RTW January 11
It’s Time to Go
The LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your father and grandfather and to your relatives there, and I will be with you.”
Genesis 31: 3
My Takeaways
Something Old
Sometimes we have to draw a line in the sand. Even if the other party does not agree on the terms, or agree to draw the line – for your sake, draw the line – build the monument, don’t pass the line, and let God be your witness.
God Sees (El Roi) El Ra
- When we are being abused.
- When we are not compensated for our hard work.
- When we are mistreated
- Will not let us leave empty-handed.
Jacob had been with Laban for 20 years. Some of us have been with our “Laban” or in Paddan-Aram just as long or longer. Hang in there, my friend, God sees.
Something New
When He calls us to leave, we might not be going to a place of peace, but to another place of anxiety.
Something to Do
Stay close to God, so we will hear Him say, “It’s time to go.”
Thank you, Wendy! I needed that.
Something Old
Family controversy and strife…..It is universal and knows no boundary of time or place. How good that Laban and Jacob were able to come to a place of peace. Genesis 31:44. It likely was due to a dream that Laban had and the instructions of God. We need to be willing to listen to God’s admonition to keep peace even when it is within our power to use force and get revenge.
Something New
Genesis 30:25. “…..I want to go back home.” For the first time as I read this it sounded so plaintive and my heart felt the tug. It is so amazing…..this deep desire to “go home”. In this case Jacob was referring to a place on this physical earth, but I think about how God has placed eternity in our hearts and we are but visitors here…..our real Home is not this earth.
Something To Do
Ask God to enable me to keep my peace even in the midst of conflict.
Jreed, I love reading your comments. Thanks for sharing.
My Takeaways:
I wonder why Rachel stole the idols?
Jacob was so certain that no one took anything he was willing to kill the person who did. Wow, I wonder if he ever found out that Rachel did steal from her father? This is the end of Laban. I don’t think he is ever spoken of again in the Bible. It seems like that’s the way it goes. Those who are not in the line of Jesus are forgotten. Do you think he ever accepted Jacob’s God after Jacob left?
Something Old:
God told Jacob to go back to to his family.
Something New
Jacob and Laban were two very deceiving, selfish men. They both were always scheming to out do the other. But Jacob had matured tremendously while in service to Laban. God had a plan
He had moved away from his grasping, manipulative ways and had come to the point where he understood that prosperity and protection are dependent on righteous conduct before God. And for that, God rewarded and prospered him. It took him 20 years, but during that time I can definitely see the change in him.
Something To Do: God is in the business of refining. I need to be patient and realize God is not finished with me yet. I must keep my eyes on him and know that he will take care of me even when the wait is long.
Ikennedy,
My exact question, last year: “Why did Rachel steal her father’s idols? Was she an idol worshipper herself or did she take them to prevent Laban from appealing to them to reveal where she and Jacob had gone? (Idol worshippers believed it was possible to divine secrets from them.)”
tcollinsrn was kind enough to respond in the following way and I am glad to pass it on:
“According to the Jewish Virtual Library, possession of paternal household gods gave the husband rights of inheritance. Therefore, by stealing the households gods, not only was Rachel devising a way to increase Jacob’s wealth when Laban died, but a way of cheating her brothers out of their inheritance.”
Thank you, your answer to my question makes a lot of sense.
Thank you, I somehow read over this last year. But it has been a big question to me always. This is my something new for today!! Thanks for sharing this!!