The Adventurous Journey in Immanuel
Genesis 28:1-21

(Intro)
What are the same aspect of gospel which shares in Jacob and us? Even though we and he are at different time frame and different steps of redemptive history, the plan of salvation is still the same for everyone under the sun: The redemption of Jesus Christ, who was prophesied from the time of Adam’s fall, has been only solution for all people. Here, as Jacob heard the gospel and the journey of covenant, by which they will accept the fulfillment of God’s promises – that their grandfather, Abaraham, received – and had a faith to settle in this promised land. We also received the promise, Jesus Christ, and received the promise to have victory and evangelize our field.
But, the step of settling and evangelization does not seem easy for Jacob, and for us. A huge obstacle or something we should pass by is waiting for us. Sometimes, a huge problematic situation is waiting for us. For Jacob, it is his brother, Esau: Jacob made him mad and faced a threat to be killed by him. Surely, it is fruit of Jacob’s fault: also, we could make a mistake by achieving the promise or blessings of God in our field and could hurt others. Satan does not want to overlook it.  He does wants ruin all you have received from God. He will use many means and take your faith down so that you would be vulnerable to unbelief and fall down. However, unless God permits, Satan cannot harm you. You are at God’s hand and His jurisdiction, not of Satan: all you see are just threats.

1. Genesis 28:1-5  The Blessing of Meeting: The Next Journey from those who have gospel: Family

1) What is about this paragraph?

Jacob runs away due to his deception of his brother. Even the man or woman of gospel has bad characters, God blesses his people regardless what you are. It does not mean that God is supporting your bad behaviors, but that God rescues his people from the curses of their sins and failures which come from their bad actions.

2) How does God lead his man or woman?

i. v. 1-2. God has a suitable plan for your journey in order you to establish a good dwelling place for enjoying the gospel. For Jacob, God plans for Jacob’s wife and family to confirm the promise of messiah and salvation.

ii. v.3. The meeting of wife is not just raising love between them, but it is establishing the field of Immanuel among his lovely people.

iii. God is almighty (v.3): He is strong enough to support and protect you.

iv. Bless you (v.3): The agape love of God is experienced through knowing what love is.

v. You may become a company of people (v.3)- You will establish the kingdom of God in your family through love

vi. make you fruitful and multiply you (v.3) – it is the repeated promise of Genesis 1:28. You will know what the real life of conquer.

vii. The descendents are the answers for knowing happiness by dominating the earth and enjoying immanuel (v.4)

2. Problem is that this journey occurs in totally strange place than you may expect

1) Just like Jacob, you may be placed in a distant place from your home ground (v. 6)

2) Two tasks to be reminded (v.6)

i.    Do not make the Cannanite women for your spouse to fulfill the promise of God.
ii.  Journey of 550 miles, to Paddan Aram

3) Why?

i. Wives of Esau are the Hittites, the most advanced tribe.  If we were Esau, why wouldn’t we hesitate to communicate with them? But, there might be something that God does not want to be pleased. what would that be?

ii. Parents of Esau do not be pleased by his wives, too. Esau figures out the possible reason. And, he takes a wife from the tribe of Ishmael (v.8). He might realize the covenant and the significance of a person who knows the value of gospel.

iii. But, parents do not seem to be happy, because Esau still has the previous wives: which means he still get in touch with those Hittites. He still expects from them a kind of better life.

iv. So, even though the appearance looks like a person of covenant, the appearance does not define his/her true spiritual identity. His/Her inner soul cannot belong to the people of covenant, who will inherit the gospel. This is an significant lessen: With whom do you want to share your life? Your life defines who you are. Even if you tries to be like a regenerated one, if God does not choose you, you are still out of the covenant.

3.    Jacob’s Dream

1) Why the person who received the promise of covenant should endure sufferings?

i. After blessings and grace, a huge trial and temptation could come to you. When it comes, do not fear. For, it is time for you to have a big leap due to this stumbling block.

ii. Since God has set a new field, you have to move on. But, since we are not a prophet or clairvoyant, we cannot see where to jump over. That is why God should prepare a kind of jumping board before your path.

iii. just like Jacob, it would be hard journey: no money, no good facility, no food nor man power… You will feel like you are dieing.

2) But, there is always a ladder before you in that journey (v. 12-13).

i. What Jacob sees are a Ladder, reached to the heaven, and angels ascending and descending on that.

1.   it is  a flight of steps(ESV). In the Near Eastern world, it would be a step of  ziggurat.

2. in other words, this ladder is a shape of TEMPLE-TOWER. Since a high priest lives on top of temple to reach god in ziggurat, it fit its context of Jacob’s description: God is standing on top of those steps.

3.    Wait a second, isn’t it like the tower of Babel? isn’t it the condemned structure?  No. As we studies, the significance of structure is defined by owner and his/her motivation. Who is the owner of the steps in Jacob’s dream? who are the owner of Babel? What were the motivations?

ii. It is very important to recognize that God comes to Jacob in order to confirm His abiding with Jacob. That is why God is standing on top of the ladder. In ESV, God could be standing BESIDE Jacob, in interpretation.

1. Jacob also recognizes that God is WITH him.  Jacob’s reaction in v. 16 suggests that he perceived God as being with him on earth rather than in heaven.

2. God is not distant from Jacob since after Jacob left from his home town. God is not staring at you from distant place, the Heaven. No! God is Abiding with Jacob in the journey now.

iii. That is why the promise of God, which has been pronounced by Issac, is repeated here.

1. It is the same promise that God is speaking to Jacob (v. 14-15). The difference is only one: the promise is not made by God’s representative (namely, his father), but by GOD HIMSELF.
Compare the promise to Abraham (12:3, 7; 13:14–16; 17:7–8; 18:18; 22:17–18) and his father, Isaac (26:4).

2. Just like Jacob, we also have our own promise which comes from God. The gospel is the promise of God. However, this gospel is detailed for your life journey, when it comes to you. Do you have this kind of specific promise?

3. Just like Jacob, we also experience the confirmation of our promise. God is not of Isaac. God is living God and of living people. God is your God, if you are a child of God. Then, do you have this confirmation in your life?

4. The Holy Spirit confirms this promise (John 14:14-16; Romans 8; 1John 5:1-10).

iv. Then, let’s finish with these questions. Where are your place of this experience? Where is the place that you can confess like Jacob? “Surely the Lord is in this place!! How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”(v. 16-17).

v. You should have Beth (house) – El (God).

vi. in this sense, this is not Jacob’s dream. This is Jacob’s vision.

v. I hope you have this vision, too. Pray for your spiritual eyes open and gazing around with new perspectives.