Make the Shift!
As humans, we often approach life horizontally—striving, planning, and working in our own strength. We rely on our abilities, strategies, and efforts to secure our future, solve our problems, and fulfill our desires. Whether it’s in our careers, relationships, or personal ambitions, we exhaust ourselves trying to build something lasting through human wisdom and strength.
• We seek security in finances, connections, and opportunities.
• We chase fulfillment through achievements, recognition, and success.
• We fight battles using logic, influence, and personal effort.
• We place our trust in what we can see, measure, and control.
I. Jacob’s First Horizontal Struggle: Fighting from the Womb
Genesis 25:22-23 – The Struggle Begins
Jacob’s first struggle was before he was even born. Genesis 25:22-23 tells us:
“But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ So she went to inquire of the LORD. And the LORD said to her:
Two nations are in your womb;
two people will come from you and be separated.
One people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger.”
Rebekah felt an unusual struggle within her womb, leading her to seek God. This was not just a normal pregnancy discomfort but a divine conflict between two destinies. God revealed to her that two nations were within her: Esau, representing the Edomites, and Jacob, representing Israel.
The Significance of the Struggle
• This struggle foreshadowed the future conflicts between their descendants.
• It also symbolized the tension between human strength (Esau) and divine choice (Jacob).
• Though Esau seemed stronger at first, the ultimate victory would belong to Jacob, according to God’s sovereign will.
A Lesson from the Womb: The Difference Between Struggle and Calling
Jacob’s struggle in the womb reveals an important principle—human striving does not establish God’s calling. He was already chosen by God, yet he fought to gain what was already his. Many believers find themselves struggling for something that God has already planned to give them in His time. Striving without surrender leads to unnecessary battles.
The family of Esau (or Edom) seemed to be stronger at first than Jacob’s (or Israel’s), for they had dukes and kings long before Israel did (Gen. 36)
they were powerful enough to resist Israel’s passage through their land when coming out of Egypt (Num. 20).
Later, David completely defeated them and made them subject to Israel for about 150 years (2Sam. 8:14).
II. Jacob’s Second Horizontal Struggle: Manipulating for the Blessing
Genesis 25:27-33 – Esau Sells His Birthright
Jacob’s second major struggle came in his effort to secure the birthright through manipulation. The Bible describes Jacob and Esau’s contrasting personalities:
“When the boys grew up, Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman, but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home. Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for wild game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.” (Genesis 25:27-28)
Esau was a man of the field, while Jacob was a tent-dweller. One day, when Esau returned home exhausted, Jacob took advantage of the situation:
“Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field exhausted. He said to Jacob, ‘Let me eat some of that red stuff, because I’m exhausted.’
Jacob replied, ‘First sell me your birthright.’
Esau said, ‘Look, I’m about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?’
Jacob said, ‘Swear to me first.’ So he swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him.” (Genesis 25:29-33)
Understanding the Birthright
(a) There were 22 blessings involved in the Birthright
(b) Genesis 25:31
The birthright belonged to the firstborn even where hatred was involved.
(c ) He was entitled to a double portion of the inheritance (Dt. 21:15-17).
(d) It could be sold (Gen. 25:29-34; 27:36; Heb. 12:16; Rom. 9:12-13),
(e) forfeited because of sin (1Chr. 5:1-2),
(f)set aside by God or God has the right to give this Birthright to anyone. (Gen. 25:23; 48:15-20; 1Ki. 2:15; 1Chr. 26:10).
Jacob’s Mistake: Securing a Spiritual Blessing through Human Manipulation
Jacob’s desire for the birthright was not wrong, but his method was. Instead of waiting for God’s plan to unfold, he used cunning and manipulation. This act shows:
• A lack of trust in God’s promise.
• The belief that human effort could accomplish divine plans.
• A misunderstanding of God’s sovereignty—God had already declared that Jacob would be blessed (Genesis 25:23).
Many believers today, like Jacob, try to “help” God fulfill His promises by taking matters into their own hands. However, whenever we attempt to manipulate our way into a blessing, we create unnecessary struggles.
III. Jacob’s Third Horizontal Struggle: Deception for the Blessing
Genesis 27 – The Famous Deception
Jacob’s final horizontal attempt to secure blessings came through deception. Rebekah, knowing God’s promise, encouraged Jacob to dress like Esau and deceive Isaac. This resulted in Jacob receiving the blessing meant for the firstborn.
The Cost of Deception
Although Jacob received the blessing, he paid a heavy price:
• He was forced to flee from home, losing his family and comfort.
• He lived in fear of Esau’s revenge.
• He entered into a season of hardship under Laban’s oppression.
Jacob obtained the blessing but lost peace. This is a reminder that when we strive for God’s promises through deception, manipulation, or fleshly effort, we may gain temporary success but lose lasting peace.
The Power of Rest: From Striving to Revelation in God’s Presence
I. God Speaks in Rest: A Biblical Principle
Job 33:14-16 – The Power of Divine Communication in Rest
“For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it. In a dream, a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber on their beds, He uncovers their ears and terrifies them with warnings.”
This passage highlights how God often communicates during moments of rest. People can be too busy, distracted, or self-sufficient to hear God’s voice during their waking hours. However, in times of rest—when our human efforts cease—God’s voice becomes clear.
Examples of God Speaking in Rest:
1. Abraham’s Covenant Encounter (Genesis 15:12-17) – Abraham fell into a deep sleep, and in that state, God made an everlasting covenant with him.
2. Joseph’s Dreams (Genesis 37:5-10) – Joseph received prophetic visions in his sleep, revealing his divine destiny.
3. Solomon’s Wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-15) – Solomon received divine wisdom in a dream when he rested before God.
These examples show that rest is a posture of receiving from God. When we stop striving and position ourselves in His presence, He reveals His plans and gives us divine instruction.
II. From Rest to Revelation: The Foundation of God’s Design
Genesis 2:2-3 – The Divine Order of Rest
“On the seventh day God had finished His work of creation, so He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy because it was the day when He rested from all His work of creation.”
God established rest as the final act of creation, setting it apart as holy. This was not because God was tired but to set a pattern for humanity—rest precedes work.
• Adam and Eve were created on the sixth day, meaning their first full day was a day of rest, not labor.
• This divine sequence teaches that man’s productivity flows from a place of rest, not from striving.
Hebrews 4:9-11 – Entering God’s Rest
“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest.”
The rest God calls us into is not merely physical but spiritual—a trust in His finished work. Many people struggle because they are still working for what God has already provided. When we enter into God’s rest:
1. We cease from our own labors and allow Him to work through us.
2. We receive divine revelation and alignment with His purpose.
3. We walk in peace, clarity, and supernatural strength.
Matthew 11:28 – Jesus’ Invitation to Rest
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
True rest is found in a relationship with Jesus. He invites us to exchange our burdens for His peace. Many believers experience frustration because they rely on horizontal strength instead of vertical dependence on God.
The Turning Point: Bethel – Rest Brings Revelation
Genesis 28:10-17 – Jacob’s Dream at Bethel
“Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. He reached a certain place and spent the night there… He dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down on it.”
For the first time, Jacob stopped striving and rested—and in that moment, he encountered God.
• The stairway represented divine connection—God reaching down to Jacob, not Jacob striving upward.
• This vision revealed that God’s presence was with him, even in the wilderness.
• Jacob realized that blessings do not come from human effort but from God’s hand.
Rest Brings Realization
Rest allows us to recognize God’s active involvement in our lives.
“Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” (Genesis 28:16)
Many believers miss God’s presence because they are too busy striving. When we rest in Him, we become aware of His guidance, provision, and favor.
Genesis 28:18 – The Shift from Horizontal to Vertical
“The next morning Jacob got up very early. He took the stone he had rested his head against, and he set it upright as a memorial pillar.”
• Before: The stone was horizontal—a symbol of Jacob’s exhaustion and striving.
• After: He set it upright, making it a vertical altar of worship.
The moment Jacob set the stone upright marked a shift in his life. It was an act of declaration—an outward sign of an inward commitment. In that moment, Jacob declared that God would have control over his life. He declared that he would lean on God for his blessings, trusting Him for both his present and his future.
His declaration was: “Give me Jesus more!”
His proclamation was: “Only Jesus!”
His surrender was: “Not by power nor by might, but by His Spirit!”
This was Jacob’s moment of resolve—not to strive or fight for what was already promised, but to rest in the assurance of God’s provision.
