(Genesis) Genesis 32:13-19
Jacob's actions reveal a lack of trust in God, highlighting the importance of trusting in His protection and promises.
In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Jacob and his preparations to meet his brother Esau. Jacob decides to send a generous gift of livestock to Esau in order to appease him and gain his favor. He strategically sends the gifts in waves, with his servants explaining that they are from Jacob and meant as a present for Esau. The preacher highlights that Jacob's actions reveal a lack of trust in God, despite praying for protection and guidance. The sermon concludes by challenging listeners to examine their own trust in God and their tendency to take burdens back upon themselves instead of fully relying on Him.
Full Transcript
Verse 13, he lodged there that same night, took of that which came to his hand a present, for he saw his brother. Two hundred she-goats, twenty he-goats, two hundred ewes, twenty rams, thirty milk camels with their coats, forty kine and ten bulls, twenty she-asses and ten foals. You see, he's pretty generous with his stock now.
And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves, and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove. Now, you see, his tactic is this. He'll send out a drove, a very rich gift for his brother.
And when that first drove would arrive, Esau would say, Well, what is this? He said, Well, we're bringing you a gift from your brother Jacob. And then he'd receive that, he'd ride on a little farther, meet another drove, same size. And he'd ask them, Where are you going? Well, they said, We're going to meet Esau.
Well, he said, I'm Esau. Well, he said, Here's a gift for you from your brother Jacob. Believe me, by the time that he got down to where Jacob and the family were, he'd be softened by then.
You see, he's prayed to God, and he's reminded the Lord that, You told me to return to my country. You said you'd protect me. But does he believe God? No.
He goes right ahead and makes these arrangements, which reveals he wasn't trusting God at all. And that, I'm afraid, is our same position. Many of us take our burdens to the Lord in prayer.
We just spread them out before him. I do that. Then when we get through praying, we get right up and put each little burden right back on our back and start out again with it.
We really don't believe him, do we? We don't really trust him as we should. Now, let me put in it, verse 17, And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou, and whither goest thou, and whose are these before thee? Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's. It's a present unto my Lord Esau.
And behold, also he's behind us. He's coming, and that'll be one after another like that. This is the plan that he's working on.
Sermon Outline
- Jacob's Generosity
- Jacob's Tactic
- Jacob's Lack of Trust
- The Importance of Trust
- Believing in God's protection
- Trusting God's promises
Key Quotes
“We really don't believe him, do we? We don't really trust him as we should.” — J. Vernon McGee
“He goes right ahead and makes these arrangements, which reveals he wasn't trusting God at all.” — J. Vernon McGee
“And behold, also he's behind us. He's coming, and that'll be one after another like that.” — J. Vernon McGee
Application Points
- We must learn to trust God fully, rather than trying to control situations ourselves.
- Prayer is not just about sharing our burdens, but also about trusting God to handle them.
- Believing in God's protection and promises is essential for a life of faith and trust.