Genesis 25 tells us how Isaac and Rebekah had twin boys, Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25:21-26). They're not yet married, probably teenagers. Esau was Isaac's favorite son. And Jacob was Rebekah's favorite son (Genesis 25:28). One day Isaac told Esau to go out and kill a deer and to bring it so that can eat it together. He wanted to give a special blessing to him, even though God had said that the blessing would go to the younger, Jacob.

Rebekah overheard this and quickly told Jacob to prepare two goats to taste like deer meat. They took the goat skins and put them on Jacob's hands and arms to make his body feel like his hairy brother Esau. Then they got one of Esau's coats and put it on Jacob to make him look and smell like Esau. He wanted Jacob to look like Esau, sound like Esau, feel like Esau and smell like Esau.

1. Jacob Considers GOD to be his Father's God
When Jacob comes into his father with the goat meat that tasted like deer meat Isaac says to his son, "How is it that you have found it so quickly my son?" And Jacob answers,

Genesis 27:20

"The Lord your God brought it to me"

Did you see that? Whose God brought it? Not "the God" or "my God" but "your God." JACOB CONSIDERS GOD TO BE HIS DAD'S GOD.

Jacob's dad was getting old. His eyes were dim (Genesis 27:1). His senses were dull. And he mistakenly gave his youngest son, Jacob, the blessing instead of Esau. We also often think that we have to experience something - to see it, hear it, taste it and touch it before we will believe it. But we, like Isaac can have all that and still be deceived. What is important is not our experiences but God's word.

Esau was so angry that Jacob had to run away. He is going 400 miles (643 kilometers) to a place north of Israel called Haran (Genesis 28:2). The name Jacob means "the supplanter" or "deceiver." He tried to manipulate and deceive people to get his way. But did it help him? So far what was the result? (1) He didn't have a good relationship with his dad. (2) His brother wanted to kill him. (3) He had to leave his mother and never saw her again and (4) He had to leave all material possessions behind and run for his life. As he begins his journey he goes about 80 kilometers (50 miles) and comes to Bethel, in northern Israel. In a dream God said to Jacob,

Genesis 28:13

"I am the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac"

"And I want to be your God too." It wasn't enough to be Abraham's grandson. Jacob had to establish his own relationship with God.

Then look at verses 16-17. Jacob wakes up from his sleep and says, "Surely the Lord is in this place and I didn't even know it . . . how awesome is this place!"

2. Jacob Considers His Father's God Becoming His God.

In 28:20-21

Genesis 28:20-21

"Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in the way that I go, and will give me food to eat, and clothes to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the God be my God."

In other words, at this point Jacob says that this God is his father's and grandfather's God but not yet his God. But he is also saying that he is open to the idea of the God of his father becoming his God.

After having this dream Jacob takes the stone he had used for a pillow, poured oil on it and called the place Bethel, which meant house of God. He goes on to Haran where he lived and worked for his uncle (his mom's brother) Laban. He married and had 12 sons. Then God told Jacob "Go back to Bethel, the place where I first met you. Build an altar there as you promised" (Genesis 31:3). Jacob took all of his family and secretly left to return to his hometown. As they were fleeing Jacob makes the comment to his family that "the God of my father has been with me."

Jacob remembered that when he left 20 years ago, his brother Esau was very angry with him. In 32:9 he calls out to God,

Genesis 32:29

"Oh God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac ..."

and asks for God to help deliver him from the hand of his brother. As a gift to Esau from his stock he prepares to give 220 goats, 220 sheep, 30 camels, 50 cows, and 30 donkeys.

3. Jacob's Fathers' God Becomes his God.
That night Jacob wrestles with an angel, who changes his name to Israel (to strive with God). He comments in Genesis 32:30 "I have seen God face to face." Esau receives Jacob kindly and chapter 33 concludes in verse 20 by saying,

Genesis 33:20

"And he (Jacob) built an altar there, and called it El-elohe-Israel"

which literally means "El is the God of Israel." Before this Jacob knew that God existed and was powerful. But it is at this point that his relationship with God become personal. It was at this point that the God of Abraham and Isaac became the God of Jacob. And from this time on God said,

Exodus 3:6

"I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob."

Perhaps you've grown up in the church. Maybe your parents are Christians. But today we are asking you, Has the God of the church; has the God of your parents; has the God of the Bible become your God personally? When did He become your God? When you ask many people, "When did you become a Christian?" they often answer, "Since I was in my mother's stomach (mo-tae-shin)." In other words, they say, "I am a Christian because I was born in a Christian family." Being born in a Christian family doesn't make you a Christian. It doesn't matter if you father is a deacon, elder or even a pastor? It doesn't matter if your grandfather was Abraham himself. Nicodemus was a good moral religious teacher but Jesus said, "You must be born again" (John 3:7). You will have assurance of salvation when God becomes personal to you.

by Steve Nicholes
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