Anglican Daily Fountain Devotional Wednesday, February 9, 2022
TOPIC: TIME TO RETURN HOME
TEXT: Genesis 31:1-24
BIBLE PASSAGE:
Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.” 2 And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been.
3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”
4 So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were. 5 He said to them, “I see that your father’s attitude toward me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength, 7 yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me. 8 If he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, ‘The streaked ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked young. 9 So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me.
10 “In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted. 11 The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 12 And he said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. 13 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.’”
14 Then Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we still have any share in the inheritance of our father’s estate? 15 Does he not regard us as foreigners? Not only has he sold us, but he has used up what was paid for us. 16 Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children. So do whatever God has told you.”
17 Then Jacob put his children and his wives on camels, 18 and he drove all his livestock ahead of him, along with all the goods he had accumulated in Paddan Aram,[a] to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.
19 When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household gods. 20 Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was running away. 21 So he fled with all he had, crossed the Euphrates River, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.
22 On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled. 23 Taking his relatives with him, he pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead. 24 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.”
Anglican Daily Fountain Devotional Wednesday, February 9, 2022
INTRODUCTION
Jacob served Laban for 20 years (fourteen for his two wives and six to get his own flock). Laban found it very difficult to settle Jacob after this lengthy service; he was reluctant to let Jacob go because he had realised that God had blessed his flock since Jacob arrived. However, Jacob devised a means to get his own flock so that he could fend for his own family. God reminded Jacob it was time to return home to his people so he called Leah and Rachel for a family meeting to inform them of how their father had short-changed him. He convinced them to be on his side. They stole away so that Laban would not know. Many apprentices have tales of woes in the hands of their masters.
No matter how long one stays in another man's place, one day he will long for home. To return home, one must be prepared to face the challenges one may meet. Some persons may have taken over their property in their absence. Our ultimate home is heaven. We must stun preparations today if we have not done so to avoid any embarrassment on the last day. No matter how long one stays on earth, one day, God will remind one it is time to return home. Which home will you head for, heaven or hell?
Prayer: Dear Father, constantly remind me there is a better home because here is not my home.
