Doing God’s Will
Navigating Life’s Ups and Downs: Lessons from Jacob on Doing God’s Will
Have you ever felt like your spiritual journey was more of a rollercoaster than a steady climb? You’re not alone. In fact, one of the Bible’s most prominent figures, Jacob, experienced a similar path. His story teaches us valuable lessons about doing God’s will, even when life gets messy.
The Call to Return
In Genesis 35, we find Jacob at a critical juncture. God appears to him with a clear instruction: “Arise. Go to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau” (Genesis 35:1).
This wasn’t just a casual suggestion. It was a divine call to remember and renew a 30-year-old vow. God was essentially saying, “Jacob, it’s time to get back on track.”
Doing God’s Will Involves Obedience
Responding to God’s call required action from Jacob. As Pastor Stalnaker points out, “Doing God’s will takes time and effort.” Jacob had to mobilize his entire household, including servants and animals. It wasn’t an easy task, but it was necessary.
Jacob’s response teaches us three key aspects of obedience:
- Repentance: Jacob told his household, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments” (Genesis 35:2). This wasn’t just about physical idols, but a heart change.
- Commitment: Jacob was recommitting to the vow he made 30 years earlier. Sometimes, God calls us back to promises we’ve neglected.
- Leadership: Jacob stepped up to lead his family spiritually. “Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone” (Genesis 35:3).
Doing God’s Will Doesn’t Exempt Us from Sorrow
Following God doesn’t mean we won’t face difficulties. In fact, even as Jacob was obeying God, he experienced significant losses:
- His beloved servant, Deborah, died (Genesis 35:8)
- His wife Rachel died in childbirth (Genesis 35:19)
- His father Isaac passed away (Genesis 35:29)
Moreover, Jacob had to deal with the consequences of his children’s sins, including the actions of Simeon, Levi, and Reuben. Pastor Stalnaker reminds us, “Just because you’re following the Lord does not mean that you’re not gonna have pain and loss and heartache.”
Doing God’s Will Involves Blessings
Despite the challenges, obeying God brought significant blessings to Jacob’s life:
- God spoke to him: “God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram and blessed him” (Genesis 35:9).
- God protected him: “As they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob” (Genesis 35:5).
- God offered assurance: God reaffirmed His promises to Jacob, saying, “I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and Kings shall come from your own body” (Genesis 35:11).
- God displayed patience: Despite Jacob’s many failures, God remained faithful to His covenant.
Putting It Into Practice
So how can we apply these lessons to our own lives?
- Respond to God’s call: Is there an area of your life where God is calling you back to obedience?
- Lead spiritually: Like Jacob, take responsibility for the spiritual direction of your household.
- Persevere through trials: Remember, difficulties don’t mean you’re outside of God’s will.
- Trust God’s promises: Even when life is hard, cling to God’s faithfulness.
- Embrace God’s patience: No matter how many times you’ve stumbled, God’s grace is sufficient.
As we navigate our own spiritual journeys, let’s remember Jacob’s story. In the words of Pastor Stalnaker, “God can redeem the circumstances in your life that are terrible in such a way that will bring blessings and honor to the Lord.” May we, like Jacob, learn to do God’s will, even in the midst of life’s ups and downs.
We hope you enjoyed the sermon and would love to see you in person. Plan your visit to Community Baptist Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee today!