Please take your Bibles and open them up this morning to the book of Genesis.
Book of Genesis.
If you're just joining us for the first time or first time in a while, we have been working
our way through the book of Genesis.
It's our normal practice to walk through books of the Bible, just one passage at a time.
And we've made our way to chapter 30, and we will pick up where we left off last week
in verse 25 of chapter 30, and Lord willing, make our way through the end of chapter 31.
So if you would, when you found that, let's stand in honor of the reading of God's Word.
It's a little bit of a longer passage this morning, and so I understand if you need to
sit down, that's okay, but we believe that the reading of God's Word is just as profitable,
if not more profitable, than all the preaching that comes afterwards.
So we're going to stand and read the Word of the Lord.
Please hear God's Word, Genesis 30, 25.
As soon as Rachel had born Joseph, Jacob said to Laban,
And send me away, that I may go to my own home and country.
Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served you, that I may go,
for you know the service that I have given you.
But Laban said to him,
If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.
Name your wages, and I will give it.
Jacob said to him,
You yourself know how I have served you, and how your livestock has fared with me.
For you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I turned.
But now when shall I provide for my own household also?
He said,
What shall I give you?
And Jacob said,
You shall not give me anything.
If you will do this for me, I will again pasture your flock and keep it.
Let me pass through all your flock today, removing from it every speckled and spotted sheep,
and every black lamb, and the spotted and speckled among the goats,
and they shall be my wages.
So my honesty will answer for me later when you come to look into my wages with you.
Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats,
and black among the sheep, if found with me, shall be counted stolen.
Laban said,
Good, let it be as you've said.
But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted,
and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted,
every one that had white on it,
and every lamb that was black,
and put them in the charge of his sons.
And he set a distance of three days' journey between himself and Jacob,
and Jacob pastured the rest of Laban's flock.
Then Laban took fresh sticks of poplar and almond and plain trees,
and peeled white streaks in them,
exposing the white of the sticks.
He set the sticks that he had peeled in front of the flocks in the troughs,
that is, the watering places,
where the flocks came to drink.
And since they bred when they came to drink,
the flocks bred in front of the sticks.
And so the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted.
And Jacob separated the lambs,
and set the faces of the flocks toward the striped,
and all the black in the flock of Laban.
He put his own droves apart,
and did not put them with Laban's flock.
Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding,
Jacob would lay the sticks in the troughs before the eyes of the flock,
that they might breed among the sticks.
But for the feebler of the flock,
he would not lay them there.
So the feebler would be Laban's,
and the stronger Jacob's.
Thus the man increased greatly,
and had large flocks,
female servants, and male servants,
and camels, and donkeys.
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.
And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before.
Then the Lord said to Jacob,
Return to the land of your fathers,
and to your kindred,
and I will be with you.
So Jacob sent,
and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was,
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.
You know that I have served your father with all my strength,
and yet your father has cheated me,
and changed my wages ten times.
But God did not permit him to harm me.
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.
Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father,
and given them to me.
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.
Then the angel of the Lord said to me in the dream,
Jacob,
and I said,
Here I am.
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.
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.
Then Rachel and Leah answered him and said to him,
Is there any portion or inheritance left to us
in our father's house?
Are we not regarded by him as foreigners?
For he has sold us,
and he has indeed devoured our money.
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.
So Jacob arose and set his sons and his wives on camels.
He drove away all his livestock,
all his property that he had gained,
the livestock in his possession
that he had acquired in Paddan Aram,
to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac.
Laban had gone to shear his sheep,
and Rachel stole her father's household gods.
And Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean
by not telling him that he intended to flee.
He fled with all that he had,
and arose and crossed the Euphrates,
and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.
When it was told Laban on the third day
that Jacob had fled,
he took his kinsmen with him
and pursued him for seven days,
and followed close after him
into the hill country of Gilead.
But God came to Laban the Aramean
in a dream by night.
And said to him,
Be careful not to say anything to Jacob,
either good or bad.
And Laban overtook Jacob.
Now Jacob had pitched his tent
in the hill country,
and Laban with his kinsmen
pitched tents in the hill country of Gilead.
And Laban said to Jacob,
What have you done
that you have tricked me
and driven away my daughters
like captives of the sword?
Why did you flee secretly
and trick me and not tell me
so that I might send you away
with mirth and songs,
tambourine and lyre?
And why did you not permit me
to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell?
Now you have done foolishly.
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 say anything to Jacob,
either good or bad.
And now you have gone away
because you longed greatly
for your father's house,
but why did you steal my gods?
Jacob answered and said to Laban,
Because I was afraid,
for I thought that you would
take your daughters from me by force.
Anyone with whom you find your gods
shall not live.
In the presence of our kinsmen,
point out what I have
that is yours and take it.
Now Jacob did not know
that Rachel had stolen them.
So Laban went into Jacob's tent
and into Leah's tent
and into the tent
of the two female servants,
but he did not find them.
And he went out of Leah's tent
and entered Rachel's.
Now Rachel had taken
the household gods
and put them in the camel's saddle
and sat on them.
Laban felt all about the tent,
but he did not find them.
And she said to her father,
Let not my Lord be angry
that I cannot rise before you,
for the way of women is upon me.
So he searched,
but did not find the household gods.
Then Jacob became angry
and berated Laban.
And Jacob said to Laban,
What is my offense?
What is my sin
that you have hotly pursued me?
For you have felt
through all my goods,
and what have you found
of all your household goods.
Set it here before my kinsmen
and your kinsmen,
that you may decide
between us two.
These twenty years
I have been with you.
Your ewes and your female goats
have not miscarried.
I have not eaten
the rams of your flocks.
What was torn by wild beasts
I did not bring to you.
I bore the loss of it myself.
From my hand you required of it,
whether it's stolen by day
or stolen by night.
There I was,
by day the heat consumed me,
and the cold by night,
and my sleep fled from my eyes.
These twenty years
I have been in your house.
I served you fourteen years
for your two daughters,
and six years for your flock,
and you have changed
my wages ten times.
If the God of my father,
the God of Abraham,
and the fear of Isaac
had not been on my side,
surely now you would have
sent me away empty-handed.
God saw my affliction
and the labor of my hands,
and he rebuked you last night.
Then Laban answered
and said to Jacob,
The daughters are my daughters,
the children are my children,
the flocks are my flocks,
and all that you see is mine.
But what can I do this day
for these my daughters,
or for their children
whom they have borne?
Come now,
let us make a covenant,
you and I,
and it will be a witness
between you and me.
So Jacob took a stone
and set it up as a pillar.
And Jacob said to his kinsmen,
Gather stones.
And they took stones
and made a heap,
and there they ate by the heap.
Laban called it
Jagar Sahadutha,
but Jacob called it Gilead.
And Jacob said,
This heap is a witness
between you and me today.
Therefore he named it
Gilead and Mizpah.
For he said,
The Lord watched
between you and me,
and when we are out
of one another's sight,
if you oppress my daughters,
or if you take wives
besides my daughters,
although no one is with us,
see, God is witness
between you and me.
Then Laban said to Jacob,
See this heap and the pillar
which I have set
between you and me.
This heap is a witness,
and the pillar is a witness,
that I will not pass over
this heap to you,
and you will not pass over
this heap and this pillar
to me to do harm.
The God of Abraham
and the God of Nahor,
the God of their father,
judge between us.
So Jacob swore
by the fear of his father Isaac,
and Jacob offered a sacrifice
in the hill country
and called his kinsmen
to eat bread.
They ate bread
and spent the night
in the hill country.
Early in the morning,
Laban arose
and kissed his grandchildren
and his daughters
and blessed them.
Then Laban departed
and returned home.
Grass withers
and the flower fades,
but the word of the Lord
endures forever.
Father,
we pray now
as we
open up this passage
and look into
your great faithfulness
to your promises.
God,
would you remind us again
of your commitment
to provide
and to protect
for your people,
especially so in Christ.
We pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
You may be seated.
All God's people said amen.
Amen.
I wonder if you paid attention
to what we just sang together.
No power of hell,
no scheme of man
can ever pluck me
from his hand
till he returns
or calls me home.
Here in the power of Christ
we stand.
That is a song of confidence,
isn't it?
And before that,
we sang,
when I fear
my faith will fail,
Christ will hold me fast.
When the tempter
would prevail,
he will hold me fast.
I wonder if you caught
the message
of the songs
that we sang together
this morning.
And maybe a better question
would be,
I wonder if you
believe it.
There is a
deep confidence
in the heart
of a believer,
in the heart of a Christian
that allows us
to sing
songs like that,
sing words like that,
and actually
mean them
and believe them
with all of our heart
that truly
no power of hell
can overcome you
if you're in Christ.
No scheme of man
can overcome you
if you are in Christ.
And even our own
fumbling and bumbling
along the way
cannot disqualify
you if you are in Christ.
He will hold you fast.
Here's the main message
from our passage
this morning.
I know it's lengthy
and so we'll get right to it.
And it's the root
of all Christian confidence.
Here it is.
God is so
powerfully
for you
in Christ
that no one
and nothing
can derail
his plans
to bless you
and to protect you
both in this life
and in the life to come.
I'll say that again.
God is so
powerfully
for you
in Christ
that nothing
and no one
can overcome
his plans
to bless you
and to protect you
both in this life
and in the life
to come.
Or we can say it
in the words of Paul
if God is for us
who can be against us?
If God has given us
his own son
how will he not also
with him
give us all things?
This is Christian confidence.
And I realize
we're a far way off
a long way off
from the coming of Christ
here in our passage
in the Old Testament
and Genesis
but even so
this morning
what we see
is that Jacob
gets a taste
of this deep commitment
of God
towards his people.
And what we've seen
over the past
several weeks
is that God
has given Jacob
his promises.
God has committed
to be for Jacob
and although Jacob
is fumbling
and bumbling
his way through
even so
what we see
is that God
remains faithful
to his promises
and at every step
the Lord
holds him fast.
At every step
the Lord
continues to provide
for Jacob
and bless Jacob.
At every step
the Lord
continues to secure
and to protect Jacob
every step
of the way.
So let's take a look
and what we see
this morning
are two ways
that God
blesses his people.
This will be our outline
if you're taking notes.
Two ways
that God
blesses
his people.
Number one
first God
blesses his people
by providing
for his people.
God blesses
his people
by providing
and we see
this provision
in two directions
don't we?
God provides
to his people
we'll see that
in just a moment
but we also see
that God provides
to others
through his people
and we see
that provision
through Jacob
don't we?
Here at the start
of the passage
look there
starting in verse
25
as we come
to this section
of Genesis
Jacob has served
Laban for about
20 years now
and understandably
he is ready
to leave
right?
You ever spend
enough time
with your in-laws
and your family
and all of a sudden
the time comes
it's time to go
right?
And so he says
to Laban
send me away
that I may go
to my own home
and my own country
give me my wives
give me
give me my children
for whom I've served you
that I may go
for you know
the service
that I have given you
it is time to go
but look at what
Laban says
Laban responds
and he says
not so fast
in fact I have learned
by divination
that the Lord
has blessed me
because of you
so name your wages
and I will give it
now if I'm Jacob
right?
I've heard that line
before hasn't he?
When did he hear
that line before?
If you remember
from last time
the first time
that Laban said
give me
name your wages
and I'll give it
what was it?
It was when Jacob
said I will work
for seven years
for your daughter
Rachel
and did Laban
keep his end
of the agreement?
By no means
he agreed to the agreement
and he gave him
instead Leah
right?
So Jacob works
for 20 years
for Laban
and now at the end
of it Laban
is still unwilling
to let Jacob go
and we see clearly
why don't we?
The Lord
is blessing
Laban
because
of Jacob
Jacob's presence
there with Laban
is a blessing
to him
20 years
of blessing
20 years
of prosperity
20 years
of abundance
and Laban
is now
20 years
better off
than he was
before Jacob
came around
and church
we shouldn't
be surprised
at this
because God
is committed
to do this
through his people
isn't he?
God
is often
committed
to provide
for others
and bless
others
through his people
I mean you think
about the promise
that he made
to Abraham
what does he say?
He says
I will bless you
and in you
all the nations
of the world
will be blessed
and of course
that's a promise
that's fulfilled
ultimately
in Christ Jesus
Christ is the blessing
to the nations
but it's also
a promise
it's a pattern
that's extended
through the body
of Christ
God often
blesses others
through
his people
so for example
Christian employees
you ought to be
a blessing
to your employers
you ought not
join in
with the grumbling
and complaining
that often takes
place at the water
cooler
you ought not
be thinking
about ways
to cut corners
off of your work
and do the
minimum required
effort
no
Christians ought
to be the hardest
working employees
in the workplace
and your bosses
whether they're
excellent bosses
or lousy bosses
like Laban
your bosses
ought to
prosper
and be blessed
because of
your presence
there in the workplace
Christian athletes
ought to be
the hardest
working athletes
on the team
they might not
be the best
players on the team
that's not the point
but by their attitude
by the respect
that they show
by the effort
that they give
they work hard
they bless
their coaches
they bless
their teammates
Christian neighbors
your presence
there amongst
your neighborhood
that ought to be
a blessing
to them
as you
have them over
for dinner
as you care
for their needs
as you care
for your own
God often
blesses others
by way
of blessing
his people
but we need
to back up
and understand
why
why is God
committed to do
this through
his people
why does God
intend to bless
others through
us
and it's not
just so that
we can do
some good
right
in fact
I'm sure
you realize
that anybody
can do
anything
that we've
just mentioned
there are
plenty of
excellent employees
that are not
believers
right
excellent athletes
excellent neighbors
people who are
kind and generous
who do not
believe in Christ
but what's the
difference
the Christian
does all
of these things
for one
overarching
reason
it's because
in doing so
in blessing
others in this
way
we seek
to bring
glory
to God
we pray
that as God
blesses others
through us
we pray
that God
might provide
a platform
for us
to open
our mouths
and share
what God
has done
for us
God blesses
others
through us
in many ways
so that he
might bless
others
through us
in the most
important way
which is that
they might hear
the good news
of the gospel
of Jesus Christ
and believe
and so
when you're asked
well why do you
work the way
you do
it's because
I'm working
for the glory
of God
and why do you
why do you put
in the extra effort
when others slack off
well it's because
I want to honor him
with my effort
I want to give him
my best
why do you care
for me
the way that you
care for me
why do you
why do you put
my needs
even above your own
well it's because
God has so
cared for me
in Christ
that his love
for me
overflows in
my love
for you
and we're called
to let our light
shine before others
so that they may
see your good
deeds
but don't stop
there
and give glory
to your father
who is in heaven
so we see
God is
committed to
use his people
to bless others
around them
in order that
opportunity
may be given
to share
the good news
of the gospel
so Jacob says
Laban you know
how I've served you
and you know
how your livestock
has fared with me
you had little
before I came
and look what
you have now
it's increased
abundantly
and the Lord
has blessed you
wherever I turned
but now when
shall I provide
for my own
household
also
it's time
for me
to go
but again
Laban
pushes back
so here in
verse 31
Jacob offers up
this idea
he says
you know
don't give me
anything
here's what
we'll do
let me pass
through all your
flock
and I will
remove from it
every speckled
and spotted
sheep
and every black
lamb
and same with
the goats
speckled
and spotted
and mottled
amongst the goats
that's going to
be my wages
that way
when you come
back and you
check
you'll be able
to see
and make sure
that I haven't
stolen anything
it's all
all the speckled
and spotted
and black
and mottled
and all of
that's going
to be mine
what do you
think
and it's
interesting
how this
goes
because it's
kind of
a mirror
image
to what
we saw
last week
in chapter
29
so once
again
just like
in chapter
29
once again
this sounds
like an
incredible deal
to Laban
and so just
like he did
when Jacob
offered up
seven years
of labor
for Laban
for Rachel
Laban
agreed
immediately
right
and once
again
just like
Laban
did
initially
he right
away
gets to
work
hatching
a plan
to trick
Jacob
he goes
and he
removes
all the
male goats
that are
striped
and spotted
and he
removes
all the
female goats
that are
speckled
and spotted
and everybody
that had
white on it
every lamb
that was
black
he put
them in
charge
of his
sons
he puts
a three
day distance
in between
himself
and Jacob
and he
leaves
Jacob
there to
pasture
the rest
of the
flock
he is
again
setting up
Jacob
for failure
isn't he
but once
again
just as the
Lord turned
all of
Laban's
deceit
into this
incredible
blessing
for Jacob
eleven sons
one daughter
and so now
we see once
again God's
commitment
to bless
Jacob
even in
unexplainable
and incredible
ways
doesn't he
look there
verse 37
and here
we see
God's
provision
to
God's
people
verse 37
says that
Jacob
he takes
these
sticks
of poplar
and almond
and plain
trees
and he
peels
these white
streaks
in them
and he
sets up
these sticks
he puts
them in
the ground
in front
of the
flocks
where they
go to
get their
water
and they
breed
in front
of these
sticks
and what
happens
they produce
offspring
that are
striped
and speckled
and spotted
and then
I guess
he sees
well this
is working
so now
he strategically
he starts
to breed
the stronger
of the
flock
in this
way
he'd do
this little
trick
with the
sticks
he'd peel
them
and he'd
set them
out
and at
the end
of all
of this
it says
Jacob
has this
abundance
of strong
and healthy
flocks
in verse 43
it says
thus the man
increased greatly
and had large
flocks
female servants
and male servants
and camels
and donkeys
he is
overwhelmingly
blessed
by the
Lord
isn't he
how do
you explain
this
I would
love for
somebody to
raise their
hand and
explain this
to me
naturally
I don't
know if you
realize this
or not
this is
not how
this happens
just peeling
some sticks
and sticking
them in the
ground
that doesn't
determine
genetically
how the baby
is going to
come out
does it
there is
no
natural
scientific
explanation
for any
of this
is there
and so
naturalists
skeptics
will look
at passages
like this
look at this
phenomenon
and they'll
say
well see
the bible
can't be
trusted
this is
ridiculous
right
this isn't
how this
works
don't you
know
that sticking
some sticks
in the
ground
doesn't have
anything to do
without the
babies are
bred
and they're
right
this is
not how
this works
this cannot
be naturally
explained
but that's
exactly where
they go wrong
isn't it
where they go
wrong from
the start
is by assuming
that everything
that happens
must be
naturally
explained
and if
everything
must be
explained
by natural
and observable
scientific process
well then
from the very
beginning
you have
ruled out
an
extraordinary
supernatural
sovereign
all powerful
God
that can do
as he
pleases
within his
creation
haven't you
this is why
the bible
starts
where it
starts
it doesn't
start
in the
natural
does it
how does
it start
Genesis 1
1
in the
beginning
God
created
the heavens
and the
earth
God
is
sovereign
ruler
of all
of heaven
and earth
and if
you're
thrown off
by this
just give me
a couple
weeks
till we
get to
Easter
I'll
tell you
about a
guy
that got
up from
the dead
this is
not natural
provision
that's exactly
the point
this is
supernatural
divine
intervention
a work
of God
on behalf
of his
servant
to provide
for him
in fact
we see
Jacob's
explanation
later in
chapter 31
he says
the Lord
told him
in a dream
to do
all of this
and clearly
this is
the provision
of the
Lord
the Bible
is not
trying to
explain this
and present
this as a
natural
and normal
phenomenon
the Bible
is telling
us
God
is at
work
blessing
and providing
for his
servant
sometimes
God
will just
show up
and do
this sort
of thing
even in
our own
lives
won't he
not all
the time
and not
not if
you just
have enough
faith
I mean
this is
not some
prosperity
guarantee
some prosperity
promise
but
but sometimes
friend
God
is pleased
to bless
and provide
for his
people
in direct
and even
unexplainable
ways
isn't he
you have
any stories
like that
I remember
one time
when I was
in seminary
and we
were we
were broke
as a joke
y'all
like we
had no
no money
our little
baby boy
had just
come
I was
working
a few
jobs
on top
of a
full
class
load
and an
unpaid
internship
at our
church
and Amanda
and I
were driving
and talking
about how
much exactly
do we need
to bridge
the gap
each month
like to
the dollar
and we
were tight
what do
we need
and so I
threw out
a number
and I
kid you
not
Amanda
gets a
phone call
from a
girl at
our church
asking her
if she
would consider
nannying
her little
girl
and for
how much
and exactly
exactly the
amount that
we needed
is unbelievable
I know the
Kennys have
shared recently
right they
had car
trouble
they they
needed a
vehicle
and what
does the
Lord do
he puts
them on
the heart
of somebody
they hadn't
talked to
in in
months if
not years
and that
person just
happens to
have a
vehicle that
they are
willing to
give and
provide for
their need
I mean
come on
how do
you explain
that
naturally
you don't
God
is pleased
to glorify
himself by
providing for
his people
often and
unexplainable
and surprising
ways and
sometimes
sometimes it
happens in
these surprising
ways but we
should also
know even
in the more
ordinary ways
right
your job
your work
your labor
even in
the ordinary
explainable
ways God
is always
the one
who provides
for us
Christians know
that everything
that we have
in this life
comes from
him and more
importantly than
that we know
that God
has provided
everything that
we need for
this life and
the life to
come in
Christ
his divine
power has
granted to
us all
things that
pertain to
life and
godliness
this life
and in
Christ he
has blessed
us with
every spiritual
blessing in
the heavenly
places what
more could
you need
he is
committed to
provide for
his people
both for
this life and
the life to
come not
only this
second we
see God
also blesses
his people
by protecting
his people
by protecting
his people
look there
to chapter
31
we see
here that
Jacob has
caught wind
that Laban's
sons are
not too
happy about
all of this
and they
say Jacob
has taken
all that
was our
father's
and from
our father's
stuff he's
gained all
that wealth
that he
has
they are
falsely
accusing
Jacob
they are
falsely
accusing him
of weaseling
his way
and stealing
all of their
father's wealth
and of course
the truth
is their
father he's
the one who's
been trying to
steal from
Jacob
but here
they are
wrongfully
accusing
falsely
accusing
Jacob
and we
should realize
that is one
danger that
we face
as God's
people
God protects
his people
from the
accusations
of the
enemy
Revelation
chapter 12
says that we
have an
enemy
Christian
an enemy
who accuses
our brothers
and sisters
who accuses
us day
and night
the only
difference
here is
that when
Satan
accuses
us
before
God
and when
Satan
tells the
Lord
how sinful
we are
and when
Satan
tells the
Lord how
we have
not
honored
God
with our
words
and we've
not honored
him with
our deeds
and we've
not honored
him with
our thoughts
and we've
not honored
him with
our lives
you know
what the
difference
is
he is
absolutely
right
we are
not wrongfully
accused
we are
rightly
accused
and we
as sinners
have no
case to
make in
that argument
except for
this one
little fact
that God
himself has
stepped in
to cover
sinners like
us with
the perfect
righteousness
of his
own
son
Jesus
Christ
what is
our argument
when we
stand before
the living
God
and the
verdict
comes
down
we don't
look at
our own
record
of
righteousness
we have
no record
of
righteousness
our only
hope
and our
only plea
is the
blood of
Jesus
that washes
away
every sin
God
himself
has
justified
his
people
he
himself
has
declared
his
people
righteous
not on
our own
merit
but because
of the
perfect
righteousness
of
Christ
credit
to us
by
faith
so we
say
again
with
Paul
if
God
has
justified
us
who
is
there
to
condemn
us
Charles
Spurgeon
says
that
dragon
voice
revelation
12
is
silenced
by the
blood
of the
lamb
nothing
else
can
ever
silence
the
accuser's
cruel
voice
but the
voice
of
the
blood
keep
reading
we see
another
danger
here
and it's
the
attacks
of the
enemy
the
attacks
of the
enemy
we see
God
protects
his
people
from
the
attacks
of the
enemy
it says
that
Jacob
could
tell
that
Laban
didn't
treat
him
with
favor
like
he
did
before
you know
how you
could
just tell
right
the vibe
has
shifted
you don't
even have
to say
anything
you just
know
there's
something
has
happened
here
so
verse
!
listen
to what
he says
but the
God
of my
father
has
been
with
me
you
know
that
I've
served
him
with
all
my
strength
and
yet
your
father
has
cheated
me
and
changed
my
wages
ten
times
but
look
at
this
but
God
did
not
permit
him
to
harm
me
if
he
said
spotted
I
got
spotted
if
he
said
striped
I
got
striped
so
verse
9
thus
God
has
taken
away
your
father's
livestock
and
given
them
to
me
you
see
how
he
recognizes
the
hand
of
God
in
all
of
this
none
of
this
is
accidental
none
of
this
is
random
Jacob
looks
up
and
he
sees
God
has
been
at
work
in
all
of
this
to
provide
for
me
and
to
protect
me
all
along
the
way
God
did
not
permit
Laban
to
harm
Jacob
Christian
do you
realize
that
no
threat
can
come
to
you
apart
from
the
hand
of
God
do
you
realize
that
no
danger
can
come
your
way
no
hardship
can
come
into
your
life
no
trial
can
come
into
your
life
except
that
God
says
let
it
come
do
you
realize
that
our
God
safeguards
us
in
his
own
hand
by
his
own
power
for
his
own
purposes
I
have
to
share
this
story
about
John
Patton
y'all
know
who
John
Patton
is
John
Patton
was
a
missionary
to
the
new
Hebrides
which
we
know
now
is
the
islands
of
Vanuatu
which
I
wondered
where
I
had
heard
that
name
before
I
don't
know
why
I'm
saying
this
but
Survivor
season
nine
was
filmed
in
the
islands
of
Vanuatu
that's
why
it was
kind
of
ringing in
the back
of my
head
but
way
back
before
that
John
Patton
was
a
missionary
there
went to
go
share
the
gospel
and
you
talk
about
boldness
man
this
guy
went
to
the
New
Hebrides
shortly
after
the
last
batch
of
missionaries
were
killed
and
eaten
by
cannibals
there
but
he
was
determined
to bring
the
gospel
to
them
he
was
almost
constantly
in
danger
from
some
sort
of
enemy
some
sort
of
threat
but
the
Lord
was
with
him
and
the
Lord
protected
him
in
spectacular
ways
and
one
of
Billy
Graham's
books
called
Angels
he
writes
about
this
story
of
John
Patton
here's
what
he
said
I'll
read
it
to
you
he
says
when
John
Patton
was
a
missionary
in
the
New
Hebrides
hostile
natives
surrounded
his
mission
headquarters
one
night
intent
on
burning
the
Patton
family
out
and
killing
them
John
and
his
wife
prayed
all
during
the
terror
filled
night
that
God
would
deliver
them
and
when
daylight
came
they
were
amazed
to see
the
attackers
inexplicably
had
left
one
year
goes
by
a
year
later
the
chief
of
the
tribe
converted
to
Jesus
Christ
and
Reverend
Patton
remembering
what
had
happened
he
asked
the
chief
what
had
kept
him
and
his
men
from
burning
down
the
house
and
killing
them
and
the
chief
replied
in
surprise
who
were
all
those
men
you
had
there
with
you
the
missionary
answered
there
were
no
men
there
it
was
just
my
wife
and
I
and
the
chief
argued
that
they
had
seen
many
men
standing
guard
hundreds
of
big
men
and
shining
garments
with
swords
drawn
in
their
hands
and
they
seemed
to
circle
the
mission
station
and
they
were
afraid
to
God
sent
his
angels
to
protect
them
and
the
chief
agreed
there
was
no
other
explanation
God
protected
his
servant
but again
we ought
to ask
why
we
often
pray
don't
we
for
the
Lord's
protection
we
often
pray
for
health
we
often
pray
for
safety
but
why
God
protected
John
Patton
because
he
had
a
mission
for
him
to
complete
if
you
have
breath
in
your
lungs
Christian
God
sustains
us
for
the
sake
of
his
mission
because
you
have
a
mission
to
complete
John
Patton
he
would
wind
up
staying
and
continuing
to
share
the
gospel
God
continued
to
protect
and
to
grant
favor
and
eventually
by the
end
of
his
ministry
there
he
had
translated
the
Bible
into
their
language
they
saw
converts
to
Christ
in
25
of
the
30
islands
and
today
as of
2020
the
last
census
there
they
report
that
over
93%
of
the
population
there
identify
as
Christian
we see
here in
the same
way the
Lord is
protecting
his
servant
Jacob
why
for
his own
purposes
to
fulfill
his
promises
to
bring
about
the
Messiah
Jesus
Christ
through
Jacob
exactly
as
he
promised
to
bring
salvation
to
the
world
to
bring
the
gospel
even
to
you
this
morning
nothing
can
stop
this
plan
of
God
so
Rachel
and
Leah
they
respond
in
verse
14
and
they
say
you
know
what
you're
right
my
father
is
lousy
he
traded
us
he
left
us
with
nothing
whatever
God
says
to
you
just
do
it
we're
with
you
Jacob
so
verse
17
Jacob
gets
all
his
stuff
he
gets
all
his
property
he
gathers
all
of it
he
leaves
except
verse
19
tells us
this little
detail
doesn't
it
says
Rachel
stole
her
father's
household
God
can you
believe
that
this
is
the
third
danger
that
we
see
here
we
see
that
God
protects
his
people
even
from
our
own
foolishness
even
from
our
own
foolishness
sometimes
it
just
be
your
own
people
doesn't
it
Laban
realizes
that
they
have
left
he
goes
after
them
in
pursuit
but
look
at
what
God
does
yet
again
the
Lord
intervenes
on
Jacob's
behalf
verse
24
says
God
speaks
to
Laban
in
a
dream
he
warns
him
don't
say
anything
to
Jacob
don't
even
speak
to
him
good
or
bad
and
then
Laban
comes
he
starts
talking
to
Jacob
he
says
verse
26
what
have
you
done
you
have
tricked
me
and
driven
me
away
from
my
daughters
like
captives
of
the
sword
why
did
you
flee
secretly
and
trick
me
and
did
not
tell
me
so that
I
might
have
sent
you
away
with
great
celebration
why
don't
you
let
me
kiss
my
sons
and
my
daughter
y'all
believe
anything
he's
saying
it's
in
my
power
to
do
you
harm
but
God
the
God
of
your
father
spoke
to
me
last
night
saying
don't
say
anything
to
Jacob
either
good
or
bad
Laban
says
I
know
why
you're
leaving
I
know
you
want
to
go
back
to
your
father's
house
I
get
all
that
but
could
you
just
tell
me
why
did
you
have
to
steal
my
gods
and
that
Jacob
says
man
I
got
no
idea
what
you're
talking
about
I
didn't
tell
you
because
I
was
afraid
and
I
thought
you
might
take
your
daughters
back
by
force
but
as
for
your
household
gods
I
don't
know
what
you're
talking
about
anybody
that
you
find
here
that
has
any
of
your
household
gods
you
can
just
kill
them
they
can
die
and
if
you
can
find
it
anywhere
just
take
it
but
Jacob
doesn't
know
of
course
that
Rachel
his
beloved
wife
not
the
one
that
he
hates
right
his
beloved
wife
Rachel
has
taken
them
her
sin
has
put
him
in
great
danger
and
herself
in
great
danger
and
Jacob
doesn't
even
know
it
he's
not
even
aware
of
it
is
he
so
Jacob
searches
all
the
tents
and
he
comes
to
Rachel's
tent
and now
Rachel
takes
her
turn
tricking
Laban
it
seems
!
She
stuff
what'd
you
find
nothing
right
he's
clueless
isn't
he
and
then
it
all
starts
to
come
out
20
years
of
drama
and
I'll
paraphrase
here
20
years
I've
been
with
you
your
you's
and
your
goats
haven't
miscarried
I
haven't
eaten
any
of
your
food
I've
taken
the
loss
when
things
went
poorly
I
worked
in
the
cold
I
barely
slept
for
20
years
you
keep
changing
my
and
if
God
had
not
been
with
me
the
God
of
my
father
the
God
of
Abraham
the
fear
of
Isaac
if
he
had
not
been
on
my
side
surely
now
you
would
have
sent
me
away
empty
handed
but
God
saw
my
affliction
God
saw
the
labor
of
my
hands
God
rebuked
you
last
night
you
see
Jacob's
perspective
on this
whole
thing
Jacob
sees
rightly
!
and he
explains
to
Laban
the truth
of the
matter
that
God
is
with
Jacob
God
is
for
Jacob
and
if
God
is
for
him
then
whatever
Laban
has
to
do
it
will
not
overcome
God's
commitment
to
prosper
Jacob
will
it
if
God
is
for
Jacob
is
invincible
until
God's
purposes
are
done
if
God
is
for
Jacob
then
Jacob
has
everything
he
needs
whether
he
has
little
or
has
much
if
God
is
for
Jacob
nothing
no
scheme
of
Laban
can
ever
overcome
Jacob
early
the next
morning
Laban
rises
he
kisses
his
grandchildren
his
daughters
goodbye
they
make
peace
they
make
a
covenant
here
they
wind
up
in
a
position
of
an
agreement
to
separate
and
go
their
own
way
there
is
no
natural
explanation
for
how
well
this
all
went
for
Jacob
is
there
other
than
the
Lord
has
been
for
Jacob
Christian
do you
realize
the good
news
of the
gospel
is that
if you
are in
Christ
by
faith
that
God
is
for
you
in
fact
God
is
so
powerfully
for
you
in
Christ
that
nothing
and
no
one
can
overcome
his
plan
to
bless
you
and
to
protect
you
both
in
this
life
and
in
the
life
to
come
friend
do
you
have
this
confidence
if
not
then
come
to
Christ
come
to
Christ
put
your
faith
in
Jesus
and
the
good
news
for
us
is
that
if
you
are
in
Christ
by
faith
you
are
protected
from
all
accusations
of
the
enemy
true
and
false
and
if
you
are
in
Christ
by
faith
you
are
protected
from
the
attacks
of
your
enemies
if
you
are
in
Christ
by
faith
you
are
protected
!
from
a
million
dangers
all
around
you
at
all
times
that
you
have
no
if
you
are
in
Christ
by
faith
friend
you
are
eternally
blessed
both
now
and
into
the
future
you
have
everything
you
need
both
in
this
life
and
in
the
life
to
come
our
God
is
deeply
committed
to
this
and
he
shows
his
commitment
to
this
at
the
cross
of
Christ
doesn't
he
should
you
ever
doubt
his
commitment
to
you
in
Christ
look
to
the
cross
of
Christ
why
would
he
shed
the
blood
of
his
own
son
to
save
you
and
just
let
you
perish
why
would
he
justify
you
just
to
let
the
enemy
accuse
you
why
would
he
redeem
you
and
sanctify
you
and
put
his
own
spirit
in
you
just
to
let
you
go
and
disqualify
yourself
by
your
own
foolishness
why
would
Christ
die
to
crush
!
the
powers
of
sin
just
to
let
it
destroy
you
why
would
Christ
rise
from
the
grave
just
to
let
death
be
the
enemy
that
takes
you
out
if
you
are
in
Christ
friend
you
are
safe
in
the
hands
of
God
so
1st
Peter
tells
us
that
according
to
his
great
mercy
he
has
caused
us
to
be
born
again
to
a
living
hope
through
the
resurrection
of
Jesus
Christ
from
the
dead
to
an
inheritance
that
is
imperishable
undefiled
unfading
kept
in
heaven
for
you
does
that
sound
secure
if you
ever
wonder
if you
will
make
it
there
it
goes
on
you
who
by
God's
power
are
being
guarded
through
faith
for a
salvation
ready
to be
revealed
in the
last
time
friend
to
know
Christ
is to
know
that there
is confidence
in life
and death
no power
of hell
no scheme
of man
no power
of hell
no scheme
of man
can ever
pluck you
from his
hand
he
will
hold
you
fast
father
we
praise
you
for
this
good
news
god
if it
were up
to us
we would
disqualify
ourselves
father
we
confess
that we
are
sinful
and weak
we
confess
how often
we
don't
look
and
credit
you
for
our
provision
and
for
our
protection
but
god
when
we
slow
down
and
think
especially
think
about
the
gospel
of
christ
god
we
see
you
have
provided
all
that
we
need
in
him
both
in
this
life
and
in
the
life
to
come
we
love
you
and
we
praise
you
for
this
in
Jesus
name
amen
!
Thank you.