We perhaps assume that a holy God forgives sinners out of kindness; but in what sense is it justice? The Cross explains the answer.

Concluding our series in the life of Jacob, we consider the contrast between those who live within God's covenant blessings and the world around them.

At God's command, Jacob finally returns to Bethel, where God had first called him and made personal promises to him. This passage teaches us important principles for public worship and for leadership in our families.

Guest Preacher: Mr Gareth Orr

How are believers to interact with our unbelieving world? The question is one of the most challenging for the Church to answer. In this dark episode in the life of Jacob, we seek to learn from his mistakes and are reminded of the importance of looking to Christ as our ultimate example in all things.

Jacob finally sees Esau face to face - and it all turns out much better than he might have hoped. In a chapter that might leave us with mixed feelings as to what Jacob does and why, we nonetheless see the fact of God's faithfulness in his life.

The cross is undoubtedly the best-recognised symbol of Christianity. It is also the message of Christianity. Paul said, 'we preach Christ crucified' (1 Corinthians 1:23). But what does it really mean?

Jacob reaches the border of Canaan fearful of seeing the face of Esau, his brother. But instead he is forced to face his God, in an encounter that would change his life. If we meet our God in the place of prayer, we will have less reason to fear meeting the problems of life.

The Call of Wisdom continues to sound a lot like that of the Lord Jesus Christ. In this poetic Old Testament passage we see foreshadowings of what the Lord Jesus would more fully declare about himself in the New Testament: that he is the eternal "I am", the Son of God equal with the Father in power, authority and divinity.

Jacob has his own "mini Exodus" as he finally escapes the clutches of Laban. As with his descendants the Israelites, centuries later, in saving Jacob God shows himself to be the one true God in the face of pagan idols.

Proverbs 8 describes a woman called Wisdom, crying out to "the children of men". Like other pictures and people in the Old Testament she often looks and sounds a lot like the Lord Jesus.