00:06When we study Genesis from a literary perspective we learn a lot about Jacob.
00:12Jacob is the protagonist, the person who changes in the narrative.
00:17Laban is the antagonist, the person who causes the change in the protagonist.
00:22A great change did take place in Jacob through his time in Paddan Aram.
00:27Jacob arrived as a deceiver who had been given a great promise from God.
00:33Through God's discipline and through experiencing deceit himself by Laban, Jacob's identity as
00:39a deceiver seemed to have changed.
00:41Jacob recognized how God had blessed him, by his grace alone.
00:47God met Jacob in a dream at Bethel, promising to bless and protect him, and Jacob responded
00:53by promising to return to the land of his father.
00:55At this point, God met Jacob in a second dream and instructed him to take his family and
01:02his possessions and return to the land.
01:05Jacob obeyed.
01:06When Jacob recognized the way God kept his promise, he was faithful to fulfill the vow
01:12he made to God.
01:13Though Jacob was not perfect, these events show how he was turning to God and away from his
01:19own devices.
01:20Instead of continuing to battle with Laban, Jacob left, obeying God's instruction.
01:27God commanded Jacob's return, so God's protection of him and his family was certain.
01:33God's blessings had been poured out on Jacob through dreams, discipline, a family, and many
01:39possessions, and it was time for Jacob to change, to act in obedience, and to follow God.
01:45No matter our past, no matter how many times we've acted like Jacob, deceiving others or
01:51trusting in our own devices, we can always choose to be obedient to God.
01:56Whether it is the first time we have turned to him or whether we are returning to him,
02:01he is always willing to forgive us.
02:03We can turn to him and commit to faithfulness, certain he will be gracious.
02:09Jacob was obedient to God's specific command to return home.
02:13We have been clearly commanded by God to believe in his Son Jesus Christ and to love one another.
02:20When we follow God's commands, we can be certain of his protection.
02:25For when he chooses to bless us, and we are obedient to him by believing in his Son,
02:30we can be confident that his love and grace will cover our lives.
02:34for when he chooses to bless you in his Son, let's see him.
02:37For when he chooses to bless you, he will have Nick Chico, he will be nature as a next
02:39It is that he's been saved directly to the death of his Son, and let's see him do some
02:40of his son, but I believe in the death of his son.
02:40How many times do Iuchs?
02:41If he comes to me, he comes to a death of my son.
02:41I believe in to him, he comes to the death of his son.
02:41I believe in that I believe in the death of his son, I believe in that world
02:41he's been engineered to him like that he's been a fire花,
02:41which I believe in the death of my son.
02:41You
