Introduction – Being in covenant relationship with God does not spare us from the vanity and vexation of this world.

I. A daughter defiled – vv. 1-5

• Dangerous vain curiosity
• Home protection – Titus 2:5
• Jacob’s lax rules of family

II. Grace forgotten- vv. 6-17

• Jealous over honor rather than virtue
• Folly – empty sacrifice
• Hamor’s proposal – more involvement
• Revenges’ malicious mediation
• Religion without heart

III. Substance driven – vv. 18-24

• Form not power – 2 Timothy 3:5-7
• Covetousness the matchmaker

IV. Heartbreakers – vv. 25-31

• Barbarous murder – treachery amuck
• Empty protection of false religion
• Jacob’s assessment – ruined witness and safety

Conclusion – Sin excused can harden the heart of God’s children just like the world.

Introduction – God’s grace renews lives so that old quarrels can be forgotten.

I. Softening hard hearts – vv. 1-4

• Only grace can do this – Proverbs 16:7
• Recovering peace by doing our duty and paying respect
• Wept for joy and shame

II. Sharing what is important – vv. 5-15

• Jacob’s family – Psalm 127:3
• Jacob’s present – from fear to love – from enough to all – Deuteronomy 8:18
• The journey – company offered – Bones broken now set

III. Promise fulfilled – vv. 16-20

• Back in Canaan – promised land
• Purchases land
• Builds an altar – our tent/God’s altar

Conclusion – Completely gives glory to God in naming the altar: God, the God of Israel.

Introduction – Many things are given a new name when only cosmetic changes were made.

I. Good news from God – vv. 1-2

• Appeared to him in a calm and quiet period – Psalm 91:11
• God’s army/host

II. Bad news from Esau – vv. 3-8

• Humble message – soft answer – Ecclesiastes 10:4b
• Only request is for grace
• Split company into two

III. Petition on high – vv. 9-12

• Deliver me! Promise remembered
• Proper assessment – not worthy

IV. Effort follows prayer – vv. 13-23

• Noble presents – 580 animals – Proverbs 21:14
• Servant position

V. From 10 to 100 – vv. 24-32

• Alone Jacob sought the Lord
• Cannot prevail with God but in God’s strength – 2 Corinthians 12:9
• Wounded and healed at the same time – divine touch
• From “Trickster” to “Prince with God”
• Grace: I saw God and lived

Conclusion: Galatians 5:17 – Allow God to give us honor wounds.

Introduction – Many things in scripture concerning God’s family are not for imitation but for instruction.

I. Children will do it – vv. 1-24

• An answer to Rachel’s envy – vv.1, 22-24
• Rebuke from a loving husband – v. 2
• Desiring a reputation – vv. 13, 20

II. A new agreement will do it – vv. 25-36

• Homesick after 14 years of hard labor
• Laban desires more – stay
• Jacob’s responsibility for family – 1 Timothy 5:8

III. Trusting God will do it – vv. 37-43

• Man being a master of his trade – ingenious
• Strong impressions are made with the eyes
• Divine selection – the stronger

Conclusion – Jacob had been a faithful servant to Laban; God made him a  rich master.

Introduction – That which we give in life is that which we may expect in return.

I. What now? Life after visions – vv.1-8

• Run with endurance – Hebrews 12: 1-2
• Providence acknowledged

II. Character reveled – vv. 9-14

• Rachel’s (sheep) humility and industry
• Jacob’s tenderness and affection
• Mutual providence

III. A deal made (maybe) – vv. 15-30

• At 77, love labor – Hebrews 6:10
• Deceit return
• Two pictures?

IV. Providential balance – vv. 3l-35

• Not too elevated or depressed – I Corinthians 12: 24
• Leah acknowledges God’s grace
• Judah – line of Christ

Conclusion – As the Lord is formed in our hearts, we will praise/credit Him.

Introduction – Life choices isolate us at times but the Lord is always there.

I. Dire consequences – vv. 1-5

• Jacob has to leave home
• Leaving the land promised to him
• Important note: who you marry

II. Following the example – vv. 6-9

• Esau the greater begins to think Jacob is the better and copies his choice.

III. Night vision – vv. 10-15

• The ladder is a go-between
• Angels ascend to report and descend to execute orders of providence – Psalm 103:20-21
• I will never leave you – Hebrews 13:5

IV. The application – vv. 16-22

• God’s presence should bring awe – 2 Corinthians 12:7
• Set up a memorial
• Gives a solemn vow
• Why giving works
  • places our heart
  • brings modesty
  • builds dependence on God

Conclusion: Allow the Lord to speak to us in-between and may we listen! – Hebrews 11:6

Introduction – For decades, daytime television has been dominated by a cultural phenomenon known as the soap opera. These are dramatic daily episodes of domestic dramas that went on and on for years; stories of deceit, lies and general meanness that I used to watch when I was a teenager. This chapter would have worked well into one of these old shows.

I. My way – anyway –vv. 1-4

• The promise – Genesis 25 – Two nations and the elder serving the younger
• Isaac favored Esau – the man of the earth
• Wanted to give him the covenant blessing even though God had declared otherwise
• Overlooking the birthright sale and the heathen wife

II. The drama continues – vv. 5-13

• Rebekah – Just close enough to hear?
• Determined to see God’s plan move forward by any means
• Lies and deceit – taught by Mom
• Stealing what God has already promised to give

III. A stolen blessing – everybody loses

• Esau returns
• Isaac is grieved
• Murder is planned
• Jacob has to flee
• Rebekah loses two sons

Conclusion – What a mess!

• Isaac – wickedly trying to give a blessing to his favorite son when God had declared otherwise
• Rebekah – sinning in order to see God’s will done
• Jacob – guided by evil counsel when self interest involved
• Esau – disdain for the will and plan of God – could not recover – Hebrews 12:14-17

God’s will was done anyway. The covenant promise was fulfilled. When will we learn to follow God’s graceful lead instead of living our own soap opera?

Genesis 26:1-2

Introduction – God uses uncomfortable circumstances in order to further His will in our lives.

• Isaac is now the patriarch of the faith
• God was in control of the discomfort
• God’s apparent foolishness is better than man’s wisdom

Genesis 26:3-6

I. God Never Fails Man

• We need our minds renewed daily- Ephesians 4:22-24
• His promises do not change
• His intentions are eternally good

Genesis 26:7-11

II. Man Always Fails God

• Moderate sin always leads to excess sin
• It is unnatural to trust God – Romans 3:9-18
• Salvation vs. Sanctification
• Hitting bottom

Genesis 26:12-22

III. Growing Up Is Hard To Do!

• Isaac believes and invests in God’s plan
• The world will fight you every step of the way
• We must eagerly affirm each other’s faith- Galatians 6:9-10

Hebrews 12:1-3

Conclusion: Is your perspective in life God-centered or self-centered?

Romans 8:17-21