June 5 – Genesis 31:1-16

June 5 – Genesis 31:1-16

Dear Father, we come before You in praise and with thanksgiving for You give us our,

‘But God’ moments. You orchestrate our lives for Your glory. May we in our quiet time recognize You for who You are: our Lord God, the God of Israel.

First, do your own quiet time and 4R journaling.  When you are completed, come back here for the lesson.

Request God’s help

Read Genesis 31:1-16

Record a verse that stands out to you

Respond to God

But God did not permit harm

What’s been happening here with Jacob and Laban?  Let’s lay out some quick facts of what was stacked up against Jacob. (Not an exhaustive list).

Laban had Jacob work 7 years for Rachel.  Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah.  Laban had Jacob work another 7 years for Rachel.  He worked another 6 years for a flock.  Laban changed his wages ten times.  Laban cheated him and tricked him by hiding the ‘best’ sheep and goats.  Laban did not regard him with favor.  Laban used Jacob for his own wealth and property and clout.

Now, let’s compare this with Jacob’s ‘But God’ moments.  God remembered His promise made to Abraham and called Jacob back to his land.  God provided prosperity in all that Jacob did.  God blessed him greatly.  God accepted him.  God honored his uncompromising faith.  God found favor with him.

Where did Jacob’s “But God” moment lead to?  First, let’s look at Genesis 28:20-21, “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God,”  Now let’s jump to Genesis 33: 19-20, “And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.”  Here we see that Jacob acknowledges that God is his God, “the God of Israel,” not just his father’s God as in verse 5.  Wow.  Jacob’s ‘but God’ moment did more than just bless him; there was a break through!

While his wives’ father wished to harm and not accept him, Jacob’s heavenly father offered him the opposite.  And not only that, but blessed him abundantly! Knowing full well that this season was coming for Jacob, God armored Jacob with faith, intelligence, wit, perseverance, and a character that never lowered itself to Laban’s.  Jacob’s intentional living and faithfulness brought glory to God, not himself.  That was quite the contrast to Laban’s sneaky, conniving, selfish, clout chasing self.

But God!

When those here on earth have forsaken you, your heavenly Father has not.  As a hen gathers her chicks to her underwing, so shall He of you.  You are not forgotten and you are not without an Abba.  He will take you in and shelter you in His wings until He sets you on your high places.  Be at peace.

“But my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.”   Psalm 27:10

(Further Reading: Psalm 10:17; Proverbs 26:4-6; Matthew 10:16; Galatians 6:9)

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise You for You alone are God.  We thank You for our own

“but God” moment that brought us to our acknowledgement that You are our God.  Thank You being all that You are.  You are El-elohe-Israel and we adore You.

What’s next?

As the Spirit leads, in the comment section below, share what He has laid on your heart.  Then join us again tomorrow for the next commentary.

My Verse: Genesis 31: 5, 7, “… 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.”  “…your father has cheated me and changes my wages ten times.  But God did not permit him to harm me.”