City Life Starter

Written by Scott Fiddler

The Word

17 Then Jacob arose and put his children and his wives upon camels; 18 and he drove away all his livestock and all his property which he had gathered, his acquired livestock which he had gathered in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac. 19 When Laban had gone to shear his flock, then Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s. 20 And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing. 21 So he fled with all that he had; and he arose and crossed the Euphrates River, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead. Laban Pursues Jacob 22 When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, 23 then he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him a distance of seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the hill country of Gilead. 24 God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.” 25 Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen camped in the hill country of Gilead. 26 Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done by deceiving me and carrying away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27 “Why did you flee secretly and deceive me, and did not tell me so that I might have sent you away with joy and with songs, with timbrel and with lyre; 28 and did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have done foolishly. 29 “It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to speak either good or bad to Jacob.’ 30 “Now you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house; but why did you steal my gods?” 31 Then Jacob replied to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. 32 “The one with whom you find your gods shall not live; in the presence of our kinsmen point out what is yours among my belongings and take it for yourself.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

Genesis 31:17-32

Reflection

The narrative above began with a command and promise from God to Jacob: “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you” (Genesis 31:3). The story that follows this command demonstrates two things about following God: there is a cost, but there is also a benefit.

In the short passage of scripture above Jacob suffered the cost of the pursuit, scorn, and the false accusations of Laban, not to mention the permanent loss of relationships with his father-in-law and mother-in-law. Obedience always has a price.

Jesus didn’t hide the cost of obedience or cloak it in promises that obscured the reality of what lie ahead for those who chose to follow Him. Jesus was entirely transparent. He told those who would follow him that they should be willing to give up family (Luke 14:26), their wealth (Matthew 10:17-27), and even their life (Matthew 16:24), if they wanted to follow Him.

And if people still didn’t get it, Jesus used two metaphors to demonstrate the humiliation of those who didn’t count the cost of obedience before deciding to follow Him. See Matthew 14:28-32 (an unfinished building and an army begging its enemy for peace). This was the very opposite of the “bait and switch” tactics used by people trying to get what they want from others.

But implicit in Jesus’ warnings about the price of obedience was the promise of His presence. To follow Jesus means to walk with Him, to be in His presence. To decide not to follow Jesus means to go at it alone, to pursue a path Jesus is not pursing.

Jacob felt the cost almost immediately after stepping out in obedience to God, but true to His word, God fulfilled His promise that He would be with Jacob. Specifically, God spoke to Laban and warned him to leave Jacob alone, and even though he set out after Jacob, Laban ultimately relented and, probably fearing God, left Jacob alone to follow God.

Application

The price and the promise of obedience to God are the same today as they were for Jacob. The price is potentially our relationships, our wealth, and ourselves, but the promise is His presence, and thanks to Jesus, it is His presence for eternity.

All-in-all, that is a pretty good bargain.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the privilege of walking in relationship with You. Amen.