When Adam sinned, the human family forfeited life, and all that pertains to life, and thus, our continued existence is the result of God’s grace, manifested to sustain those who should have been dead long ago. In the book of Genesis, it is written that Noah found grace, but this statement does not mean that grace was not available to every person then living. The difference is that Noah and his family “Found” that which had been abundantly provided for everyone.
The same is true in our day, for in the midst of the prevailing iniquity, in the midst of the dark shadows of immorality, and violence that have spread their tentacles across the land, the grace of God is still available for all who like Noah, will “Find” it. Thus, our main thrust will be to discover how we may find God’s grace.
Wherever much sin is to be found, much grace will also be given to correspond to our needs. “Doctors without borders” do not typically travel to healthy countries; instead, their services will have the most impact where there is dire need of urgent, medical assistance. The same is true of God’s grace, but on a much larger, and grander scale, for it is Christ who once said that “They which are whole do not need a physician but those who are sick.”
Thus, in harmony with that statement, God grants us much grace, and mercy, especially at those times when our morale is low, and the horizon may seem foreboding, on account of our national and personal sins. However, a common error is often made when we restrict the concept of God’s grace to only apply to salvation, forgiveness of sins, and mercy towards the sinner. While all of these aspects do apply, God desires that we take a more holistic approach in our understanding of His grace.
God’s grace is described as being the “Unmerited” favor of God, granted to those who do not deserve such favor. Holy angels who have never fallen, and the created beings of other worlds who have never sinned, have never been in need of grace. The grace of God to us therefore represents The Lord as doing what He is not duty bound to, nor is He supposed to do. This covers not only forgiveness of sin, salvation and eternal life, but also such mundane necessities, as food, water, oxygen, sunshine, and rain.
There is no moral, legal, or paternal responsibility, binding upon God to provide to us these temporal blessings, for all such entitlements were forfeited, on account of our sins, and therefore, many things that we have come to take for granted, should be placed in the unmerited column. Life was promised to our first parents on condition of obedience, so when sin entered because of Adam, death became our only entitlement. Therefore, if we have food on our tables, clothes to wear, and a “Roof right over our heads”, that is God’s grace, His unmerited favor being manifested to the human family. Let’s read:
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Romans 5:20 More-over the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
When studying the writings of Paul, care must be taken, not to read into his statements, sentiments, which on the surface may not be readily plain to our understanding. For instance, the entrance of God’s written law, did not actually cause sin to abound, in and of itself, because where there is no written law, sin will abound anyway. People drank alcohol, and partied into the wee hours of the morning on South beach, long before there was any ordinance against such activities after 5:00 am.
What the apostle is referring to, is the knowledge, or consciousness of sin. Therefore, we should be very careful not to insinuate that God’s law is the reason for the proliferation of sin. There was not a “Written” law on earth when Adam and Eve sinned, nor was there any when Cain killed Abel, when the practice of polygamy was started by Lamech, when the antediluvians indulged those incomprehensible deeds of violence, licentiousness, and their moral depravity, which upended God’s grace. Yet sin did still abound. Let’s read:
Genesis 6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
Noah and his family were not arbitrarily singled out to be the sole recipients of God’s grace, for as was stated before, grace was made available to all men and women then living. The only difference is that Noah’s family appropriated that which had been abundantly provided for all who would receive it. Noah had a drinking problem, and his sons had the seeds of sin within them, yet they also found grace.
This leads us to the core of our study, for Jacob’s family was a dysfunctional family, with very serious problems, such as idolatry, sibling rivalry, quarrels, violence, and sexual immorality of the darkest hue. Yet they found grace. Let’s read:
Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength.
4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
5 Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.
6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.
7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
The catalogue of Jacob’s sins was long, and glaring too, and included lying repeatedly to his own father, collusion with intent to defraud, conspiracy, telling lies on The Lord Himself, impersonation, polygamy, hatred, favoritism, and the genetic engineering of Laban’s cattle. Now, with all of these sins piled up against him, one would rightly conclude that Jacob had forfeited all claims to God’s grace.
But as we read further we will discover the premise for our Bible study, “Where sin did abound, grace did much more abound”, because the grace of God toward Jacob and his family was to be manifested in many different ways, to those who did not deserve it in the least. Let’s read:
[1] God’s material blessings:
Genesis 30:43 And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.
[2] God’s favor:
Genesis 32:1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
[3] God’s protection:
Genesis 31:22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
23 And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.
24 And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
[P&P. pp 198] While Jacob was wrestling with the Angel, another heavenly messenger was sent to Esau. In a dream, Esau beheld his brother for twenty years an exile from his father's house; he witnessed his grief at finding his mother dead; he saw him encompassed by the hosts of God. This dream was related by Esau to his soldiers, with the charge not to harm Jacob, for the God of his father was with him.
Question: So how on earth did Jacob find grace?
Answer: He found grace the same way in which our senators, house representatives, political leaders, clergy, and ordinary John Does may find grace, for he confessed his sins, he forsook them, and he also trusted to the merits, and goodness of God for his salvation, and the rest is history, because one day, if we are faithful, we will get to meet Jacob, and most of his family, including Reuben, who was the one described by Jacob as being sexually unstable. Let’s read:
Genesis 32:9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:
10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he come and smite me, and the mother with the children.
22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two women-servants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh.
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 196>198] As night came on, Jacob sent his family across the ford of the river, while he alone remained behind. He had decided to spend the night in prayer, and he desired to be alone with God. In Him was the patriarch's only hope. Solitary and unprotected, Jacob bowed in deep distress upon the earth. Bitterest of all was the thought that it was his own sin which had brought this peril. With earnest cries and tears he made his prayer before God.
It was Christ, “the Angel of the covenant,” who had revealed Himself to Jacob. Through humiliation, repentance, and self-surrender, this sinful, erring mortal prevailed with the Majesty of heaven. He had fastened his trembling grasp upon the promises of God, and the heart of Infinite Love could not turn away the sinner's plea.
As an evidence that he had been forgiven, his name was changed from one that was a reminder of his sin, to one that commemorated his victory. “Thy name,” said the Angel, “shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”
Jacob had received the blessing for which his soul had longed. His sin as a supplanter and deceiver had been pardoned. The crisis in his life was past. Doubt, perplexity, and remorse had embittered his existence, but now all was changed; and sweet was the peace of reconciliation with God. Jacob no longer feared to meet his brother. God, who had forgiven his sin, could move the heart of Esau also to accept his humiliation and repentance.
In our day, there is seen to be a proliferation of sin, and crimes of all sorts. Like it was with Jacob, there may be collusion with intent to defraud, and there is lying to friends and foes alike, there is polygamy, conspiracy, hatred, favoritism, genetic engineering, and violence of all sorts. But where sin did abound, grace did much more abound, so instead of leaving the inhabitants of this earth to self-destruct, God’s amazing grace is to be offered to all, who like Jacob, will realize their own unworthiness.
However, it is of critical importance that we follow the steps of Jacob, in finding God’s grace. We are not to wait until our sins are exposed in the public square before we confess to God, for there’s a huge difference between confessing after being caught in the fire, and confessing from a deep sense of our sin. The scrutiny with which the special counsel is examining the many cases before him, only portrays in miniature form the scrutiny with which our sins that are unconfessed will be investigated.
Robert Mueller is using the power of the subpoena to force from unwilling persons, the incriminating evidence; but God doesn’t need any subpoena, for all things are naked and open before Him. In other words, He has a record of not only our emails, text messages, sexting, and other nefarious activities, but He also has the records of those thoughts, and intentions which led to our sinful acts. Let’s read:
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Thus, in harmony with the solemn issues before us, and the intense scrutiny of the heavenly judgement now in session, Christ is making a direct appeal to all who have succumbed to fornication, adultery, or any of the many variations of immorality now on display. If anyone has indulged in adultery secretly, and may have succeeded in hiding it from their own spouse, now is the time to make our move, like old Jacob, in finding God’s grace.
That secret lover, that only ourselves, and God may know about, those E-mails sent under a different address, as well as any flirting that may have been encouraged; God is saying to us, now is the time to make your move, by confessing, and forsaking sins, lest, like what is taking place before our eyes, we too, be exposed to the light of day. Esau did not find grace, even though it was readily available, for Esau did not confess and forsake his sin. In addition, he is not known to have ever trusted in the merits, or the goodness of God.
Thus, in closing it is in order that we be reminded of the necessary steps in finding grace, for if we follow Jacob’s lead, God will respond, by removing every stain of sin, and guilt from us, and will grant eternal life to all who are thus exercised. Let’s read:
2nd Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
May God add His blessing to the application, and study of His word.
God Bless!