At last night's meeting, we began to look at the character in the bible that we will be studying during all of our pre-trip training meetings, Jacob. We read through Genesis 32:2-24, but before we dug into that passage, we had a look at the background of Jacob and his brother Esau. Jacob was the youngest of two brothers and therefore was not in line to receive his family's inheritance. One night, he tricked his brother into giving away his birth right and then, with the help of his mother, fooled his blind father into believing he was Esau so that he could receive his father's blessing. The last thing we read before we get to the passage we study is Esau saying that he was going to kill his brother Jacob.
Then, 20 years later in Genesis 32, Jacob is traveling and sends his messengers before him to tell his brother Esau of all he has in order to earn favor with his brother. In our lives, we tend to act like Jacob does in this moment. There are many places we try to elevate ourselves, to make ourselves look good to our peers, families, coaches, etc. We want to seem important so we try and control the way people view us.
When Jacob's messengers return, they tell him that his brother Esau is coming for him with four hundred men and Jacob begins to panic. He screwed up his relationship with Esau when he stole his birth right and he thinks that he is still going to be mad at him. When we are faced with conflict or fear in our lives how do we respond? Do we run away or fail to engage? It is in these moments that God is showing us that there is a something in our life that he wants to work on. We can't run away from these things that we are afraid of when we are preparing for the trip because God is already showing us areas in our life that he wants to grow us.
The passage ends by Jacob having a wrestling match with God when he is finally alone and away from his family and messengers. We know that we are going to have moments on this trip when we are going to wrestle with God over something we are seeing or experiencing. But this encounter with God happens when we allow ourselves to get alone. There are so many benefits to going on these trips as a group and ways this group will impact you on the trip but will you allow yourself to get away and have alone time? It's sometimes hard or uncomfortable but it is in these moments that we are able to see what God wants to teach us and change us into the people he wants us to be.
Our next meeting is the Missions Overnight June 3rd at 6:30 pm until 11:30 am on June 4th.
Bring any remaining forms you have to turn in (ONET form, copy of passport, parental consent form) and any money you have received to the overnight.
ONET Consent Form
Parental Consent Form
Meeting #2 Checklist
Meeting #2 Small Group Questions
