July 28, 2026
Genesis 30:1-31:16; Matthew 10:1-23; Psalm 12:1-8; Proverbs 3:13-15
“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 favorable 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.’
So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, and said to them, ‘I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. And you know that with all my might I have served your father. Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me. If he said thus: ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked. So God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.'” (Genesis 31:1-9)
When Jacob wanted to leave, Laban asked Jacob to continue on with him. Laban knew the Lord was blessing him because of the favor on Jacob’s life. Jacob was paid with goats and over a period of time God began building up Jacob’s flock. Laban noticed, so he would switch up which goats Jacob could have, but despite that, whatever kind Laban said could be Jacob’s those were the ones that multiplied. Jacob increased and Laban did not. He and his sons started to take note of the difference and began accusing Jacob of getting rich off of them. Sometimes people can’t understand the favor of God on you and will accuse you of doing something underhanded. They’ll never get it unless God reveals it so don’t waste your breathe trying to defend yourself.
Jacob discerned from their attitudes that things were not right. Sometimes when it’s time to move to the next phase of life, God will put a burr in your saddle, so to speak. Things will really start to get uncomfortable and God will give you some definite signs or a word that it’s time to go. I like how Jacob brought his family together to discuss the situation and to share with them what the Lord said. Instead of making demands, he gave them an opportunity to get on board.
“Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, ‘Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? Are we not considered strangers by him? For he has sold us, and also completely consumed our money. For all these riches which God has taken from our father are really ours and our children’s, now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.” (Genesis 31:14-16)
Rachel and Leah saw what their brothers could not, that their father had taken advantage of them and was literally trying to steal from them. God kept them, provided for them and they acknowledged it. They had done the right thing by their dad and now it was time to go. And so they bravely struck out as a family to follow the will of God, unsure of the future but knowing that it would be alright because God was already there.
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to trust You, especially when things are scary. Jacob didn’t know what he was going to run into by returning home or what he would soon face by sneaking away from Laban, yet he bravely obeyed Your Word. I want to have that kind of obedience and faith. Teach me to recognize Your voice and to follow. Lord, sometimes it hurts my feelings and scares me when people talk about me. I pray You will help me to stay on track no matter what is being said. I love You, I am Yours, keep me. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.
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