When God Keeps His Word

Introduction

Well, good morning!

If you have a Bible with you, go ahead and open it up with me to Genesis chapter 30, verse 25. That’s where we’re gonna start this morning.

Over the past several weeks, we’ve been walking through the covenant story of God—how His promises made to Abraham, they’re being carried forward through Isaac, and now through Jacob.

We saw how God met Jacob at Bethel, promising to bless him and his descendants, to give him the land, to be with him wherever he went. Then a couple weeks ago, we witnessed this complicated family drama unfold—Jacob’s love for Rachel, his work for Laban, the deception where Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah instead of Rachel.

We saw broken expectations, jealousy, rivalry—and yet, in the middle of all the messiness, God’s covenant grace kept moving forward. The family was far from perfect, but God’s plan wasn’t derailed.

And so now, as we come to Genesis 30, verse 25, at first glance, this passage, it might seem like it’s just about livestock breeding, or family tension, we got some business deals between Jacob and his father-in-law. But don’t miss the bigger story—this is a story about a God who keeps His word, no matter what.

Let me give you an illustration: Imagine you’ve been promised a big promotion at work. You’ve waited patiently, you’ve worked hard, even when others tried to hold you back or maybe they didn’t recognize your efforts…but months turn into years. It feels like you’re stuck in the same place, it feels like you’re never gonna get what you were promised…but then one day, the company announces your promotion—it’s official. You didn’t see how it was gonna happen, but it did.

That’s what we see here with Jacob. For years, he served under Laban—he was deceived, he was taken advantage of, promises were delayed. But listen, God’s promise to him—His word—it was still active. God was working behind the scenes to bring what He said to pass.

And listen, as a quick side note—in light of all the darkness…in light our brother, Charlie…His boldness for the gospel. I just wanna say—that boldness, it didn’t come from his political confidence or his personal charisma—it came from remembering, in the same ways Jacob did…the faithfulness of our God. He’s the One who keeps His promises. He’s the One who leads clearly. And when you know that, you can walk forward in faith—even when the path doesn’t make sense.

Here’s the main idea I want you to hold onto today: When God makes a promise, He keeps His word—on His timetable, through His power, for His glory.

It doesn’t matter how messy your situation is, it doesn’t matter how unfair your circumstances may seem, it doesn’t matter how long the wait feels. God’s faithfulness is unshakable.

And so, here’s how we’re gonna walk through this passage today:

Point number 1: God remembers His promises—even when life feels delayed.

Point number 2: God provides with precision—sometimes in ways we don’t expect.

Point number 3: God blesses with purpose—He always brings about the fulfillment of His word.

And point number 4: God leads with clarity—even when the road ahead feels uncertain.

Listen, no matter what you’re facing this morning, God hasn’t forgotten you. He’s still working, He’s still providing, He’s still blessing…God keeps His word.

And so, if you’re there with me this morning, you can remain seated as we read our passage together—Genesis 30:25 through Genesis 31:16.

It says this:

Genesis 30:25–31:16 ESV

As soon as Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “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?” 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 lambs, if found with me, shall be counted stolen.” Laban said, “Good! Let it be as you have 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 Jacob took fresh sticks of poplar and almond and plane 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, 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 God 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 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.”

[Prayer]

Again…our four points…God remembers His promises…God provides with precision…God blesses with purpose…God leads with clarity.

Let’s look at this first thing together.

I. God Remembers His Promises (vv. 25-26)

God remembers His promises.

Look at verse 25 with me again:

“As soon as Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, ‘Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country.’”

Now, let’s pause for just a second and get some context here.

Jacob’s been working for Laban for about 14 years at this point. Originally, if you remember, he came to Laban’s house on the run from his brother Esau. He was alone, he was fearful, and at that time—God showed up to him in a dream back in Genesis 28 at a place called Bethel.

And if you remember what God said to Jacob in that moment, it was this:

“I am with you… I will keep you wherever you go… and I will bring you back to this land.” (Gen. 28:15)

That’s a promise from God.

And for 14 years, it’s seemed like that promise was on pause. Jacob was stuck. He got tricked into marrying the wrong sister, then he worked more years just to marry the one he loved. He’s been taken advantage of. He’s been living under the thumb of a manipulative man.

But now something changes. Verse 25 tells us, “As soon as Rachel had borne Joseph…” — that’s the turning point. Rachel, the one he loved, finally she has a son. And for Jacob, Joseph’s birth, its like a divine sign that says: It’s time to move forward again.

And I don’t want you to miss this: the first words out of Jacob’s mouth after Joseph’s born is, “Send me away… that I may go to my own home and country.”

In all this time, Jacob hasn’t forgotten where he came from—and more importantly, he hasn’t forgotten where he’s going.

But even bigger than that… God hasn’t forgotten Jacob.

This isn’t just about a man longing for home. It’s about the faithfulness of a God who remembers His promises, even when it feels like life’s stalled out.

Look at verse 26:

“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.”

Jacob’s beginning to step into maturity here.

You remember the old Jacob—the heel-grabber, the schemer, the self-reliant trickster? This is different.

He doesn’t steal his family away. He doesn’t sneak out in the night (not yet, at least!). He speaks plainly and truthfully. He’s no longer trying to manipulate the situation—he’s trusting the One who holds the outcome.

And what we’re seeing here is the beginning of a shift. Jacob’s starting to live like he actually believes what God said back at Bethel…He’s believes that what God said, its still true today.

Let me say it like this: God’s promises don’t have expiration dates.

Even if it’s been 14 years. Even if it feels like nothing’s happening. Even if you feel stuck…Don’t forget that!

Pastor William Philip, he said it like this: “The promises of God are never precarious. They’re not like our hopes, which rise and fall with our feelings. God's promises rest on His character—and His character never changes.”

If you’re looking for somebody new to listen to, I’ve been listening to him a lot recently. He’s out of The Tron Church in Glasgow.

But listen, God’s promises, they aren’t fragile. They don’t fluctuate with your emotions…You may feel forgotten, but He hasn’t forgotten you…You may feel delayed, but His timing’s never off…You may feel like nothing's changing—but God’s always working beneath the surface. And again, we can’t forget that.

Listen, let’s be honest for just a moment.

Some of us know what it’s like to be stuck in a Laban season. Maybe it’s a dead-end job, maybe its a broken relationship, or a painful diagnosis, maybe its just the discouragement that comes with waiting and waiting and not seeing progress.

In those seasons, it’s easy for us to start believing that maybe God’s promises don’t apply to me anymore, right?

But listen to me this morning: God remembers. He hasn’t changed His mind. He hasn’t abandoned what He said. It’s not because you’ve sinned too much…or because God’s punishing you.

Joseph’s birth, its proof that God’s still moving, even in the delay. It’s a reminder to us that God’s timetable isn’t the same as ours—but His word is just as sure.

Guys, if there’s been anything you’ve taken out of this series so far, let it be that God’s faithful to what He says…and He’s sovereign in what He plans to do.

And so…

What’s God promised you, in His Word, that maybe you’ve stopped holding on to?

(Listen, years ago I made perseverance of the saints…that piece of theology or doctrine…I staked a flag there, right? I made it important because you can’t ignore it when you begin to read about how God’s worked all throughout the Old and New Testaments. And listen, its important because the moment you start to waver on God’s promises to you…His ability to do in you what He’s promised…that’s the moment hope’s lost…that’s the moment sin seeps back into your life.)

Where have you let go of hope just because it’s been a long time?

Like what area of your life have you assumed is just stuck—when in reality, it’s just waiting on God’s perfect timing?

Guys, maybe this morning, like Jacob, God’s reminding you—it’s not over. The promise still stands. He’s still faithful! He’s not done writing your story. You’re not forgotten. You’re not overlooked.

God remembers.

And when God remembers His promise—He also moves His people.

And we’re gonna see that…we’re gonna see how God moves in the rest of this passage, but I just wanna encourage you—before we go any further: Don’t interpret God’s silence as God’s absence.

Even in the midst of everything last week…all the evil we saw. There were thousands of people that posted on Charlie’s page Sunday saying they went to church for the very first time. Some said they heard the gospel for the first time…Isn’t that God doing what He said He’d do?

Just because you can’t see the hand of God in your life, it doesn’t mean it’s not holding everything together.

God remembers His promises. Even when life feels delayed. Even when you feel stuck. Even when everything looks quiet.

And so, before we move to the next part of this story, ask yourself honestly: “Do I still believe that God’s Word is true… even here? Even now at this point in my life?” “Am I clinging to God’s promises all these years later?”

Let’s keep going.

II. God Provides With Precision (vv. 27-42)

Point number 2…God provides with precision.

Pick it up again with me in verse 27:

“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.’”

And so, that’s a pretty loaded statement, right? Laban says, “I’ve learned by divination…” —in other words, he’s not exactly following God’s ways here. Laban’s dabbling in pagan practices. He’s a shrewd, worldly man trying to protect his bottom line.

But what’s he admit here?

“The Lord has blessed me because of you.”

Even Laban can’t deny it—God’s hand’s, they’re on Jacob’s life, and that blessing, it’s spilled over into Laban’s household.

And so, Laban, he does what Laban does—he schemes to keep the blessing around just a little longer. He says in verse 28, “Name your wages, and I’ll give it to you.”

Now remember, that’s the exact same line Laban used 14 years ago—and we all know how that went. Jacob named his wages back then—he said he’d work 7 years for Rachel—and Laban deceived him.

And so, this time, Jacob’s a little wiser, right? He doesn’t ask for anything up front. Instead, he lays out this creative, God-dependent plan in verses 31 through 33. Jacob says:

“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...”

Now if you’re not familiar with shepherding or livestock care, here’s what you need to know: what Jacob asks for, its the less desirable portion of the flock. Most sheep in that part of the world were white. Most goats, they were solid-colored. Spotted, speckled, or black animals were uncommon—and so for that reason they were easy to identify.

And so, Jacob, his proposal here, its actually really humble. He’s saying, “Let me take the outliers, the unusual ones. That way, if I have anything that doesn’t fit that description, you’ll know I’ve been dishonest.”

And Laban, true to his form, he thinks he’s getting a great deal. Verse 34:

“Good! Let it be as you have said.”

But then—look at this—he immediately stacks the deck against Jacob. Verse 35:

“But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted... 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.”

Do you see what just happened? Laban says “yes” to the deal—and then turns around and removes all the animals Jacob had just said would be his wages! He’s trying to ensure that Jacob has no way to succeed…Classic Laban move.

And here’s where the story gets a little strange.

In verses 37 through 39, Jacob peels sticks, he places ‘em in front of the flocks at the watering troughs, and somehow the animals, they breed in front of the sticks and produce striped, speckled, and spotted offspring.

Now let’s just be honest here—this is one of those passages that makes modern readers scratch their heads. Is Jacob using some kind of ancient breeding technique? Is this superstition? Does this actually do anything biologically?

Scholars have debated this for centuries. But here’s what matters more than the method: It’s not Jacob’s technique that leads to blessing. It’s God’s precision.

In fact, later on in Genesis 31, Jacob tells Rachel and Leah that God showed him in a dream what would happen. He says:

“In breeding season I once had a dream… the angel of God said to me… ‘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.’” (Gen. 31:10–12)

And so, what’s that tell us?

This wasn’t random. This wasn’t superstition. This wasn’t Jacob being clever. This was God intervening with surgical precision to provide exactly what Jacob needed.

God blessed the genetics, He blessed the timing, He blessed the breeding, He blessed even the strength of the animals so that Jacob’s flocks would thrive and Laban’s would weaken.

Verse 42 says it clearly:

“The feebler would be Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s. Thus the man increased greatly…”

God’s provision wasn’t accidental. It wasn’t generic. It wasn’t just “enough.” It was targeted. It was intentional. It was precision-crafted to meet Jacob’s needs—and fulfill God’s plan.

And listen, let’s just be real: Jacob didn’t know how it was all gonna work out. He didn’t have control. All he had was trust, trust that God would do what He said—And listen, God did, in God’s way, in God’s timing, for God’s purpose.

And so, what’s all this mean for us?

It means this: God’s not vague or sloppy in the way He provides.

You may not see it now—you may not understand how it’s all coming together—but God’s not working with guesswork. He’s not throwing blessings at the wall to see what sticks. He’s a God of precision.

Jesus said it like this in Matthew chapter 6:

“Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him… Look at the birds of the air… your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

Listen, God knows your needs. Before you see them. Before you say them. Before you even know them.

And His provision comes right on time—not a moment too early, not a second too late.

Maybe today you feel like Laban’s stripped everything away from you. Maybe you feel like the odds are stacked against you. Maybe your “flocks” are small and weak, and the future seems impossible.

But listen to me: You have a God who provides with precision.

Not randomly. Not recklessly. Not insufficiently.

Precisely.

And so, let me ask you this:

Where do you need to trust God to provide in a way you don’t fully understand?

What area of your life looks impossible—but just might be the setup for God's precision work?

Jacob didn’t have the power. He didn’t have the upper hand. But he had something better—he had the promise of a God who remembers…of a God who provides.

God remembers His promises—even when life feels delayed.

God provides with precision—even when everything feels stacked against you.

III. God Blesses with Purpose (v. 43)

And point number 3…God blesses with purpose…He will always bring about the fulfillment of His Word!