Stepping in Faith - Genesis 31

Introduction

A Time for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 ESV

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

A Time To Respond with Long-suffering

Last Sunday - Jacob

But Is there A Time of Change?

We come to that now as Tensions escalate and see what we can learn how to consider the time to change.

Jacob’s Awareness to Flee (vv.1-3)

Read Genesis 31:1-3

The Tables Began to Turn

Jacob’s wealth, livestock, family, servants grew!

Jealousy

Jealousy of Laban and his sons.

The table have turned against them.

Their dependence and Life.

How Jealousy Ruins us!

Facebook, Snapchat, social media.

Materialism

Lifestyle - American Dream, Family

300 Quotations for Preachers from the Puritans (God Breaks the Things We Idolize)

Whatsoever we have over-loved, idolized, and leaned upon, God has from time to time broken it and made us to see the vanity of it, so that we find the readiest course to be rid of our comforts is to set our hearts inordinately or immoderately upon them. For our God is a jealous God, and will not part with his glory to another.JOHN FLAVEL

The Presented Problem - What should Jacob do.

Jacob has suffered through.

But the circumstances has called for reflection.

The Solution

The Lord’s Call to go.

The Confirmation (vv. 4-16)

Jacobs Words

Read Genesis 31:4-13

Jacob calls Rachel and Leah

out in the field for privacy.

Explains The circumstances

Jacob’s servitude

Laban’s Deceit “cheated ten times (time and time again)

Explains the Lord’s blessing, prompting ,and words.

The Wives Response

Read Genesis 31:14-16

YES!

Feelings towards Father

Past - No inheritance given

Present - Treated as foreigners

Future - All things are to us not him.

Whatever God tells you to do, do.

Seeking the Lord’s Will not ourselves.

Takeaway #1: God calls us to his plan through circumstances, wise counsel,and His Word.

God will use our circumstances to help reveal what is plan and calling is to do.

A Person Called You - Bill Hendricks

Look into your circumstances and look at any hint of directions.

Our smartphone - Trip to Ohio - Nebraska company truck.

God will use of wise counsel to help reveal what his plan and calling is to do.

Moses and Jethro

Seek Wisdom from others, saints.

Proverbs 11:14 ESV

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

300 Quotations for Preachers from the Reformation (No Flatterer like Oneself)

- There is as much difference between the counsel that a friend gives, and that a man gives himself, as there is between the counsel of a friend and of a flatterer. For there is no such flatterer as is a man’s self; and there is no such remedy against flattery of a man’s self as the liberty of a friend. Francis Bacon

God will use His Word to help reveal what his plan and calling is to do.

Ultimately, Jacob made the move when God spoke it to him.

We Have His Word and His Spirit

The Secret Move (vv. 17-24)

Elaborate on the move

So as God told Jacob to arise, Jacob arose!

Laban had gone to shear sheep. (opportune moment) especially the move. And Jacob “stole the heart”of Laban by sneaking out.

Cattle drive - The time, and the noise

Rachel’s Odd Complications

As Jacob stole the heart of Laban, Rachel stole the household idols of Laban.

Stole out of spite,

stole out of Inheritance

Stole due to habit upon protection of the idols and polytheism.

The Plan Foiled

Read Genesis 31:22-24

Laban and his kinsmen meets up with them - 350 miles From Rapid City to Sioux Falls.

The dream

God Intervenes! And his intervention makes a big difference.

The Search and Transformation (vv. 25-42)

Laban overtakes and meets up with Jacob

Read Genesis 31:26- 30

Laban has been tricked and his words are empty.

One should not leave away without sensing the hypocrisy of Laban. Everything was beginning to crash for him.

He would have sought “revenge” but God’s intervention made a difference.

BUT SURPRISE - idols.

Now we know who has it. - But what will happen.

Not only would the finding of the idols make Jacob guilty and everything on teh line, but Jacob responds with a death threat to anyone who has it....Now what will happen to Rachel.

Laban searches and searches and searches.

Rachel deceitful words. The precious idols in place of sanitary napkins.

SIDE NOTE: Don’t complicate things!

How often does an event turn sour because we have complicated things

by putting our two cents in when we shouldn’t.

Act out of spite

Act out of anger

Act out of selfish gains.

Takeaway #2: Don’t complicate things by adding into the mess.

Transformation of Jacob

Something changes with him. The fustration, the deceit, the fruitless chase (he doesn’t know about the idol)

Read Genesis 31:36-42

The Table has turned once again - Jacob now has the upperhand and has shown himself without fault!

Your daughters - you have sold them off and I own them (He considers them more than Laban)

Flocks, Jacob had rightly earned. Teh blessing God has for him, Laban has abused.

God was on his side. (Reminder, God is greater than the blessing)

The Agreement (vv.43-55)

The Agreement

Laban believed that all was his as Jacob showed that it was not. But in reality he could not combat. The deal has been made which in what he thought gain, it is now loss.

The agreement - Stay at our sides and only pass if not to harm.

place called galeed (heap of witnesses) and mizpah.

The Conclusion

Read Genesis 31:51-55

A covenant has been made! Jacob can now head on home!

Takeaway #3 There are times when God may intervene to protect us.

We serve a living God who we can turn to for help.

When we sense God calling us to change, trust the Lord in his timing and in His Doing!

Watch and be amazed at how God opens the door and reveals what would seem impossible, possible.

Conclusion

There are times that God calls us to continue on the trek.

But there are times that God calls us for change.

Let us be mindful, gazing our circumstances, the insight of Godly wisdom, and His Word.

Let us not complicate things by our own undoing.

Let us remember that God will guide us through

Application

First, know what God is telling you to do

When you find yourself in a challengig time

Is God telling you to continue on or maybe it is time for a change.

There is no formula, cookie cutter answer.

It requires you to seek God and His Word

Look upon your circumstances and what might be most effective for God and His Kingdom

Listen to Wise Counsel.

If so, then make sure you don’t add to the complication.

It is not time to retaliate

It is not time to send off poorly

It is not time give them the pain they gave you.

WE must alwasy strive to live as ambassadors for Christ. Your actions will either help or hinder.

Trust the Lord, He will guide you through. At times He might intervene and you see that clearly.

Trust and Give praise.