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Don’t Let Go, The Work’s Not Done

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Genesis 32 is the pivotal chapter so far as Jacob’s life is concerned. He is a vastly different man here from the person we have come to know in previous chapters. The preoccupation which obsesses Jacob is the necessity of facing his brother Esau, from whom he has deceptively obtained the birthright and the blessing of his father. While the results were consistent with the revealed will of God, the means employed were not pleasing to Him. The result was a “brother offended”.

When Jacob had left Canaan for Paddan-aram, his mother had told him that he would only need to be gone for “a few days” (27:44), and then, when Esau’s anger had cooled, she would send for him (27:45). Twenty years had passed and, so far as we are told, he had never heard from his mother. That must have led Jacob to conclude that Esau still harbored a grudge against him. Jacob thus had good reason to fear a confrontation with his brother.

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the LORD will be my God. And this stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house; and of all that Thou dost give me I will surely give a tenth to Thee” (Genesis 28:20-22).

 

To me, this was a bargain with God. In return for God’s presence, protection, and provision, Jacob would let God be his God. Of all that God gave to him in the form of wealth, Jacob would return ten percent. In effect, Jacob has made God his agent and offered Him the normal fee. What a far cry from what a man’s response to the living God should be!

All of Jacob’s deceitful practices which we have seen over the years of his life are the result of a fundamental misconception. Jacob felt that spiritual blessings were to be secured by carnal methods and means. Jacob rightly believed that God had promised to make him, not Esau, the heir of promise with the rights of the first-born. He valued this blessing while Esau despised it. What he did not yet know was that he did not have to connive and scheme in order to obtain the promised blessings of God. The encounter which Jacob will have with the Angel of Jehovah will correct this error and will instruct Jacob as to how and why spiritual blessings must be obtained through spiritual means.

Genesis 32:24-32

Supplant – to supersede (another) especially by force or treachery

Esau could neither provide nor prevent the blessing of God. It was not Esau that stood in the way of Jacob’s blessing in the land of Canaan. On the one hand, it was God Who opposed him. On the other, it was Jacob himself, who by means of his trickery and treachery, his cunning and deceit attempted to produce spiritual blessings through carnal means. The blessing of God must be obtained from God himself, and this must be done by clinging to Him in helpless dependence, not by trying to manipulate Him. That is the picture which is conveyed by this struggle in the night hours between Jacob and his God. A realization of this fact brought about a dramatic change in the character and conduct of Jacob, and thus his name was changed to reflect this transformation.

The Angel of the Lord asked his name, and he had to reply, “Jacob,” which meant “the supplanter.” This must have been as uncomfortable for Jacob as it was for childless Abraham to refer to himself by his name, which meant “father of a multitude.” No longer should Jacob be known as a supplanter, for now he was a man who prospered because of his faith in the purposes and power of his God, and so the name Israel was given him.

Genesis 32 emphatically instructed Jacob that the Christian life is a spiritual warfare. That is why we see so much emphasis upon angels. Angels met him when he entered the land. An Angel opposed him when he attempted to cross the Jabbok. The blessings which God promised Jacob were spiritual blessings, and spiritual blessings cannot be obtained through fleshly means. If Jacob’s life in Canaan were to receive God’s blessings, Jacob must learn to wage spiritual warfare. He must realize that his major obstacle is not his brother, but his God. Once God is with us, victory is certain. Since our God is a sovereign God, no one can resist His will—not Esau, not Pharaoh, not Assyria, Babylon nor Rome.

Ephesians 6:12

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Riches In Revelation

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Revelation 3:14-22

[14] And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
[15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
[16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
[17] Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
[18] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
[19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
[20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
[21] To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
[22] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Let us analyze some verses as we go through:

Verses 14-16

Laodecia had two different kinds of water in other nearby cities:

–        Hierapolis was known for its hot waters that was often used for spa-like healing purposes.

–        Colossae was known for pure and cold drinking water.

One point to take note of here is that the waters of Laodecia was known for their waters that would make one sick and was often undrinkable. The significance of this shows several things, but one above all: it shows that the church is not useful when the waters they keep are not for healing and refreshment. When water grows stale and still it is more susceptible for things to intermingle into it, which in turn proves it not able to be consumed. Another common way to say this is that the lack of power in the church was being identified as without and not pleasing.

Verse 17

The type of complacency being shown here caused the church to be blind to the true state of how worldly things were destroying them. Case and Point? Lukewarm people actually feel satisfied in their life but yet lack the power of God to really be the true church full of the substance of the spirit.

Verse 18

Buying Gold Tried In The Fire – this is to say that it will refine the faith that was lacking from a people that had been satisfied with its own worldly goods.

White Raiment – is washed by the blood of the lamb and used to cover the spiritual nakedness and shame. (read verses 15 to 16 again for clarity)

Eye Salve – anointing the eyes with salve would remedy the spiritual blindness and encourage people to be earnest and repent when they are aware of the magnitude of sin.

The solution as it was read here was to not be complacent but to repent of their sins , search out the joy of God’s will, and to take the true faith of God. This is what will cause us in today’s church to not be blind and continue the ever-raging battle for those in need of a relationship with Christ.

Verse 20

The analogy of the door represents being able to be alert enough to hear a knock. In other words, we are saying that we must not be asleep or idle in our walk with God just in case there is a call to do or change something! The great thing about it is that God will knock and give the chance for everyone to come and to change!

When it comes to overcoming your life faith and obedience are everything when done together! As we work through our trials to victory we must mix these together to be led by God to realize our real riches in life: the relationship and benefits of God!

Additional notes also provided by Brent Griffith

Mary’s Song Should Teach Us To Sing

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Luke 1:46-55

[46] And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
[47] And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
[48] For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
[49] For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
[50] And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
[51] He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
[52] He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
[53] He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
[54] He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
[55] As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

When you read this particular passage, it makes you begin to wonder what it was that gave her so much joy to rejoice in the manner that she did. As you read on back when the angel comes to visit her (Luke 1:26-38), it makes you begin to think about how that we would have handled the same situation. I’m sure in the moment that the angel would have spoken the words to some of us that we may have laughed or rose to anger. We live in a day were we have to have results and have little patience for anything. The word she received from the angel Gabriel stirs me to know that “the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee”. This, you can say in humor must have been the most anointed and easiest pregnancy of all time!

In reading just a little further when Mary goes to visit Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-45), it blows me away to know that just the hearing of the words of Mary followed with the child leaping in her womb. It was not only that, but Elizabeth with filled with the Holy Ghost as well. What does this tell me? Sometimes just the very salutation that you have from the anointing that you carry can help to stir the power within someone else. It is a powerful thing, and is not utilized enough today!

So in closing, I realize why she did praise God. She was humbled, and regarded herself for who she was and called herself blessed by what God had given and not what she had done in works. And today, I want us to all remember to do the same. Remember who you are and remember how blessed you are by knowing who God is and how He overshadows you with His power!