Jacob's Well

 John 4:14
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
The well waters at Jacob’s well represents the things and pleasures of this world. The temporal and physical satisfactions. They no doubt bring a measure of satisfaction to the appetites of the flesh and some solace to our social and emotional human desires for relationships and belonging. Drinking from Jacob’s well may be satisfying for a season.  For the pleasures of sin may last for a season, but it will not bring everlasting satisfaction. Not all waters from the well are sinful, but drinking from Jacob’s well will not bring the joy and longing of the soul that will last beyond death and the grave. Jesus offers us the Living Water, The true water of life. He wants to give this water to anyone who will ask. “Come drink from me, and you will never thirst again, it is the water of life that will give you everlasting life”

Jacob's Name Change

Genesis: 32:9-12, 24-30

When full salvation is obtained, God does a work in the human heart that changes the old nature of sin and self to a new nature of love and forgiveness. Jacob’s name change is symbolic to what Christ desires to do in the heart of all who come to Him. As Jacob wrestler with the Angel of the Lord to obtain his new name, he struggled with his old nature of deception. For Jacob to be all that God wanted him to be, he needed to realize and then confess this sinful nature to God. It was not until he was broken that God blessed him with a new name. May God help us to seek Him with perseverance until we are broken of pride and self-will. It is only then can we realize the fullness of God’s power and grace.

Following God- (return to thy kindred)
• In prayer we find God’s direction
• We often must face the past
• Unworthy of God’s faithfulness
Future unknown- (pass over this Jordan)
• We must depend on God for the outcome
• Leave all we have to God
• The unknown bundle
Fear of Esau (for I fear him)
• Human anxieties are to be expected
• We must overcome our fears of rejection and failures
Forgetting not His promises (and thou said…)
• God’s promises are always in the present
• We can stand on His Word
Forsaking of self (what is thy name)
• The struggle with the carnal nature
• The “death route”
Fortitude of spirit (I will not let thee go)
• Persevere in prayer
• “I will not be denied”
Fitness to receive (thy name shall be…Israel)
• Yielding will bring the victory
• Having power with God only comes by surrendering
Face to face with God (the place Peniel)
• It is real- I have seen God
• Experience of heart holiness is a definite work of Grace
• Have we experience God face to face?

Esau Sells His Birthright

Genesis 25:27-34

The birthright that was handed down was to be given to the firstborn male in the family. Esau, by right of birth was to be given this privilege. He regarded his birthright with contempt. Such are those who are willing to sell their soul to fulfill the appetites of the flesh. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” The words of Jesus, teach us that we should value our soul as our greatest treasure.
The cunningness of Jacob teaches us that it is never right to accomplish God’s purposes in a wrong way. Instead of being still and waiting on God, Jacob acted with deceitful human intervention. God’s will, should never be enacted in a way that is contrary to His Word.

Personalities of Esau and Jacob (cunning hunter…plain man)
• Contrast between the two boys
• We are made in His image with unique personal traits
• The person of Christ is united with our personality
• We our made to glorify God
Preferring behavior (loved Esau…loved Jacob)
• All are made equal in the eyes of God
• Love should be measured out in equal portions
• Showing equal respect to all person –James 2:9
Preparation in the Human (Jacob sod pottage)
• Circumvent and manipulation
• Getting ahead of God
• Forcing the will of God, instead of waiting
Pottage exchanged (he sold his birthright)
• The traps of the enemy- Beware, Satan is cunning
• Keeping our bodies under subjection
• What shall a man give in exchange for his soul
Profaning of the Birthright (Esau despised...)
• Walked away from his birthright (rejection of Christ)
• Regard his soul with little worth
• Ignored his most valuable treasure
• Neglecting the condition of the soul
• May we guard our hearts with all diligence