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.

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.

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?

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.