels of the churches. I believe that
this means the Pastors of these churches. If we cannot go to a place and get
ministered to by the ones God has called to do so, then how can we call ourselves
followers of Christ Jesus and servants of God.

Jacob builds his first altar in this places that will be called Bethel, the House of God.
Here Jacob got serious about serving God and made a vow. Look at his "if".

"If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me
bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in
peace"

If we obey God's Word we find out that this is exactly what God says He will do for us
all.

When we bow on our knees and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our "Savior" we are
making this same vow. We are promising Jesus that we will follow Him in every way.
That's is repenting our old way of life and turning toward God. Repenting is not
saying "I'm sorry". Repenting is doing something about it with God's help!

We can see in verse 22 that Jacob establishes the tithe to the House of God. Abraham
paid a tithe and Isaac probably paid tithes but we see this vow to pay the tithe to the
House of God. This before any law of Moses or any other law. This the word of God
laying a ground work for the New Testament Church.

*****Our text:

Gen 29:25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
Gen 29:26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
Gen 29:27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
Gen 29:28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
Gen 29:29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
Gen 29:30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

Jacob had quit fleeing from Esau at Bethel(house of God) and he had started
searching for a wife. He had gotten peace for himself.

You it was at the house of God that I quit fleeing from my sinful life and started
searching and seeking God. Those that tell you it is not important to go to church are
telling you a lie. It is important. That's where I found my peace. Jacob had found
peace also. We will top running and start seeking if we attend the house of God and
find Jesus Christ. Jacob understood that the Lord was with him now.

Psa 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

You see Jacob had traveled another 500 miles not knowing exactly where he was
going. There are no more incidents recorded in his travel and he ended up at the right
place at the exact right time. You can say what you will, these things don't happen by
accident.

You see the Holy Ghost will never lead you astray if you will follow his lead!

Psa 31:3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

No matter what we are going through, no matter high the flood waters of life get, He
will still lead us to safety!

Psa 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

If I follow Him, He will lead me to my Home in Heaven.

Psa 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

When Jacob knew God had lead him to this place he had tears of Joy.

Psa 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

*****The Dowry:

In the Eastern culture, the father of the bride was entitled to compensation for the
years of training she received in his home and for the loss he would endure for her
lack of service after she was gone. The arrangements were made with the groom or
someone representing the groom. The terms would have to be met before the wedding
could take place.

Jacob elected to serve seven years labor for the hand of Rachel in marriage and it was
agreed upon by both parties.

You can believe that for those seven years Jacob never took his eyes off Rachel and
the Bible has said she was beautiful.

Leah on the other hand is said to be tender-eyed. In the eyes of Jacob she was not
beautiful like Rachel but if I had been watching my future bride for seven years it
would have been hard to fool me I believe.

She had to at least bodily and build be very similar to Rachel. The phrase tender-eyed
at best means she had great emotional softness and tender at heart. She was timid.
She may not have smiled much nor been happy with her life. This may be why she
played along with her father the night of the wedding. She could have told Jacob at
any time that she was not Rachel but she did not.

Laban on the other hand had out schemed the shemer, with his daughters help and
we know Rachel either could not do anything or chose not to do anything.

The Bible says:

Pro 13:15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

THe Bible also says:

Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

It was till morning time or daylight before Jacob knew he had been wronged by
Laban. Jacob's lust had overcome his good sense.

Though the Christian who errs may not be forsaken of God, but he is permitted to
reap the shame and sorrow of his self-chosen way.

Verse 26 mentions a custom that may not be true but Laban had armed himself with
all the neighboring men in case Jacob caused trouble, which he did not with the
promise of his beloved Rachel.

The wedding feast did seem to have a custom of lasting for a week and Laban
promised Jacob if he would fulfill his obligation of marriage to Leah for seven days
then he would also give Rachel to him on the eighth day, buy only if he worked for
seven more years.

Laban gave each one a handmaid. This made four women who would bare the twelve
sons of Jacob who would be the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Now having more than one wife was not wrong in the land that would be known as
Syria. The Mosaic laws had not been written at this time but we know from the time
of Adam and Eve God taught only one wife.

Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

It takes two, one man and one woman to become one flesh or one marriage in the
eyes of God. Does this mean one wife at a time. There are instances in the Bible where
there are second marriages and these are approved of God but there are some reasons
that this would not be true also.

Once Rachel became the wife of Jacob we see that family strife begins with it.

God is concerned about every choice we make! He prefers that we make one certain
choice, to put our faith in Him and in His Son. It is wise to include God in every plan
we make and we do that through prayer.

God has long arms to reach way down deep to pull us out of our sinful lives. That is
because has long tentacles. Sin reaches across generations and also affects the lives of
innocent people. Jacob would not have a happy home most all his remaining days. His
wives were in constant struggle and his sons acted like enemies to each other. God
would use this group of people to begin the Great Nation of Israel.

You see even when we hinder the work of God, He still has His way in this World. We
just miss out on the peace and understanding of the truth of the Gospel.

When we sin after we are saved we must repent first but we will still feel the effects of
that sin. God will deal with sin in His way. God will not be mocked by our conduct.

The Bible says:

Psa 118:18 The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.

1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Praise the Lord.

Let's pray.