Genesis Chapter 31

 

In this chapter Jacob and his family determine to leave Laban’s house and return to Canaan.

Verses 1-16

Jacob became wealthier and Laban’s sons were getting upset. They were accusing him of taking from their father instead of seeing what God was doing in Jacobs life. 

God appeared to Jacob and told him to return to Canaan the land of his birth.

Jacob was feeling threatened by Laban and his sons. He told Leah and Rachel what God had instructed. 

Laban had not been honest in his business dealings with them but God blessed them anyways. Jacob was very much aware how Laban was deceiving him financially but he trusted God would take care of him.

Vs 7 Your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me.

No matter how Laban tried to change Jacob’s wages God continued to bless him.

Verses 17-21

Jacob and his family quietly left Labans land while he was busy shearing sheep.

Rachel stole her fathers idols. (Some believe that she did this because she was an unbeliever and she didn’t want her fathers idols telling him where they were going and I have also heard it was because she wanted them for her self to worship)

Verses 22-25

Three days later Laban discovered they left and gathered a small army of men to go after them.

God appeared to Laban not to speak good or bad to Jacob.

Verses 26-43

Laban was angry and told Jacob he did not get a chance to say goodbye to his daughters and grandchildren. He also wanted to know why they stole his idols.

Jacob denied stealing his idols because he didn’t know what Rachel had done. Laban searched for them but Rachel was sitting on them in her saddle. 

She told her father that she didn’t feel well so her saddle was not searched and they did not find them.

Jacob berated Laban for his accusations and his dishonesty toward him. 

Verses 44-55

They agreed to make a covenant of peace between them.

Jacob offered a sacrifice to the Lord and they ate with their relatives.

Laban said goodbye and kissed his daughters and grandchildren.

Jacobs dishonesty to his father and brother caused him to leave his own family and lose those relationships.

Now Laban’s dishonesty has caused him to lose his daughters and grandchildren. 

Honesty is important in our relationships with each other.

Jacob grew spiritually by putting his hope in God. He didn’t worry that Laban was cheating him financially but knew God would handle it for him. Somehow supernaturally Jacob became wealthy even though his boss (father n law) was cheating him.

He did not become a victim of his circumstance’s.

No matter what the world tries to take away from us our God will restore to us. Jacob didn’t trust his boss or his job to take care of him but in God who would restore to him everything and then some. He became very wealthy in an impossible situation but he trusted God completely.

Jacob didn’t go after Laban because he knew that Laban was not his source but God was his source. 

There are times in our own life that people have robbed us financially and emotionally. God will restore what others do to us in a way that we never dreamed possible when we trust Him to do so.

Hebrews 13:5 says “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Jesus even warns us that people will lie about us and persecute us but blessed are you when this happens. 

Our job is not to get mad and even with people but instead look to the God that restores. God will vindicate us! 

God is in charge of our destiny, not man. God will find a way to bless us in the midst of any situation man tries to put on us. 

Christine Cane said it best:

We serve a supernatural God, who is able to bring supernatural provision and open supernatural doors and make a way where there is no way! What is impossible with man is possible with God because nothing is impossible with God!

 Trust Him!

Help With Stress

Philippians 4:6a Be anxious for nothing.

If we want to keep our stress level down then do not worry. Refuse to worry about anything. Worry, not work is the #1 reason for stress. We are not as over-worked as we are over-worried.

 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25

Worry is worthless and won't change anything. Worry exaggerates our problems. Worry is useless in any situation. The only thing worry can do is cause stress. The only thing worry can change is our health. Excessive worry is the main component of generalized anxiety disorders.

Proverbs 12:25a Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression.

Corrie ten Boom helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World War II and was imprisoned for it. She said, If you look at the world you will be distressed. If you look within you will be depressed. If you look at Christ then you will be at rest!

This is a picture my granddaughter Veronica took on one of our walks and I was letting her use my camera in February 2010.

The Pain of Grief written October 31, 2014

This past weekend we celebrated the life of my sister n law who recently passed away. It was a beautiful celebration for someone who gave herself to her family. When I married my husband she treated my children from my first marriage as if they were her own kids. These past few years we were getting together weekly to spend time with our granddaughters and do some special things. Just before she became ill we had made plans of all the things we were going to do with them in the upcoming months but we are not promised tomorrow. I am eternally grateful to her and for the memories she provided for myself, my kids and grandkids.

Grief takes over the mind and spirit when there is a death in the family or anyone close to us. The grief comes in different forms such as deep sadness, anger, numbness, and anxiety.  It will manifest itself in different forms physically and mentally. When we are at our weakest is when Satan and our enemies become more vigilant in their attacks. With God's help we have to guard our hearts and minds when we are grieving.  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

Grief causes the mind to imagine the worst and feel as if we are in a choke hold. The pain from grief is deceiving and the imagination of all is lost can be overwhelming. We can't resist those emotions and feelings on our own. We have to draw near to God who will give us what we need  to renew our minds according to James 4:7-8a Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. 

This picture was taken of my sister n law Glenda fishing with her granddaughter Mackenzie. A great reminder that life is like a vapor which appears for a little while and then vanishes away...James 4:14