PT-1 "Jacob's Escape" (Gen. 31:1-3)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 01-05-2007

 

My Worship Time                                                                 Focus:  Jacob’s Escape Part 1

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Genesis 31:1-3

 

            Message of the verse:  “1 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, "Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what belonged to our father he has made all this wealth."  2 Jacob saw the attitude of Laban, and behold, it was not friendly toward him as formerly.  3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, ‘Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.’”

           

            Jacob wanted to return to the land of Canaan before, but Laban struck up a deal with him so that he would stay near him, probably because he was interested in the blessings that God was giving to Jacob and hoped some would be given to him too.  Now Jacob hears the sons of Laban complaining that Jacob has taken all of the wealth of their father and so he again decides it is time to leave.  The difference this time is verse three where God tells Jacob that it is time to leave and go back to Canaan.  God had spoken to Jacob whenever he was going to see his uncle Laban some twenty years ago and told him that he would bring him back to the land of Canaan, and now He tells him this again in verse three of this chapter.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  God had a plan for Jacob in traveling to visit his uncle Laban, and He had a plan to bring him back to the land of Canaan where he was born, but Jacob did not know the timing of this plan and so he had to wait until God revealed when it was that he should leave.  It seems to me that God used circumstances along with His Word to communicate to Jacob when he was to leave.  I must say that I get kind of restless living where I have lived for almost 30 years and from time to time I want to leave and move somewhere in the southern part of the US but as of yet I don’t know that this is the will of God for us to do this or just a feeling I get because I don’t like it here in this area where there is so little sunshine.  At any rate if and when the Lord wants to move us I certainly will be willing to go, but until then I must be like Jacob and wait for God to reveal this to me through His Word and through circumstances He brings into my life.  Until then I must continue to learn contentment.

 

The Word of God has been both refreshing and challenging to me as I read and studied it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To continue to trust the Lord to direct my path and to teach me that godliness with contentment is of great gain.