"The Forgotten Vow of Jacob"

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I.                    INTRODUCTION - Genesis 35:1-7

A.    We begin our study today with a reading of Gen 35:1-7...

1.      Where we find God telling Jacob to go to Bethel

2.      In which he is to build an altar

3.      El-Bethel – “God of the House of God” or “God of Bethel” – Gen. 28:19 (Bethel = house of God).

B.      Why did God command this?

1.      Nearly thirty years earlier, Jacob had made a vow

2.      But he seems to have forgotten about it, and God is now calling him to fulfill it

C.     There are several lessons that can be gleaned from "The Forgotten Vow Of Jacob" which can easily be applied to our Christians Lives

First, a little more historical  background…

II.                 THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

A.     Thirty Years Before, Jacob Had Made A Vow...

1. It was made as he was fleeing the wrath of Esau (Jacob had stolen Esau's blessing from Father Isaac)
2. Leaving Beersheba, he headed toward Haran (consult map – 500 miles.)

3. On the way, he stopped at what is now called Bethel (50 miles - consult map) - Gen 28:10-15

a.       There he had a dream, in which he saw what we commonly call "Jacob's Ladder" (angels ascending and descending on a ladder between heaven and earth – Reference - Jn. 1:51)

b.      In this dream, God promises to be with him and safely return him to this land

4. The dream prompted Jacob to make his vow - Gen 28:16-22; He Vowed:

a.       To make the LORD his God if God carries out His promise

b.      To make the stone upon which his head had rested and a dwelling place of God.

c.       To give God a tenth of all that God will give him

B.      For The Next Twenty Years, Jacob Dwelt In Haran... (20 yrs. - Gen. 31:38)

1. As God promised, He was with Jacob
2. Jacob prospered both in family, and in gaining wealth – Gen 29-30
3. Upon Jacob's return (Gen. 31), God kept him safe...

a.       From Laban, who was pursuing him - Gen 31

b.      From Esau, who was coming to meet him - Gen 32-33

C.     By The Time Of Our Text (Gen 35), Jacob Had Been Living In Canaan (10 years?????)...

1. He had settled near the city of Shechem (consult map – North of Bethel 15 mi.) - Gen 33:18
2. But he had not bothered to go back to Bethel, where the Lord had appeared to him and where he had made his vow

It appears that Jacob had forgotten his vow, and for this reason God commands him to return to Bethel - Gen 35:1. 

III.              WHAT LESSONS OR PRINCIPLES OF TRUTH CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS?

A.     First, God Expects Us To Keep The Vows We Make...

1. He does not take vows lightly, and neither should we - cf. Ecc. 5:2-5; James 5:12
2. So let's be sure to keep any covenant or vow that we make with God; for example...

a.       The "vow" we made when we became Christians

b.      We were submitting to the will of God.

c.       I.e., to turn from sin, and to follow Christ with all our heart

-- Are we faithfully keeping this "vow"?

B.     Second, We Tend To Forget Our Vows When God Has Fulfilled His Side Of Them...

1. We saw where God fulfilled His side, but Jacob had not
2. This "forgetfulness" seems to occur most often when vows are made in times of trouble

a.       Like those made in a foxhole

b.      Airplane turbulence or mechanical problems

c.       Marital problems

d.      Surgery

3. These vows are just as binding as those made upon careful reflection!

C.     Third, We Tend To Forget Our Vows When Things Are Going Well...

1. In the case of Jacob...

a.       He had a nice big family

b.      He had become extremely wealthy

c.       He had settled down in his home country

2. The same is often true of many Christians...

a.       Many obey the gospel at times in their lives when they are troubled

b.      Later, especially if they enjoy financial security, they forget their commitment to God and Christ

3. Consider God's warning to Israel against forgetfulness after entered "promised land" - Deu 8:11-20.

D.    Fourth, We Tend To Forget Our Vows When We Allow Ourselves To Be Influenced By World...

1. Jacob's family had accepted the foreign gods of the people around them - Gen 35:2
2. Many people do not live up to the vow made when they became Christians - 2 Ti 4:10 (Demas)

a.       Ex. Many young Christians lose interest in spiritual matters when influenced by:

a)      Their peers

b)      Popular music

c)      Humanistic teaching in the schools

b.      Ex. Many adult Christians lose interest in spiritual matters when influenced by:

a)      Materialism

b)      Immorality of our society

This is no excuse for "forgotten vows"

E.     Fifth, If We Have Forgotten Our Vows, We Need To Go Back To The Beginning...

1. We noticed that Jacob was told to go back to Bethel
2. In a similar way, Jesus told the church at Ephesus to go back to the beginning – Rev. 2:4-5

a.       They had left their "first love"

b.      They were told to "remember...from where you have fallen"

c.       And to "repent and do the first works"

3. For Christians who have left their "first love", they too need to "do the first works" (the fundamentals, such as Bible study, prayer, Christian fellowship, Fruit of the Spirit, etc.)

F.     Finally, When We Fulfill Our Forgotten Vows, There Are Renewed Blessings!

1. When Jacob fulfilled his vow, God appeared to him and renewed the promises that had been made to Abraham and Isaac - Gen 35:9-15

2. This can be a truth for us as well!

a.       We may have forgotten the commitment we made when we first obeyed the gospel of Christ

b.      But if we will just return to Christ...

1)      In full repentance and prayer

2)      And fulfill our vow of service and devotion to Him...all the spiritual blessings that He has to offer can be ours again! - cf. 1 Jn 1:9

IV.              CONCLUSION

A.    Are you a Christian, but not living the dedicated and committed life that God expects?

B.     Then, like Jacob, you have forgotten your vow...

1.      And you need to lay out the steps as typified by Jacob in Gen. 35:2-3.

a.       Believe – put away the gods

b.      Repent – purify yourselves – purge away the deeds of your former self.

c.       Baptized – change your garments – put on Christ in baptism.

d.      Worship at altar – as a living sacrifice

2.      The blessings of heaven await you if you do!

If you are not yet a Christian, these same blessings can be yours if you will only accept the gospel of Jesus Christ - cf. Mark 16:15-16

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