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Gen 28:16-22. My God, My Altar. Introduction. Jacob Interesting personal history Interesting spiritual journey Jacob become Israel. Gen 28:16-22 (1).
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Gen 28:16-22 My God, My Altar
Introduction • Jacob • Interesting personal history • Interesting spiritual journey • Jacob become Israel
Gen 28:16-22 (1) • And Jacob awakened from his sleep. And he said, Surely Jehovah is in this place, and I did not know. (17) And he was afraid, and said, How fearful is this place! This is nothing but the house of God, and this is the gate of Heaven! (18) And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone which he had put at his head, and set it as a memorial pillar, and poured oil on the top of it.
Gen 28:16-22 (2) • (19) And he called the name of that place The House of God. But the name of that city was Luz at first. (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 clothing to put on, (21) and I come again to my father's house in peace, then shall Jehovah be my God. (22) And this stone which I have set for a pillar shall be God's house. And of all that You shall give me, I will surely give the tenth to You.
Jacob (1) • Worldly • Knows his family religion • Jacob father’s God not Jacob’s • Gen 27:19-20 And Jacob said to his father, I am Esau your first-born. I have done as you asked me. Arise, I pray you, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me. (20) And Isaac said to his son, How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because Jehovah your God brought it to me.
Jacob (2) • Jacob was rather distant from God • God’s grace came calling • The Jacob’s ladder • Feared God and sought God
Jacob worshipped God Gen 35:1-7 And God said to Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. And make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother. (2) Then Jacob said to his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods among you, and be clean, and change your garments. (3) And let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
Jacob worshipped God (4) And they gave all the strange gods which were in their hands to Jacob, and the earrings in their ears. And Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. (5) And they moved. And the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. (6) And Jacob came to Luz in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people with him. (7) And he built an altar there and called the place El-bethel, because God appeared to him there when he fled from the face of his brother.
Jacob worshipped God • No longer his father’s God, his father altar; but his God, his Altar.
Is your father’s God your God? • The problem with Chinese youths • The causes • Puberty • Cultural differences – Chinese v. American • Social influences and pressures • Seeking independence • They leave because they already have gone
Trust in God’s grace, love & promise • Remember the little child in you • Luk 18:16-17 But Jesus called them and said, Allow the little children to come to Me, and forbid them not. For of such is the kingdom of God. (17) Truly I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no way enter into it. • You were not “impressionable”, but pure.
Trust in God’s grace, love & promise • Yet, grow to be spiritual adults • 1Co 14:20 Brothers, do not be children in your minds, but in malice be like infants, and in your minds be mature.
Conclusions Jehovah is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will glorify Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him. (Exo 15:2) • Be a true child before God • Be a true adult in God • My God, my altar