Israel’s God is God:A Changed Man

Genesis 33:1-20

An Encounter with God Changes People

Prior to Jacob’s encounter with God he was:

– Deceptive - taking his brother’s birthright and blessing

– Materialistic – Possessions were viewed as blessings.

– Self-centered

– Fearful – of his brother, his uncle

– Prideful and self-willed

An Encounter with God Changes People

After wrestling with God Jacob changed:

– Shows courage - He will lead his family instead of following them

– Shows humility - He bows to his brother

– Puts people before possessions

– Seeks reconciliation above wealth

– Accepts a new identity.

– Proclaims God as his God

What Caused Jacob’s Change?

Genesis 32:30b–31 (NET) “Certainly I have seen God face to face and have survived.” 31 The sun rose over him as he crossed over Penuel, but he was limping because of his hip.

– Jacob had seen the face of God

– Jacob had a new name (identity)

– Jacob was humbled by his encounter with God

Main Idea

Where there is an encounter with God

there is change!

A Changed Man:

Genesis 33:1–20 (NET) 1

Jacob looked up and saw that Esau was coming along with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two female servants. 2

He put the servants and their children in front, with Leah and her children behind them, and Rachel and Joseph behind them.

• Faces his fears

• Protects his family

A Changed Man:

3 But Jacob himself went on ahead of them, and he bowed toward the ground seven times as he approached his brother

• Leads his family in danger

• Humbles Himself:

– To Protect his family

– To reconcile himself to his brother

– To seek forgiveness

A Changed Man:

4 But Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, hugged his neck, and kissed him. Then they both wept.

• Embraces forgiveness– He is not too big to show

affection.

– He is not too big to weep.

A Changed Man:

5 When Esau looked up and saw the women and the children, he asked, “Who are these people with you?” Jacob replied, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”

• Acknowledges:

– God’s goodness

– God’s grace

– God’s provisions

• Does not take credit for what he has been given

A Changed Man:

6 The female servants came forward with their children and bowed down. 7 Then Leah came forward with her children and they bowed down. Finally Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed down.

• Values his loved ones and enjoys showing them off.

A Changed Man

8 Esau then asked, “What did you intend by sending all these herds to meet me?” Jacob replied, “To find favor in your sight, my lord.”

• Puts Relationships before Possessions

A Changed Man:

9 But Esau said, “I have plenty, my brother. Keep what belongs to you.” 10

“No, please take them,” Jacob said. “If I have found favor in your sight, accept my gift from my hand. Now that I have seen your face and you have accepted me, it is as if I have seen the face of God.

• Sees God’s Face in People, Not Things

• “it is as if I have seen the face of God.”– Jacob had seen the face

of God and had a change in attitude toward his brother

• Changed people see God’s face in others.

A Changed Man:

11 Please take my present that was brought to you, for God has been generous to me and I have all I need.” When Jacob urged him, he took it.

• Is a Generous Man

– Because God has been generous to him

– He desires to be generous to others

• Receives pleasure in giving

• Enjoys telling others of God’s grace by sharing it with others.

A Changed Man

12 Then Esau said, “Let’s be on our way! I will go in front of you.” 13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are young, and that I have to look after the sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven too hard for even a single day, all the animals will die. 14 Let my lord go on ahead of his servant. I will travel more slowly, at the pace of the herds and the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”

Doesn’t Inconvenience Others• He puts others before self• He doesn’t want to slow

Esau down• He doesn’t want to

endanger the children or the animals

A Changed Man:

15 So Esau said, “Let me leave some of my men with you.” “Why do that?” Jacob replied. “My lord has already been kind enough to me.” 16 So that same day Esau made his way back to Seir. 17 But Jacob traveled to Succoth where he built himself a house and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was called Succoth.

• Is thankful for past acts of kindness,

• Does not use previous kindnesses to seek more

• Succoth means shelters

• Why did Jacob break his word and go the opposite direction?– Fear?– Saw potential problems if his

family mixed with Esau’s?

A Changed Man:

18 After he left PaddanAram, Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped near the city. 19

Then he purchased the portion of the field where he had pitched his tent; he bought it from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money.

• Does not mind paying for what he needs

A Changed Person:

20 There he set up an altar and called it “The God of Israel is God.”

• Acknowledges His God as God

– “El Elohe Israel”

– “The God of Israel is God”

– “The God of Israel is mighty”

– “My God is God”

– “This is my God and He is Powerful”

• Accepted his new identity in God

Are you a changed person?

• Have you wrestled with God?

• Have you seen the face of God?

– If you’ve seen Jesus, you’ve seen God

• You cannot know Jesus and not be changed

Are You a Changed Person?

• Has your encounter with God changed you?– Do you face your Esau? Your fear?– Do you lead your family and loved ones or hide behind

them?– Do you humble yourself and put others before you?

Your friends, your family, others?– Do you seek forgiveness and reconciliation?– Do you value people more than things?– Do you see the face of God in others?– Are you generous?– Are you thankful for previous acts of kindness?

Are you a Changed Person?

• Is the God of Israel your God?

• “El Elohe Israel”

– The God of Israel is God

– The God of Israel is the only God

– The God of Israel is mighty

– The almighty God, the God of Israel is my God

• Deuteronomy 6:4 Listen, Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!

How Can you become a Changed Person?

• Acknowledge the God of Israel as God• Acknowledge that he sent his son into the world

to die on the cross for your sins.• Accept the gift of eternal life• One doesn’t change to come to God, one

encounters God and God changes him

Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”