Genesis Ch29v1-30 - Pride Comes Before A Fall

So our reading this morning is Genesis chapter 29, and we're going to be reading verses 1

Genesis 29 · chapter mention

to 30 as we continue our studies looking at the life of Jacob and all that we can learn

from him and his God. So Louise and Kirsty are going to read this morning. Thank you.

Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. Then he

saw a well in the open country with three flocks of sheep lying near it, because the flocks

were watered from that well. The stone over the mouth of the well was large. When all

the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well's

mouth and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth

of the well. Jacob asked his shepherds, My brothers, where are you from? We're from Haran, they

replied. He said to them, Do you know Laban, Nahar's grandson? Yes, we know him, they answered.

Then Jacob asked them, Is he well? Yes, he is, they said. And here comes his daughter Rachel

with the sheep. Look, he said, the sun is still high, and it is not time for the flocks to be

gathered. Water the sheep and then take them back to pasture. We can't, they replied, until

all the flocks have been gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the

well. Then we will water the sheep. While he was still talking with them, Rachel came

with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherd. When Jacob saw Rachel's daughter of his uncle

Laban and Laban's sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and

watered his uncle's sheep. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud. He had told

Rachel that he was a relative of her father and a son of Rebekah. So she ran and told her

father. As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son, he hurried to meet

him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home. And there Jacob told him all

these things. Then Laban said to him, you are my own flesh and blood.

After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, Laban said to him, just because you

are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should

be. Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was one Leah and the name of the

younger was Rachel. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.

Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, I'll work for you seven years in return for your younger

daughter, Rachel. Laban said, it's better that I give her to you than to some other man.

Stay here with me. So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few

days to him because of his love for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, give me my wife. My time

is completed and I want to make love to her. So Laban brought together all the people of the

place and gave a feast. But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to

Jacob. And Jacob made love to her. And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her

attendant. When morning came, there was Leah. So Jacob said to Laban, what is this you have

done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn't I? Why have you deceived me? Laban replied, it

is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the elder one. Finish this

daughter's bridal week. Then we will give you the younger one also in return for another seven

years of work. And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah and then Laban gave him his daughter

Rachel to be his wife. Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant.

Jacob made love to Rachel also and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah.

And he worked for Laban another seven years.

Thanks very much, Louise and Kirsty. Let's keep our Bibles open. As we look at this

account together, we're going to pray and ask for God's help. So let's do that now.

Father, again, we thank you for your word. Thank you for its truthfulness. Thank you for its

honesty. And we pray that your word would search our hearts so that we would respond as we should

in a way that is filled with humility and honours you. Father, would you change us this morning

to be a people who are dependent on you for all things? Amen.

Well, Jacob is on the run, isn't he? Having deceived his father and cheated his brother, he's running for

his life. And when we think Jacob is down and out, God in his kindness intervenes. If you go back to

chapter 28, God meets Jacob in a vision, in a dream, and he shows him grace and promises Jacob his presence.

And so with this great vision, Jacob is on a spiritual high. Look at chapter 28, verse 16.

When Jacob woke from his sleep, he thought, surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn't aware of it.

He was afraid and said, how awesome is this place. This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate

of heaven. And he called it Bethel, which means house of God. So this great experience that he's had

with God has given Jacob a renewed encouragement and hope. And so chapter 29, verse 1,

Jacob continued on, Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. We can see him

there brightly, jumping along as he walks his journey, perhaps singing a song. His mercy is more.

My sins, they are many. His mercy is more.

Well, it seems like we have a new Jacob. God's grace offers him a new beginning and a fresh start. He's a new man.

Well, not so fast. Jacob may have made great progress in his journey, but it seems that change

is a slow process. Like Jacob will see that we need to learn that as we journey through life, we are always in need

of God's grace. We never move on from grace. You see, pride is never far from us, and pride trips us up.

We have this natural disposition to go it alone in life, which will only lead to disaster.

Sadly, that's what we're going to see this morning. Three things that cause us to fall

and show us our desperate need of grace.

First, tempted by desire. The story begins, doesn't it, with Jacob at a well. And it seems we're to note a particular detail

about this well. We see it at the end of verse 2. The stone over the mouth of the well was large. It was a very heavy stone.

So heavy, in fact, verse 3, that when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well's mouth and water the sheep.

So it took a communal effort. This wasn't a one-man job. All the shepherds would push the stone away.

Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.

What's with this heavy stone?

Well, Jacob gets chatting with some of the shepherds who've gathered there, and to his delight,

they seem to know his uncle Laban, his mother's brother.

But it seems he's more interested in why all the shepherds are hanging around the well.

Why is nobody moving this great big stone?

Verse 8.

We can't, they replied.

Until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well,

then we will water the sheep.

Who could they possibly be waiting for?

Ah, verse 9.

While he was still talking with them,

Rachel came with her father's sheep,

for she was a shepherd.

They're waiting for Rachel.

And as we discover in verse 17,

Rachel has a lovely figure and was beautiful.

It seems the testosterone levels were hitting 90 at the well.

It's what I observe when I go to the gym.

It might look like it, but I do go, yes.

And all the lads are there posing in front of the mirror,

flexing their pecs.

And they're hovering, waiting for some young damsel

who needs help manoeuvring some weights.

Well, it seems something similar is happening down at the well.

They all know that Rachel is going to be arriving soon,

but there's no way she's going to move that stone.

Opportunity arises, perhaps to earn a date night.

Jacob has been observing, verse 10,

when Jacob saw Rachel, daughter of his uncle Laban,

and Laban's sheep.

He went over and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well

and watered his uncle's sheep.

This was meant to be done by many,

but here he is, he man himself,

a demonstration of great strength.

What's going on?

Well, back at Bethel,

where Jacob had had his vision and dream

and his encounter with God,

remember God had promised him

that he would be a great nation

and that he would have a great land.

So when Jacob puts his eyes on Rachel

and when he sees the sheep,

he sees nation and land.

Someone who's going to give him children

and someone who has property.

Now's his chance.

He seizes the opportunity.

He steps up and with all his strength,

he moves that stone.

I'm going to have my nation

and I'm going to have my land.

Jacob sees and he wants.

He's tempted by desire.

You see, we all have desires, don't we?

We're all shaped and motivated by what we want.

Desires drive our choices and decisions.

It might not be a nation and a land,

but it might be a desire for a partner and a career.

Or it might be that we so want

a home of our own or a better pension.

We set our eyes on what we want

and we will do whatever is required

to get what we want.

You see, Jacob has a history of seeing and wanting.

He saw his brother's blessing and he took it.

He sees Rachel and sheep and he's after it.

But God's blessings are not to be taken.

They are to be received.

God's promises are not to be forced,

but to be trusted.

They are always given by grace

and received by faith.

You would hope that Jacob has learned,

but it seems that change is slow.

And we need to be careful.

Desires that go unchecked are dangerous.

Paul's words to a young Timothy are helpful here.

You can read it on the screen.

Those who want to get rich

fall into temptation and a trap

and into many foolish and harmful desires

that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

So let's ask ourselves the question,

what is it that you want?

What have you set your eyes on

that is controlling you

and consuming you?

Look at that verse again.

Those who want,

you fill in the blank for yourself.

Those who want

fall into temptation and a trap

and into many foolish and harmful desires

that plunge people

into ruin and destruction.

Be careful.

Jacob saw and wanted,

and as we will see,

it plunged him into a very destructive life.

So as we journey through life,

be careful about being tempted by desire.

We are always in need of grace.

So, tempted by desire.

Second, blinded by love.

The story deepens as Jacob meets Laban.

In fact, it becomes very clear to us

that Jacob doesn't tell the whole story

and Laban doesn't disclose all the story either.

After all the greetings in verse 13,

Laban embraced Jacob and kissed him

and brought him to his home

and there Jacob told him all these things.

Now, we're not given any detail.

It's just kind of like all these things.

You get the impression that

Jacob isn't telling the whole story here.

He's just telling them the bits he wants them to hear.

I mean, would Laban really have been so happy

if he knew the mess Jacob had left behind?

Would he want that kind of character

hanging around his daughters?

Well, it seems Jacob's careful deception

has been working.

Look at verse 14.

Then Laban said to him,

You are my own flesh and blood.

You're in the family now.

You're one of us.

It seems being economic with the truth

can be rather prosperous.

It's a bit like altering your grades on your CV

or misleading with details of experience.

Rather than be truthful and trust God,

we find it more advantageous to deceive

so we get what we want.

Let's make no mistake.

Jacob is ruthless.

He sees what he wants

and he's going to get it.

Look at verse 15.

Laban said to him,

Just because you are a relative of mine,

should you work for me for nothing,

tell me what your wages should be.

Well, Laban had two daughters.

The name of the elder one was Leah.

The name of the younger was Rachel.

Leah had weak eyes

or soft and tender eyes.

They were soft, compassionate eyes.

But that's as far as it went.

Rachel had a lovely figure

and was beautiful.

Jacob was in love with Rachel

and he said,

I'll work for you seven years

in return for your younger daughter, Rachel.

Now it all seems kind of quite normal, doesn't it?

Jacob is in love with this girl, Rachel,

and well, he's going to do whatever it takes.

He'll work seven hard years.

But isn't this just Jacob pursuing his own agenda?

Doesn't it strike you that God doesn't enter into the equation?

We don't find Jacob here reading his Bible

and praying about it.

He doesn't take time out to ask some wiser grey beard,

what should I do?

He's blinded by love.

Verse 20.

So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel

but they seemed like only a few days to him

because of his love for her.

Now you may think that there's something familiar

about this story of Jacob

because it's very similar

to a parallel story

of his own father Isaac.

If you go back to chapter 24 with me,

we'll see there that Jacob,

Jacob's father Isaac,

has no wife

and his father Abraham

sends his servant off to his people

to find a suitable partner.

But what I want us to see here is

just look at the God involvement in this.

We're going to pick it up in verse 12,

chapter 24, verse 12.

So the servant is going out

to look for a wife for Isaac

and just look at the God involvement.

Then he prayed,

Lord God of my master Abraham,

make me successful today

and show kindness to my master Abraham.

See, I am standing beside this spring

and the daughters of the townspeople

are coming out to draw water.

May it be that when I say to a young woman,

please let down your jar

that I may have a drink.

And she says,

drink and I'll water your camels too.

Let her be the one

you have chosen for your servant Isaac.

By this,

I will know

that you have shown kindness

to my master.

And sure enough,

he meets Rebecca.

She does everything

the servant had prayed about.

And when the servant then

recounts the whole story

back to Rebecca's brother,

the same Laban as we're looking at,

and to her father,

look at verse 50.

Verse 50,

Laban and Bethuel answered,

this is from the Lord.

We can say nothing to you

one way or the other.

Here is Rebecca.

Take her and go

and let her become

the wife of your master son

as the Lord directed.

You see,

in this whole account,

there's a humble dependence

on God.

They're praying.

They're talking.

They're committing it all to God.

You get the clear impression

that they don't trust

their own hearts.

They're trusting God.

Now let's go back

to chapter 29.

Do you see the difference?

Jacob can't even muster

a God,

please help me here

as I make a decision.

He just dives straight in,

blinded by love.

Jacob is doing life his way,

trying to secure

the blessings of God

by his own initiative.

Now we too

can be blinded by love.

Young people,

wakey, wakey,

listen up.

Of course,

it might be love for you,

love for a young man

or a young woman.

We see

and we want.

We don't bother

to inquire of

what's their Christian faith?

What's their commitment

to the local church like?

Do they give to mission?

Are they devoted

to learn from God's word?

We just like what we see.

I mean,

I always knows best.

It seems that

beautiful figures

are more important

than godly character.

And successful careers

are more important

than a servant heart.

but for maybe

others of us,

it's other loves

that have blinded us.

Love for a job

or

love for your hobby.

Love for a comfortable

and easy life.

Love for money.

Love for popularity.

Love for

what's

what's your love?

love for God.

You see,

our pursuit

of these things

can just

blind us

to our true

love for God.

We just

plough on ahead.

My life,

my choice.

It seems

that Proverbs 3

goes out the window.

Look at it

on the screen.

Trust in the Lord

with all your heart

and lean not

on your own

understanding.

In all your ways

submit to him

and he will

make your path

straight.

You see,

we do very well

not to trust

our own hearts.

Our hearts

are deceitful.

It's wise

when we

submit

all things

to God.

And if we

are Christians,

God has given

to us

the church

he's given

to us

his word,

his Holy Spirit,

we would do

well not to

follow Jacob's

path.

Inquire

of the Lord.

Talk to an

old

grey beard

or grey haired.

They have

experience.

Be accountable

to those

around you.

Stop

making

independent

decisions.

It just

might save

you

a very

destructive

life.

So as

we journey

through life,

be careful

that we are

not blinded

by love.

We are

always in

need

of grace.

So,

third,

tempted by

desire,

blinded by

love,

deceived

by pride.

after seven

years of

hard work,

Jacob and

Rachel were

ready to

get married.

Verse 21,

Jacob said to

Laban,

give me my

wife,

my time is

completed and

I want to

make love to

her.

It's time to

consummate the

marriage.

Let's make it

legal and

official.

But old

Laban has

grown cunning

over the

years,

hasn't he?

He's got

two daughters

and he

doesn't have

any concerns

about marrying

off Rachel.

I mean,

she was

gorgeous.

That's not

going to be

a problem.

Leah,

on the other

hand,

well,

she has

tender eyes

and

compassionate

eyes,

but that's

as far as

it went.

Who's

going to

marry Leah?

Laban has

a plan.

Verse 22,

Laban brought

together all

the people of

that place

and gave a

feast.

It's wedding

time.

Plenty of

food,

plenty of

wine.

But when

evening came,

under the

cover of

darkness and

after the

wine had

taken its

effect,

he took

his daughter

Leah and

brought her

to Jacob.

Well,

he hadn't

got a clue.

Jacob made

love to

her.

And Laban

gave his

servant

Zilpah to

his daughter

as her

attendant.

When

morning came,

there was

Leah.

What?

This can't

be.

Talk about

sobering up.

My goodness

me, what's

happened?

Then it

dawned,

verse 25,

So Jacob

said to

Laban,

what is

this you

have done

to me?

I have

served you

for Rachel,

didn't I?

Why have

you deceived

me?

Well,

Jacob couldn't

see the

irony in it

all,

could he?

He's been

deceiving all

his life.

Now he's

outraged that

someone close

to him,

even his own

father-in-law,

would do

such a thing.

Could he

really be

angry and

annoyed after

all he had

done?

You see,

Jacob's

desires and

loves have

not satisfied

him or

fulfilled him.

Yes, he

got Rachel,

but it came

at a price.

It took

another seven

years hard

labor, and

he got

another wife

he doesn't

love,

verse 30.

Jacob made

love to

Rachel also,

and his

love for

Rachel was

greater than

his love

for Leah.

It's stronger

than that,

it's he had

no love

for Leah,

and he

worked for

Laban another

seven years.

Anyone could

see that

marrying two

sisters was

never going

to work out.

It's not

going to be

a happy

home,

and as we'll

see in the

coming weeks,

it's an

absolute

mess.

Yeah, we

could argue,

and you

might point

out that

Laban was

the one who

deceived

Jacob, which

he did,

but at the

same time,

let's not

lose the

fact that

Jacob is

deceived by

his own

pride.

He's to

blame for

the whole

fiasco.

The effects

of his

selfish choices

and stubborn

pride have

come home

with disastrous

consequences.

We like to

point the

finger and

blame others.

He said,

she did,

they always,

why have

you deceived

me?

But the

reality is,

Jacob only

has to

blame himself,

as Proverbs

reminds us.

There it

is on the

screen.

Pride goes

before destruction,

a haughty

spirit before

a fall.

You see,

it could have

been so

very different.

Remember back

to Jacob's

encounter with

God?

Look what

God promised.

Chapter 28,

verse 15.

Remember what

God had

promised Jacob

back then?

I am with

you.

I'll watch

over you

wherever you

go.

I'll bring

you back to

this land.

I will not

leave you

until I

have done

what I

have promised

you.

All of

this I'm

for you,

Jacob.

All Jacob

needed to

do was to

ask and

to trust.

The sad

thing is,

Jacob never

talked to

God.

He never

asked God.

He never

inquires of

God.

In fact,

in the whole

text that we

read,

there's no

mention of

God.

God is

absent.

It's as if

Jacob has

left God

back in

Bethel and

headed off

on his

own.

I can

do life

my way.

Jacob had

been promised

God's

presence,

but he

ignores it.

Well,

how quickly

we forget

the privilege

we have as

brothers and

sisters of

the Lord

Jesus Christ.

How we've

been given

access to

our generous,

kind Father

in heaven,

the God

who made

us,

who has

promised us

every

spiritual

blessing in

Christ,

wisdom,

grace,

mercy,

strength,

it's all

yours,

but we

don't ask.

Instead,

we follow

our desires,

we pursue

our loves,

we take

pride in

our self

dependence.

Like

Jacob,

we need

God's

continued

grace.

And

thankfully,

God doesn't

give up on

us.

We have a

saviour,

Jesus,

who followed

not his own

desires,

but followed

the desire

of his

Father in

heaven,

who didn't

chase his

own loves,

but pursues

us in

love.

Who comes

to deal

with our

pride by

dying our

death,

taking our

punishment so

that we can

depend upon

him.

In Christ,

our desires

are fulfilled.

In Christ,

our loves

are satisfied.

In Christ,

we receive

grace for

the journey.

we have a

generous and

kind

father who

loves to

give good

gifts to

his children.

All we

need to do

is to be

humble and

ask and

not full of

pride.

We're going

to pray.

As we do,

I'm going to

read three

verses from

scripture.

As I read

them, just

listen to

their

invitation.

And maybe

there's one

that you want

to respond

to.

Let's just

take a moment

to reflect

on what we

hear as we

need God's

grace.

Listen to

the invitation

of the

Lord.

Matthew

11.

Come to

me, all

who are

weary and

burdened, and

I will give

you rest.

Take my

yoke upon

you and

learn from

me, for

I am

gentle and

humble in

heart, and

you will

find rest

for your

souls.

Hebrews

4.

Let us

approach

God's

throne of

grace with

confidence,

so that

we may

receive

mercy and

grace to

help us

in our

time of

need.

And

James

4.

But he

gives us

more grace.

That is

why

scripture

says,

God

opposes

the proud,

but shows

favor or

grace to

the humble.

Come near

to God, and

he will come

near to

you.

Humble

yourselves,

and he

will lift

you up.

Father,

we come

to you

because we

need you.

Our

desires,

our

loves,

are so

often

twisted.

We are

deceived by

our own

pride.

How we

need your

grace and

mercy.

How we

need your

help.

Thank you,

generous

Father, that

you now

give us

what we

need for

our

journey.

You

withhold no

good thing

from those

who love

you and

trust you.

So please

help us as

we now

ask.

Give us

what we

need.

That we

may follow

you all

the days

of our

life,

trusting in

your grace

alone,

knowing that

will be

sufficient.

thank you,

Jesus.

Thank you

that you

are enough

for us

today.

Amen.

Amen.

We're

going to

sing.

Christ is

my reward

and all

of my

devotion.

This is

our true

desire,

our true

love.

This song

helps us

to express

our trust

for our

need of

Christ.

If you're

able to,

I invite you

to stand

as we

sing our

song together.

Amen.

Amen.