Jacob: An IMPERFECT man Us: IMPERFECT people God sees: An ISRAEL inside of each one of us

Matthew 13:31-33 NLT: "Here is another illustration Jesus used: 'The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.' Jesus also used this illustration: 'The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.'"

Five Things God Uses to Pull Israel Out:

1 Bethel: God uses His PRESENCE to pull Israel out.

• He confronts our need for affirmation.
• Genesis 28:13-15 NLT: "At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, 'I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. What's more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.'"

2 Laban: God uses PEOPLE to pull Israel out.

• He confronts our character.
• Genesis 29:22-25 NLT: "So Laban invited everyone in the neighborhood and prepared a wedding feast. But that night, when it was dark, Laban took Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her. (Laban had given Leah a servant, Zilpah, to be her maid.) But when Jacob woke up in the morning—it was Leah! 'What have you done to me?' Jacob raged at Laban. 'I worked seven years for Rachel! Why have you tricked me?'"

3 Esau: God uses PRESSURE to pull Israel out.

• He confronts our manipulation.
• Genesis 32:6-7, 11-12 NLT: "After delivering the message, the messengers returned to Jacob and reported, 'We met your brother, Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you-with an army of 400 men!' Jacob was terrified at the news. He divided his household, along with the flocks and herds and camels, into two groups...'O Lord, please rescue me from the hand of my brother, Esau. I am afraid that he is coming to attack me, along with my wives and children. But you promised me, "I will surely treat you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore-too many to count."'"

4 Angel: God uses PAIN to pull Israel out.

• He confronts our ambition.
• Genesis 32:24-28 NLT: "This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob's hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, 'Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!' But Jacob said, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.' 'What is your name?' the man asked. He replied, 'Jacob.' 'Your name will no longer be Jacob,' the man told him. 'From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.'"
• Some of the greatest moments of change in your life will come in moments of pain. It will change you, redefine you.

5 Joseph: God uses PROCESS to pull Israel out.

• He confronts our identity.
• Genesis 46:2-4 NLT: "During the night God spoke to him in a vision. 'Jacob! Jacob!' he called. 'Here I am,' Jacob replied. 'I am God, the God of your father,' the voice said. 'Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation. I will go with you down to Egypt, and I will bring you back again. You will die in Egypt, but Joseph will be with you to close your eyes.'"