Come and read this morning Genesis 31.
So it's Genesis chapter 31 verse 17.
Then Jacob put his children and his wives on camels, and he drove all his livestock ahead of him,
along with all the goods he had accumulated in Paddan Haram.
To go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.
When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father's household gods.
Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was running away.
So he fled with all he had, crossed the river Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.
On the third day, Laban was told that Jacob had fled.
Taking his relatives with him, he pursued Jacob for seven days, and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.
Then God came to Laban, the Aramean, in a dream at night, and said to him,
Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.
Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead, when Laban overtook him.
And Laban and his relatives camped there too.
Then Laban said to Jacob,
What have you done?
You've deceived me, and you've carried off my daughters like captives in war.
Why did you run off secretly and deceive me?
Why didn't you tell me so that I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of tambourines and harps?
You didn't even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye.
You have done a foolish thing.
I have the power to harm you.
But last night, the God of your father said to me,
Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.
Now you have gone off, because you longed to return to your father's household.
But why did you steal my gods?
Jacob answered Laban,
I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.
But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live.
In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me.
And if so, take it.
Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods.
Thank you, Sarah.
Please follow along in your Bibles.
We're going to be starting in chapter 30, verse 25 in a minute,
just so you can have it prepared and open.
Just as a reminder, all the talks are recorded.
Normally I'm thanking Ralph.
It's actually Christopher who does that.
So thank you, Chris, for putting everything online for us week by week.
We appreciate it.
So you can catch up on any of the talks that you've missed as we look at the life of Jacob.
We're going to pray and ask for God's help to us now.
So let's pray.
Father, in all of life, we need your help.
And we thank you that you are a good, faithful and generous God who gives to us as we need.
And so our need is for your Holy Spirit.
For you to be present working in our lives individually and together as a church family.
That you will bring reassurance to us today.
That you will bring words of comfort and rich encouragement.
As we walk our journey and our life with you.
So please help us.
Amen.
Well, Jacob wants to go home.
Look at chapter 30, verse 25.
After Rachel gave birth to Joseph,
Jacob said to Laban,
Send me on my way so that I can go back to my own homeland.
14 years ago, Jacob had to leave his home in a hurry.
Having deceived his father Isaac and cheated on his brother Esau,
he was running for his life.
Now all these years later, with two wives, 11 sons and one daughter,
he wants to go home.
Of course, this is much more than a longing for just some of mum's homebake
or a catch up with old friends.
This is a story, a true story about God getting Jacob home to the promised land.
Because God's plan is always to have God's people in God's place,
enjoying God's presence.
But there's a problem.
There's always a problem, isn't there?
Laban, his uncle, doesn't want to let Jacob go.
Verse 27.
Laban said to him,
If I found favour in your eyes, please stay.
I mean, look at all that you have here, Jacob.
Please stay with me.
Well, Jacob refuses.
He wants to go home.
So Laban takes out his wallet and flashes the cash.
Verse 31.
What shall I give you?
He asked.
You name your price, whatever it is.
I'll give it to you just so you can stay.
Well, look at Jacob's response.
Verse 31.
Don't give me anything, Jacob replied.
But if you will do this one thing for me,
I will go on tending your flocks and watching over them.
Let me go through all your flocks today
and remove from them every speckled or spotted sheep,
every dark-coloured lamb and every spotted or speckled goat.
They will be my wages.
Well, it seems old Jacob has got distracted again
with the idea of gaining a little bit more economic security.
His heart has been turned once again.
The two things that Jacob was attracted to
when he first arrived to his uncle
was Rachel and all the flocks she was tending.
Now, all these years later,
he has Rachel and now he has the flocks.
But it comes at a cost, doesn't it?
Because this deal with Laban
turns out to be another six long years.
It seems Jacob's wandering heart means
he's never going to get to the promised land.
He's always distracted with something else.
He's a bit like us.
We have wandering hearts
and we get distracted with all that God has for us
and we're so focused on the here and now.
But when does God ever fail to deliver on his promises?
Well, the truth is,
in the midst of it all,
God will ensure that Jacob gets home.
And as we follow along with Jacob in his journey,
we'll see that God gives to his people reassurances.
God reminds us that he is faithful
and God will always bring his people home.
Home not to where we were born or where we grew up,
but home to that ultimate land,
heaven itself, the new creation.
And despite all our wanderings
and all of our distractions,
God will get you home.
So we're going to see four assurances
that God gives to his people
as we journey with him.
Very simple.
Number one,
God's presence in our doubts.
Let's turn to chapter 31.
Verse 2.
Jacob noticed that Laban's attitude towards him
was not what it had been.
There's become this tension between them.
Verse 3.
The Lord said to Jacob,
Go back to the land of your fathers
and to your relatives.
Go back to the promised land.
Now notice that this command comes with a promise.
Look at the end of verse 3.
And I will be with you.
God has been with Jacob all along,
but Jacob needs that reassurance
to hear God say to him,
Jacob, I'm with you.
Everything you need will be found in me.
And this call of God
to go back to the promised land
includes his whole family.
So Jacob gets Rachel and Leah together
for a family chat
and he tells them
what God revealed to him in a dream.
So what we have in verse 3
is now repeated in verse 13.
Have a look at verse 13.
As Jacob recalls
all that God had said to him.
Verse 13.
God said to Jacob,
I am the God of Bethel
where you anointed a pillar
and where you made a vow to me.
Now leave this land at once
and go back to your native land.
Remember, Jacob,
I want you to think back
to when you were on the run
from your brother.
Remember how I came to you,
how I intervened in your life.
Do you remember Bethel, Jacob?
Do you remember what I said to you then?
Well, in case we can't remember,
let's go back to chapter 28,
verse 15.
This is when Jacob was running
from his brother
and God comes to him.
Chapter 28, verse 15.
And listen to what God says.
I am with you
and will watch over you
wherever you go
and I will bring you back
to this land.
I will not leave you
until I have done
what I have promised you.
When Jacob awoke from his sleep,
he thought,
surely the Lord is in this place.
And I was not aware of it.
That's my promise, Jacob.
I'm going to get you home
no matter where you may go
or no matter what will happen
in your life.
I am going to be with you
and I'm not going to leave you
until I get you back
to the promised land.
Let's go back to chapter 31.
Verse 17.
So with God's clear command
and God's reassuring promise,
Jacob now gets ready
to return home.
Verse 17.
Jacob put his children
and his wives on camels
and he drove all his livestock
ahead of him
along with all the goods
he had accumulated
in Padam Aram
to go to his father Isaac
in the land of Canaan.
The promised land.
Now isn't that the kind of word
we all need to hear?
The God who calls you
into a relationship with you
is the God who will be with you.
He doesn't do things
in half measure.
If he calls you,
he'll keep you
and he'll bring you home.
Like the writer of Psalm 139
we can say,
where can I go
from your spirit?
Where can I flee
from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens,
you're there.
If I make my bed
in the depths,
you are there.
If I rise on the wings
of the dawn,
if I settle
on the far side
of the sea,
even there
your hand
will guide me
and your hand
will hold me fast.
Isn't that what we need to know
in the midst of our trials
and struggles?
That we are in the hand
of one who holds us fast.
He calls us
and he'll bring us home.
But sometimes
it seems
that God's presence
is not enough.
Oh yeah,
God is with me
but
I need,
well,
as in the case of Rachel,
look at verse 19,
when Laban,
her uncle,
had gone to shear his sheep
so this was kind of
a big exercise
that could take up
to three days
to shear all their sheep
and he's gone off
with the men.
Rachel stole
her father's
household gods.
Now an idol
is anything
we can put in place
of God.
It could be a person,
a hobby,
a desire,
someone or something
that we feel
we must have
and we dare not
let go of
just to get us
through life.
For Rachel,
it was the family gods
so she steals them away.
Maybe they're going
to help
because who knows,
maybe God will go AWOL
and he'll leave us
and we'll be on our own.
We need a backup plan.
Well,
Rachel may have her reasons
but in reality,
Rachel was doubting
God's presence.
God plus my idols
and I will be sufficient.
God plus my
and you fill in the bank
and I will be secure.
What is it
that in our lives
we are so
desperately
hanging on to?
What is it
that we want
that we will never
let go of
because we fear
somehow
God is going
to let go?
Well,
whatever we're
hanging on to,
in reality,
we're doubting
God's presence.
It's saying,
I don't trust you,
God.
You might leave me.
Well,
hear the reassurance
today.
I am with you,
says God.
I will not leave you.
I am enough for you.
I am sufficient for you.
Everything you need
is found in me.
My presence
goes with you.
So first,
God's presence
in our doubts.
Second,
we have God's protection
in our opposition.
God's protection.
Laban's not a happy
chappy,
is he?
For two reasons.
One,
as we'll discover,
he finds out
his family idols
are gone.
And two,
look at verse 20,
Jacob deceived
Laban the Aramean
by not telling him
he was running away.
So he fled
with all he had
and crossed the river
Euphrates
and head for the
hill country
of Gilead.
It seems Jacob
is in trouble again.
Looks like he's
going to be dragged
back to Laban land.
Well,
verse 23,
taking his relatives
with him,
Laban
pursued Jacob.
This isn't a friendly
chasing after him.
This is with
an army in tow.
He pursued
Jacob
for seven days
and caught up
with him
in the hill
country of Gilead.
But then
God came
to Laban
in a dream
at night
and said to him,
be careful
not to say
anything to Jacob,
either good
or bad.
In other words,
God is saying
to him,
don't you harm
my man.
You mess
with Jacob
and you're
messing with me.
I'm watching you,
Laban.
It turns out
God is with
Jacob
and he is going
to protect
Jacob.
Is Laban
going to heed
what God has said?
Well,
it seems he does
because when he
finally confronts
Jacob,
look at verse 28,
he says to Jacob,
you didn't even
let me kiss
my grandchildren,
my daughters,
goodbye.
You've done
a foolish thing.
I have the power
to harm you.
But last night
the God of your
father said to me,
be careful
not to say
anything to Jacob,
either good
or bad.
It seems
God has put
the heebie-jeebies
into Laban
and he backs
right off.
You see,
God is not always
meek and mild.
God is to be
feared,
especially
when you go
opposing
God's people.
So it seems
the threat
has been averted
except for
another small matter.
Look at the end
of verse 30.
But why
did you steal
my gods?
The gods!
What about
the gods?
Well,
Jacob doesn't
know about
Rachel's doubting
issues and how
she had stolen
the family gods.
Jacob just
invites Laban
to go and
search the tents.
In fact,
he makes the
unfortunate promise
that if anyone
is found with
the idols,
they're going
to die.
Verse 33.
So Laban
went into
Jacob's tent
and then
into Leah's
tent and
into the
tent of the
two female
servants,
but he
found nothing.
After he
came out
of Leah's
tent,
he went
into
Rachel's
tent.
Now Rachel
had taken
the household
gods and
put them
into the
camel's
saddle,
which acted
like a
couch at
night,
so a
saddle during
the day,
a couch at
night in
the tent,
and was
sitting on
them.
Laban
searched
through
everything in
the tent,
but found
nothing.
And then we
could just
imagine,
just before
he goes
out,
he spies
the camel
seat that
Rachel's
sitting on.
And just
before he
can order
Rachel to
get up,
verse 35,
Rachel said
to her
father,
don't be
angry,
my lord,
that I
cannot stand
up in
your presence,
I'm having
my period.
Well,
period pain
can be
painful,
so Rachel
remains lying
down hoping
for some
relief.
Now it
may seem
a strange
incident to
us,
but it
teaches us
something of
God's
protection.
It seems
Rachel's
idols,
instead of
bringing
security,
have put
her in
danger,
because
idols will
never save
you.
The things
that we
long for
and hang
on to
only get
us into
trouble,
they're
distractions,
rather than
a help,
they're a
hindrance.
And with
no offence,
what kind
of gods
are they
that they
need
protected
by a
woman
suffering
with her
period.
God is
making fun
to make
his point.
He's
saying,
look,
I can
intervene in
big ways
and speak
directly to
a Laban
and tell
him to
back off
from my
people,
or you
know what?
I can
use a
woman with
period pain
to keep
my people
safe too.
God will
do whatever
it takes
to keep
his people.
Now,
we need
to be
careful not
to overplay
things here.
This doesn't
mean nothing
bad will
ever happen
or that we
won't face
harm in
our life
or in our
walk with
God.
No,
what this
is teaching
us is
that nothing
and no
one can
take us
out of
God's
saving
security.
Remember,
Jacob and
his family
were heading
for the
promised
land and
God had
made a
promise to
them,
I will
bring you
back there
and I'm
not going
to leave
you until
you're
there.
No
threat or
opposition
is going
to stand
in their
way.
So,
just as
God was
watching over
and protecting
Jacob,
so God
always preserves
and keeps
his people.
his church,
people like
you and
I,
are kept
within his
care.
No matter
what the
opposition we
face,
whether it's
our own
sin,
our own
suffering,
or even
Satan
himself,
nothing
and no
one can
ever separate
us from
what God
has for
us.
So,
second,
we see
God's
protection
in the
opposition.
So,
we have
God's
presence,
God's
protection
and God's
provision
in our
need.
Don't worry,
I didn't go
looking for
all the
P words
just to be
clever.
I think
that's what
the text
teaches,
so let's
move on.
Before
Jacob says
his
goodbyes,
it seems
he wants
to get
something
off his
chest
with his
uncle
Laban.
Look at
verse 40.
This was
my situation.
This is
what it was
like to
work for
you,
Laban.
It wasn't
nice and
it wasn't
easy.
The heat
consumed me
in the
daytime and
the cold
at night.
Sleep
fled from
my eyes.
It was
like this
for 20
years I
was in
your
household.
I
worked for
you 14
years for
two of
your
daughters
and six
years for
your flocks
and you
changed my
wages ten
times.
Laban,
you've been
out for
yourself this
whole time.
You've
treated me
unfairly and
unjustly,
but here
there's one
thing I
want you
to know
before I
leave.
Listen to
this.
Verse 42.
If the
God of
my father
and the
God of
Abraham and
the fear
of Isaac
had not
been with
me,
you would
surely have
sent me
away empty
handed.
But God
has seen my
hardship and
the toil of
my hands,
and last
night he
rebuked
you.
At last,
Jacob
recognises the
source of
all that he
has throughout
his life.
While Laban
has been
mean and
tight-fisted,
God has
been kind
and generous
hearted.
God has
provided for
every step
of the way
and God
keeps providing
for all his
needs as he
heads towards
the promised
land.
He goes
not empty
handed,
but full,
blessed.
In his
possession are
all his
family and
all his
flocks.
He's heading
home,
a blessed
man.
Now this
might seem
very ordinary
to you and
I and not
very spectacular.
It might be
just a small
point, but it
carries a big
message, doesn't
it?
Because when
God calls and
commands, he
will supply all
that we need.
He doesn't
send us off on
our journey
empty handed.
He doesn't
just save you
and say, now I
saved you, it's
up for you to
get your way
the rest of
the way.
No, he
saves us from
beginning to
end.
He will
provide all
that we
need in
our journey.
Now let's
be clear, this
isn't a promise
of prosperity
or a word
for wealth.
It's simply
the gentle
reassurance
coming from
God to his
people that
he will supply
what is needed
as we
journey towards
the ultimate
promised land.
I don't
think we
need to be
in any doubt
at all that
God will
ever let
one of his
children down.
Everything we
need, God
will provide.
So, God's
presence, God's
protection, God's
provision, and
then lastly, God's
peace.
As Jacob gets
ready to leave,
you see, Laban
is still
loitering about.
He's not
letting Jacob
go easy, is
he?
He wants to
make a peace
deal.
Look at
verse 44.
Come now, this
is Laban
speaking to
Jacob, come
now, let's
make a
covenant, you
and I, and
let it serve as
a witness between
us.
Let's make
promises.
Let's make a
commitment to
leave each
other in
peace.
And as a
witness, they
set up a
physical reminder,
verse 45.
So, Jacob
took a stone
and he set
it up as a
pillar.
So, here we
could imagine a
big boulder
shaped like a
pillar standing
erect and
upright.
That's what
Jacob does.
Then, verse
46, he says
to his
relatives, that's
Laban and his
people, gather
some stones.
So, they took
stones and
piled them in a
heap, and
there they ate
by the heap.
So, every
time they
came near to
each other's
lands, they're
going to see
Jacob's stone
pillar and
Laban's heap
of stones next
to it, and
they will be
reminded of
their peace
deal.
Verse 51,
So, Laban
said to
Jacob, here is
this heap, and
here is this
pillar that I've
set up between
you and me.
This heap is a
witness, and
this pillar is a
witness, that I
will not go
past this heap
to your side
to harm you, and
you will not go
past this heap and
pillar to my
side to harm
me.
So, there we
have it, the
peace deal.
They're not
going to cross
over into each
other's lands and
everything's going
to be all
right.
Now, it seems a
good deal, doesn't
it?
But we know as
we followed along,
Jacob and Laban
have history.
Laban's made
continuous promises
to Jacob, but
the problem is he
doesn't keep his
promises.
Laban's word is
always a broken
word.
Jacob's memory
reminds him and
tells him, this
peace agreement,
well, it could
fall apart at any
moment.
What Jacob
needs is
ultimately a
peace deal and a
peace agreement
with God, that
God will be
with him,
protect him,
and provide for
him.
So, when it
comes to making
the peace deal,
Jacob and
Laban have to
call on their
particular God.
In effect, they
would say something
like this,
I promise not
to harm my
brother, and if
I should break
this deal, if I
should cross over
to where I
shouldn't go, may
the gods come
and break me.
So, Laban goes
first with his
promise, verse
53.
May the
God of
Abraham and
the God of
Nahor and
the God of
their father
judge between
us.
Now, notice
here all the
gods he
calls on.
It's plural,
actually, not
singular.
He doesn't
just stop with
the God of
Abraham.
He calls on
all the
gods.
The gods of
Nahor, my
grandfather, and
the gods of my
great father, all
the gods, all the
ancestries, all of
them.
I'm calling them
all up today to
be a witness.
It sounds grand,
doesn't it?
But with so many
gods, the reality
is Laban is
answerable to no
one.
They're just gods
of his own
imagination and
his own
idea.
But Jacob,
when Jacob
makes his
promise,
look at what
he says, the
end of verse
53.
So Jacob
took up an
oath in the
name of the
fear of
his father
Isaac.
Now, isn't
that strange?
Jacob could
easily have
said, I
promise in the
name of the
God of
Isaac.
But he's
particular, he's
focused, he
says, in the
fear of his
father Isaac.
You see, by
using the word
fear, Jacob is
saying something
about the God
who he now
trusts, the
God who he
follows.
This is the
creator God, the
almighty God.
Jacob may be
equal with
Laban, but he
is certainly not
equal with
God.
His fear of
God means that
he isn't
cowering and
hiding, rather
one of deep
respect and
awe of
almighty
God.
The reality
that he is in
the presence of
glory and
greatness.
As one
writer put it,
to fear God
is an intense
concern not
to grieve or
dishonour the
one who has
done so much
for us.
And that's
Jacob's concern.
It isn't so
much for
Laban, but a
desire to
honour and
follow the
God who has
been with him
and the God
who keeps him.
You see, God
is not our
best buddy.
He's not our
therapist that
we turn to in
our crisis and
forget when
everything is
well.
God isn't our
psychologist that
we call to
because we're
having a bad
day and we
need somebody to
say something
nice to us.
God is to
be feared.
God is our
creator and
king.
He's our
Lord and our
master.
The God who
demands our
service and
sacrifice and
deserves our
loyalty and
love.
This is the
kind of God
that I owe
my life to.
this is the
God that
Jacob owes
his life to.
For Jacob, his
concern isn't
so much a
peace deal with
Laban, but
being in a
right relationship
with God.
That's what's
important to
him.
You see, God
has promised
that I will be
present with you
and I will
protect you
and I will
provide for you
and despite
all your
wanderings and
distractions, I
am going to
get you
home.
Now how do
you respond to
a God who
says that to
you today?
Answer, we
fear him.
We fear him.
How much
more then
should we
respect and
honour God
who has
saved us and
intervened into
our life by
his son, the
Lord Jesus
Christ, who
has come to
make the
ultimate peace
deal with
people like
us, dealing
with our
wandering
hearts and
the distractions
with our
idols that we
won't let go
of.
He comes and
he intervenes
and he dies in
our place to
take the blame
that we deserve
so that we
could have a
secure and
eternal home
with him
forever.
Are you at
peace with
God?
Are you
walking closely
with him?
Life isn't
about the
here and
now and
building our
foundations and
our securities
and our safety
now.
It is trusting
in the God
who will be
with you,
who will
protect you
and who
will provide
for you.
Listen as
we close
to 1 Peter
1.17.
He tells us
how we should
respond to
the God
who has done
so much for
us.
He says,
live out your
time as
foreigners.
That means
we're not
living here
as our
home,
but we're
looking for
something
eternal.
Live out
your time
here as
foreigners
in reverent
fear.
That
intense
desire
to honour
and please
God
with all
of our
life.
In
thankfulness
for his
great promises
to each
one of us.
let's
just take
time to
pray and
to reflect
on what
we're
thinking
about.
Let's
pray.
Let's
pray.
Let's
pray.
Father,
we are
conscious
that
our
hearts
wander so
much to
so many
other
things.
We get
distracted
by our
idols.
And yet
in the
midst of
it all,
we have
a God
who remains
faithful.
The
God who
has promised
to keep
us and
watch over
us.
Father,
we just
say thank
you that
your presence
is always
with us.
Thank you
for the
way in
which you've
protected us
in our
life,
kept us
from taking
a wrong
path or
a wrong
turn.
Thank you
for how
you protect
our faith.
Thank you
for your
provision in
our life,
giving us
people and
other believers
around us
to care for
us, to
teach us.
And we
thank you
ultimately for
the peace
that we have
through your
Son,
that we
belong to
you.
We will
never be
unbelonging.
thank you
that you
will bring
your people
home.
Thank you
that we
can trust
you.
Thank you,
Lord.
Amen.
Now we're
going to
sing a
song about
that journey
that we
make as we
walk with
God.