Truly Saved?

Jacob took his older brother’s birthright for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:33). When the death of father Isaac drew near and the time for father’s blessing, Jacob lied about being Esau and stole the blessing (Gen. 27:27).  Esau was incredibly angry putting Jacob’s life in jeopardy, so he fled for his mother’s family in Haran (Gen. 27:41).

The first night he came to Luz where he had two God experiences.  He saw a vision of angels coming and going from Heaven and heard God’s word promising to be with him through life.  He rose from sleep, erected a stone and poured oil on it, and made a vow to give a tithe to God going forward.  He renamed the place “Bethel” – the house of God (Genesis 28:12-22).

Then for twenty years he lived on deceiving and manipulating as before.  He showed no signs of a life change on the backside of his powerful church (the house of God) experience at Bethel.

This reminds us of Luke 13:25-27, You will stand outside knocking and pleading, “Sir, open the door for us.  But he will answer, “I don’t know you or where you come from.” Then you will say, “We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.”  But he will reply, “I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!” Here were people who took Communion, fellowshipped around dinners and events, and sat under Jesus’ teachings, but they were NOT saved!  I believe this is the case of Jacob at Luz the first time.  Jacob went on to Haran and lived a troubling life for twenty years.

Some of his life:

1. Married wrong – 29:17-18, 30
2. Wife troubles – 29:31, 30:1-2, 17
3. Work issues – 30:41-43, 31:1-2 (wages changed 10 times, 31:41)

Life was hard!  Ecclesiastes 2:17, Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Then he heard God say: I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me.  Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.  Genesis 13:3, 13

So, Jacob gathered up his vast family and holdings and tried to slink away – Genesis 31:20, 26-28

Jacob was moving, but God was also driving him in these ways:

1. Father-in-law Laban: at Mizpah 31:30,“Why did you steal my gods?” And he searched but did not find the household idols (31:36) Then Jacob was angry.  A threat – like divorce – and a clear separation.
2. Angels: 32:1-2, Jacob on his way and angels met him.  Guards to the land (police, legal) – both reassuring and frightful.
3. “Angry” Esau:  32:6, Messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him. So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed.
4. Fear: Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day, 32:23-24
5. Health set back: 32:25, Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.

Yet a liar – conniver, manipulator, deceiver. Genesis 33:14, Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go before me, and the children…18-20, Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem…and he pitched his tent before the city…he bought the parcel of land, 

6. Daughter raped: 34:1-2, Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her.
7. Sons murder: 34:13, But the sons of Jacob answered…deceitfully, 34:25, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males.
8. Neighbors mad: 34:30, Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me by making me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land…and since I am few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and kill me.

To Bethel 35:1-2, Then God said to Jacob (AGAIN!), “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God… And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.”

35:6-7 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel)…. And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel.  Now it was “El Bethel” – to God of the house of God!

And 35:10-11, God’s response?  Your name is now “Israel” and nations will come from you.  A new name and mission!  SAVED!