1

Jacob gives thanks to God

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[Genesis 35:14]

Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it.

3

Jacob intercepted the blessing of the Father from Esau. He pretended to be Esau, deceiving his father and receiving the blessing of the firstborn on behalf of him. Because of this, he hated Jacob.

4

Esau tried to kill Jacob after his father Isaac died. Knowing this, Jacob decided to leave his hometown to preserve his life. He decided to flee to a place called 'Paddan-aram' where his brother, Laban, lives.

5

The road to Paddan-aram was lonely and difficult. When the day came, he arrived at the place called Ruz. Jacob made a stone pillow for sleep. It was a sad and hard night for the whole world to think he was alone.

6

That evening Jacob became a miraculous and amazing dream. There was a stairway in front of Jacob, and the stairway was endlessly connected to heaven. And the angels of God were climbing up and down the stairs.

7

At the end of the stairway, God gave Jacob a remarkable promise.

『There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”』 Gn 28:13~15

8

Jacob, a mysterious dreamer and awakened from his sleep, glorified God, realizing that God was with him all the time. And he realized that the land where God appeared was the house of God and the door of heaven. Jacob named the place ‘Bethel’

9

Jacob built a pillow of stone, which he had laid, like a pillar, and anointed it with oil. And he made an oath to God. 『Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”』 Gn 28:20~228.

10

God has been with Jacob for a lifetime from that time. And God led Jacob to go to Paddan-aram safely. Moreover, God has not left Jacob for twenty years in Paddan-aram.

11

Jacob came back from Paddan-aram and stayed a short time in Shechem. God appeared to Jacob and commanded him.

『Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”』 Gn 35:1

God told him to go back to the land of Bethel that had appeared to Jacob.

12

Jacob gathered all his family the next day and said, “Leave all your idols and cleanse yourself. I will leave here and go back to Bethel and build an altar. God is with me wherever I go.”

13

Upon hearing Jacob's words, all the families brought to Jacob all the idols they had. Jacob bury all the idols under a large tree. And then he left with all my family.

14

Jacob returned to Bethel, the land where God appeared. Jacob built an altar there for God and gave thanks to God who kept him for the last time.

15

God came to Jacob, who came back to the land from Paddan-aram. And God gave blessings to Jacob. “Your name is Jacob, but it will not be called Jacob anymore.” On that day God changed Jacob (the deceiver) to the blessed name of 'Israel (who is strengthened through God)'.

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God also gave other blessings to Jacob. 『And God said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants. The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”』 Gn 35:11~12

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Jacob set up a pillar of stone as he had done in the place where God appeared. And he poured out a drink offering, and poured oil upon it. Jacob gave thanks to God for the grace he had with him all the time and worshiped God with joy and thanksgiving.

18

God has always been with Jacob, wherever he goes, and he has helped and led. Even now, God protects us, his children, like Jacob. Also, God is the one who enriches us the blessings we have prepared for Jacob.

We will also be people of faith who will protect us during the past time and give thanks to God, like Jacob, who has blessed us.

(Application example of 'feast of wheat harvest')

Today is the day of 'feast of wheat harvest'. 'Feast of wheat harvest' day is a special service that gives thanks to God for keeping us in the past six months. The God who kept Jacob wherever he went, and who has always been with us, has protected us for the past six months. I hope that all the faithful children who worship with true gratitude to God today.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)