1 Reaping What You Sow Genesis 29 1. There are many who want to sow their wild oats yet are praying for crop failure. I am reminded of a principle of life and a promise of the Scriptures and that is a person will ultimately reap what they sow. 2. As every farmer knows, what he sows determines what he will harvest. The laws that are functional in the natural realm are just as true in the spiritual. A person will reap what they sow. 3. There is the principle of physical life that one reaps what has been sown. I read about a white haired man, wrinkled skin, who walked with the aid of a cane. Someone asked him, What is the secret of your long life? He replied, Drinking, smoking, partying all night and wild living. Oh really, asked the inquirer. And how old are you? I m 29. 4. There are certain physical consequences to certain lifestyles. These cannot and will not be altered or escaped. One will reap what they sow. 5. There is the principle of social life that one reaps what they sow. Through the years I have noticed that the funeral home is often a good place to evaluate what has been sown in life. I have seen those who lived life selfishly and with disregard for others. At the end of that life, there are only a handful of people who gather, often with little fanfare and few tears. Many of them are there out of a sense of duty and conscience. There are a few exceptions, but many times it is a testimony of a life reaping what has been sown or has not been sown. 6. But on the other hand, I have seen those life was one of giving, loving, helping, caring, that touched the lives of others. The state room is full with family and friends, all with saddened hearts. Their life was one of sowing positive things and in the end the harvest is obvious. 7. There is the principle of national life that a nation reaps what they sow. History has proven time and time again that a nation that goes down a certain path is destined to inevitable consequences. 8. Edward Gibbon in 1787, after 20 years of labor, completed his The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. He attributed the fall of the Roman Empire as being: The rapid increase of divorce; the undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis of human society. Higher and higher taxes and the spending of public monies for free bread and the circuses for the populace. The mad craze for pleasure; sports becoming every year more exciting and brutal.
2 The building of gigantic armaments when the real enemy was within, the decadence of the people. The decay of religionfaith fading into mere form, losing touch with life and becoming impotent to warn and guide the people. 9. As an American I shudder when I see the moral decline of our beloved nation. I tremble when our nation s leaders endorse alternate life-styles and embrace immorality of every kind as acceptable forms of behavior. 10. Our government has pushed God completely out of our national life and it will not be without consequences. It has not been without consequences. 11. I think of an article that was in the Baptist Beacon in the State of Illinois. The article said, It is illegal to read the Bible in the public schools of Illinois, but a law requires the State to provide a Bible for every convict! Don t worry, kids, if you can t read the Bible in school, you ll be able to when you get to prison. 12. There is also the principle of spiritual life that one reaps what they sow. Paul said in Galatians 6:7-8, Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 13. You cannot expect to sow the seeds of the flesh and expect to reap a spiritual harvest. If you sow sinful seed you will reap a terrible harvest. If you sow spiritual seed you will reap a thrilling harvest. 14. Job said in Job 4:8, Even as I have seen, they that plough iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. This is evidenced throughout the Word of God. Pharaoh gave orders that every son of the Hebrews should be drowned, but in the end he was drowned. Korah caused a cleft in the Congregation of Israel, but in the end God made a cleft in the earth to swallow him. Ahab slew Naboth and the dogs came and licked up his blood. But in the end Ahab was slain and we read the dogs came licked up his blood. 15. John W. Lawrence wrote a book entitled Life s Choices: Discovering the Consequences of Sowing and Reaping. He lists seven laws of sowing and reaping: We reap only what has been sown. We reap the same in kind as we sow. We reap in a different season than when we sow. We reap more than we sow. We reap in proportion as we sow. We reap the full harvest of the good only if we persevere; the evil comes to harvest on its own. We cannot do anything about last year s harvest, but we can about this year.
3 16. The principle of sowing and reaping is not only declared in the Word of God but time after time is demonstrated. Jacob is a good example that one reaps what they sow. In Genesis 29 we see Jacob reaping what he had sown. Notice the chapter and let s glean from them 3 thoughts. 17. First, there are: 1. THE WAYS OF JACOB THAT ARE REMEMBERED 1. As you read the events that take place in these chapters, you see Jacob being cheated, deceived, and mistreated. But when I see all this happening to Jacob, I remember his prior behavior. 2. I remember how: A) He Mistreated Those Around Him 1. In Genesis 25:29-43 we see how Jacob (which means crook, con-artist, cheat) took advantage of the situation and cheated his brother out of his birthright. Without respect to Esau, he like a crafty fox seized the opportunity to cheat his brother. 2. Also in Genesis 27:18-24, Jacob not only cheated his brother but deceived his father. He entered into a plan of deception with his mother to get his father to bless him, rather than Esau. All his life he had been cheating, conning, deceiving, and mistreating those around him and now he is reaping what he had sown. 3. I also remember how: B) He Managed That About Him 1. Jacob, all his life, has been his own boss. In all his deeds and decisions he did things his own way. He was the kind of person that did what he did the way he thought it best to do it. Instead of asking God what to do and how to do it, he took the bull by the horns and took matters in his own hands. 2. When it came to future matters, he never consulted God. He no doubt knew that he was to be the recipient of the birthright. Yet instead of letting God work the whole thing out, he took things into his own hands. 3. When it came to family matters, he never consulted God. We see him in Genesis 29 choosing Rebekah as his wife (Vs.18). He doesn t seek God s will in the matter. His wants are more important than God s will. 4. When it came to financial matters, he never consulted God. In Genesis 30 we see him making financial arrangements without asking God what he should do.
4 5. Henley would be proud of Jacob for his attitude was, I am the master of my fate, I am the Captain of my soul. He was the one in charge! He was the one running the ship. He had been around spiritual things all his life and had met the Lord personally, but he has yet to learn to let God rule and run his life. 6. If we were honest we would have to admit that there is a lot of Jacob in us. Furthermore we see: 2. THE WRONGS OF JACOB THAT ARE REAPED 1. We read in Matthew 7:1-2, Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 2. Also in Luke 6:38 we read, Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 3. If ever a man got back what he had dished out it was Jacob. The way he treated others was the way, eventually, he was treated by others. He received the same in life that he shoveled out in life. 4. When we come to Genesis 29 the chickens are starting to come to roost. A.W. Pink writes, Sometimes the actions of God s Government may appear to move slowly, but sooner or later they are sure. Often-times this is overlooked. Men take a too short view. 5. We read in Eccles. 8:11, Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. It may not happen overnight, but somewhere, you will reap what you sow. 6. Notice this principle at work in Jacob. First, we see: A. The Degradation He Experienced 1. We read in Genesis 29:15, And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? 2. When Jacob had cheated his brother out of his birthright he was no doubt thinking of the position and dignity that went along with that birthright. Had not the Lord told his mother that the elder would serve the younger (Gen. 25:13)? To Jacob the birthright meant he would rule rather than serve. 3. It was such a position on which Jacob set his heart and that by wicked devise he sought to obtain from Esau. Now we see him being reduced to the position of a servant. Instead of being served, he will serve. He had been a guest for a month, but if he remained, it would be as a servant.
5 4. This must have been a bitter portion and painful blow to the pride of Jacob. Yet, one reaps what they sow. We also see: B. The Deception He Experienced 1. When Laban brought up the matter of wages, Jacob immediately requested that he be able to serve seven years for his daughter. We read in verses 16-26, And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 2. You talk about a shocked fellow on the morning after his marriage. It somewhat reminds me of the fellow that fell in love with the most beautiful women he had ever seen in his life. On their wedding night she reached up and pulled off her wig, pulled out her glass eye, took out her false teeth, and put them in the dresser drawer. He just sat there looking at her. She looked at him and asked, Honey, aren t you coming to bed? He said, I was just sitting here thinking if I should get in bed or the dresser drawer. 3. Jacob said to Laban, Wherefore hast thou beguiled me? But was not this the way he had treated his brother? Yes! It is interesting that the very thing he has disregarded in Esau, the rights of the firstborn, was the very thing he was brought face to face with. That which he has ignored in connection to his brother, he must now bow to in connection with his wife. 4. We also see: C. The Delay He Experienced 1. Jacob loved Rachel with all his heart and the result was he had to serve seven more years to have her as his wife. Notice Genesis 29:27-28, Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
6 2. God had declared that Jacob would be the one to receive the blessing, but instead of waiting on God to work things out, Jacob in his conniving ways took things in his own hands. Now he has to wait to have what he wanted. 3. There is also: D. The Distress He Experienced 1. Jacob ended up with two wives and it did not present a pleasant atmosphere. We read in Genesis 29:31-32, And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. 2. It is obvious that there was tension, strife, dissension, and division in the home. Yet one can only imagine the distress Jacob experienced in his family years before. Seven years earlier he had caused dissension and division in his own home. His family had been brought under great distress by what he had done. 3. What do we see in all this? The point is very obvious. We reap what we sow. If you mistreat people, you can mark it down, somewhere down the road, you will reap the same. There is always a pay day for your behavior. Just remember when you treat someone a particular way, your day is coming. 4. If you live a selfish, self-centered life ignoring people s feelings, stomping all over them to have your own way, one day they will not care how you feel. You reap what you sow. The chickens always come home to roost. 5. Thirdly notice: 3. THE WORDS OF JACOB THAT ARE REPREHENSIBLE 1. Notice again Genesis 29:25, And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 2. Jacob, how can you ask why? Jacob are you so short of memory that you have forgotten your own behavior? Jacob, you ought to know why. Jacob, you are reaping what you have sown! 3. If there is a statement made in the Bible that deserved to be condemned it is Jacob s, Wherefore hast thou beguiled me? It is a reprehensible statement in light of everything he had done. 4. Think about his statement. For one thing we see in his words:
7 A. A Lack of Personal Consideration 1. You talk about the kettle calling the pot black. Here is Jacob upset with Laban when he was guilty of even worse. Jacob was quick to judge others, but slow to judge himself. 2. I think about what Jesus said in Matthew 7:3-5, And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 3. The word mote speaks of a twig or a piece of straw. The word beam speaks of a piece of timber. I have seen people with a tree hanging out of their eye running down people about the toothpick in their eye. 4. They are like those an unknown poet described: Faults in others I can see; But praise the Lord, there s none in me. 5. A lady was showing a friend her neighbor s wash through her back window. Our neighbor isn t very clean. Look at those streaks on the wash! Her friend replied, Those streaks aren t on your neighbors wash. They re on your window. 6. Before Jacob had any right to say anything to Laban, he needed to clean his own house. 7. We also see in his words: B. A Lack of Personal Contrition 1. The first thing Jacob should have realized was that he was reaping what he had sown. What Laban did should have been a dagger to his heart. Yet, instead of being convicted, he was confrontational. Instead of crying out to God, Lord, I have done wrong. You are making me pay for my sin. Forgive me, he is angry with Laban. 2. How insensitive we are to God s workings in our life. We get angry with others when certain things happen. We get upset when certain happen to us. But sometimes, it may be God working in our life. 3. One day a mover s wagon came past Farmer Jones gate. Farmer Jones was friendly to everybody, so he asked the movers where they were going. We are moving from Johnstown to Jamestown, they told him. Can you tell us what kind of neighbors we will find there? Farmer Jones asked, What kind did you find in Johnstown? The worst kind, they said. Gossipy, unkind, and indifferent. We are glad to move away. Farmer Jones said, You will find the same in Jamestown.
8 4. The next day another mover s wagon passed and a similar conversation took place. The second party asked what kind of neighbors they would find in Jamestown and they were asked what kind they had found in Johnstown. They said, Oh, the very best, so kind and considerate. It almost breaks our heart to move away. Farmer Jones replied, You will find exactly the same in Jamestown. 5. Jacob, as much as anyone in the Bible, demonstrates that a person will reap what they sow. Copyright by Ken Trivette. These sermons made available on the Living Word website can be freely used by anyone who finds them helpful. If used on another website or any publication, permission must be obtained.