February 19, 2013
GOD'S HAND, NOT OURS; GOD'S PLAN, NOT OURS; GOD'S PROMISE KEPT
Genesis 31:1-21
Robert Haggard
Central Truth
God is faithful to His promises, despite the seeming insurmountability of your circumstances.
Key Verse | Genesis 31:6–7
"You know that I have served your father with all my strength. Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times; however, God did not allow him to hurt me." (Genesis 31:6-7)
Genesis 31:1-21
Jacob Flees from Laban
1 Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father's, and from what was our father's he has gained all this wealth.” 2 And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. 3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”
4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was 5 and said to them, “I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I have served your father with all my strength, 7 yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me. 8 If he said, ‘The spotted shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore spotted; and if he said, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore striped. 9 Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me. 10 In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled. 11 Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’ 12 And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.’” 14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father's house? 15 Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money. 16 All the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.”
17 So Jacob arose and set his sons and his wives on camels. 18 He drove away all his livestock, all his property that he had gained, the livestock in his possession that he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac. 19 Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father's household gods. 20 And Jacob tricked 1 31:20 Hebrew stole the heart of; also verses 26, 27 Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee. 21 He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the Euphrates, 2 31:21 Hebrew the River and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.
Dive Deeper | Genesis 31:1-21
This passage can be equated to an Old Testament version of today's soap opera. There is deception of Jacob by Laban, and Laban by Jacob. As the tension mounts, God intercedes and instructs Jacob to head for the hills, literally, and flee to Canaan.
By reading all of Jacob's actions to breed certain animals to grow his wealth, one might make the application that "God helps those who help themselves." Although a common, catchy phrase, it is a huge lie that much of American society buys. Rather, God prospers whom He chooses for His purposes.
We can see this to be true in the text if we take a step back and look at Genesis 17:2-9, where God promises Abraham that He would prosper Abraham's descendants and give them the land of Canaan. In Genesis 31, God does not allow Jacob to be prosperous for the sake of Jacob. Rather, He allows Jacob to be prosperous to make much of Himself by being faithful to the promise He made to Abraham. God is always up to something bigger.
Have you ever been in one of those awkward social situations where you feel caught in the middle? Maybe you are in conflict with your best friend. Or, maybe two of your family members are at odds, and you are caught in the middle as the awkward third party. We all have been there -- situations in which everyone knows there is a giant elephant in the room, but no one wants to acknowledge it.
I imagine that all the women wished they could have been invisible when Laban pursued Jacob and confronted him. This was not a simple confrontation between five year olds over a toy. This was two multi-millionaires arguing over huge stakes! Yet, God restores them and brings peace, not for their sake alone, but for the sake of His promise to Abraham.
The lesson here is that God is bigger than your circumstances. He is bigger than your broken relationships, and He is in the business of bringing Himself glory by restoring the most helplessly broken people, myself included.
Take heart -- in the end, God wins!
Discussion Questions
1. Read Romans 8:28 and reflect on a situation or relationship in your life that is broken. Do you find these words in Romans 8:28 hard to swallow? If so, what does that say about your heart's trust in God?
2. Think of one person with whom you are in conflict. Then, think of three ways in which you can humbly seek restoration with that person. Now, trust God and seek restoration.