This Lord's Day (February 4, 2024) at Rainsville First Baptist Church

There is a book written about nine years ago that I have not read, I do not know the content of, and I do not recommend it.  But I like the title:  "The Five Times I Met Myself."  Now if you have read the book and you want to blast me for even mentioning it here on a pastor's blog, then just hold off.  I want to "use" the book and not "recommend" the book.

I want to use the title because it is exactly what Jacob in Genesis 29-30 is about to do.  As we come to worship tomorrow, we will discover Jacob gets to his uncle's house after traveling some 550 miles from the life-changing encounter he had with Jesus (Genesis 28: 10-22).  When he goes to find a bride, he does so on the first day.  He met Rachel who was beautiful in appearance (29:17) and it was "love at first sight."  But there was one problem that never crossed his mind for seven years...she was the younger sister to Leah and Laban was not going to break custom permitting the younger to get married before the older.  So, after seven years of working for Rachel, on his wedding night he is "tricked" into getting Leah.  

How will Jacob respond?  Because this is Jacob "meeting himself" in Laban for Jacob is a trickster, deceiver, and stealing the blessing of the older for the younger.  How will he respond?

Tomorrow, the Lord willing, we will take this to the New Testament and give some answers about what happens when a person becomes a believer, is converted, encounters Jesus - and becomes a new man but still has times to deal with his old self?