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Struggling with God - the life of Jacob in the book of Genesis part 7
Genesis 30:25 - 31:3

1. Jacob decided to go to the promised land
2. Laban tempted Jacob to stay
3. God called Jacob to go to the promised land

Hebrews 11:13-16:   These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

1. Why do you oppress me knowing that I'm just a man (3-7)
2. Why did you make me knowing you were going to destroy me (8-17)
3. Why can't you let me just die in peace (18-22)

" For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4)

Struggling with God - the life of Jacob in the book of Genesis part 6
Genesis 29:30 - 30:24

1. Jacob craved Rachel's beauty
2. Leah craved Jacob's love
3. Rachel craved Jacob's children

• God gave Another Son!

1. No one has any claim on God
2. Nothing can go against God
3. No one can see or examine God
So... do we a) grin and bear it?    b) try and be very good?  or... c) find Jesus Christ the Mediator

Struggling with God - the life of Jacob in the book of Genesis part 5
Genesis 29:1-32

1. Jacob's desire for Rachel led to servitude
2. Laban's desire for gain led him to exploit others
3. Rachel's desirableness led her to be exploited
4. Leah's undesirableness led the Lord to have mercy on her

The life of Jacob in Genesis part 4.
Genesis 28:10-22

1. God can only be found in one place
- a place where God can be found
- a place where heaven and earth meet
- a place where God comes down
- a place where God promises us the whole world
- a place where God says 'I am with you always even to the end of the age'
= John 1:43-51 Jesus is that One Place; the Cross is that ladder

2. God is the only Treasure you need to find
He provides us with what we need, accompanies us on the journey until we reach Our Heavenly Father's house in peace (John 14:1-3)

Intellectual arguments for God are a feeble response to the passionate questions about God caused by unjust suffering. In the face of screaming pain, soft spoken philosophical answers are drowned out. The book of Job rages against God and yet through it all, the deepest most intense comfort is offered. The answer to suffering can only ever be found in Infinite Love - anything else is a like a superficial plaster that death will peel away.

Genesis 27 - 28:8
After watching how Jacob 'squeezes' the blessing out of his father Isaac, we learn that:
1. We won't get blessed by our Father unless the Blessor dies - thank God, Hebrews 9:16 tells us that without the death of Jesus, the new covenant would not come into effect.
2. We won't get blessed by our Father unless we are the Firstborn - thank God, Jesus is the Firstborn and the Heir of everything. Thankfully, He shares everything with us. He is the Perfect Favourite Son who makes us co-heirs together with Him.
3. We won't get blessed unless we impersonate Someone else - thank God, we are treated by the Father in the same way as He treats His 'beloved Son in whom He is well pleased.' In fact, He even clothes us with His robe of righteousness!
4. We won't get blessed unless we offer a Perfect Sacrifice - thank God, Jesus is the Perfect Sacrifice well-pleasing to God. 
Bottom line: we don't need to 'get our Heavenly Father to bless us,' He has already blessed us fully in His Son Jesus Christ. We look forward to receiving our inheritance, the whole earth.

Intellectual arguments for God are a feeble response to the passionate questions about God caused by unjust suffering. In the face of screaming pain, soft spoken philosophical answers are drowned out. The book of Job rages against God and yet through it all, the deepest most intense comfort is offered. The answer to suffering can only ever be found in Infinite Love - anything else is a like a superficial plaster that death will peel away.

Intellectual arguments for God are a feeble response to the passionate questions about God caused by unjust suffering. In the face of screaming pain, soft spoken philosophical answers are drowned out. The book of Job rages against God and yet through it all, the deepest most intense comfort is offered. The answer to suffering can only ever be found in Infinite Love - anything else is a like a superficial plaster that death will peel away.