Note: Select one of the audio-only options if you need to download, rather than stream, the chapel.
Jacob and the Faithfulness of God — 11/13/2024 10:00 AM
Today's speaker is Dr. Tom Mach, Vice President for Academics and Chief Academic Officer at Cedarville University. Dr. Mach encourages us with the truth that our failures in the past do not determine what God can do with us in the future.
Notes
Dr. Tom Mach, Vice President for Academics, led the chapel through a devotional focused on the themes of failure, repentance, and God's redemptive work. Drawing primarily from the story of Jacob in Genesis 25:29–34 and Genesis 27:1–13 and 18–25, Dr. Mach discussed how the Bible addresses failure and how even our mistakes can become opportunities for growth through Jesus Christ.
Dr. Mach began by highlighting Romans 3:23, which reminds us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This is the universal truth of Scripture: No one is perfect, and everyone will experience failure in some form. Yet the Bible also reveals that through Christ's sacrificial death on the cross, our failures do not have to be the end of our story. They can be transformed into opportunities for redemption and spiritual growth if we turn to God in repentance and obedience.
Dr. Mach then delved into the life of Jacob, a key example of a biblical figure who experienced significant moral failure but was still used by God. Jacob's deception of his father Isaac and his manipulation to secure his brother Esau's birthright (Genesis 25:29–34) and blessing (Genesis 27:1–13, 18–25) were serious sins. Yet, despite his imperfections, God still chose to work through him. Dr. Mach emphasized that "God can use even our moral failures when we repent to direct us toward godliness." Jacob’s story is a testament to the truth that God's grace is sufficient even when we fall short.
The application for us was this: While God may call us students to pursue a degree, the way we go about achieving that degree matters. "Doing wrong to get something good is not okay," he stated, urging students to seek God's guidance and to act with integrity in all things. While God can work in us even when we fail, that does not give us license to sin. A good outcome must never be pursued through disobedience or dishonesty.
Dr. Mach's message was one of both caution and hope. He reminded us that no one is immune to temptation and sin, but God’s grace is sufficient to cover all our shortcomings. Disobedience brings consequences, but repentance and obedience open the door for God to use us mightily for His purposes. Just as God used Jacob, imperfect as he was, He can use us too — if we are willing to seek Him and trust in His sovereignty.