In this message from our series through Genesis, we follow Jacob in one of the most defining moments of his life—his fearful return home, his unexpected nighttime wrestling match, and his surprising reunion with Esau. Genesis 32–33 shows us a man who has spent his whole life grasping, scheming, and controlling, only to discover that true blessing comes when we finally surrender to God. Jacob enters this passage unsure if he is about to meet a friend or a foe. Twenty years earlier he fled from his brother Esau, who had sworn to kill him. Now, with no word from his family in two decades and only a divine command to return home, Jacob must face the consequences he left behind. But before he meets Esau, he meets Someone far greater. In this sermon we explore: Jacob preparing to meet Esau — his fear, his scheming, his desperate prayer, and God's quiet work behind the scenes. Jacob wrestling with God — a mysterious encounter where God cripples Jacob physically but strengthens him spiritually, giving him a new name: Israel. Jacob restored to Esau — a story of unexpected forgiveness that mirrors the father's embrace in Jesus' parable of the prodigal son. What it means for us — how God often brings us to the end of ourselves so that we might finally learn dependence, humility, and trust. This passage shows us that our greatest strength comes when we confess our weakness. Jacob emerges limping—but blessed. In the same way, God invites us to stop wrestling for control and to rest in His promises. Key Passage: Genesis 32–33 Theme: When we are weak, then we are strong (2 Corinthians 12:9–10). Series: Genesis Listen and be encouraged as we consider what it means to walk with G

In this message, Pastor Sam walks through the dramatic moment when Jacob finally breaks free from his deceitful father-in-law, Laban. After twenty years of manipulation, changed wages, and exploitation, Jacob gathers his family and flees—only to be chased down by Laban with a small army. But God steps in to protect His covenant servant. This sermon highlights: God's providence in prospering Jacob—even when Laban keeps changing the deal God's protection when Laban pursues Jacob with harmful intentions The strange episode of Rachel stealing the household idols (and what it teaches about the emptiness of false gods) How Jacob's story reminds us that God keeps His promises, even when people act unjustly Why believers today can trust God's protection against both worldly enemies and spiritual threats In the end, Jacob and Laban make a covenant of peace, and God proves once again that nothing can thwart His plans for His people. If you've ever felt mistreated, overlooked, or opposed, this passage shows a God who sees, protects, and faithfully keeps His word.

In one of the wildest family stories in Genesis, Rachel and Leah battle for love, children, and significance—turning their home into a rivalry that spirals into jealousy, manipulation, and heartbreak. Yet in the middle of this mess, God is quietly fulfilling His promises. Pastor Sam walks through Genesis 29:31–30:24 to show: How God grows the family of Jacob—even through sinful and broken choices What the baby names reveal about the sisters' pain, hope, and competition Why polygamy in the Bible is descriptive, not prescriptive The modern struggle with purity, sexual brokenness, and contentment The deep ache of infertility and the God who meets the brokenhearted How only Christ—not family, success, or children—can satisfy our restless hearts This passage reminds us that God can bring good even out of our worst failures, and that the contentment we long for is found in Him alone. "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is… my portion forever." — Psalm 73:26

Genesis 29 is one of the wildest chapters in Jacob's story—full of romance, deception, heartbreak, and unexpected grace. Jacob shows up in Haran and instantly meets Rachel at a well in a moment that feels straight out of a movie. But the story turns fast: on the wedding night, Uncle Laban switches the sisters… and Jacob wakes up married to Leah, the girl no one wanted. Jacob the deceiver finally gets deceived. The family drama explodes. Yet God is quietly working through every messy moment. This chapter shows us: • God's providence—even when you feel like you're wandering. • God's discipline—Jacob holds the mirror to his own sin. • God's compassion—He sees Leah when no one else does. • God's grace—because Jesus ultimately comes through Leah's son, Judah. If you've ever felt unseen, overlooked, or searching for love in all the wrong places… Leah's story will hit home. And it will point you straight to the Savior who never rejects those who come to Him. Passage: Genesis 29:1–35 Preacher: Pastor Sam Kraemer Harvest Liberty Lake Church

In Genesis 28, Jacob is on the run—alone, afraid, and uncertain of his future. But in his darkest moment, God meets him in a dream and reveals a ladder stretching from heaven to earth. In this message, Pastor Sam Kraemer shows how Jacob's vision at Bethel points us to the grace of God who bridges the gap between heaven and earth through Jesus Christ, the true ladder. Discover how God's presence transforms guilt into grace, fear into worship, and exile into purpose. Just as Jacob awoke declaring, "Surely the Lord is in this place!" we are reminded that God is still present with His people—especially when we gather as His church, the true "house of God." 📖 Text: Genesis 28:10–22 🎙️ Series: Genesis: God's Promises Unstoppable 🏠 Preacher: Pastor Sam Kraemer | Harvest Liberty Lake Church 🌐 harvestlibertylake.com

Sibling rivalry is one thing—stealing the family blessing is another. In Genesis 27, we encounter one of the most dramatic stories in Scripture: secret plotting, manipulation, deception, and a family ripped apart. Isaac plans in secret. Rebekah schemes in secret. Jacob lies boldly to his own father. Esau weeps with bitterness and vows revenge. It's a broken family—yet God's promises still stand. In this sermon, Pastor Sam walks through the text section-by-section, showing how God works not because of human goodness, but in spite of human sin. We learn three essential truths: ✅ 1. Broken families don't mean broken promises God keeps His covenant even when His people fail. His faithfulness does not depend on our perfection. ✅ 2. The ends do not justify the means Rebekah and Jacob thought they were helping God—but deception, manipulation, and impatience always bring pain. God accomplishes His will without needing our sin to assist Him. ✅ 3. God's plans cannot be thwarted Isaac tried to bless Esau anyway. Jacob stole the blessing deceptively. Esau vowed revenge. And yet—God's will stands. What He promises, He completes. From Genesis 27 to the cross of Christ, Scripture reminds us that God overrules evil for His glory, and nothing—not sin, Satan, opposition, or our own foolishness—can derail His plan. Key Scriptures: Genesis 27, 2 Timothy 2:13, Acts 2:22–23, Romans 8:28–29, Philippians 1:6, Jude 24–25 If you've ever felt the pain of a fractured family, past mistakes, or a life that seems off-track—this passage offers deep hope: God is faithful even when we are not.

Sometimes God's work is quiet, but no less powerful. In Genesis 26, we encounter the only chapter devoted to Isaac — a man often overshadowed by his father Abraham and his son Jacob. Yet through Isaac's seemingly ordinary faithfulness, God shows us that His promises are unstoppable. In this sermon, Pastor Sam Kraemer unpacks the life of Isaac to reveal two powerful truths: God's Morality Transcends Culture – Even among unbelievers, there is evidence of God's moral law written on the heart. Through Isaac's encounter with Abimelech, we see the reality of common grace—that God restrains evil and upholds moral order in the world He made. God's Blessing Doesn't Mean an Easy Life – Isaac's wealth and success lead not to comfort but to conflict. Yet his peaceful endurance and faith point us to the ultimate hope in Christ—the one who blesses us with every spiritual blessing, even through trial and persecution. This message reminds us that God's covenant promises do not depend on bold personalities or perfect obedience. They rest on His faithfulness. Like Isaac, we're called to trust God's unchanging goodness, even when blessings and troubles come hand in hand. 📖 Key Text: Genesis 26 🗝️ Main Idea: God's promises continue—not through human greatness, but through steadfast faith in an unchanging God. 💡 Themes: Common Grace · Transcendent Morality · Faithfulness · Suffering · Perseverance · God's Covenant Promise

In Genesis 25, God's covenant promises continue to unfold through Isaac's family—but not without obstacles. Abraham's other descendants become rivals to the promise, Rebekah's barrenness threatens the promise's future, and the cultural expectation that the firstborn should inherit is overturned when God chooses Jacob over Esau. Through it all, we're reminded that God's faithfulness is not limited by human rivalry, biological impossibility, or cultural expectation. His plans prevail, and His promises stand. Join Pastor Sam Kraemer as we see how God overcomes every obstacle to accomplish His redemptive purposes—then and now. 📖 Key Text: Genesis 25 🎯 Main Theme: God keeps His promises by overcoming rivals, biological limitations, and cultural norms. 🙏 Takeaway: Trust the God whose sovereign grace always fulfills His Word, even when His ways defy human logic.

From Genesis 24, Pastor Sam Kraemer preaches on the remarkable providence of God in bringing together Isaac and Rebekah. Abraham's dying concern was not just finding a wife for his son—it was seeing God's covenant promise continue to the next generation. Through Abraham's faith, the servant's prayer, and Rebekah's obedience, we witness a pattern of trust, dependence, and submission to God's will. This message encourages believers to: Seek relationships rooted in shared faith and devotion to the Lord. Depend on God through prayer in every seemingly impossible task. Respond with faith when God calls us to take bold, obedient steps. Ultimately, the story of Isaac and Rebekah points forward to the greater redemption found in Christ—the promised Seed through whom all nations are blessed. 📖 Text: Genesis 24 🎙️ Preacher: Pastor Sam Kraemer 🏠 Church: Harvest Liberty Lake Church — Liberty Lake, WA 🌐 Website: harvestlibertylake.com 📅 Date: October 13, 2025

In this message, Pastor Sam Kraemer walks through Genesis 23 and the account of Sarah's death—one of the most easily overlooked yet deeply meaningful moments in Scripture. What seems like a simple record of a burial becomes a profound lesson on faith, mourning, and eternal hope. We see Abraham not as a hero immune to grief, but as a husband who weeps and worships. His mourning reminds us that even the faithful must face death—but not without hope. As Abraham rises from sorrow to secure a burial place, we also see the life of a sojourner—a man who knows this world is not his home. Pastor Sam helps us see that God's promises often come in partial fulfillments—a single child instead of a multitude, a small burial field instead of the whole Promised Land—inviting us to trust His timing and fix our eyes on the greater city yet to come. This sermon encourages believers to: Mourn rightly, but not as those without hope (1 Thess 4:13-14). Live as sojourners and exiles, citizens of a better country (Heb 11:9-16). Hold fast to the confidence that death's defeat is already secured in Christ (1 Cor 15:26; John 11:25-26). If you've experienced loss—or if you need to be reminded that God's promises are sure, even when only partly fulfilled—this passage offers both comfort and confidence in the God who never fails. 📖 "For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." — Hebrews 13:14