We often celebrate the heroes of the Old Testament for their great faith. This is especially true of the Old Testament Patriarchs, namely Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. These are some of the most mentioned characters in the Bible, and the Lord used these individuals to tell an amazing story of his faithfulness. However, when we read of their lives they were far from perfect, much of the story of Genesis is filled with men who fail to trust the Lord, take matters into their own hands, and manipulate and deceive others for their own selfish gain. These characters' lives were quite messy. What this tells us is that a Perfect God can use Imperfect People to fulfill his perfect plan, he is faithful to his promises and there is nothing we can do to thwart his purposes. Throughout the book of Genesis, God continues to make a way out of no way, using what is meant for evil for his ultimate good. It was the promise of land, seed, and blessing made to Abraham and his offspring that God would hold up, and it was through this promise that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, came to earth and brought the hope of salvation to the world. This is good news, as God still saves and uses imperfect people to accomplish his purposes!

In this message, our Fellowship YA Resident, Logan Moss, covers the life of Jacob. Jacob is one of the most troubled of the four patriarchs. His life is marked by one besetting sin; a false sense of self-sufficiency. We constantly see him taking matters into his own hands. He deceives and manipulates those around him to get what he wants. This finally catches up to Jacob in Genesis 32, when God overpowers him by his grace and transforms into a man who is dependent on the Lord. Jacob’s life teaches us where it is we find God’s grace, the Lord often uses our desperation, our desolation, and our defeat to overwhelm us with his transforming grace. It is ultimately in Jacob’s defeat that he realizes the futility of his sense of self-sufficiency and recognizes God’s love for him. This story ultimately anticipates the cross, as the Lord Jesus Christ willingly chose weakness and defeat, what the world saw as humiliation, to achieve the ultimate victory over sin and death. It is because of the cross of Jesus that we can taste of this sweet, overpowering grace for ourselves and can embrace our own weakness, being transformed further into the image of Jesus Christ. 

We hope you’re encouraged by this podcast! If you have questions about our church or what it means to follow Jesus, we’d love to hear from you! Check out our Instagram @fellowshipya, website www.fellowshipar.com/young-adults, or send us at email at [email protected].