City Life Starter

Written by Stefan Johnsson

The Word

Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has gained all this wealth.” ² And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. ³ Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

⁴ So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was ⁵ and said to them, “I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me. ⁶ You know that I have served your father with all my strength, ⁷ yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me. ⁸ If he said, ‘The spotted shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore spotted; and if he said, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore striped. ⁹ Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me. ¹⁰ In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled. ¹¹ Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’ ¹² And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. ¹³ I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.’” ¹⁴ Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father’s house? ¹⁵ Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money. ¹⁶ All the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.”

Genesis 31:1-16 (ESV)

⁴ David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. ⁵ At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

2 Samuel 5:4-5

Reflection

God had blessed Jacob for the entire twenty years that he spent with his uncle Laban while in Paddan-aram. Just as God promised him, He would be with Jacob and blessed him with many sons and livestock. There was nothing that God would let happen to him. Through these experiences, Jacob knew that it was God who kept him safe from harm. We see this through his conversation with his two wives.

1. Laban doesn’t regard Jacob with favor anymore. Yet, God was with Jacob.
2. Laban cheated Jacob despite his honest work. Yet, God did not allow Jacob to be harmed.
3. Laban changed the portion owed to Jacob for his honest work. God gave Jacob the herds.

Even through all this, Jacob didn’t decide to go on his own. It was God who prompted Jacob to leave his uncle and go back to Canaan. Had Jacob gone years before with God’s prodding? We cannot say. What we do know is that Jacob had to reach a point where he felt threatened by Laban himself and Laban’s sons. He knew the time was right when God spoke to him and told him to go. It is also a confirmation that both Leah and Rachel agreed with Jacob that they saw Laban’s treatment and knew that they were not regarded as well as before.

After Samuel anointed David as King over Israel, it didn’t come into fruition at that exact time. I’m sure he was very eager to take charge. Yet, it’s very difficult to assume leadership over a country when there is already a king in place, which was Saul. Yet, David held on to the promise he was given and knew that God would make it happen in His timing, not David’s. It took 15 years of trials and hardship before David was finally anointed king over Judah and then another 7 years before he became king over all of Israel.

David had to wait on God and go through many trials before he was finally crowned king over Israel. In the same way, God knew when the right timing was for Jacob to leave his uncle and return to Canaan. In both cases, God made a promise to be with them through their difficulties and to bless them no matter the circumstances, tribulations, and animosity they experienced. And the fulfilment of these promises came when the timing was right.

Application

God doesn’t bring us out of hardship right away. In many cases, it may take us decades before God’s promises come to fruition. And during this time, it is very difficult for us to trust God and remember His promises. How many of us hold on to God and faith for Him to come through in our difficulties more than a year? How about twenty years? We live in a society where we want instant gratification and answers.

God gives us these stories so we can know that a major part of our journey in life isn’t about the end result, it’s about the sanctification that takes place along the way. Both Jacob and David became men more dedicated and reliant on God through the process and hardships. In the same way, God is shaping us each day and teaching us to trust Him. Don’t skip the entire 20 seasons of a tv series to see the end. The point of the series is to see the characters grow and change throughout the years.

Is there something that you know God is calling you to do but you aren’t listening? Are you willing to wait on Him to fulfill this promise in your life?

Prayer

Father in heaven, thank You for leading me in the direction that You want me to go. Let me be guided by Your Holy Spirit and to listen to Your voice. It is You who knows what is best for me. Change me, teach me, and sanctify me along this journey with You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.