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>>John Bradshaw:
This is It Is Written.
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I'm John Bradshaw.
Thanks for joining me.
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Twins! Double trouble--
or a doublble blessing.
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Twins are a marvel.
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Three percent of
pregnanes result in twins,
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and there are mo
twins being born now
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than there were a generaon ago.
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Identical twins, ao
known as monozygotic twins,
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ppen when a single egg is
fertilized and then didivides.
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And they're
always the sasame gender.
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Nonidenticalal
twins, dizygotic twins,
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comento existence when two
separate eggs are fertilizized
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and implanted in the womb.
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Conjoined ins are
born physically connected
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to each other.
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The embryo only
partiay separates,
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so two fetuses
devevelop joined together.
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There are astronautwins,
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sporting tns,
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billionaire twins.
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There are twin towers and twtwin
peaks and twin mattresses.
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But wewe're looking
at, at actual twins.
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One famous twins sry
is that of the "Jim twins"
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who were separated at birth,
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as c chronicled by Dr.
Nancy Segal in her book "Ewined
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Lives." They lived
completely separate lives
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until theyey were reunited when
they were almost 40 yes old.
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Adopted by different famils,
they grew up 40 miles apart.
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Both families
namedd the boys James.
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And they both went by Jim.
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They gave their
pepet dogs the same name.
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They married women
who had the same ne--
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not just once, b but twice.
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They both had a n and
gave them the same name,
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first and middle.
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They both drove Chevrolet cars.
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They even vacaoned at
the same beach in Florida.
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Of course, the Jims weren't
the same in n every respect,
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but ththat's a
lot of similarities.
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The first twins in t the
Bible show up around 1800 BC.
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And they weren't just a
mamarvel; they were a miracle.
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We're continuing
our ongoing serieses
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"Great Character of the Bible,"
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and we're looking at the
life of a biblical twin, Jacob.
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Jacob and Esau were the
in sons of Isaac and Rebekah.
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God had promised
their grgrandfather Abraham
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that through him "the
earth [would] belessed."
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OnOne of the twins
would be the line through whi
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the Chririst
Child would be born.
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But these boys were not alike.e.
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They we as different
as sunshine and rain.
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Esau w was a hunter, while
Jacob was more of a homebo.
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And their differences were
demonstrat in their choices.
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One yieldehis life
to God, and one did not.
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Anin their experiences we
see salvation and redempmption.
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We s failure and dysfunction.
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Anwe see the goodness and
mercy and justice of Godod.
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Isaac was the son of Abraham.
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He married Rebekah, o
couldn't have children.
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Now, the inability to have
childrenen can be a real burden.
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Most couples who
wanant children can conceive.
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But roughly 1
in 10 men and women
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are affected by y infertility.
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So what Rebekah was
facingwas something that,
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at least today,
isn't especially rare
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and shouldn't
carry any sort of stig.
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But Rebekah's
casese was different.
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It was known that the Messiah
would come from AbAbraham's line
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through Isaac.
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Rebekah had to conceive,
or there'd be no Messiah.
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In this s case, Rebekah's
infertility was an opportuty
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for God to interve and
to reveal that His hand
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was on heaven's
plan for the woworld.
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Genenesis 25:21 says,
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"Now Isaacac pleaded
with the Lord for his wife,
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"because she was barren;
and the Lord granted his plea,
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and Rebekah his
wife conceiveded."
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But Rebekah feared
for her r pregnancy.
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It seemed things
weren't gogoing well.
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"But the children
struggle together within her;
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"and she said, 'If all is
well, , why am I like this?'
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"So e went to
inquire of the Lord.
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"And the Lord said to her:r:
'Two nations are in your womb,
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"'two peoples shall be
separated from yr body;
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"'one people shall be
stronger than the other,
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and the olr shall
serve the younger.'"
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Twins!
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"And the first came out red.
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"He was like a
hairy garment all over;
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"so they called his name Esau.
Afterward s brother came out,
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"and his hand took
hold ofof Esau's heel;
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so his name was called Jacob."
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It's a as though these
boys came out fighting.
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They were fighting
in their mother's womb.
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Now, there's
something we nd to remember
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in order to understand
ththe drama in this story.
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It was tradition that the
firstbororn son became heir
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to his fatr's property.
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But he not only
inherited a double portion
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of his father's wealth; ;
he was also designated to be
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the spiritual
leader ofhe family.
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Th was a big deal.
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The elder son was obligated
to dote his life to God
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and live
accccording to the will of God.
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But even though
Esau s the rightful heir
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to Isaac's fortunes
and the spirual leader
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of the nt generation,
that didn't mean much to him,
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esespecially the
spiritual leader part.
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He'd heard all aut God,
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but at knowledge
didn't change his heart.
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In fact,
Hebrews2:16 describes Esau
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as a "profane person...,
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who for one morsel of
[meat] soldld his birthright."
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Jacob, however, didn't
care as much abt this fortune
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as he did abouthe
spiritual blessings
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handeded down to the firstborn.
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He'd been told by s
mother that God would use him
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to lead the stronger nation.
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But instead of waitingng on
God to bring about His plan,
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Jacob decided to help God along.
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You u know, that never works.
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God has His own timing,
and when we inrfere with that,
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we spoil God's perfect plan and
make troublele for ourselves.
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This is at happened.
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One day Esau went hunting,
evideny without any success.
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He c came home starving, and
he saw Jacob sittinby the fire
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stirring a pot of red lentils.
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You can imagine how
gooda pot of lentils
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cooked with onion and
gagarlic smelled to hungry Esau.
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And d "Esau said to
Jacob, 'Please feed me
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"with that same d stew, for I
am weary.' ... But Jacob said,
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"'Sell me your birthght as
of this day.' And Esau said,
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"'Look, I am about to o die; so
what is this birthright to me?'
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"Then n Jacob said,
'Swear to me as of this day.'
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"So he swo to him, and
sold his birthright to Jacob.
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"And Jacob gave Esau
bread and stew of lentntils;
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"then he ate and drank
arose, and went his way.
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Thus Esau
despised his birthrightht."
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Esau d disqualified
himself to be the spiritual leer
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or priest of the
family by what he hadone.
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In fact, hisife demonstrated
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thatat God wasn't
his chief concern.
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He later marrieded not one but
two Hittite women, heathen wom.
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That was well outside what
was expected from oror even
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permitted for one upon
whom the birthright rted.
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Selling his spiritual blessing
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Without even thinking about
showed how little what he had
jujust given away, he
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respecteded God. Esau
said goodbye and left.
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And Jacob--Jacob ran
ahead ofod's providence,
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just as Abraham d
in fathering Ishmael.
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But while we're
lookingat Esau's folly,
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we can't overlook the fact
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that Jacob does not come out
of this smelling l like roses.
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Jacob had a
dark, ceitful streak.
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We look at that
in just a moment.
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¤[music increases and endnds]¤¤
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>>John: There is
power in the Word of God
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and powewer available to
you through the promises of d.
00:08:25.67\00:08:30.14
God nts you to experience
that power, and so do I.
00:08:30.17\00:08:33.27
I'd like y you to have today's
free offer, "Promises of Per,"
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new from It Is Written..
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To receive
"Promiseses of Power,"
00:08:38.41\00:08:39.91
call 800-253-300000.
00:08:39.95\00:08:42.98
You could write to
the address on your screen
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or visit us
online at iiwoffer.com
00:08:44.82\00:08:49.06
and be sure you
rereceive "Promises of Power."
00:08:49.09\00:08:52.73
>>Johnradshaw: Thanks for
joining me on It Is WrWritten.
00:08:54.20\00:08:56.46
Jacob basically indled
Esau out of the birthright.
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Jacob coveted the birthrigight.
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And d knowing Esau
was desperately hungry
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and that Esau would've
done justbout anything for food
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at tt time, he took advantage of
not only his brother'r's hunger
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but also his carelesessness
about spiritual things,
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and he bought the
birthrig from him.
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Esau made a a declaration:
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"I don't really
care about t this stuff."
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But Jacob mamade
a declaration, too:
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"I can be a
lowlife when I wanna be."
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And that wasn't the only time
Jacob was preped to stoop low
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in order t to
get what he wanted.
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I'm now old, and I don't know
Years later, Isaac how much
lononger I'll live. called Esau
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ansaid, So "take your...bow,
anand go...[hunting]"
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and make some of
that food I like smuch--
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seems likely that they
would've eaten together-r--
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"that my soul may
bless you before I die."
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Isaac didn know that Rebekah
was in the shadows listening..
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She prefererred Jacob and
wanted to see God's will don
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that Jacobould
receive the birthright.
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As soon as Esau left, she
hurried to Jacob and told him
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to bringwo young goats
from the herd and kill them
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and cook them the same
way that Esau coed venison.
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She was sure that Isaac
would never know the difference.
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But Jacob wasn't so sure.
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Esau was hairy,
and Jacob was nonot.
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If his father touched him,
he'd figure out the deception,
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and he'd be more likely to
reive a curse from his father
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than a blessing.
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But Rebekah was s insistent.
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She said, "Let your
cursee be on me, my son;
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only obey my v voice,
and go, get them for me."
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So Jacob w was in a tough
placace. Does he disobey his
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mother, does he
outright deceive his father?
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So who was in the wrong here?
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Rekah for instructing
Jacob to deceive his father?
00:10:47.54\00:10:50.45
Or Jacob for obeyinger
and deceiving his father,
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knowing full well that the
truth would evtually come out?
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Or do we blame Esau for
being so self-cecentered
00:10:56.55\00:10:58.95
and caring so little
for the e birthright?
00:10:58.99\00:11:01.46
Or maybe Isaac? If
he'd simply oyed God
00:11:01.49\00:11:04.83
and given the birthright to the
one GoGod intended it to go to,
00:11:04.86\00:11:08.53
this whole thing
could've been avoideded.
00:11:08.56\00:11:11.23
Rebekah wantining
Jacob to be Isaac's heir
00:11:11.27\00:11:14.40
coinced Jacob to put
animal skins on his arms,
00:11:14.44\00:11:18.41
just in case
Isaac grew suspicious.
00:11:18.44\00:11:21.94
Jacob had to have
looked ridiculous,
00:11:21.98\00:11:25.45
and he musust have felt terrible
for deceiving his father
00:11:25.48\00:11:29.32
so egregiously.
00:11:29.35\00:11:31.25
But the plan word.
Isaac blessed Jacob, saying,
00:11:31.29\00:11:35.79
"Let peoples serve you,
and nations bow down to you.
00:11:35.82\00:11:40.16
"Be master over ur brethren,
and let your mother's sons
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"bow down to you. . Cursed
be everyone who curses you,
00:11:43.57\00:11:48.10
and blessed be
tse who bless you!"
00:11:48.14\00:11:51.41
But no sooner had Jacob
left his fatheher's presence
00:11:51.44\00:11:54.51
than Esau entered
with a pot of stewew.
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It didt take long to
figure out what had happened.
00:11:57.18\00:11:59.51
Rebekah and Jacob had succeeded
in obtaini the blessing,
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but au was furious and
wanted to kill his brother.
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Rebekah ged Jacob
to flee for his life
00:12:06.45\00:12:08.56
and go to her brother Laban.
00:12:08.59\00:12:10.53
What a mess
Rebekakah found herself in.
00:12:10.56\00:12:12.66
She lost her husband's
trust. She lost Esas love.
00:12:12.69\00:12:16.67
And she never saw Jacob again.
00:12:16.70\00:12:19.70
Jacob fled from the camp,
00:12:19.73\00:12:21.34
leaving behind a disappointed
father, a tearfuful mother,
00:12:21.37\00:12:24.94
and a brother who
wanted to kill him.
00:12:24.97\00:12:27.81
Deception never pays.
00:12:27.84\00:12:30.41
Nobody winwhen
you run ahead of God.
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With nothing more an a staff,
Jacob had to travel on foot
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hundredsds of miles
through a country inhabited
00:12:39.49\00:12:42.42
by wild, rovg tribes to
the home of his uncle Laban.
00:12:42.46\00:12:46.83
Compounding the
physical hardship,
00:12:46.86\00:12:49.03
Jacob was humiliated,,
lonely, and cast off.
00:12:49.06\00:12:52.77
He didn't know if he
would ever s home again.
00:12:52.80\00:12:55.74
He had no onto talk to
but God, and God listened
00:12:55.77\00:12:59.67
as His wayward son
poured out h heart.
00:12:59.71\00:13:03.14
Then, exhausted,
Jacob lay down on the ground
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with a stone for a
pillow and fell asleep.
00:13:05.58\00:13:09.98
It was then that
Godid a marvelous thing
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that's encouraged people like
JaJacob down through the years.
00:13:13.46\00:13:17.59
He gave him a vision of a
a bright and shining ladder;
00:13:17.63\00:13:20.66
its base rested on the earth
00:13:20.70\00:13:23.20
while the top
reached all the way to hven.
00:13:23.20\00:13:26.43
Angels were ascending and
descending on n the ladder,
00:13:26.47\00:13:29.87
and above it sat the Lord.
00:13:29.90\00:13:32.37
Jacob heard God's voice saying,
00:13:32.44\00:13:35.01
"I am the Lord God
of Abraham yourather,
00:13:35.04\00:13:38.15
"and the God of Isaac;
the land o on which you lie
00:13:38.18\00:13:41.88
I will give to you
and your descendants."
00:13:41.92\00:13:44.72
He then went on to
reaeassure this lonely wanderer
00:13:44.75\00:13:47.39
at through him all the
earth would bebe blessed.
00:13:47.46\00:13:51.06
It would be through his
linee that Christ would be born.
00:13:51.09\00:13:55.16
And He reassured Jacob:
00:13:55.20\00:13:56.77
"'Behold, I am with you anand
will keep you wherever you go,
00:13:56.80\00:14:00.20
"'and will bring
you backck to this land;
00:14:00.24\00:14:02.30
"'for I will not leave youou
00:14:02.34\00:14:03.91
"u"until I have done
what I have spoken to you.'
00:14:03.94\00:14:06.54
"Thehen Jacob awoke
from his sleep and [he] said
00:14:06.57\00:14:08.78
'Surely the Lord is in
this place, and I did n not know
00:14:08.81\00:14:13.25
it.'" You can be at your
absolute that God is right there
with You know, this you,
00:14:18.29\00:14:23.06
encouragingng you to look up.
lowest, and yeyet you can know
showus something. That ladder
00:14:23.09\00:14:24.53
represented Jes, who me to earth
to connect this planet with
00:14:24.56\00:14:28.80
heaven. Angels are cstantly
going up and down from heaven to
00:14:28.83\00:14:32.37
earth and from eararth
to heaven on our behalf.
00:14:32.40\00:14:34.90
God has not forsaken His people.
And He hasn't forsaken you.
00:14:37.34\00:14:39.17
HeHe's the same God
today that He was to Jacob
00:14:39.21\00:14:42.34
All you have to do is
come to Himbroken and weary.
00:14:42.38\00:14:46.55
Pour out to Him your fears,
your heartache and your sins.
00:14:46.58\00:14:50.95
And He will forgive you.
00:14:50.99\00:14:52.79
Jacob felt God's
presence strongly in that place
00:14:52.82\00:14:55.86
that he exclaimed,
00:14:55.89\00:14:56.99
"This is none other
than the hou of God,
00:14:57.03\00:15:01.00
and thisis is
the gate of heaven!"
00:15:01.03\00:15:04.33
Now, consider this. Jacob
haddone a truly lousy thing.
00:15:04.37\00:15:10.27
He collaboted with
his mother in deception.
00:15:10.31\00:15:13.38
He swindled his brother,
00:15:13.41\00:15:15.41
and he coldheartedly lied to
his fathther, taking advantage
00:15:15.44\00:15:19.78
of his fatather's advanced
age and his father's blindne.
00:15:19.81\00:15:23.82
That's low.
00:15:23.85\00:15:26.49
But God didn't't cast him off.
00:15:26.52\00:15:28.22
Kning Jacob was truly repentant,
00:15:28.26\00:15:30.23
d renewed His covenant with him:
00:15:30.26\00:15:32.46
"I am with you and will
keepep you wherever you go,
00:15:32.49\00:15:34.66
and will bring you
back to this land."
00:15:34.73\00:15:36.77
Genesis 285.
00:15:36.80\00:15:38.33
I tell you, God is
gracious and fororgiving.
00:15:38.37\00:15:42.37
This doesn't mean anyone
should be blasé é about sin.
00:15:42.40\00:15:45.71
MeMercy shouldn't lead
you to be presumptuous.
00:15:45.74\00:15:48.71
Jacob paid an
enormous price for his sin,
00:15:48.74\00:15:51.61
but God was forgivining.
00:15:51.65\00:15:54.85
And just as He was
willing to forgive Jacob,,
00:15:54.88\00:15:57.19
whout-and-out
deceived his loving father,
00:15:57.22\00:16:01.26
you know thahat God is willing
to forgive you and restore y.
00:16:01.29\00:16:06.83
Jacob filly arrived at a well
00:16:06.86\00:16:08.76
and found that the shepherds
there e were from Haran.
00:16:08.80\00:16:11.73
That was where Abrahaham
began his long journey--
00:16:11.73\00:16:13.94
from Haran to Canaan.
00:16:13.97\00:16:16.54
The shepheherds knew
Laban, Abraham's nephew,
00:16:16.57\00:16:18.77
and troduced Jacob to
a beautiful young woman.
00:16:18.81\00:16:22.08
Many years before, h his
mother Rebekah met someone
00:16:22.11\00:16:24.45
at this very same wellll
and left home to marry Isaac.
00:16:24.48\00:16:29.35
And now herere
was Rebekah's son.
00:16:29.38\00:16:32.09
History was about to be repeat--
00:16:32.12\00:16:34.06
with a certain wrinkle..
00:16:34.09\00:16:36.59
Jacocob lived and worked
with his uncle Laban fo20 years.
00:16:36.62\00:16:40.40
Thfirst seven years of labor was
to earn the hand of f Rachel.
00:16:40.43\00:16:44.10
The Bible says his
love for Rachel was so great
00:16:44.13\00:16:46.97
that those seven years
seemed to him like "a w days."
00:16:47.00\00:16:50.84
But Laban
deceived t the deceiver
00:16:50.87\00:16:54.24
and gave Jacob
Leah instead of Rachel.
00:16:54.31\00:16:58.25
Jacob was now stuck with a
woman thate didn't even love,
00:16:58.28\00:17:01.72
d Laban
continued to swindle Jacob.
00:17:01.75\00:17:04.45
He changed
Jacob's wages 10 times.
00:17:04.49\00:17:07.32
He lied to him. His
sons treateJacob harshly
00:17:07.36\00:17:10.36
because Jacocob's sheep
were healthier than theirs
00:17:10.39\00:17:13.03
and his animals
bred prolififically.
00:17:13.06\00:17:15.63
The cheater was beg cheated.
00:17:15.66\00:17:18.33
So can a trarail of
lies turn into a blessing?
00:17:18.37\00:17:21.97
'll find out in just a moment,
00:17:22.00\00:17:23.64
along with the prayer that will
completely change your life.
00:17:23.67\00:17:28.74
¤[music increases and ends]¤¤
00:17:28.78\00:17:35.78
>>Johnhn: There is
power in the Word of God
00:17:37.82\00:17:39.95
and power available to
you thugh the promises of God.
00:17:39.99\00:17:44.49
God wants you to experience
that power, and so do I.
00:17:44.53\00:17:47.56
I'd like you to have today's
ee offer, "Promises of Power,"
00:17:47.60\00:17:50.87
new from It Is Written.
00:17:50.90\00:17:52.70
To receive "Promises of Power,"
00:17:52.73\00:17:54.17
call 800-253-3000.
00:17:54.20\00:17:57.37
You could write to
the address on your scre
00:17:57.41\00:17:59.07
or visitit us
online at iiwoffer.com
00:17:59.11\00:18:03.35
and be sure you
receive "Promises of Per."
00:18:03.38\00:18:07.02
>>John: The
backstory of the Bibible
00:18:08.28\00:18:10.05
is the sry of how Satan
attacked the character of God
00:18:10.09\00:18:14.06
d proposed his own system
for running the univererse,
00:18:14.09\00:18:18.13
a a system of
selfishness and taking--
00:18:18.16\00:18:21.96
a system that's en
in effect on the earth
00:18:22.00\00:18:24.77
since humans first sinned...
00:18:24.80\00:18:27.60
a system that is
complete and utter failure.
00:18:27.64\00:18:33.24
Join me for "The Choice,"
00:18:33.27\00:18:36.44
the finachapter of
It Is Written series
00:18:36.48\00:18:39.18
"Prequel of the Bie."
00:18:39.21\00:18:41.22
We'l'll discuss how
even in a world damaged by si
00:18:41.25\00:18:45.92
we can still observe e evidences
00:18:45.95\00:18:47.62
of how God intended
the world to operate.
00:18:47.66\00:18:51.16
And we'll look forward
to the sequel of e Bible,
00:18:51.19\00:18:55.16
the glorious future for those
who choose Him. d has in store
00:18:57.57\00:19:00.14
Don'n't miss "The Choice,"
00:19:00.17\00:19:01.90
part 5 of our five-part series
on It Is Written TV. "Prequel of
00:19:04.84\00:19:08.58
the BiBible" to return to
Canaan. And he knew >>John
Bradshaw: Eventually Jacob left
00:19:11.01\00:19:14.02
Labanan's home that along t the
way he was gonna come face to
face with his broer Esau,
00:19:14.05\00:19:17.52
the man who
wanted t to kill him.
00:19:17.55\00:19:19.92
Knowing g he was in a
tough situation, Jacob prayed.
00:19:19.95\00:19:23.43
In a lonely untain region,
00:19:23.46\00:19:25.29
Jab fell upon the
ground in deep distress.
00:19:25.29\00:19:28.80
About midnight a man
appeared from out o of nowhere.
00:19:28.83\00:19:32.23
Jacob thought someone
had d come to kill him,
00:19:32.27\00:19:34.04
tried to fight the man o off.
00:19:34.07\00:19:35.90
The two wrestled
and fought for hours
00:19:35.94\00:19:38.14
untitil just before daybreak.
00:19:38.17\00:19:40.71
When the strangesaw that
Jacob would not let him go,
00:19:40.74\00:19:43.28
he touched Jacobob's thigh,
and instantly it was injured.
00:19:43.31\00:19:47.68
Then Jacob knew he'd
been contending witith Someone
00:19:47.72\00:19:50.02
with more than human power.
00:19:50.05\00:19:52.29
So Jac clung to Him
and pleaded for mercy.
00:19:52.32\00:19:55.62
The Stranger said, "LeLet
me go, for [it is daybreak]."
00:19:55.66\00:19:58.36
But Jacob said, "I will l not
let You go unless You bless me!"
00:19:58.39\00:20:03.23
Genesis 32:26.
00:20:03.26\00:20:05.70
And there's th prayer:
00:20:05.73\00:20:07.14
"I will not let t You
go unless You bless me."
00:20:07.17\00:20:11.17
How could that
prayer change your life?
00:20:11.21\00:20:14.44
Let's say you're in the
middle of arial of some kind.
00:20:14.51\00:20:17.25
Maybe your marriage is failing.
00:20:17.28\00:20:18.81
You have financial troububles.
00:20:18.85\00:20:21.22
Your children are
making p poor decisions.
00:20:21.25\00:20:23.65
Pray Jacob's prayer:
00:20:23.69\00:20:25.82
"I will not let You go
unless You bleless me!"
00:20:25.85\00:20:29.22
God, my faitith is in
You. I have no other hope.
00:20:29.26\00:20:34.23
I'm holding on to You,
and I'm not letting g go.
00:20:34.30\00:20:38.33
God answers prayers like tha
00:20:38.37\00:20:40.47
Now, tt doesn't mean that
you get everything you want.t.
00:20:40.50\00:20:43.61
It means that even when
thingsgs don't work out,
00:20:43.61\00:20:47.08
you hang on to God,
and you don't let gogo.
00:20:47.11\00:20:50.98
I spoke once with a dear
lady who asked me to visit her
00:20:51.01\00:20:54.18
in a nursing home
in which she lived.
00:20:54.22\00:20:56.95
She saidid to me, "Pastor,
I've only ever had cancer
00:20:56.95\00:21:00.69
in a part of my body where
I have two of f something."
00:21:00.72\00:21:04.43
She said, "I lost a kikidney
to cancer, but I had one more.
00:21:04.46\00:21:08.80
"I lost a breast to
canc, but I had one more.
00:21:08.83\00:21:12.40
I lost an eye to cancer,
but I haveve another eye."
00:21:12.43\00:21:16.84
And then she said,
"But I only have one ver."
00:21:16.87\00:21:22.61
Shhad liver cancer, and
the doctors could offer heher
00:21:22.64\00:21:25.81
no hopope at all from
a medical point of view.
00:21:25.85\00:21:29.08
I said to her,r, "So, so
how do you feel about that?"
00:21:29.12\00:21:32.62
She smiled at me,
smiled at me, and she said,
00:21:32.65\00:21:37.59
"Pastor, mand Jesus are going
to get through this together."."
00:21:37.63\00:21:44.17
I officiated at
her funeral service,
00:21:44.20\00:21:46.87
and I know thahat on the day
when the dead in Christ shall
00:21:46.90\00:21:51.87
re, she's s gonna come up out of
the grave offering praes to God.
00:21:51.91\00:21:56.54
Like Jacob, she never let
Him m go, and He did bless her.
00:21:56.58\00:22:02.15
You're gonna get to meet
that lady o day; I'm sure of it.
00:22:02.18\00:22:06.02
And whatat does God
do with faith like that?
00:22:07.02\00:22:10.43
"He said to
[Jacob], 'What is your name?'
00:22:10.43\00:22:12.79
"He said, 'Jacob.' And He said,
00:22:12.83\00:22:14.36
"'Your name shall no longer
be called Jaco but Israel;
00:22:14.36\00:22:18.37
"'for yoyou have
struggled with God and with men,
00:22:18.40\00:22:21.07
and have preiled.'"
00:22:21.10\00:22:22.30
Now,w, this is interesting.
Years later, the proet Jeremiah
00:22:22.34\00:22:25.71
compared Jacob's struggle toto
a battle that God's children
00:22:25.74\00:22:29.11
would go through just bebefore
the Second Coming of Jesus.
00:22:29.14\00:22:32.11
"We have heard a
voioice of trembling, of fear,
00:22:32.15\00:22:34.15
"and not of peace.... all faces
are tuturned into paleness?
00:22:34.18\00:22:38.22
"Alas! for that daday is
great, so that none is like it:
00:22:38.25\00:22:41.72
"it is even the
time of Jacob's trouble;
00:22:41.76\00:22:43.79
but he shall b saved out of it."
00:22:43.83\00:22:46.36
That's Jeremiah 30,
verses 5 throughgh 7.
00:22:46.39\00:22:49.03
The prophet Daniel also
referredo Jacob's trouble
00:22:49.06\00:22:51.63
when he wrote,
00:22:51.67\00:22:52.80
"At that time
Miael shall stand up,
00:22:52.83\00:22:55.17
"the great prince who
stands watch over e sons
00:22:55.20\00:22:57.74
"of ur people; and there
shall be a time of trouble,,
00:22:57.77\00:23:01.54
"s"such as never was since there
was a nation, ev to that time.
00:23:01.58\00:23:05.61
"And at that time your
people shall be delivered,
00:23:05.65\00:23:08.15
every one who is found
written n in the book."
00:23:08.18\00:23:10.39
Daniel 12:1.
00:23:10.42\00:23:12.15
Which suggests to me that
even in the great coconflicts
00:23:12.19\00:23:16.02
soon to come to this world,
00:23:16.06\00:23:18.09
if you jusust hang
on to Jesus by faith,
00:23:18.13\00:23:21.13
He's gonna see you through.
00:23:21.16\00:23:23.23
FoFor 20 years Jacob
had struggled with the guilt
00:23:23.26\00:23:25.60
of his deception and
the ar of losing his life.
00:23:25.63\00:23:28.64
He obtained a victory that night
00:23:28.67\00:23:30.11
en he finally made the
Lord his total dependencece.
00:23:30.14\00:23:34.21
And that's whatrials coming to
the world call us to exercise:
00:23:34.24\00:23:37.91
total dependence o on the Lord.
00:23:37.95\00:23:40.35
Jacob and Esau were reconciled.
That was miracle in itself.
00:23:40.38\00:23:44.52
The Bible says, "Esau ran to
meet him, and embracaced him,
00:23:44.55\00:23:48.56
and fell on his neck and
kissed him, and th wept."
00:23:48.59\00:23:52.99
You can imagine
e Jacob's relief.
00:23:53.06\00:23:55.80
I can imagine
Jacob saying to himsf,
00:23:55.83\00:23:58.20
"God has been faithfulul again,
00:23:58.23\00:23:59.87
and I haven't
deserved y of His blessings."
00:23:59.90\00:24:02.67
Jacob and Esau
buried eir father together.
00:24:02.70\00:24:06.01
That word "togetether" paints
such a beautiful picture in my
00:24:06.04\00:24:09.88
mi: twin brothers s who once
hated each other now side by
00:24:09.91\00:24:14.65
side, regretting the past, but
looking forward toto the future.
00:24:14.68\00:24:19.12
Their story illurates
how broken relationships
00:24:19.15\00:24:21.92
can be mended and restored
by the grace of a loving God.
00:24:21.96\00:24:26.86
It also
illustrates how your choices
00:24:27.56\00:24:29.46
determine your course inin life.
00:24:29.50\00:24:32.33
Both E Esau and
Jacob had been instructed
00:24:32.37\00:24:35.14
in the knowledge of God,
00:24:35.17\00:24:36.14
and both were ee to
walk in His commandments.
00:24:36.17\00:24:39.87
ThThe decision to follow
God has eternal conseqnces.
00:24:39.91\00:24:44.21
The decision to
walk apart from God
00:24:44.25\00:24:47.52
also has eternal consesequences.
00:24:47.55\00:24:50.92
God extends the
invitatation to follow Him.
00:24:50.95\00:24:54.62
He says in Jososhua 24:15,
00:24:54.66\00:24:56.86
"Choose you this day
whom [you] will serve.
00:24:56.89\00:25:00.23
Jacob becamesrael,
00:25:00.26\00:25:02.50
which means sothing
like "a prince of God"
00:25:02.53\00:25:05.90
or "he rules with God."
00:25:05.93\00:25:08.74
Jacob's 12 sons
becameme the progenitors
00:25:08.77\00:25:10.97
ofhe 12 tribes of Israel.
00:25:11.01\00:25:13.64
Jacob wasn't the pererfect man,
00:25:13.68\00:25:15.61
but theneither
was his grandfather,
00:25:15.64\00:25:18.41
and the Bible calls
him "faithful Abrahaham."
00:25:18.45\00:25:22.65
Jacob, who bame Israel,
a twin, a miracle birth,
00:25:22.68\00:25:28.02
and a lifefe of faith.
00:25:28.06\00:25:31.03
How is it with you?
Which Jacob do you rate to?
00:25:31.06\00:25:34.56
The man of faith w who
trusted God, who repented,
00:25:34.56\00:25:37.43
who was s chosen by God
to produce a great nation?
00:25:37.47\00:25:40.54
Or do you relate better to
the faulty Jacob, the conniver,
00:25:40.57\00:25:44.37
the calculating Jacob?
00:25:44.41\00:25:46.74
There's a littlele or, or
maybe a lot of that in everyone.
00:25:46.78\00:25:49.54
We're all faulty.
00:25:49.58\00:25:51.85
But ifif you are flawed Jacob,
you can be victoriouIsrael.
00:25:51.88\00:25:57.65
Hold on to God by faith.
00:25:57.69\00:26:00.39
Refuse to let go
until He blesses you.
00:26:00.42\00:26:03.32
And watcGod transform your life
00:26:03.36\00:26:06.86
and prepare you for eternity.
00:26:06.90\00:26:09.83
>>John: Thank you for
remembering that IIs Written
00:26:10.90\00:26:12.77
exists because of the kindnessss
of people just like you.
00:26:12.80\00:26:16.20
To support this s international
life-changing ministry,
00:26:16.24\00:26:19.47
please calall us
now at 800-253-3000.
00:26:19.51\00:26:23.75
You can send your
tax-deductible gif
00:26:23.78\00:26:25.21
to the aress on your screen,
00:26:25.25\00:26:26.68
or you can visit
uonline at itiswritten.com.
00:26:26.72\00:26:30.59
Thank you for your prayers
andfor your financial support.
00:26:30.62\00:26:33.36
Our number
again is 800-253-3000,
00:26:33.39\00:26:37.49
or you can visit us
onne at itiswritten.com.
00:26:37.53\00:26:40.63
>>John: Let's pray together now.
00:26:41.70\00:26:43.47
Our Father in
heaven, I amrateful today
00:26:43.50\00:26:45.67
for the encouragement
und in the story of Jacob,
00:26:45.67\00:26:49.20
brought into this
world by miraculous meanans
00:26:49.24\00:26:52.74
and then brought
back to Yourur heart
00:26:52.77\00:26:54.68
by the miracle of f repentance.
00:26:54.71\00:26:57.08
You u show us in the life of
Jacob that You're not ne with
00:26:57.11\00:27:00.18
people when thefall into sin,
00:27:00.22\00:27:01.75
and that people who
do even despicable things
00:27:01.78\00:27:04.62
can be drawn back to Your
heartand to a place of victory.
00:27:04.65\00:27:08.96
Friend, you might see
yourself as flaw Jacob.
00:27:08.99\00:27:12.99
God sees you as
victorious Israel.l.
00:27:13.03\00:27:15.66
Would you u be
victorious Israel right now?
00:27:15.70\00:27:18.10
Would you accept that
heart change, that new n name,
00:27:18.13\00:27:20.50
ththat change of mind
and change of life from Go
00:27:20.54\00:27:22.84
If y want that,
00:27:22.87\00:27:23.84
would you open up p
your heart to God right now?
00:27:23.87\00:27:26.01
Tellod you wish for
Him to come into your life.
00:27:26.04\00:27:27.94
Let's pray that
prayer. Father, right now
00:27:27.98\00:27:30.05
there's sosomeone,
or some ones, asking You
00:27:30.08\00:27:32.68
to fill their
hearts with Youpresence.
00:27:32.71\00:27:34.68
We thank You that in
the e moment of surrender,
00:27:35.38\00:27:36.92
we have the
asrance of salvation.
00:27:36.95\00:27:39.29
Keep us now, dearod, we pray.
00:27:39.32\00:27:41.72
In Jesus' name, amen.
00:27:41.76\00:27:45.03
Thank you so much for joining .
00:27:45.06\00:27:46.33
I'm looking forward to
seeing yougain next time.
00:27:46.36\00:27:48.70
Until ththen, remember:
00:27:48.73\00:27:51.00
"It is writt, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:27:51.03\00:27:55.30
but by every word thatat
proceeds from the mouth of
00:27:55.34\00:27:59.71
God.'"
¤[dramatic theme musisic]¤
00:27:59.74\00:28:05.78
¤[music ends]s]¤¤
00:28:24.83\00:28:26.87