SUNDAY SERMON: It’s never too late

By Rev. Stephen Baldwin

OT: Genesis 28.10-19a

Jacob was no role model. When his brother Esau is literally starving to death, Jacob offers him food only if Esau gives up his inheritance (Genesis 25.29–34). When their father Isaac is blind on his death bed, Jacob deceives Isaac to rob Esau of their dad’s blessing (27.1–45).

As a result of those actions, Jacob has to flee some 300 miles north on foot, away from everything and everyone he’s ever known. He will eventually settle with his uncle, who’s an even worse guy than Jacob (29.15–30; 31.28–42).

Even though Jacob has done nothing to deserve it, God still shows up for him. God promises Jacob land, promises him a family, promises him protection, and promises him that he will always be in the presence of God. Jacob was shown unimaginable grace. Grace that he did nothing to deserve. Have you ever been shown grace like that? 

My friend Davina recently told a story about her last trip to Sam’s Club. Let me read you her story:

“Mark and I were in line at Sam’s. The check out was busy, all the lanes were backed up. We were in line behind an older gentleman and his wife. She was riding a motorized buggy. They were only purchasing a weed eater. The weed eater was in the basket of the motorized buggy. 

As we were waiting, another lady (buggy full) came over and passed, not only us, but the older couple in line. She appeared to have no regrets about it. The older gentlemen then attempted to switch lines but the checker at the next line told him that she was closing and he needed to get in another line. 

He said, “I was waiting in the other line and someone else cut in front of me.” 

Another employee, having zero patience with the man, told him to go back to the other lane, but the checker, said, “No, I’ll take him.” 

So the older couple is waiting in the line beside us now. The woman who cut line is in front of me, piling her stuff on the belt. When the checker scanned her club card, she told her that her membership was expired. The lady didn’t respond, so she told her that she would either have to renew her membership or put her items back. 

The woman said that she would have to put her items back. Just as she said it, a voice from behind said, “She can use my club card.” It was the lady in the motorized buggy. 

As she reached to hand her card over to the checker, I noticed that her shirt simply said, “Pray.” It was in that moment that I felt my eyes start to burn. The lady looked at me and I said, “That was very kind.” Which was all I could mutter because I was trying not to bawl like a baby in the middle of Sam’s. 

As we left, we saw the nice woman in the parking lot. Mark said, “That was very nice of you to help her.” The lady replied with, “Well if it was me or my family, I would want someone to help them out.” 

There are still good people everywhere, quietly being kind and helpful.

Amen, Davina! That sort of grace is exactly the sort of grace God showed to Jacob. And it was not lost on him. 

He didn’t change immediately. Neither do most people, and if you expect people to make a complete turnaround quickly then you are setting yourself and them up for failure. After God promises Jacob all these things, in the verses that come right after today’s reading, Jacob wants proof from God. Proof that he will be fed and clothed and able to live in peace. 

And things don’t go well for Jacob and his family for a long time. When he goes to live with his uncle, he’s as rotten to Jacob as Jacob was to his brother. But over time, Jacob begins to change. The grace God gives him seems crack into his skin here and there, before it’s eventually part of who he is. 

Jacob made amends with his brother, Esau, returning the inheritance he stole. He began a family. He found success. He shared his prosperity with others. Jacob’s story is one of redemption. All because God extended him grace when he didn’t deserve it and Jacob was paying close enough attention to realize it. 

You don’t have to be a role model to have a role in God’s kingdom. God’s grace is so prevalent that a role is already waiting for you. No matter how long it takes you to find it, to accept it, and to begin living it. It’s never too late. Amen.