jacob

“All in the Family” Summer Sermon Series — Peniel Place: Jacob’s Blessing

Genesis 32:22-31 — Wrestling towards reconciliation.

Alone in the dark, Jacob faces a mysterious opponent who grapples with him until dawn. Neither yields—until the stranger dislocates Jacob’s hip, yet still can’t break his grip. Jacob refuses to let go without a blessing, and gets one: a new name, Israel, marking him as someone who has contended with both God and people and survived. Limping into sunrise, Jacob names the spot Peniel, awed that he saw the divine face-to-face and lived to tell it.

By Siobhan Ernest, ago

“All in the Family” Summer Sermon Series — The Real Housewives of Canaan: Leah and Rachel

Genesis 29:15-28 — When the past haunts the present.

Jacob falls hard for Rachel, the younger and more beautiful of Laban’s two daughters, and strikes a deal: seven years of labor for her hand. But on the wedding night, Laban pulls a switch, slipping in Leah, the elder sister, under cover of darkness. Jacob wakes to betrayal, but Laban claims tradition trumps love. The fix: another seven years of work for Rachel too. A classic bait-and-switch with long-term consequences.

By Siobhan Ernest, ago

“All in the Family” Summer Sermon Series — Sibling Rivalry: The Rescue of Jacob and Esau

Genesis 24:34-38,42-49,58-67 — God is in the details.

Abraham’s servant arrives on a mission: find a wife for Isaac among his master’s own kin. He recounts a desert prayer for a sign—and how Rebekah appeared at the well, fulfilling it perfectly. Convinced this is divine providence, her family asks if she’ll go. Rebekah agrees without hesitation, journeying to meet a stranger who becomes her husband. Isaac falls for her instantly, finding comfort after grief. A whirlwind romance, written in the stars.

By Siobhan Ernest, ago