FAMILY REUNION GEN 33: 3-8
THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT
Family is God’s premier divine institution. He spoke everything into existence. But He took special time to make all of us in His own image and likeness. He didn’t make anything else in creation to be like Him, Not even angels
From two people, Adam and Eve there over 8 billion around the world
God loves family reunions. We all got a place in that great family reunion planned when Jesus returns.
Did you know that God started the writing of the Bible, the Old Testament with the remembrance of a family reunion? It in Exodus read it for yourself. The nation of Israel was born in 400 years of slavery in Egypt. God sent Moses to perform 10 plagues to get Israel released from Egypt. It was the last plague that got Israel released. The first born son of every Egyptian was killed.
But every Israelite family was spared who had the blood of lamb on
Their door post. The death angel passed over them.
That was a foreshadowing of what Jesus did for you and me.
All throughout the Old Testament the Jews went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. It was a family reunion. Some traveled 100 miles on foot. When Jesus was growing up He went to the passover festival with His family. Every Sunday Morning for us is a family reunion.
We got one final family reunion that we are all invited to. I want hear Jesus say come on in, well done.
I want to spend a few minutes talking about one of the notable
Family reunion in the Old Testament . It a family reunion between
The families of Esau and Jacob.
Issac the Son of Abraham and Rebekah had two twin sons, Esau was born first, and Jacob was born holding on to the foot of Esau.
Esau, a few minutes older, was by tradition the one who would inherit the Family fortune when the father died. That time came.
I want to make 3 points about the families of Jacob and Esau meeting after being apart for over 20 years. Find the story in Genesis 27 -33
1. It is God who put in the hearts of people like Allison and Her crew
To bring family members together. You are the vessels God used.
2. Family reunions are a time to catch up on what has happened in the lives of members and meet new members.
3. A Family reunion is a time to bury the hatched, forgive and forget past hurts and unify together as one.
THE STORY
Issac and Rebecka, after years of trying, had twin sons Esau and Jacob. Esau was born hairy and red. He was a man’s man. Loved the outdoors; A game hunter. He was favored by Issac.
Jacob on the other hand was a momma boy. He hung around his momma and learned how to cook. He was momma's favorite.
You can imagine there was some friction in the family
Esau being a man’s man loved foreign girls outside his race. Women
Whose families worshiped idol gods. This was not pleasing to momma
And against God’s commands.
When Issac was old, blind and about to die, he called Esau in and told
Him, he would be blessed with the family fortune. Issac wanted one last meal made of game Esau would kill.
When Rebecka heard it she got with Jacob and told him go kill a sheep. I will make some stew. Your dad can’t see but he can feel. We will disguise you as Esau by putting sheep skin around your arms.
That was done and Jacob was blessed with family fortune before
Esau got back with a game he killed. Esau got angry and Jacob was sent away to save his life.
GOD ALLOWS YOU TO TROUBLE YOUR LIFE FOR HIS GLORY
It would appear that Rebekah and Jacob joined together to trick Esau. Not so
Esau was planned from birth to be the unrighteous nation
Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew
Esau disqualified himself by associating with women who worshiped idol gods
Isaac blinded by his favoritism for Esau would have violated God’s command
Rebekah preserved the family name and the command of God with what she did for Jacob
On the way to his uncle Laban’s house Jacob met God in a dream
Gen 28:12 As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven.
God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth!
GOD HAS A BASIC TRAINING PROGRAM FOR FAMILY UNITY
Jacob was prideful, boastful and fearful when he left his momma headed to his uncle's place
He met God on the way out;Gen 28:12 As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.
Gen 28:13-14 "I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants.
20 years of life happened. He was trained by circumstances
Jacob met God on the way back home: Gen 31:1
Then in my dream, the angel of God said to me, Gen 31:13
I am the God who appeared to you at Bethel, the place where you anointed the pillar of stone and made your vow to me. Now get ready and leave this country and return to the land of your birth.'"
BASIC TRAINING COMPLETE
Gen 32:24-25 a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break..Gen 32:28 "Your name will no longer be Jacob," the man told him. "From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won."
Jacob was now ready to be the Patriarch of the Nation
YOUR LIFE IS A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR GOD
THE FAMILY REUNION
20 years later Jacob was blessed with two wives, to wives maidens and between the four women had 12 sons. And many livestock. He decided to return home.
On the way back Jacob got the word that Esau was coming with an army. Fearing Esau would kill him and his family, he stayed up all night to get a plan to save his family. He made up his mind he was going to face the music. He did the deed, now he had a price to pay.
Jacob had been caring that burden for 20 years,
IN THE SPIRIT OF RECONCILIATION, HUMBLE YOURSELF
Gen 33:3-4
Then Jacob went on ahead with his family following. As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him. 4 Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
Gen 33:5 Then Esau looked at the women and children and asked, "Who are these people with you?"
"These are the children God has graciously given to me, your servant," Jacob replied.
Watch this, Jacob would rather serve his brother than endanger the lives of His family
Gen 33:8 "And what were all the flocks and herds I met as I came?" Esau asked. Jacob replied, "They are a gift, my lord, to ensure your friendship ."9 "My brother, I have plenty," Esau answered. "Keep what you have for yourself."
Jacob laid it on pretty thick Call his brother lord. Still was not sure he was hearing what he heard. Didn’t trust his brother motive
Esau came with 400 men
I want you to notice something. 20 years earlier Jacob ran to save his life
In the spirit of reconciliation, Jacob presented himself as a servant to his brother and brought a gift of reconciliation.
Talking about. kissing some you know what, Jacob laid it on thick
TRUST GOD WITH YOUR PROBLEMS
While Jacob was worried about meeting his brother. God had already
Worked it out. God can soften the heart of your worst enemy
Jacob had been carrying this burden for 20 years. But Easu had moved on.
SUMMARY
1. God is pleased when we come together as a family unit
He ordained family reunions
All throughout the Old Testament Israel was required to go to
Jerusalem to celebrate the passover. It was a good old fashioned
family reunion
God expects us to show up for worship on Sunday Morning
Look Jacob showed up with an offering, a gift of reconciliation.
God expects us to come with gift.
2. Family Reunion is the time to catch up on each other and meet new family members
Esau said who are these people you brought with you
I said to my wife I got a lot of family members to get to know
Mothers and daughters, fathers and sons , grand and great grand I never met. We got a strong family unit
3. Family Reunions is a time to forgive and forget old hurts and enjoy each other.
That is what Jesus did on the cross for us. He settled the sin issues
He settled all hurts and pain. He settled every jealous and envious attitude . With arms stressed wide with His last breath He said
Its finished
We got one last family reunion to attend. We going to meet up with
Jesus in the sky. He going take into the heavenly family reunion
Come on in well done
He cast our sin as for as the east is from the west. God chose to forget your sins. We have to choose to be at peace with each other
PSALMS 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
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