October 5, 2014 A Defining Moment As we Pursue God there will be a Defining Moment or a Divine Movement. Gen. 35:6-7;10 say, “So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him. 7 And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother...10 And God said unto him, Your name is Jacob: your name shall not be called Jacob any more , but Israel shall be your name: and He called his name Israel.” God was getting ready to work in Jacob’s life and in the nation of Israel. What Jacob did, in response to what God said, would decide their future. It would be that “Defining Moment.” The Presence of God is seen in verses 6-9, and as God showed up it was a Defining Moment for them and will be for us as well. Was it a personal appearance of God? Yes, but not in the sense we might think. For us it may be a Word or a revelation from God. If we will tarry and do as this passage suggests we too can be sure that God will break through. V. 7 says Jacob built an altar in Bethel and called the place El-Bethel which means the God of Bethel or the place of God. Then in verse 9, God appeared again to Jacob at the same place he had met Him before and was given a future promise and blessing. Then at the end of verse 9 God blessed him, so don’t we all want to be blessed of God? The truth is when God shows up that is for us a blessing. Why? Because, We have tarried and waited upon God and He knows that we are serious in our pursuit. The Power of God is seen in v 10 which says, “And God said unto him, Your name is Jacob: Your name shall not be called Jacob any more, but Israel shall be your name: and He called his name Israel.” The name Jacob was a name that meant one who tricks or trickster. Jacob had spent his early days trying to pull the wool over the eyes of his brother and his father. When he goes to the homeland of his mother he finds that her brother Laban did the same thing to him. So, he gets a taste of his own medicine. We can never get away with sinful living. Jacob is given a new name, “Israel” by God, which means “Prince of God”. It was Jacob or Israel who was blessed as the father of 12 sons we know as the 12 tribes or nation of Israel. This changing of his name from Jacob to Israel speaks of the transforming power of God. Jacob would no longer be the old person he used to be, because God had changed Him. If we’ve not experienced His wonderful, change may we seek Him today, and let Him change us. If we’re His then may we pursue Him daily and experience His change. When we become a child of God we undergo a spiritual birth which is signified by what He does in transforming and changing a life that’s surrender to Him (Rom. 12:1-2). The Promise of God is seen in verses 11-12, which say, “And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of you, and kings shall come out of your loins; 12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and to your seed after you will I give the land.” Notice 2 quick things that occurred in Jacob’s life in his pursuit of God. a) God’s Identity is revealed v. 11 says, “I am God Almighty. God identified Himself to reassured Jacob that He’s able to do what He said He’d do. There may be times in our lives when we began to doubt or lose hope in what God said He’d do. Perhaps, due to some sin we’ve done. b) God’s Intent is revealed: To Bless Him and to bless us. Verses 11-12 say, “And God said unto him,….be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of you, and kings shall come out of your loins; And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to you I will give it, and to your seed after you will I give the land.” God as we see was going to bless Jacob and from him, He’d fulfill His promise. I believe God has our best interest at heart and wants to bless us. The question really is a matter of do we want to pursue God and find out what He has in store for us and receive the blessing? There are great blessings available for those who are willing to take the time and pursue God and know His best. That’ll be our defining moment!
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 11:53:34 +0000
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