[0:00] Good evening, everyone. A warm welcome to the service this evening. It's good to see a lot of young folks as well.
[0:10] ! We're all heading through to the Big YF in Stornoway tonight. So a special welcome to yourselves. We're going to begin this time of worship and we'll sing to God's praise from Psalm 121.
[0:24] Psalm 121, the first two stanzas of the psalm. Psalm 121, the first two stanzas in Gaelic. I to the hills will lift mine eyes from whence doth come my need. My safety cometh from the Lord, who heaven and earth hath made. Thy foot deal not, let slide, nor will he slumber that he keeps.
[0:44] Behold, he that keeps Israel, he slumbers not, nor sleeps. So we'll sing the first two stanzas to God's praise. And after that, Scott will come and lead us in a shorter word of prayer. Not in Gaelic, he tells me. He doesn't have that tongue for this evening. But Scott will lead us in a word of prayer in English, please.
[1:05] Amen. Amen.
[1:36] in love Thank you.
[3:05] Thank you.
[3:35] Thank you.
[4:05] Thank you.
[4:35] thank you again for this opportunity we can join together we can intently come towards you to work with you and as we do so we pray that your word would speak to us knowing that you are a god that does not flumber nor sleep you are a god that we can come to and look towards as a loving heavenly father and we are your children and you have told us to come as little children so give us that mindset to come simply without hesitancy and to come as a child would to their mother or father a person that brings them peace and security a person who they look up to as their aid and the one in whom could all live trust so we come trusting you and we come faithfully relying on you we pray that as we open the world together that it would be a blessing to us that it would speak to our hearts and speak into our circumstances that it would be a world fresh as a flowing stream that would refresh those who feel dry that you would bring life to those hearts that are dead that is the power of your word and that is the power that we place out first if you can do our work even a work that we couldn't believe if it was told to us and so we pray that you would be a god a father that would do a great work once more as we thought about in the morning as we thought about in the morning you are the same god that has done great works in many lives and we pray again feeding the power of your spirit to come upon us and to reign as it were over our village our town our nation our world we pray for down your blessing upon us we pray as a jew falls on the inside the jew of heaven falls on the inside may that jew come down from you to the people to your people and refresh us lord we pray that we would grow in grace for our new life and we pray that we would grow in grace and we pray that we would grow in grace and we pray that we would be a blessing to us all to be gathered here together and we pray that we would discover anew miracle that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would find ourselves sitting that we would find ourselves sitting that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would discover that we would put that we would put that we would put that we would put that we would put that we would put that we put that
[8:15] And that we would not be consumed with the worries of this world, nor the cares of it for this moment. For there are many worries and concerns in this world that can distract us, and right where they are in their own time. But for the moment, Lord we pray, give us peace of mind and a focus upon you. And that we would say, it is good to be here. It is good to sit at your feet. It is good to hear your instructions. Because we need it so often. And we need to be reminded of the basic truths of Scripture. Because we are a people that so often forget. So often we, as sin gets into our lives, we can be the smallest of sins. And they can lead us astray and we can be so easily tempted.
[9:13] And we can be so easily become stiff-necked and proud. Lord, soften up us as we come to you.
[9:24] Show us an understanding of who we are and our need of a Seder. Make eternity real to us. that there is an eternity in hell and an eternity in heaven. Both promised to us.
[9:42] That we would come acknowledging our need. Acknowledging the brevity of time. Acknowledging that our need of our Seder. That blood that has washed us clean if we receive him. That perfect sacrifice on the cross. That has satisfied divine justice. And if we place our trust in him, it is nothing to condemn us anymore.
[10:21] We are set free. There is no charge against our name. Because Jesus has paid the price. We pray on for Stuart and the family. We pray on for Gordon and the family. We pray for many more labourers to come. To hear your calling on their lives. To preach the gospel.
[10:49] and that they would be faithful in their lives holding fast to your word and preparing that too we pray on again for lydia we pray on again for those who have laid aside those who cannot come out to be with us we pray that you would bless them in our gathering together we thank you for the technology and is available online and we pray that you would speak with all you do meet intentionally together to worship you and to glorify your name so we pray be with us now watch over the young ones as they go to big white after the service keep them safe and travel and we pray bless their time together mold mold us in our lives whether young or old and guide us as the good shepherd does we ask all these things in Jesus name
[11:58] Amen thank you Scott we're going to sing again to God's praise this time from mission praise 760 a hymn about walking with the Lord when we walk with the Lord in the light of his word what a glory he sheds on our way while we do his good will he abides with us still and with all who will trust and obey trust and obey there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey we'll stand to sing in just a moment to God's praise amen in of his work what a glory he sheds on our way for he is good will he abides with us still and with all who will trust and obey trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey not a shadow can rise not a God in the skies not a smile with me guides in the way not a death not a fear not a sky not a tear can abide while we trust and obey trust and obey or there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey not a burden we share not a sorrow we share but the joy of which we repay not a grief nor a loss not a prayer nor a cross but to trust and obey but to trust and obey trust and obey trust and obey put in the miracle
[14:56] For the glad and good will trust and obey. Trust and obey. All that is no other way.
[15:09] To be happy in Jesus. But to trust and obey. And in fellowship sweet.
[15:21] We will set God's feet. All we walk by his side in the way. What he says we will do.
[15:33] Where he says we will go. Never fear only. Trust and obey. Trust and obey.
[15:44] All that is no other way. To be happy in Jesus. But to trust and obey.
[16:01] If you could turn in your Bibles please to Genesis chapter 31. For those who are visiting.
[16:13] We are going through Genesis. The life of Jacob. We are in at the moment. We looked at Abraham. And then Isaac. And we are now looking at Jacob.
[16:24] And at chapter 31. We have a fair bit of tension. Between Jacob. And his father-in-law. Wives. That's right.
[16:35] He had two wives. Was that right? No it wasn't right. But it's what was happening back. In that time. At that place. And the brothers as well. So it's tense.
[16:46] There's a. There's a sense of a gathering storm here. And Jacob. Is getting ready to. To leave. To head back to the place. That was going to be.
[16:57] His home. So Genesis chapter 31. Verse 1. Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban. Were saying Jacob has taken.
[17:08] All that was our fathers. And from what was our fathers. He has gained all his wealth. And Jacob saw that Laban. Did not regard them with favor as before. Then the Lord said to Jacob.
[17:20] Return to the land of your fathers. And your kindred. And I will be with you. So Jacob sent and called. Rachel and Leah. Into the field. Where his flock was. And said to them.
[17:31] I see that your father. Does not regard me with favor. As he did before. But the God of my father. Has been with me. You know that I have served your father. With all my strength. Yet your father has cheated me.
[17:43] And changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me. If he said the spotted. Shall be your wages. Then all the flock bore spotted. And if he said the striped.
[17:54] Shall be your wages. Then all the flock bore striped. Thus God has taken away the livestock. Of your father. And given them to me. In the breeding season of the flock. I lifted up my eyes.
[18:05] And saw in a dream. That the goats that mated with the flock. Were striped spotted and mottled. Then the angel of the God. Said to me in a dream. Jacob. And I said here I am.
[18:16] And he said lift up your eyes. And see. All the goats that mate with the flock. Are striped spotted and mottled. For I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. I am the God of Bethel.
[18:27] For you anointed a pillar. And made a vow to me. Now arise. Go out from this land. And return to the land of your kindred. Then Rachel and Leah answered.
[18:38] And said to him. Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father's house? Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us. And he has indeed devoured our money.
[18:49] All the wealth that God has taken away from our father. Belongs to us and to our children. Now then whatever God has said to you. Do. So Jacob arose.
[19:00] And set the sons and wives on camels. He drove away all his livestock. All his property that he had gained. And livestock in his possession. That he had acquired in Paddan Aram.
[19:12] To go to the land of Canaan. To his father Isaac. Laban had gone to shear his sheep. And Rachel stole her father's household gods. And Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean.
[19:23] By not telling him what he intended. That he intended to flee. He fled with all that he had. And arose and crossed the Euphrates. And set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.
[19:35] When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled. He took his kinsmen with him. And pursued him for seven days. And followed close after him. Into the hill country of Gilead.
[19:46] But God came to Laban the Aramean. In a dream by night. And said to him. Be careful. Not to say anything to Jacob. Either good or bad. And Laban overtook Jacob.
[19:58] Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country. And Laban with his kinsmen pitched tents in the hill country of Gilead. And Laban said to Jacob. What have you done? That you have tricked me.
[20:09] And driven away my daughters. Like captives of the sword. Why did you flee secretly and trick me? And did not tell me. So that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs.
[20:19] With tambourine and lyre. And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and daughters farewell? Now you have done foolishly. It is in my power to do you harm. But the God of your father spoke to me last night.
[20:32] Saying be careful. Not to say anything to Jacob. Either good or bad. And now you have gone away. Because you long greatly for your father's house. Well why did you steal my gods?
[20:43] Jacob answered and said to Laban. Because I was afraid. For I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. Anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live.
[20:56] In the presence of our kinsmen. Point out what I have done. What I have that is yours. And take it. Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them. So Laban went into Jacob's tent.
[21:07] And into Leah's tent. And into the tent of the two female servants. But he did not find them. And he went out of Leah's tent. And entered Rachel's. Now Rachel had taken the household gods.
[21:18] And put them in the camel's saddle. And sat in them. Laban felt all about his tent. But he did not find them. And he said to her. And he said. And she said to her father.
[21:28] Let not my lord be angry. That I cannot rise before you. For the way of woman is upon me. So he searched. But did not find the household gods. Then Jacob became angry.
[21:38] And berated Laban. Jacob said to Laban. What is my offense? What is my sin? That you have so hotly pursued me. For you have felt through all my goods. What have you found?
[21:50] Of all your household goods. Set it here before my kinsmen. And your kinsmen. That they may decide between us two. These twenty years. I have been with you.
[22:00] Your ewes and your female goats. Have not miscarried. And I have not eaten the rams of your flocks. What was torn by wild beasts. I did not bring to you.
[22:12] I bore the loss of it myself. From my hand you required it. Whether stolen by day. Or stolen by night. There I was. By day. The heat consumed me.
[22:22] And the cold by night. And my sleep fled from my eyes. These twenty years. I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years. For your two daughters. And six years for your flock.
[22:35] And you have changed my wages ten times. If the God of my father. The God of Abraham. And the fear of Isaac. Had not been on my side. Surely. You would have sent me away empty handed.
[22:47] God saw my affliction. And the labor of my hands. And rebuked you last night. Then Laban answered. And said to Jacob. The daughters are my daughters. The children are my children.
[22:57] The flocks are my flocks. And all that you see is mine. But what can I do. This day for these my daughters. Or for the children whom they are born. Come now. Let us make a covenant.
[23:09] You and I. And let it be a witness. Between you and me. So Jacob took a stone. And set it up as a pillar. And Jacob said to his kinsmen. Gather stones.
[23:20] And they took stones. And made a heap. And they ate there by the heap. Laban called it. Jigar at Sathaduthah. But Jacob called it. Galid.
[23:31] Laban said. This heap is a witness. Between you and me today. Therefore he named it Galid. And Mizpah. For the Lord. For he said. The Lord watch. Between you and me.
[23:41] When we are out of one another's side. If you oppress my daughters. Or if you take wives. Beside my daughters. Although no one is with us. See. God is witness.
[23:52] Between you and me. Then Laban said to Jacob. See this heap. And the pillar. Which I have set. Between you and me. This heap is a witness. And the pillar is a witness. That I will not pass over this heap to you.
[24:04] And you will not pass over this heap. And this pillar to me. To do harm. The God of Abraham. And the God of Nahar. The God of their father. Judged between us.
[24:15] So Jacob swore by the fear. Of his father Isaac. And Jacob offered a sacrifice. In the hill country. And called his kinsmen. To eat bread. They ate bread.
[24:26] And spent the night. In the hill country. Early in the morning. Laban arose. And kissed his grandchildren. And his daughters. And blessed them. Then Laban departed.
[24:37] And returned home. Amen. And may God bless that reading. Of his word to us. We'll sing again to God's praise. Now from Mission Praise. Two hundred and seventy five.
[24:48] I heard the voice of Jesus say. Come unto me and rest. I heard the voice of Jesus say.
[25:12] Come unto me and rest. Come unto me and rest. Take down the weary. One day there.
[25:24] Thy head upon my rest. I give to Jesus. As I was.
[25:35] With thee and born and son. I found in him. A resting place.
[25:46] And he has made me glad. I heard the voice of Jesus say.
[25:58] Behold I believe in. The living water. The living water. The thirsty one.
[26:09] To burn and drink and live. I came to Jesus. And I died.
[26:20] All that life-giving stream. My thirst was quenched. My soul refined. My soul refined.
[26:31] And now I live in him. I heard the voice of Jesus say.
[26:42] I am this carport's light. Welcome to me. Thy born shall rise.
[26:53] And all thy day be glad. I look to Jesus. And I found in him.
[27:05] My star, my sun. And in that light. All life I walk. Till traveling days are done.
[27:19] If you could turn back with me please.
[27:30] To Genesis 31. If you've got Bibles. Please open them. There's a lot of verses. And I want to just work through the verses. If you've got Bibles on your phones.
[27:42] Or wherever. Open them now please. Just so we can track through this. But as we go back to the passage. Let's again pray. And ask for God's help.
[27:53] Heavenly Father. We thank you for your word. We thank you for the reminder. That every page of scripture. Is God breathed. And it's relevant. It's useful.
[28:04] For us. It's necessary for us to read. And to learn from. Sometimes we come to passages. And they're very easy for us to see. The Lord Jesus.
[28:15] And to see our need of Christ. And sometimes. We're in passages like. This one. Where we're trying to understand. What you may be saying to us. From a story that goes back so far.
[28:27] In terms of time. And so far from us. And location. So help us to understand. We pray. Holy Spirit. Be our teacher. And guide us. And lead us.
[28:37] As we come under your word. And as Scott has prayed. We would pray again. For Stuart. At Cross Boss tonight. We pray for Gordon. As he serves you. As he leads.
[28:48] In Carloway. And we ask Lord. That you would be with them. As we pray. That you would be with us. We pray for all other churches. All denominations. Around us. Here.
[28:58] Across the islands. Across the nation. Whatever Christ crucified. Is preached. We ask Lord. That you would be. Blessing. And building. Your church. And we pray for the Big YF.
[29:10] As well tonight. And ask that you would give. All of us safety. As we travel over there. And that your word. Would be spoken. Clearly. Clearly. In a way. That we can all understand.
[29:21] And learn from. So help us Lord. We pray. As we look to you. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen. There's lots of stories.
[29:32] That have been written. And there's lots of films. That have been made. About escapes. Escape stories. Probably. The most famous.
[29:43] Film. On that subject. Would be the film. The Great Escape. The story of. Allied prisoners. Of war. Breaking out. From a POW camp.
[29:53] It's a film. I think it's broadcast. Every year. Especially at Christmas time. And Genesis 31. If we're trying to get our head. Around what exactly happened.
[30:04] In the verses that I read. Are rattled through tonight. This is. The true story. Of another great escape. As Jacob. And his family.
[30:17] Escape from. The employment. And from the controlling. Influence. Of this. Deceitful character. Laban. They're going from one household.
[30:29] To another place. A place that Jacob. Knew to be. His home. So it's a story. Of a great escape. And. I have.
[30:40] In front of me. Six points. And. I will work through. As many points. As I have time for. Between now. And five to seven. First point. Is return.
[30:52] Return. And that's what God. Called. Jacob. To do. If you look at verses. One. To verse three. Now. Jacob.
[31:02] Heard. That. The sons of Laban. Were saying. Jacob. Has taken all. That are. That was our fathers. And from. What. Was our fathers. He's gained all.
[31:12] As well. So there's jealousy. Between. Jacob. And his brothers in law. And Jacob. Saw that Laban. His father in law. Did not regard him.
[31:23] With favor. As before. Then the Lord. Said to Jacob. Return. To the land. Of your fathers. And to your kindred. And I will be with you. So the chapter.
[31:35] Begins. With the call. Of God. To Jacob. And it was a clear call. And it was a call. To return.
[31:47] Return. To the land. Of your fathers. And your kindred. And if you just. Rewind a little. To chapter 30.
[31:59] And at verse 25. We can see. That. Just a little while back. Jacob. He has. This desire. To head back home.
[32:10] To the land. Of his fathers. And his kindred. But at that point. It was only a desire. He wants to go home. But the door. Didn't open. For him.
[32:21] To go home. At that point. But now. At this point. There is a call. And God says. Clearly to Jacob.
[32:31] Return. And just thinking. About God's call. We have to remember. That our God. Is a God. Who speaks to us.
[32:41] That's why we read the Bible. That's why we come. To church. Yes. To encourage each other. Yes. To be with each other. But we come. Every week.
[32:52] And we read the Bible. And every night. I hope. That we. Open our. Our Bibles. Or our Bible apps. And we're. We're listening. And we're asking God. To speak to us. And God speaks to.
[33:08] To Jacob. And he calls him. He calls him to return. And when we think about God's call. This is often how God works in our.
[33:20] Our lives. I should get Stuart up. To say this. He'll tell you. In due course. Very often when God is. Is calling us.
[33:31] At first there's a desire. And then that desire builds. To a point where it becomes clear. Through the word of God. That he is calling us.
[33:45] Maybe to do something. Maybe to. To go somewhere. Maybe even. Sometimes to return. To a place.
[33:57] Or to a situation. Where. Once we had been. And we have left behind. So. First point. Return. Point number two.
[34:08] Risk. So Jacob. He. He comes under the call. Of God. And. As he realizes. That the door is opening.
[34:19] He. He has that realization. That. This is the time. Not only does he have the desire. That God is speaking. And this is the time. That he is to return home.
[34:33] And I wonder how Jacob felt. At that point. I imagine. Jacob.
[34:43] Jacob would have had. Mixed feelings. About the prospect. Of going home. I imagine he probably. Had a sense of joy.
[34:55] And excitement. As he thought about going back. To that place. At the place. Of his fathers. And his people. His kindred.
[35:08] And yet. There was great risk. There was actually. Great danger. Not just risk. But there was great danger. In.
[35:19] Responding. To this call. To go home. Why was that? Well. Because. When Jacob. Left home. These 20 years ago.
[35:30] The family. Weren't standing. At the porch. With big smiles on. And waving him goodbye. Jacob. Was actually. Driven out. Of the family home.
[35:42] He was forced out. He deceived his father. He had deceived. And double crossed. His brother. His brother. Was furious. And so.
[35:54] Jacob's. Mother says. You have to run. For your life. If your brother. Gets his hands on you. He will kill you. So. Jacob. Literally.
[36:06] Ran. For his life. To escape. His brother. Esau. That's how he left home. And yes.
[36:16] 20 years. Had passed. Since then. But Esau. Was still alive. And Jacob. Is thinking. Esau. Is probably. Still furious. Esau. Dale Ralph Davis.
[36:29] The commentator. Says. Jacob. Seemed quite sure. That Esau. Had not forgotten. Jacob. Is facing. What he thinks. Is his worst nightmare.
[36:40] Jacob. Is returning. At God's command. But that. Did not dissolve. His. Fear. Fear. So there's the call of God.
[36:55] On Jacob's life. It's a call to return. To head back home. But that call. That clear call. It was loaded.
[37:08] With risk. And he's. Fearful. As he thinks about it. And you know. That's often the case.
[37:19] When we think about God's call. Upon our lives. When Jesus. Calls us. To follow him. When Jesus.
[37:32] Calls us. Whether we're very young. Or we're a bit older. When Jesus. Calls us. To trust him. When Jesus.
[37:43] Calls us. To commit our lives to him. And to become. A Christian. To become Christ's ones. It can be scary. And we'll think about it.
[37:56] And we'll say. Well. I wonder how people will respond. If I become a Christian. Will they. Will they still accept me. If I become a Christian. Will I lose friends.
[38:11] If I become a Christian. Will people laugh at me. If I become a Christian. That's the kind of questions.
[38:24] That go through your mind. If you're a teenager. You're hearing the call of Jesus. To follow. It's actually the kind of questions. That go through the mind. Much more so.
[38:35] Of those who are not teenagers. The 40s. 50s. 60s. 70s. The men. That you might think. Are feared of nothing. Are often very fearful. When it comes to responding.
[38:46] To the call. Of Jesus. Because it's a risky call. And that's why Jesus says. In Luke chapter 14.
[38:57] Count the cost. Calculate the risk. And then follow me anyway. And if we're thinking about risk.
[39:12] Yes. There is risk. In responding to the call. Of God. To trust. To follow. Jesus. There is risk. When we respond.
[39:24] To the call of Jesus. To. To give our lives to him. But think about this. There is far greater risk.
[39:36] In deciding not to follow Jesus tonight. What do we risk. If we decide.
[39:47] We will not follow. Jesus. Tonight. Well we risk. Losing our souls. We risk.
[39:58] Hell. Because we don't know. If we will ever. Get another chance. To respond.
[40:09] To the call. Of Jesus. To come to him. That's why it says. In Psalm 95. Verse 7 and 8. Today. If you hear his voice.
[40:23] Do not harden your heart. That's why it says. In 2 Corinthians 6. To behold. Now. Is the day of salvation. Return.
[40:38] Is the call of God. To Jacob. God. And yet. There is a whole lot. There is a whole lot of risk. That he is trying to process. As he. Thinks about. Responding to this call. Third point.
[40:49] Reassurance. There is five words. In this chapter. That change everything. For Jacob.
[41:00] He has heard the call. To return. Return. He is absolutely clear. On what God is asking him to do. He is. He is weighing up the risks. Of what it might look like. To return.
[41:10] And how he might be welcomed. Or not welcomed. When he arrives back at home. But there is five words. In verse 3. That deal with all the risk.
[41:21] And boost. Jacob's courage. There is five words. That are like a green light. For Jacob. To proceed. And do what God is asking him to do.
[41:33] And they are found in verse 3. What does God say to Jacob. In verse 3. Well what he says to him. In verse 3. Is. I will be with you. God is not asking Jacob.
[41:46] To do something on his own. He says. I will be with you. And these words. Were first given.
[41:57] To Jacob's father Isaac. As God made a promise. To Isaac. To lead him into this. This promised land. He says in. Chapter 26. In verse 3.
[42:08] Don't worry about things Isaac. I will be with you. And then just a little while back. In Jacob's life.
[42:18] When he's at his lowest point. He's been driven out of his family home. He's homeless. He's in the middle of nowhere. He has no one. And God breaks through.
[42:32] Into Jacob's experience. In a dream. And he says in chapter 28. Verse 15. Behold. I am with you. And will keep you.
[42:43] Wherever you go. And will bring you back. To this land. For I will not leave you. Until I have done. What I have promised you. And now.
[42:55] Here we see Jacob. And he's preparing. To go back. To this land. That has been promised to him. And God gives him.
[43:08] That reassurance. Verse 3. I will be with you. And if we are the Lord's people.
[43:20] If we are trusting in Jesus. If we are doing what we sang about. In the second term. If we are trusting the Lord Jesus. If we are walking with the Lord. We have that same reassurance.
[43:33] Yes. This was for Jacob. All these years ago. But this is in the Bible. Because it was always intended. To be preserved. Passed along.
[43:44] So that it would come all the way to us here tonight. And God said to Jacob. I will be with you. And God says to you and to me. If we are his people. I will be with you. If you follow the Lord.
[44:04] If he is calling you. He is saying. I will be with you. Yes. Folks might laugh. Yes. You might get the silent treatment from some.
[44:17] You may lose a friend or two. But I will be with you. Says the Lord. And as we serve the Lord.
[44:28] As he calls us to serve him. He promises. I will be with you. As we go to the places that he calls us.
[44:40] Sometimes. As we return to the places that we might have fled from. He promises. I will be with you. One commentator.
[44:52] Hale. Says. Sometimes in life. The Lord asks us to return. To the place from which we have fled. The place of fear. The place of failure.
[45:04] And as he promised Jacob. He promises to be with us. As well. So there's.
[45:15] There's such reassurance. In the word of God. Because he says to us. Over and over again.
[45:26] I will be with you. I will be with you. If your Bible is closed. For a week at a time.
[45:37] And if we are reeling through. All manner of things. From this world. We will be. We will be. Overwhelmed with fear. But as we open the word of God.
[45:52] And as we read. We have this. Continual. Reassurance. I will be with you. There's great assurance.
[46:07] In the word of God. And yet. There's greater assurance still. In God the word. Jesus. Jesus.
[46:20] The word made flesh. Who came. Into this world. And remember the name. That he was given. His name will be Emmanuel.
[46:34] Which means God with us. And if we want to think. A little more about this. How much is God with us?
[46:46] We might ask. You know. We have some friends. And they're with us. To an extent. But when we're in trouble. You look around. And they're gone. How much is God with us?
[46:59] How far can we trust him? Well we can trust him. All the way. To the cross. Where he.
[47:11] Laid down his life. To take away our sin. So that we can be with him.
[47:23] For time. And for. Eternity. The reassurance. That Jacob received.
[47:35] His reassurance. That comes. To us this evening. Fourth point. Response. So.
[47:45] So far. Jacob has been called. To return. To that land. That is promised him. That home. It's a risky call. But the Lord.
[47:57] Has given. Reassurance. To Jacob. Job. And so now. He has to respond. So what would he do? Is the question.
[48:09] Would he try and bury the call? Would he try to. To hit the brakes. And delay? I was thinking.
[48:20] About. The call. To ministry. That I wrestled with. For a period. I have to confess. That's what I did. I tried to bury it. I tried to archive it.
[48:30] I tried to push it. As far away as I could. So is that what Jacob would do? Would he. Try and push this back. Because he can.
[48:41] See the risk involved. And he. He feels fearful. Well no. Jacob. He. He trusts. And obeys. And we can see that.
[48:52] In. His response. The first thing. Jacob does. Is he. He discusses. What God. Has called him to do. With those.
[49:02] Who are nearest to him. He calls a family meeting. Then as a family. Having had the discussion. They do. What God. Is calling them to do. So first of all.
[49:14] You've got the discussion. And the discussion. Between Jacob. And his two wives. He should never have had them. But that's the reality. Of what was going on. He has two wives.
[49:26] And so he. He. Has this discussion. That you can see. In verses four. Through to verse. Thirteen. And if we think about. Jacob's.
[49:38] Position. This must have been. A hard discussion. To. To actually start. Think about all the family. Dynamics. Involved in this. Jacob.
[49:48] Is asking his two wives. Who are sisters. To leave their family home. To leave all that was familiar. And to follow him.
[49:59] To a land they haven't seen. And Jacob. In having this discussion. Is going to be speaking. Against their father. And speaking. Against their brothers. And complaining.
[50:10] About the way. That he's been treated. All these years. Which was a fair complaint. So this was going to be. An uncomfortable discussion.
[50:24] It would be hard to know. Which way it would go. And yet. Jacob. Having. Heard the call of God. He.
[50:35] He obeys. And he has this difficult discussion. And he tells them. About God's call. To. To return. To. The land.
[50:47] Called home. And he tells them. About God's. Reassurance. All that. From verse 4. Down to verse 13. So how will they respond.
[50:58] To this. Well. We see in verses 14 to 16. They are with him. They don't say. How dare you speak. About our father. That way.
[51:08] They don't say. How dare you. Point a finger at our brothers. They are with him. Rachel and Leah. Verse 14. Answered Jacob.
[51:19] And said to him. Is there any portion. Or inheritance. Left to us. In our father's house. Are we not regarded. By him as foreigners. For he sold us. He has indeed.
[51:29] Devoured our money. All the wealth. That God has taken away. From our father. Belongs to us. And to our children. And then. Here are the important words. Now then. Whatever God. Has said to you.
[51:41] Do. So that's the discussion. The family. Have heard. The voice of God.
[51:52] They have heard. The call. Of God. And they say. Let's. Let's do what God says. And yet. The reality is.
[52:04] Sometimes we can hear. The call of God. And resolve in our hearts. I'm going to do that. And we don't do it. So they have the discussion.
[52:14] They agree on paper. This is what we'll do. But then in verse 17. To verse 21. We can see. They follow through on it. They discuss.
[52:26] And then they actually do it. Verse 17. So Jacob arose. He set his sons. And his wives. And camels. He drove away all the livestock. All the property.
[52:37] That he had gained. The livestock in his possession. That he had acquired. And pardoned the ram. To go to the land. Of Canaan. His father. Isaac. And so. We see the.
[52:48] We see the verses there. Verses 17 to 21. And there's a whole lot in there. I'll probably come back to it. Later. Not tonight. But the main thing I want us to see.
[52:58] As we. As we just conclude. Is that. They do what God says. They were hearers of the word. But they weren't just hearers of the word.
[53:14] They do what it says. They do what God says. And the question. In application. For us as we finish.
[53:25] Is. How. Are we. Responding. To the word. Of God. Tonight. How. Are we. Responding. To the call.
[53:36] Of Jesus. You heard the gospel preached. This morning. We might have heard the call.
[53:47] Of God. To come to him. The call of Jesus. To trust him. We might hear that call.
[54:01] We might. Think about that call. We might even talk about that call. But the question is. Have we come to him.
[54:13] Because until we do. There's no salvation. We don't escape hell. And receive.
[54:24] The promised land of heaven. By hearing and thinking. And discussing. We have to do it. We have to come to Jesus. We have to come to Jesus. Maybe there's some here tonight.
[54:38] And you're hearing the call. To profess faith in Jesus. You're a secret believer. He's asking you. He's asking you. To come out.
[54:50] To own him as Lord. You might hear that call. And think about that call. And even talk. About one day.
[55:01] Getting round. To doing it. And yet tonight. You still haven't. So what will you do? We do what the Lord says.
[55:16] Sometimes there's a call. From the Lord. To return. When we wander. And it's an awful thing.
[55:27] To be a Christian. And to be distant. From the Lord. And our hearts are cold. The word of God is closed. We feel half alive.
[55:40] And we find ourselves in a meeting. And we're hearing the call of God. To return. We might think about it. We might even talk about it.
[55:51] But will we come. And do it. Maybe Jesus is calling us to serve him.
[56:05] In fact he is calling us to serve him. It's not just Stuart and Scott and Gordon. All of us who are Christians.
[56:16] Are called to serve Jesus. To do what we can. Where we are. Could be helping out at Sunday school. Could be doing a few jobs at Jam and Connect and Rooted.
[56:31] When they get going again. It could be driving a bus. Full of noisy teenagers to store in the way. Could be cleaning outside. It could be cleaning outside. Could be visiting people.
[56:42] Who have no one. There are many things. Many ways. That we can serve Jesus. We might be hearing that call. Even tonight.
[56:53] We might be thinking about it. We may even talk about it. But will we do it? Jacob.
[57:03] And his family. They responded. By trusting. And obeying. The Lord. And let's be encouraged tonight. To follow. That example. As we hear.
[57:15] His call. Let's pray. Heavenly Father. We thank you for your word. We thank you for the fact that. These stories.
[57:26] These true stories. For. From long. Ago. And far from here. Are inspired by. The Holy Spirit. And they speak into our lives today.
[57:37] Help us to hear. And help us to respond. In a way that pleases you. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen. We will sing to conclude.
[57:48] Mission Praise. 1,209. My heart is filled with thankfulness. To him. My heart is filled with thankfulness.
[58:10] To him who wore my way. Who found the depths of my disgrace. And gave me life.
[58:21] And gave me life again. And gave me life again. Who cast my curse of sinfulness. And took me with his life.
[58:33] And wrote his love of righteousness. With her upon my heart. My heart is filled with thankfulness.
[58:48] To him who falls beside. Who does my weakness. His love of righteousness. And gave me life again. And gave me life again. And gave me life again.
[58:58] And gave me life again. Who's dead in all this is enough. For every step I take.
[59:09] To him. And gave me life again. To him who falls beside. And gave me life again. And gave me life again. My heart is filled with thankfulness.
[59:23] To him who raised above. Who's wisdom is my perfect peace. Who's heavenly glory's life.
[59:36] For every day I have honor. It's given by the King. So I forgive my life my own.
[59:50] To love and fall of him. Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The love of God the Father.
[60:02] And the fellowship of God the Holy Spirit. Be with us all. Now and forevermore. Amen.