who had lived a full life. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him. (Gen. 35:9 29)

Transcription

1 LETTHEPROMISESOFGODSUSTAINYOU 35 9 AfterJacobreturnedfromPaddan aram,godagainappearedtohimandblessed him. 10 Godsaidtohim,YournameisJacob;butyournameshallnolongerbeJacob, Israelshallbeyourname.SohenamedhimIsrael. 11 AndGodsaidtohim,IamGod Almighty;befruitfulandincreaseinnumber;anation,indeed,acommunityofnations shallcomefromyou,andkingsshallcomefromyourbody. 12 ThelandwhichIgaveto AbrahamandIsaacIwillgivetoyou,andIwillgiveittoyourdescendantsafteryou. 13 ThenGodwentupfromhimattheplacewherehehadspokenwithhim. 14 Jacob setupapillarattheplacewherehespokewithhim,apillarofstone.hepouredouta drinkofferinguponit;healsopouredoiluponit. 15 TheplacewhereGodspokewith himjacobnamedbeth el. 16 Then they moved on from Beth el. While they were still some distance from Ephrath,Rachelbegantogivebirth,butsheexperiencedhardlabor. 17 Whileshewas in hard labor the midwife said to her, Fear not; for now you shall have another son. 18 As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Ben Oni; but his father calledhimbenjamin. 19 SoRacheldiedandwasburiedalongthewaytoEphrath(that is,beth lehem). 20 AndJacobsetupamemorialpillaruponhergrave;thatpillarmarks Rachel sgravetothisday. 21 Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder. 22 While IsraelwaslivinginthatlandReubenwentandsleptwithhisfather sconcubinebilhah; andisraelheardofit. NowJacobhadtwelvesons. 23 ThesonsofLeahwereReuben,(whowasJacob sfirstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel s maidservant, were Dan and Naphtali. 26 AndthesonsofZilpah,Leah smaidservant,weregadandasher.thesearethesons ofjacobthatwereborntohiminpaddan aram. 27 JacobcametohisfatherIsaacinMamrenearKiriath arba(thatis,hebron),the placewhereabrahamandisaachadstayed. 28 Isaacliveahundredandeightyyears. 29 ThenIsaactookhislastbreathanddiedandwasgatheredtohispeople,anoldman whohadlivedafulllife.hissonsesauandjacobburiedhim.(gen.35:9 29) Introduction Kathy Bartalsky and her husband, Steve, served as missionaries in Africa, where Steveflewhelicopterstotransportmissionandmedicalpersonneltoremotetribal areas. While they were stationed in the port city of Douda, Cameroon, Kathy contractedmalaria.lyinginherhospitalbed,sheprayedearnestlythatgodwould healher;assheprayed,amosquitobuzzedinherearandabeestungher.thenext morning Steve and Kathy received word that their financial support had dropped sharply.kathyrecallscryingout, LORD,howmuchmore!? Theanswerwassoonto come. The two aviation missionaries were transferred to Ethiopia, where, on August 4, 1987,Steve shelicoptercrashed,killingbothhimselfandhismissionarypassenger.

2 ThreedaysafterthecrashKathyfeltaneedtogotothesiteoftheaccidentandgeta clearpictureofwhathadhappened.asshesatthereonthehillside,lookingoutover thebeautifulafricanlandscape,shecontemplatedthetrialsthathadcomeintoher life.thisiswhatsheconcluded: WhatIwentthroughIdidnotvolunteerfor.YetIbelieveitcomesdowntothese basic questions. Are you going to trust Christ or aren t you? Are you going to standonthewordyou vebeentaughtoraren tyou? andifnot,whereelsecan youturn?(power,3/3/91,pp.2 ff.) When Jacob appears before Pharaoh, being transported to Egypt in his old age, he remarks: The years of my pilgrimage have been one hundred and thirty years; few anddifficulthavebeenthedaysoftheyearsofmylife (Gen.47:9.) When Jacob knows that the time of his death is drawing near, he gathers his sons untohim.addressingjoseph,hesays, thegodwhohasfedmeallmylifelongunto thisday,theangelwhohasredeemedmefromallevil,bless[yoursons] (Gen.48:15 16.) Addressing all his sons jointly, he recites a lengthy poem, which includes this testimony: ForyoursalvationIwait,OLORD (Gen.49:18.)Throughouthislife,and throughallhistrials,jacobwassustainedbythefaithfulpromisesofgod. Knowing that we must face many trials before we reach our final destination, the LORD has given His people His sure covenant promises to sustain us. As you make yourwaythroughthispresentworldwithallofitstribulations,letthepromisesof Godsustainyou. I.WhenYouExperiencePersonalTrials,LetthePromisesofGodSustainYou Genesis35:16 20recordsthecircumstancessurroundingRachel sdeath: Then they moved on from Beth el. While they were still some distance from Ephrath,Rachelbegantogivebirth,butsheexperiencedhardlabor. 17 Whileshe was in hard labor the midwife said to her, Fear not; for now you shall have anotherson. 18 Ashersoulwasdeparting(forshedied),shenamedhimBen Oni; buthisfathercalledhimbenjamin. 19 SoRacheldiedandwasburiedalongthe waytoephrath(thatis,beth lehem). 20 AndJacobsetupamemorialpillarupon hergrave;thatpillarmarksrachel sgravetothisday.(gen.35:16 20) Rachel, Jacob s beloved wife, was about to deliver their second child. But it provestobeaproblempregnancyandshediesintheprocessofgivingbirthto anotherson.thelordhadansweredherprayer,( [Rachel]called[herfirstson] Joseph,saying,MayJehovahaddtomeanotherson, Gen.30:24) atthecostof herlife,andjacobisbereavedbythelossoftheloveofhislife. Genesis 35:21 22 records the incident involving Reuben s immorality: Israel movedonagainandpitchedhistentbeyondthetowerofeder. 22 WhileIsraelwas

3 living in that land Reuben went and slept with his father s concubine Bilhah; and Israelheardofit. WhileJacobandhisfamilyaredwellingintheirtents,Reuben commits an act of immorality with his father s concubine, Bilhah, Rachel s maidservant.thereportofthisincidentgetsbacktojacob:hisfirst bornson,the future head of the family, engaged in an act of immorality that is almost incestuous.notehowgenesis49:3 4conveyatoneofshockandbetrayal: Reuben, you are my first born, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excellinginhonor,excellinginstrength. 4 Boilingoverlikewater,youshallnot have the pre eminence; because you went up to your father s bed, and you defiledit.hewentuptomycouch.(gen.49:3 4) Genesis35:27 29recordsthedeathofIsaac: JacobcametohisfatherIsaacinMamrenearKiriath arba(thatis,hebron),the placewhereabrahamandisaachadstayed. 28 Isaacliveahundredandeighty years. 29 ThenIsaactookhislastbreathanddiedandwasgatheredtohispeople, anoldmanwhohadlivedafulllife.hissonsesauandjacobburiedhim.(gen. 35:27 29) Jacob gathers up his family and comes to Mamre in order to be with his father, Isaac. Isaac was very elderly by this time, and Jacob, knowing his father s departurewouldbesoon,nodoubtwantedtospendsomefinaldayswithhim.in averyshorttimeisaacdies.nowbothofjacob sgreatforefathers,abrahamand Isaac,havedepartedandheislefttocarryonthecovenantlinealone. Genesis36:6 8reportsEsau sdeparturefromthelandofcanaan: Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all the members of his household, as well as his livestock and all his other animals and all the possessionshehadacquiredincanaan,andmovedtoalandsomedistancefrom his brother Jacob. 7 Their possessions were too great for them to remain together;thelandwheretheywerestayingcouldnotsupportthembothbecause oftheircattle. 8 SoEsausettledinmountSeir.EsauisEdom.(Gen.36:6 8) Atthetimeoftheirfather sdeaththetwobrothersarepresentandtogetherthey bury their father. Upon his return from Paddan Aram, Jacob had been reunited with his estranged brother. Now, a short time later, Jacob learns of Esau s decisiontopackupthefamilyandmoveawaytotheareaofmt.seir.jacobisnot onlybeingdeprivedofhisbrother scompanionshipashisclosestbloodrelative, Jacob is also witnessing a spiritual tragedy: his brother has made his final decision to leave the faith; he is walking away from the Promised Land and the covenantofthelord. Genesis37:31 35recordsthe loss ofjacob sbelovedson,joseph:

4 theytookjoseph srobe,slaughteredamalegoat,anddippedthecoatinthe blood. 32 Thentheybroughtthemulti coloredrobebacktotheirfatherandsaid, We have found this. Examine it to see whether or not it is your son s robe. 33 Jacobrecognizeditandsaid,Itismyson srobe;awildanimalhasdevoured him;josephiswithoutdoubttorninpieces. 34 ThenJacobtorehisgarmentsand putonsackclothandmournedhissonformanydays. 35 Andallhissonsandall his daughters came to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted. He said, I will go down to Sheol to my son mourning. So his father wept for him. (Gen. 37:31 35) Havingsoldtheirbrotherintoslavery,theelevensonsofJacobreportthatJoseph has been killed by a wild animal, offering his bloodstained coat as evidence. Receivingthetorn,bloodiedcoatnodoubtrefreshedJacob smemoryofthetime hehadpresentedittohissonasaspecialgift,becausejosephwasespeciallydear tohim: NowIsraellovedJosephmorethanallhischildren,becausehewastheson ofhisoldage;sohemadeforhimamulti coloredrobe (Gen37:3.)Josephwasthe sonofjacob sbelovedwife,thesonwhosustainedhiminhissorrowandoldage. WhenJacobispresentedwiththeprospectofhisson sviolentdeath,hetakesit veryhard:hemournedformanydaysandrefusedtobecomforted. NowonderJacobtestifiedbeforePharaohthattheyearsofhislifehavebeen few and difficult (or, calamitous filled with calamities.) But he also made this triumphant testimony on his deathbed: For your salvation I wait, O LORD (Gen. 49:18.) Whenyouexperiencepersonaltrials: thedepartureofalifetimecompanioninmarriage disappointmentcausedbythemoralfailureofachildonwhomyouseta specialhope thelossofgodlyforefatherswhowereasourceofspiritualstrengthanda livingconnectiontoyourpastspiritualheritage witnessingabrothermakeatragicspiritualchoice,departingfromthe faithofhisfathersnevertocomeback theprematureandevenviolentlossofadearlybelovedchild youmustletthepromisesofgodsustainyou: But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, I have chosen you andhavenotcastyouaway. 10 Fearnot,forIamwithyou;donotbedismayed, foriamyourgod.iwillstrengthenyou;indeed,iwillhelpyou.iwillupholdyou withmyrighteousrighthand.(isa.41:8 10)

5 II.WhenYouExperienceSpiritualTrials,LetthePromisesofGodSustainYou Genesis 35:21 contains this commentary on Jacob s residence in the Promised Land: IsraelmovedagainandpitchedhistentbeyondthetowerofEder. Jacobis hereidentifiedwithhisnewgod givennameofisrael thenamethatconnotes spiritual victory and blessing: the Angel of the LORD said, Your name shall no longerbejacob,butisrael:foryouhavewrestledwithgodandwithmenandhave prevailed (Gen. 32:28.) But Jacob is described as journeying through the PromisedLandanddwellingintents,indicatingthathehadnopermanent,secure possessionoftheland. Previously,JacobhadsecuredapieceofpropertyinthesuburbsofShechem,as describedingenesis33:18 20, When Jacob returned from Paddan aram, he came in peace to the city of Shechem,whichisinthelandofCanaan,andencampedbeforethecity. 19 Fora hundred pieces of silver he bought from the sons of Hamor, (Hamor was the fatherofshechem),theplotofgroundwherehehadpitchedhistent. 20 Thenhe erectedanaltarthereandcalleditel elohe Israel.(Gen.33:18 20) Verse 19 indicates he was making the transition from transitory tent life to permanent possession. The altar he erects is to the God of Israel, declaring the land of Canaan as the holy possession of the LORD and His people (vs. 20.) But followingthispeacefulsettlementinthesuburbsofshechemcomestheincident described in Genesis 34. Recorded in Genesis 34 is the rape of Dinah, the vengeancetakenbysimeonandlevi,andjacob sdeparturefromhispossession inshechem.soitisthatingenesis35:21wefindjacoboncemorelivingintents andtravelingthroughthelandasatransient. Thiswholecourseofeventsmayhaveprovedtobeanunbearablespiritualtrial forjacob.hemaywellhavewondered,haveweblownit?haveweforfeitedthe possessionoftheland?hasthelordrescindedhispromises?allthismayhave provedtobeaninsufferableburdentojacob,haditnotbeenforthepromisesof God, After [Jacob] returned from Paddan aram, God again appeared to him and blessed him. 10 God said to him, Your name is Jacob; but your name shall no longerbejacob,israelshallbeyourname.sohenamedhimisrael. 11 AndGod said to him, I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number; a nation, indeed,acommunityofnationsshallcomefromyou,andkingsshallcomefrom yourbody. 12 ThelandthatIgavetoAbrahamandIsaacIwillgivetoyou,andI willgiveittoyourdescendantsafteryou.(gen.35:9 12) Genesis42:5reportsthattherewasafamineinthelandofCanaan: thesonsof Israelcametobuygrainamongthosewhocame[intothelandofEgypt],because thefaminewasinthelandofcanaan. Thefamineisofsuchseverityandduration

6 thatitbecomesimpossibletosustaintheirflocksandherds,whicharetheirvery livelihood, as they explain to Pharaoh: We have come to temporarily live in the landbecausethereisnopastureforyourservants flocks,sincethefamineissevere in the land of Canaan. Now, therefore, we beg you, let your servants settle in the landofgoshen (Gen.47:4.) The severe famine, coupled with the invitation from a resurrected Joseph, causesjacobtoresettleinegypt.butnowjacobisfacedwiththeprospectthathe himselfwilldieoutsideofthepromisedland,andhisfamilywillfindthemselves re locatedinaforeignland.onceagain,thisturnofeventscouldhaveposedan unbearablespiritualtrialforjacob:isgodcastingmeoffinmyoldage?willgod befaithfultore gatherandreassemblemychildreninthepromisedland?but onceagainheissustainedbythepromisesofgod: So Israel set out with all his possessions and came to Beer sheba; there he offeredsacrificestothegodofhisfatherisaac. 2 ThenGodspoketoIsraelina visionatnightandsaid,jacob,jacob.andhesaid,hereiam. 3 Andhesaid,Iam God,theGodofyourfather.DonotfeartogodownintoEgypt,forIwillthere make you into a great nation. 4 I will go down with you into Egypt; and, furthermore,iwillsurelybringyouupagain,andjoseph shandshallcloseyour eyes[atthetimeofyourdeath.](gen.46:1 4) When you experience spiritual trials, when the weight of guilt and the consequence of sin lay heavily upon us, there comes the question, Will God restore me and grant me forgiveness, or not? Or at times the question arises in our minds, Will God remember me in the closing days of my life and bring me safelyintohiseverlastingkingdom?whentheplansandpurposesofgodappear to be frustrated or even seem threatened to be negated by the adverse circumstancesoflife,therecomesthequestion,hasgodlostcontrol? In all such circumstances, and when encountering any trial, you must let the promisesofgodsustainyou: But now this is what Jehovah says, who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel, Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have given you your name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and throughtherivers,theyshallnotsweepoveryou.whenyouwalkthroughthe fire, you shall not be burned, neither shall the flame set you ablaze. 3 I am JehovahyourGod,theHolyOneofIsrael,yourSavior.(Isa.43:1 3a) Conclusion RememberthetrialsandthetestimonyofMrs.KathyBartalsky: WhatIwentthroughIdidnotvolunteerfor.YetIbelieveitcomesdowntothese basic questions: Are you going to trust Christ or aren t you? Are you going to

7 standonthewordyouhavebeentaughtoraren tyou?whereelsewillyouturn? WhatelseintheworldcangiveyouthehopethatisinChristJesusandallHecan offer? Remember the trials and the testimony of our spiritual forefather, Jacob: Few and calamitous have been the days of the years of my life (Gen. 47:9,) but he also wentontotestify, foryoursalvationdoiwait,olord (Gen.49:18.) Asyoumakeyourwaythroughthispresentworldwithallofitstribulations,letthe promisesofgodsustainyou;andyouwillnotbedisappointed: Anditshallbesaidinthatday,See,thisisourGod;wehavewaitedforhim,andhe willsaveus.thisisjehovah;wehavewaitedforhim,wewillbegladandrejoicein hissalvation.(isa.25:9) Israel shall be saved by Jehovah with an everlasting salvation; you shall not be disappointednordisgracedforalleternity.(isa.45:17)