Personal Decision is important in life’s journey.

METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA

DIOCESE OF OSOGBO

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, 26^TH JULY, 2020.

Youth Week Sunday

GOD’S WORD TO GOD’S PEOPLE.

THEME: “Personal Decision is important in life’s journey.”

             “Ipinnu se pataki ninu irin ajo aye.”

TEXT: Genesis 29:18 & 28.

“Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, "I'll work for you for seven years if you'll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife... So Jacob agreed to work seven more years. A week after Jacob had married Leah, Laban gave him Rachel too."

"Jakobu si fe Rakeli; o si wi pe, Emi o sin o ni odun meje nitori Rakeli, omobinrin re abikeyin. Jakobu si se bee o si se ose re pe: o si fi Rakeli omobinrin re fun ni aya pelu."

The English word "decision" simply means a conclusion or resolution reached, either by an individual or a group, after consideration. According to Cambridge Dictionary, decision is a noun which means "a choice that you make about something after thinking about several possibilities." Looking at en.m.wikipedia.org, "decision making is regarded as the cognitive process resulting in the selection of a belief or a course of action among several possible alternative options." The same online source goes further to describe decision making as "the process of identifying and choosing alternative based on the values preferences and beliefs of the decision maker" which may be an individual, a group or an organization. It is however important to note that every decision making process produces a final choice, which may or may not prompt action. In today's word of God to his people, personal decisions of Jacob which played great role in his life journey is what we want to meditate upon. Truly, life is not easy and whatever it does to us as human beings depends greatly on what it finds in us. The story of Jacob in Genesis chapter 29 verses 14 to 30 should not be seen as an ancient story of just a man and the beginning of his family life. Rather it should be taken as a contemporary story about all of us who cannot but make important decisions in the journey of life, decisions which may determine our character and destiny as they did in the life of Jacob.

Jesus Christ gave his support to holy marriage between a male and a female, and saw it as a blessing from God to humanity, but he made it clear that not everybody will get marry in life (Matt.19:1-12). It is however obvious that Jacob's marriage was not an option at all, but a divine arrangement for his future success and to as well bring God's promises to fulfillment. The establishment of God's covenant and promises made to Abraham (Gen.12:1-3, 28:1-4) depended much on Jacob's decision to marry, have his own children and build his own family, which would eventually become the chosen people of God. It could however be recalled that Jacob, having deceived his father, Isaac, and rubbed his brother, Esau, ran away from his ancestral home as advised by Rebekah his mother (Gen.27:41-46) You may as well re-call that Jacob was further fortified at Bethel on his way to Padden Aram through the gracious promises made to him by God (Gen.28:10-22) Indeed God was with Jacob and ready to bless him according to the promises he made to Abraham, his grandfather.

Jacob's fresh enthusiasm and his new outlook were the direct result of the vision he received at Bethel (House of God), a great revelation that God was going to protect him and prosper his journey. He knew too well that the fulfillment of God's promises depended on his personal decision which will also be directed by God. So on his arrival in the land of the East, he resolved to water the flock of Rachel when he discovered that she was the daughter of Laban, his uncle whom he had come to stay with. (Gen.29:1-13). This singular act of Jacob portrayed him as generous, industrious, energetic and a young man to be associated with. Thus Rachel took the news of her meeting and interraction with Jacob to her father in a hurry. This confirmed the notion that family ties were very strong in the ancient East, and that visiting relatives, including those you have never met before, would be entertained in the home of their own flesh and blood. No wonder, Jacob was warmly welcomed by Laban into his home, and he honestly told his story to his uncle (Gen.29:13-14) who later requested him to work for him and be paid (Gen.29:15).

Here comes another important decision in the life journey of Mr. Jacob. Within the first month of his stay in Laban's house, Jacob performed well in his duty, and as well enjoyed every opportunity he had with Rachel, the second daughter of Laban. In the excitement of that moment of decision, which involved his acceptance of job offered to him by his uncle, and the engagement to the love of his life, Rachel, Jacob did not realize that Laban was a master schemer who would control his life for the next twenty years. His joyful prospect of marriage to the beautiful Rachel became an occasion for Laban's shrewdness and Jacob's discipline. Remember that Jacob and Rebekah, his mother, had deceived his father and brother to gain blessing; now his mother's brother deceived him to serve longer term for the purpose of love. Surely, we shall all reap whatever we have sown (Gen.6:7) The man who deceived his father was deceived by his father-in-law, and Jacob who presented himself as the first born of Isaac now receives Leah, first born of Laban, as his wife instead of the second. God in his grace forgives our sins when we confess them (1John1:9), but in his government, God allows us to suffer the consequences of those sins (Gal.6:8). Laban's deception was perfectly designed to make Jacob aware of his own craftiness.

However, Jacob was determined to have Rachel not minding what it will take him. He had a decision and was willing to do anything to achieve his goal. Jacob was such a man who is ready to give whatever it takes as long as he will get what he wants. Though Jacob complained bitterly about the treatment given to him and Rachel, his beloved, by Laban, but he meekly accepted his lot and agreed, resolved and decided to serve another seven years just to have Rachel. At the end of Leah's marriage, Jacob married Rachel, the woman after his heart and thus lived like a king in Laban's house for another one week. But he later endured thirteen more years of hardship and conflict in his father-in-law's house, not only because of the shrewdness of his in-law, but also because of his decision in life.

Men and brethren, please note that there is no wisdom, no insight, no decision, no plan which can succeed without the blessings of God. For the Bible says; "So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase." (1Cor.3:7). It is therefore important for us to consult God before we make any decision in life and also allow God's word to guide all our decisions.. Let us take all our plans to him through prayers and allow him to lead and direct us in all our resolutions for future. Young men and women who are waiting and searching for future partners should seek God's mind and approval before making their choices. It is also important for all our children in secondary schools to come to God in prayer before choosing subjects for their future career so as to avoid "had I know." All our divinely guided decisions will surely end in joy and happiness. God was with Jacob and approved his decisions, hence he ended up becoming the father of a great nation, Israel, which has twelve tribes. He became a very wealthy man (Gen.30:43).

The decision of Joshua, son of Nun, to serve the Lord together with his family brought sanity to the Israelites and influenced their own decision to choose and serve the God of their fathers against all foreign gods (Joh.24:15-16). Fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters in Christ, please allow the Holy Spirit to guide your decisions and you will never make mistakes (Rom. 8:26-28). If God is on our side, just as he was with Jacob, our personal decision can never lead us to failure or disappoint us. "Commit your ways to the Lord, Trust also in him, And he shall bring it to pass" (Ps.37:5). Let us end this message with Hymn (MHB 504) composed by Georg Neumark, (1612-81) and translated by Catherin Winkuorth, (1829-78):

1: LEAVE God to order all thy ways,

And hope in Him whate’er betide;

Thou’lt find Him in the evil days Thy

all-sufficient strength and guide: Who

trusts in God’s unchanging love Builds

on the rock that nought can move.

2: Only thy restless heart keep still,

And wait in cheerful hope, content To

take whate’er His gracious will, His

all-discerning love, that sent; Nor doubt

our inmost wants are known To Him

who chose us for His own.

3: Sing,pray,and swerve not from His

ways, But do thine own part faithfully;

Trust His rich promises of grace, So

shall they be fulfilled in thee: God

never yet forsook at need The soul that

trusted Him indeed

Let us pray

Rt. Rev. A.K.O. Ogunrinde, JP, FICT.

Bishop, Diocese of Osogbo.

OS-CAN Chairman.