UNPACKING FAITH
PART 1: Leap of Faith
Opening with look back at Hawaii
Move to story from vacation about seeing a child jump from the pool side to dad’s arms and remembering what it was like when I did that and when Isaac did that.
The Bible’s definition of faith is closest to Hebrews 11:1, which says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”.
This verse indicates that faith’s central feature is trust or confidence, and that the object of faith is God and his promises.
In Christianity, faith is often discussed in terms of trusting in God’s faithfulness, believing his promises, and relying on his character to act.
It’s a two-part process that involves both trust and action:
Trust: Deciding to believe in our minds that Christ can save us
Action: Putting our lives into his hands and trusting him alone for our salvation
ON THE SIDE OF THE POOL WE SEE THIS FAITH IRL:
THE CHILD MUST HAVE FAITH IN THE FATHER. (He must believe the father will save him)
THE FATHER MUST MAKE A PROMISE FOR THE CHILD TO TRUST HIM. (He must give confidence to his son from his previous actions as a good father who has never let the child come to harm in his care)
THESE TWO FACTORS START THE JOURNEY OF FAITH.
FAITH IS NOT EASY.
The child’s hesitation reminded me of the struggle Jacob had approaching his brother after 20 years of exile from him.
Summary of Jacob from Genesis 26 – 33:
Here’s a summary of Jacob’s life journey from the blessing of Isaac to his reunion with Esau:
Genesis 27 – 33: Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing
Rebekah (Isaac’s wife) and Jacob (Is the youngest twin of Esau, but Rebekah’s favorite child) conspire to deceive Isaac, who is old and blind, into giving Jacob the blessing meant for Esau, the firstborn. Jacob, disguised as Esau, successfully deceives Isaac and receives the blessing. When Esau discovers the deception, he is devastated and vows to kill Jacob after Isaac’s death. Rebekah, fearing for Jacob’s life, advises him to flee to her brother Laban in Haran until Esau’s anger subsides.
While in Haran, Jacob falls in love with Rachel and agrees to work seven years for her hand in marriage. However, Laban deceives him, and Jacob unknowingly marries Leah, Rachel’s sister. Jacob then works an additional seven years to marry Rachel. Despite the strained family dynamics, Jacob prospers, fathering many children and amassing wealth.
After twenty years, Jacob heeds God’s call to return to his homeland. The only problem, is that Jacob had to face his brother, Esau. Though twenty years had passed since they had last seen each other, the memory of Esau’s threat to kill Jacob had never left him. Fearing Esau’s vengeance, Jacob sends gifts ahead to appease him and prays for deliverance. The night before meeting Esau, Jacob wrestles with a mysterious man… and that’s where we are going to pick up the story…
Genesis 32:24-31 (AMP)
24 So Jacob was left alone, and a Man [came and] wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the Man saw that He had not prevailed against Jacob, He touched his hip joint; and Jacob’s hip was dislocated as he wrestled with Him. 26 Then He said, “Let Me go, for day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You declare a blessing on me.” 27 So He asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked Him, “Please tell me Your name.” But He said, “Why is it that you ask My name?” And He declared a blessing [of the covenant promises] on Jacob there. 30 So Jacob named the place Peniel (the face of God), saying, “For I have seen God face to face, yet my life has not been snatched away.” 31 Now the sun rose on him as he passed Penuel (Peniel), and he was limping because of his hip.
Genesis 33:1-3 (AMP)
1 Then Jacob looked up, and saw Esau coming with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. 2 He put the maids and their children in front, Leah and her children after them, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 Then Jacob crossed over [the stream] ahead of them and bowed himself to the ground seven times [bowing and moving forward each time], until he approached his brother.
This story, as well as the child on the edge of the pool, is the perfect example of a LEAP OF FAITH, which can be broken down into 4 sections.
1. THE LEAP – KEYWORDS: Struggle and Perseverance
Child jumping from the edge of the pool into a father’s arms.
The jump. Listing to the lies that keep us from leaping:
Imagine a child standing on the edge of a pool, hesitant yet eager, about to leap into the arms of a waiting father. This moment captures the essence of faith—the decision to trust, to jump despite the uncertainties. In Jacob’s life, this leap of faith is vividly portrayed in his wrestling with God. Just as a father wrestles with his child, allowing the struggle to teach perseverance and strength, God wrestled with Jacob throughout the night. The devil tells us we can’t, filling our minds with doubts and fears. But God, in His patience, allows the struggle not to crush us, but to refine us. Jacob’s struggle wasn’t about defeating God but about enduring, fighting, and holding on until the blessing came. The leap of faith is about moving past the lies that hold us back and trusting that in the struggle, God is shaping us for the blessings to come.
- Use the example of Jacob wrestling with God so here’s the difference in the two.
- The devil tells you can’t as you struggle through things
- God, even though he was wrestling with Jacob wrestled him all night even though God with the snap of his finger could turn Jacob into dust. He allows Jacob to struggle with him all night to show that if he continued to work hard at it if he continued to Fight that come morning God would bless him in his desires
- so the devil tries to take away, but got during struggle,
- but God encourages during struggle
- that’s the opposite of the two just similar to a father wrestling. His child father can easily destroy his child physically, but a father, a good father wrestles with his child and shows the child that he continues to work hard. Then he can wrestle his father to draw or to a win Even though the father is giving up and sacrificing the win because the father knows he can do it he allows his child to win as long as he struggles and shows that he’s going to fight.
2. THE FLIGHT – Keywords: Uncertainty and Trust
Once the decision to leap is made, there’s no turning back. You’ve committed, you’ve taken the plunge, and now you’re in mid-air. This is a moment of chaos, of uncertainty—where control is out of your hands. In Jacob’s journey, this flight can be likened to his escape from Esau after deceiving Isaac for the blessing. Jacob didn’t know what lay ahead—only that he had to trust in God’s promise despite the fear of the unknown. The flight is where faith is truly tested. You’ve leaped, but now you must trust that God will catch you. It’s a time of vulnerability, where you’ve left the safety of the edge, and all you can do is believe that God’s arms are there to catch you, even when you can’t see them.
You have wrestled with God and your own self conscience. You believe in the promise of God. You have made the decision …and now you’re going for it.
YOU. LEAP.
A moment of absolute chaos. After making the decision to jump, there is a momentary time between the launching from the edge of the pool into the landing into the fathers arms where there is zero ability to control your environment, your midflight and have no control over gravity or the environment around you, you’ve made your choice and you’ve made your decision, but you do not know what the results are going to be. You are in the essence of the grip of faith
The fear of the unknown after make the leap (the decision to jump)
3. THE LANDING – Keywords: Assurance and Growth
The landing is twofold: first, there’s the impact—like water hitting your face. This is the anxiety, the moment of questioning, “Did I make the right choice? Am I okay?” For Jacob, this landing was the realization that he had wrestled with God and prevailed, but it didn’t come without its own pain—like the limp he bore afterward. Yet, there’s also the second part of the landing—the comfort of being in the Father’s arms. Just as the child who leaps into the pool realizes the safety of being caught, so too did Jacob, after years of running, finally find peace in reconciling with Esau. The initial fear gives way to the security of knowing God has you. Once you experience this, the next leap becomes easier. The fear diminishes, and what once was terrifying becomes a joy-filled act of faith. But as you grow in faith, God challenges you further, moving you from the edge of the pool to the diving board, calling you to trust Him in even greater ways.
(first part) the water hits you in the face. The anxiety of “did it hurt” “am I ok?”
The landing (second part) the security of the father’s arms. The realization that God has you.
4. THE AFTERMATH – Keywords: Confidence and New Challenges
After making several leaps of faith, you become more confident, more assured in God’s faithfulness. The flight is no longer filled with fear but with anticipation. The landing is no longer about whether you’ll be okay, but about enjoying the journey and looking forward to the next leap. This is where Jacob found himself after his journey—no longer the deceiver, but a man transformed by the struggles he endured and the faith he held onto. God will continue to push you to new heights, to greater leaps, but with each one, your trust in Him grows, and what once seemed impossible becomes an exciting adventure of faith.
The AFTERMATH. gets back on the polls edge and leaps without hesitation. The flight is no longer fearful, it’s fun filled, the landing (first part) has no worry. The landing (second part) is more about getting you back to the edge so you can leap again.
Once this becomes easy. God moves you to the diving board.
ENDING
Jacob’s life from the blessing of Isaac to his reunion with Esau encapsulates a profound journey of faith, struggle, and transformation. His story serves as a powerful illustration of the “Leap of Faith,” which can be broken down into three distinct phases: The Leap, The Flight, and The Landing.
After experiencing multiple leaps of faith, Jacob’s confidence in God’s promises strengthens. The challenges that once seemed daunting become opportunities for growth and adventure. This continual cycle of leaping and landing prepares Jacob—and us—for greater faith challenges. Just as Jacob’s journey leads him from a life of deception to becoming Israel, a name signifying his transformation, each leap of faith leads us to deeper trust and understanding of God’s will.
Jacob’s journey from Isaac’s blessing to his meeting with Esau is a testament to the transformative power of faith. It illustrates that through struggle, trust, and assurance, God shapes our lives and leads us to fulfill His promises.
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