Genesis 25:19-34

Genesis 25:19-34

Called By Grace!

July 13, 2008

This summer we are spending some time looking at stories from the book of Genesis that make up a valuable part of our faith tradition. These are stories of folks like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph – folks who were called by God and touched by God in certain ways – and – while they were not perfect – were used by God to bring His will and His love into the world.

As we continue to look at these stories I believe we will discover that God is at work in our lives and in our world – and that God can use us – as imperfect as we may be – to do His work and will in the world – if we will let Him use us.

5 weeks ago we looked at the story of Noah in Genesis 6-8 – and saw how he was obedient to God – even when it was costly and messy to be obedient – and discovered a blessing for himself and his family – and all people – because of his obedience to God.

4 weeks ago we began the story of Abraham as we looked at Genesis 12:1-9 – and saw how God – many times –

calls us to do new things –

calls us do away with things we may be comfortable with —

calls us to do things we have never done before

or –

calls us to do old things in new and different ways –

and – even though we may not know exactly what will happen when we try doing new things as individuals or as a Church –

or we may not know exactly what will happen when we try – as individuals or a Church — doing old things in new ways –

we need to step out in faith and follow God.

3 weeks ago we continued to story of Abraham by looking at 2 passages in Abraham’s life and journey with God – Genesis 18:1-5 – where we saw how God gave Abraham an unbeliveable promise and vision for his future – and Genesis 21:1-7 – where we saw that God kept that wonderful promise He made.

2 weeks ago we concluded our look at Abraham by seeing how Abraham’s faith in God was tested – and how Abraham passed the test – as we looked at how God called on him to give up that promise and vision for the future God had given him when God called him to sacrifice Isaac. As we looked at this passage we saw how we have to have faith in God – and have to be willing to give up everything for following God’s will.

Today we are going to begin looking at one of Abraham’s grandsons – the son of Isaac – the man Jacob. As we look at Jacob – particularly today as we look at his birth – we are going to see that God chooses us – not because of what we deserve – but because of who God is – and that we are saved by God’s grace – and can share God’s saving, gracious love with the world.

Listen to God’s word in Genesis 25:19-34:

Read Scripture

Have you ever wondered why God calls who God calls?

Have you ever wondered why God loves all people – even those who don’t seem to “fit” – or “deserve” – God’s love?

How odd!

How odd of God to choose that person.

We might say that – if it were left up to us, we certainly would have never chosen that particular person to love – to call our own.

We like to make judgments about who God loves – who God calls – who God’s love and grace are extended to – don’t we?

Oh – certainly that person over there would never be loved or chosen by God.

Just look at the type of person they are!

Just look at how they’ve lived!

And when people change – when people say they’ve experienced God’s love and want to give their lives to God – we may wonder just what it is they are really up to –

We know how they’ve lived -

Surely God can’t love and forgive someone like them — why should we?

Why – we’ve tried to live in God’s ways all our lives – there is no way this person is going to come along and receive God’s love and grace – not after all they’ve done – not after how they’ve lived!

Ever had those kind of thoughts?

Maybe so.

It is a common way of thinking — isn’t it?

Thinking we know who God loves and who God doesn’t.

Thinking we know who God calls and who God doesn’t.

And yet –

God continues to surprise us – doesn’t He?

He continues to choose those we would have never thought He would choose.

He continues to love those we would have never thought He would love.

He continues to make His people those we would have never thought would be His!

How odd!

Indeed – God’s love and grace extends to those we would have never imagined.

Look at Jacob.

No one would have guessed that Jacob was going to be blessed by God in a special way.

First of all – he was the youngest – the second-born of the twins. Everyone knows its the first born who gets the inheritance – the birthright.

Surely Esau will be the one to carry on the promise God made to his grandfather Abraham – the promise of descendants and blessing.

Surely Esau – the firstborn – will carry on God’s promises.

And another thing – Jacob was much too conniving – much to tricky – much too dishonest to receive blessings from God.

There was no way Jacob was going to be blessed by God.

There was no way Jacob was going to be chosen to carry on the promise God gave to Abraham.

And yet –

What is that God says?

The older shall serve the younger?

No – God – that’s not the way it’s done!

You can’t choose Jacob – he’s not the oldest – he’s not “your kind of person.”

There must be some mistake.

And yet – what happens?

God – in His grace and love – calls Jacob.

God – in His grace and love – acts in a way that is completely against how we would expect God to act.

God – in His grace and love – blesses young, conniving, sneaky, Jacob – not older, more stable Esau.

Jacob is called by God – not because of his place in the family or even because of who he is or what he has done – but almost despite all these things.

Jacob is called because of God’s grace – God’s grace that extends to all people – no matter who they are or what they have done.

Jacob is called by God’s grace.

So are you.

So am I.

We are called – not because of who we are or what we have done – but because of who God is — and what God has done – and what God continues to do.

We are called by God’s grace!

We are

Called by grace.

Called by grace.

It is indeed odd –

it is indeed strange –

it indeed does not make sense –

but that’s how God’s love is!

We are all

Called by grace.

Called by grace.

God is free to love who God chooses — – free to choose whom His will - free to call whoever He will.

We are all

Called by grace.

Called by grace.

So – before we start questioning why God has chosen someone – maybe we should consider why God has chosen us!

Maybe we are not as perfect as we would like to think!

No – even though our sins may be different from others – they are still sins.

We aren’t perfect.

We haven’t done a thing to deserve God’s love – God’s grace – God’s call.

It is given to us – jut because of who God is!

We are all

Called by grace.

Called by grace.

A minister candidate was coming into a Presbytery in Alambama and was being questioned on the floor of a Presbytery meeting about his beliefs about God. The other ministers in this Alabama Presbytery wanted to insure that no one came into their hallowed ground that did not believe the right things.

One of the older ministers stood and asked him:

“Young man — I see from your statement you have provided for us that you believe that God calls all people into service. Now — surely you’re not saying that God calls all people — are you? Don’t you mean that God saves those who love God?”

The young candidate looked at the older minister and replied —

“I guess what I mean is that if God can save and call me to service — He can certainly save and call anyone else.”

Indeed — we are all

Called by grace.

Called by grace.

Now — we have to be careful at this point.

Even though we are called by God — loved by God — cared for by God — and forgiven by God purely and simply because of His grace and not because of anything we have done to deserve God’s love — acceptance — care — and forgiveness —

we can’t just take God’s love – acceptance – care – forgiveness – and call for granted.

You see — even though God’s love – acceptance – care – forgiveness – and call are for all people — we must respond to it.

We must respond to God’s love.

We must respond to God’s grace.

We can not think that it is ours without working to claim it and live in it.

Maybe that was Esau’s problem.

Maybe he just took it for granted that – sense he was the oldest – he would inherit the promise – the blessings God had bestowed upon his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac. Maybe he thought it was his – and he didn’t have to claim it and live in it – and let it change his life.

Maybe he was so confident that God loved – cared for – and called him that he actually traded away God’s call. Maybe God’s love and call was not important to him – or at least not as important as the things of the world – a bowl of stew – physical needs.

We may believe that Jacob cheated Esau out of his birthright – but actually it seems that Esau cheated himself.

He cheated himself out of God’s love – out of God’s grace –

God’s call to be God’s person – that call that was there for him just as it was there for Jacob – by not claiming it – by not taking it seriously.

Yes – we are called by grace – by a gracious – loving – caring – forgiving God – but we have to respond to that love – that care – that grace – that forgiveness. We have to respond to God.

When we don’t – we are only cheating ourselves.

Yes – we are saved by God’s grace – but it is up to us to respond to God’s grace!

We are

Called by grace.

Called by grace.

It is up to us to respond – to not let anything else matter as much to us as does God’s claim on our lives and call to us – and share that claim and call and love with the world.

Instead of questioning why God has loved and called others – we can celebrate that God has called and loved us – and others!

As sinful as we are – God has called us – not because of who we are – but because of who God is!

Celebrate your call by God’s grace!

Claim your call by God’s grace!

Let God know how excited you are that He has chosen you!

How?

How do we live as a person called by God’s grace?

By being God’s people!

By living in God’s ways!

By giving up our old ways of sins and beginning to live in Gods new ways of grace.

By sharing God’s love and grace with others.

We are all

Called by grace.

Called by grace.

Not because of anything we have done – but because of who God is!

Let that change your life!

Live in a new way because of God’s love for you!

Love and accept others – because God has loved and accepted you!

Show God’s love to others because He has shown His love to you!

Get excited about your call by God and the new life God gives to you!

Live as if you realize that we are all called by God’s grace.

Live as if you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you are

Called by grace.

Called by grace.

and you know that God’s gracious call is the most important thing that can or will ever happen to you!

God is a powerful – loving – caring – accepting – calling God who calls us to love – care for – and accept others in a powerful way. Instead of judging others – we can love them. Instead of choosing who we will reach out to with God’s love – we can reach out to all – as God has done.

We are all

Called by grace.

Called by grace.

We can be accepting – loving – caring people – we can be a church that reaches out to others and shows God’s love to all – because we are accepted – loved – and cared for by God.

We can be a church that is so excited about God’s love and gracious call that others see our excitement and want to be a part of it.

Several years ago the “Gasoline Alley” comic strip in our local North Carolina newspaper had the characters Slim and Clovia in the audiance at what was a take-off on the Jerry Springer show.

The audiance was chanting — “Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!”

Clovia looked at Slim and said —

“would’t it be great if folks got this excited in church?”

Yes — indeed it would!

It’s exciting that we are

Called by grace.

Called by grace.

Let it excite you — and share that excitement with the world. Amen.