Weekly Sunday Sermon - God Chooses and Changes Jacob

 Hello!

Today's Sunday lesson is a combined service, so they teach in Indonesian language. I understood less than usual but I managed to receive most of the lesson well, so here is the short summary of the service. 

The story of Jacob (Genesis 25:19-Genesis 35:29) starts with before his birth. In Genesis 25:23 there is a speech from God to Rebekah, saying that the two children of Isaac and Rebekah would become nations that will continously fight, but the younger will be served by the elder and will be superior.

So God chose Jacob before he was born. This was the first major point. God has chosen people - to be a part of the church - before they were born and even before the world was created. He had predestined Jacob to have descendants that would be his promised people and would eventually have the Messiah.

Jacob was, however, fond of cheating and tricking his way to become the best. His ambition was fiery and  he would do everything to fulfill it during those days. He first cheated against Esau. Though it was also Esau's fault for selling his rights as the firstborn child, Jacob stole it from him. He also tricked his father into claiming a blessing. When Esau heard news that Jacob stole his blessings, he wanted to kill Jacob in his anger.

Jacob was terrified. In Genesis 28:1, he is told to go to Paddan Aram to find a wife, because the local Caananites were wicked and sinful. Jacob went north. On the way he had a dream where God told him his descendants would rule the land and his descendants will be numerous. The Lord would watch over him and bless him, and blessings would come from his descendants.

Jacob was amazed and named the place Bethel, meaning Place of God. In Genesis 29 Jacob ends his trek and arrives at Paddan Aram, a far away land. He then spent 20 years in Paddan Aram, acquiring two wives (because Laban tricked him into working another 7 years for Leah). He had children and after working 14 years in acquirement of his wives,  he worked another six years before returning to the land of Canaan.

He was terrified because he heard Esau had 400 people about to meet him. He divided his group into two and prayed to God, because he feared that Esau would kill him. However, Esau forgave Jacob and was content. God also changed Esau. 

The Second Point is that God blessed Jacob (later Israel), even though he was a cheater and had many sins. He shown him mercy and gave him material goods like wealth, a large amount of livestock, and children though he sinned multiple times. Nearing the end of his life, Jacob put more trust in God and repented. The third point is that God changes people.

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