Fri.’s Devo - Jacob’s Escape

Read: Genesis 31:17-32:12; Matthew 10:24-11:6; Psalm 13:1-6; Proverbs 3:16-18 Jacob set out for Canaan where his father lived. Rachel stole the household gods of her father and they fled secretly. When Laban found out, he gathered up his relatives and set out in hot pursuit. They caught up with Jacob seven days later. Right before Laban confronted Jacob, God visited him and warned him not to harm Jacob. He accused Jacob of deceiving him when his whole history with Jacob he was the deceiver. Everything he said to Jacob was laced with lies and deceit. He finally got to the main point. His idols were missing. Jacob expressed his mistrust in Laban and pronounced a curse on Rachel unknowingly. It manifested in childbirth. She deceived her father but lost in the end. When Laban couldn’t find his idols, Jacob unloaded on him and told him things he had held in for 20 years. Laban told Jacob that everything Jacob had was really his. In truth, God had taken Laban’s daughters, and flocks and given them to Jacob but it came with a price. Jacob had come to Laban’s house as a trickster and met an even bigger trickster in Laban. God used Laban to be the mirror in front of his face and work that out of him. Laban and Jacob made a covenant of peace but they were also setting a boundary line between their people. They would have peace as long as that boundary line was not crossed. They parted and angels came to meet Jacob to welcome’s him. Jacob sent messengers to tell his brother Esau that he was coming home in hopes of peace. The messengers met Esau who was coming to meet him with an army of 400 men. This was terrifying news to Jacob so he divided his group into two groups. He reminded himself of the promises God had given him. In Matthew Jesus taught that since the students were not greater than their teacher, they would be called princes of demons like he was. But, their accusers were the ones whose evil deeds would be exposed. All of their secrets will be made public. They can only kill our bodies but they can not take our souls. God cares for his weakest and smallest of creations, the sparrows, so we can rest assured he will take care of us. He intimately knows every detail about us, even how many hairs are on our heads. What we do on earth will determine our place in heaven. If we love God above even our own families, God will honor us in heaven. All who receive us because we are Christians, will be blessed by God and all who reject us because of Christ will be rejected by Him. Jesus finished his sermon and sent out his twelve to the towns throughout the region so they could teach and preach. John the Baptist was in prison at the time. He sent a friend to Jesus to ask him if he was the Messiah. John was wavering because he was the one who paved the way for him and now he was sitting in prison. I’m sure he was wondering when Jesus was going to come and set him free. Jesus told his friend to tell John all the signs and wonders he had done and then told him not to be offended in what he was not doing but be joyful in what he was doing. That is a great reminder to us when God doesn’t do what we think he should when we think he should do it. God is always working and his plan is constantly being played out on the earth. We have to concentrate on the things we do see happening instead of complaining and losing faith over what we don’t see him doing. Lord, help us to stay the course and keep our eyes on you. We chose to remember the things you have done for us in the past and know that you are going to do even greater things in the future.