Friday, May 25, 2012

Fri.’s Devo - Jacob Flees!



Read Gen. 31:1-20
Jacob heard the way Laban’s sons talked about him.  They saw Jacob as a thief, stealing their inheritance and even Laban had turned against him.  In his dilemma, God spoke.  He told him it was time to return to his homeland.  Jacob had Rachel and Leah brought to the field he was working and told them his plight.  He had served Laban with all his strength, only to be deceived and lied to over and over.  But, God had always turned Laban’s plans against him and turned it so that Jacob always came out on top.  Then Jacob shared with them a dream God had given him.  In his dream, all the rams mated with the cattle and the offspring came out ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.  Then God told him to take his cattle and family and go back home.  Rachel and Leah agreed to go with him.  There was nothing for them here since their father had nothing to do with them and had spent any inheritance they might receive.  So, Jacob got up the next morning and took his belongings and left to return to Canaan.  Rachel stole the household images of her fathers before she left.   These images were idols that you were to pray to for healing.  These were the idols God hated.  Why couldn’t Rachel let these go?  She had grown up with these gods in her family’s house and they had used them over and over.  She somehow had become attached to them and didn’t want to leave without them.  What a pity!  She brought the sin of her idolatry down upon her offspring.  God had told him that he was their healer.  I wonder if that is why she died giving birth to her next baby.  
Lord, help us to let go of past sins and bad habits of our family and choose your way. 

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