If Stones Could Talk - #4 Take the Bitter with the Sweet
If the stones of the Bible could talk, what might they say to us? The usage of pillars (stones) in the Bible were always used to communicate something of importance...the things God wants us to remember.
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Grace Church holds a Meet & Greet for those who are newer to Grace Church on the 4th Sunday of each month. Our next Meet & Greet will be today, May 25th, following the service in CJ's coffee shop. It is a great opportunity to meet the staff and leadership of Grace Church and learn a little more about the church. It also gives us an opportunity to learn a little about you! Contact Leslie Booher if you have any questions ([email protected]).
Each Saturday in May is an opportunity to help prepare the church grounds for summer at a Grace Church Work Day! Come join in on the fun & fellowship between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm on a Saturday in May. Contact Ryan Hickey with any questions ([email protected]).
A Morning of Serving - Saturday, June 7, 2025
Join Grace Church in helping to make Nashville look great for the upcoming car show event on June 14th. Bring a rake, weed wacker, and gloves if you have them and meet up in Parady Park in downtown Nashville where Ryan Hickey ([email protected]) will give you a task. Let Ryan know if you have any questions
Join Grace Church in helping to make Nashville look great for the upcoming car show event on June 14th. Bring a rake, weed wacker, and gloves if you have them and meet up in Parady Park in downtown Nashville where Ryan Hickey ([email protected]) will give you a task. Let Ryan know if you have any questions
Sunday, May 25th - David Berkimer, Henry & Cathy Felder
Thursday, May 29th - Rodney Russell, Lori Orton
Saturday, May 31st - Alexis Orton
Thursday, May 29th - Rodney Russell, Lori Orton
Saturday, May 31st - Alexis Orton
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Today we finish up our May series - If Stones Could Talk
We are are looking at four stone pillars that are associated with the Jewish patriarch, Jacob and drawing lessons that we can apply to our lives today.
We are are looking at four stone pillars that are associated with the Jewish patriarch, Jacob and drawing lessons that we can apply to our lives today.
These Pillars identified places where Jacob’s life was profoundly impacted by God.
~The first was the Pillar of Revelation where God affirmed His blessings upon and through Jacob’s life and offspring.
~ Secondly, there was the Pillar of Separation between Jacob and his father-in-law Laban, after more than 20 years in a messy dysfunctional family.
~Last week was the third Pillar of Transformation. Jacob began to slowly obey the Lord and follow his will, and God began to slowly change Jacob’s character and destiny.
~The first was the Pillar of Revelation where God affirmed His blessings upon and through Jacob’s life and offspring.
~ Secondly, there was the Pillar of Separation between Jacob and his father-in-law Laban, after more than 20 years in a messy dysfunctional family.
~Last week was the third Pillar of Transformation. Jacob began to slowly obey the Lord and follow his will, and God began to slowly change Jacob’s character and destiny.
Many of us have heard the words "bitter" and "sweet."
Sometimes they are used together "bittersweet." Sometimes as a phrase, "Take the bitter with the sweet."
The phrase means: "To accept the unpleasant or difficult aspects of a situation alongside the pleasant and enjoyable ones."
How can you relate to this in your life?
Sometimes they are used together "bittersweet." Sometimes as a phrase, "Take the bitter with the sweet."
The phrase means: "To accept the unpleasant or difficult aspects of a situation alongside the pleasant and enjoyable ones."
How can you relate to this in your life?
Today is our 4th and final memorial stone, The Pillar of AFFECTION and our text is Genesis 35:16-20. The message title is: Take the Bitter with the Sweet.
God led Jacob's decision to return home after a 20 + year journey in which he traveled well over 1,200 miles. During this time Jacob experienced a lot of good in his life (two personal encounters with God, family, incredible wealth).
But with the good, there is going to be things that don't go well (strain and pain, sorrow & heartache, misunderstandings and conflict, discouragement, despair, and even death).
But with the good, there is going to be things that don't go well (strain and pain, sorrow & heartache, misunderstandings and conflict, discouragement, despair, and even death).
Let's take a look at Genesis 35:16-20.
They left Bethel and began to head home to be reunited with Jacob's family in Hebron. They were close but not quite there yet. The destination was within reach and life was feeling sweet. However, their lives were on the verge of turning horribly bitter.
Rachel began to give birth but died just after her son was born.
She named the son Ben-Oni (son of my sorrows). But Jacob named him Benjamin (son of my right hand). This implied that "Dad" would have the boy by his side at all times and would receive his special favor.
They left Bethel and began to head home to be reunited with Jacob's family in Hebron. They were close but not quite there yet. The destination was within reach and life was feeling sweet. However, their lives were on the verge of turning horribly bitter.
Rachel began to give birth but died just after her son was born.
She named the son Ben-Oni (son of my sorrows). But Jacob named him Benjamin (son of my right hand). This implied that "Dad" would have the boy by his side at all times and would receive his special favor.
Genesis 35:16-20
BSB
16 Later, they set out from Bethel, and while they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult.
17 During her severe labor, the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you are having another son.”
18 And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin.
19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
20 Jacob set up a pillar on her grave; it marks Rachel’s tomb to this day.
17 During her severe labor, the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you are having another son.”
18 And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin.
19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
20 Jacob set up a pillar on her grave; it marks Rachel’s tomb to this day.
BSB
At this point we're going to backtrack and linger a bit on some of the earlier chapters in the story of Jacob and Rachel.
Genesis 30:1-2 - Jacob & Rachel in the midst of an emotional meltdown
Genesis 30:22-24 - God is aware of the situation; she gives birth to Joseph
Genesis 31 - God orders Jacob & family to leave Laban and head back to the Promised Land/Jacob's home
Rachel steals her father's household God's to teach him a lesson. Her father chased them down and had an angry confrontation with Jacob.
Genesis 31:31-32 - Jacob tells Laban that if he finds anyone who has the gods, that person shall not live.
Genesis 30:1-2 - Jacob & Rachel in the midst of an emotional meltdown
Genesis 30:22-24 - God is aware of the situation; she gives birth to Joseph
Genesis 31 - God orders Jacob & family to leave Laban and head back to the Promised Land/Jacob's home
Rachel steals her father's household God's to teach him a lesson. Her father chased them down and had an angry confrontation with Jacob.
Genesis 31:31-32 - Jacob tells Laban that if he finds anyone who has the gods, that person shall not live.
Genesis 30:1-2
BSB
1 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob.
2 Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”
2 Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”
BSB
Genesis 30:22-24
BSB
22 Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb,
23 and she conceived and gave birth to a son. “God has taken away my shame,” she said.
24 She named him Joseph, and said, “May the LORD add to me another son.”
23 and she conceived and gave birth to a son. “God has taken away my shame,” she said.
24 She named him Joseph, and said, “May the LORD add to me another son.”
BSB
Genesis 31:19, Genesis 31:31-32
BSB
19 Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols.
31 “I was afraid,” Jacob answered, “for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force.
32 If you find your gods with anyone here, he shall not live! In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself if anything is yours, and take it back.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.
31 “I was afraid,” Jacob answered, “for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force.
32 If you find your gods with anyone here, he shall not live! In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself if anything is yours, and take it back.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.
BSB
With that in mind, we return to Genesis 35:19. Rachel died and was buried.
This brings us to the fourth and final pillar associated with Jacob (Genesis 35:20). Jacob left a Pillar of Affection that has been visited and served as a place of worship for several thousand years. Today Jacob's love for Rachel is memorialized within a simple building (Crusader dome) situated on the edge of Bethlehem.
This brings us to the fourth and final pillar associated with Jacob (Genesis 35:20). Jacob left a Pillar of Affection that has been visited and served as a place of worship for several thousand years. Today Jacob's love for Rachel is memorialized within a simple building (Crusader dome) situated on the edge of Bethlehem.
Genesis 35:19-20
BSB
19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
20 Jacob set up a pillar on her grave; it marks Rachel’s tomb to this day.
20 Jacob set up a pillar on her grave; it marks Rachel’s tomb to this day.
BSB
The story of Jacob and Rachel can teach us many things. Here are a few for you to ponder:
1. Family relationships are never perfect.
2. How we treat others often comes back on us—sometimes worse.
3. It is possible to find love in some of the strangest places (like a well).
4. God is aware of our life situations and will move when He is ready.
5. When we get impatient and try to take things out of God’s hands, it’s never good.
6. Life is short and unpredictable, so we should be expressive in our worship and love.
1. Family relationships are never perfect.
2. How we treat others often comes back on us—sometimes worse.
3. It is possible to find love in some of the strangest places (like a well).
4. God is aware of our life situations and will move when He is ready.
5. When we get impatient and try to take things out of God’s hands, it’s never good.
6. Life is short and unpredictable, so we should be expressive in our worship and love.
