‘Off you go!’ (And promptly)
Surely the LORD’s was a welcome voice
Never was the Word from the LORD so welcome as the moment when He encouraged Jacob to get on his bike and “go!”
Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story
How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.
Genesis 31:1-3
“Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.” And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favourable toward him as before. Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”
When the season of favour is over
We need to know who our friends are, don’t we? Who we can trust, who we can rely on, and who do we need to be wary of.
After some 14 years of service, Jacob would have known well the thoughts and intense of Laban’s heart, and if he wasn’t sure, overhearing Laban’s sons would have confirmed his worst fears.
Jacob had made a packet for Laban; then he made a packet for himself and his family. The LORD’s blessing was upon him and he knew it.
Hearing and seeing the jealousy of his cousins would certainly have been unnerving. ‘There’s one of me and a lot of them’ would have run through his mind.
GOD’s word must have been welcome — Indeed, Jacob had asked to leave before the rods and his scheme to get the most sheep, the healthiest sheep, had run its course and it was time to go.
The message for us
Do you know who your friends are? Do I know mine? Has the LORD given you discernment, wisdom, or the gift to multiply wealth? No matter how fair or how filled with integrity you or I might be, we need to be aware and to beware there will always be — along with friends who wish us well — those who wish to destroy what we have, or take it from us.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
We are not engaged against an enemy of flesh and blood but against the enemy of GOD. Satan wants us to fail and rages against any victory or achievement we might experience as a hallmark of the glory of GOD.
The principle message from Jacob’s story here, is that we need to walk closely with the LORD — to hear His voice, to follow His lead, to move when He calls us to move.
That’s what Jacob did, and he was protected from harm.