Sun.’s Devo - Jacob Returns

Read: Genesis 31:17-32:12; Matthew 10:24-11:6; Psalm 13:1-6; Proverbs 3:16-18 Jacob left Laban’s house secretly while Laban was out shearing his sheep. Unbeknown to Jacob, Rachel stole her father’s household gods. This would cost her her life. After Jacob had been gone for three days, Laban realized his gods and Jacob were gone with all Jacob owned. Laban took off after him and caught up with him in seven days in the area of mount Gilead. Laban had been warned in a dream not to harm Jacob so he asked him why he snuck away and why he took his gods. Jacob told him he fled because he was afraid Laban would not let him take his wives with him. He knew nothing about the gods but pronounced a curse of death over whoever took them. Laban’s men searched all of Jacob’s stuff but couldn’t find the idols. Rachel was sitting on them and told them she was in her period so she couldn’t get up. Jacob was irate at Laban because he had worked for 20 years for him: 14 for his daughters and 6 for his cattle. His wages had been change 10 times. Laban answered that all Jacob had had been his but there was nothing he could do about that so he wanted to make a covenant with Jacob. Jacob set up a pillar and a stone. They had a meal and called the place “Heap of witness”. It would be a dividing line that neither of them would pass to do harm to the other. Jacob offered a sacrifice and they all ate together. Laban got up early the next morning kissed his family and left to return home. Jacob went the other way to his home. Angels met him and Jacob realized he was in a camp of angels. Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to Esau. He told Esau of his prosperity and his hope that their reunion would be friendly. Esau was already on his way to meet Jacob with 400 men. Jacob was terrified so he divided his household into two groups. He reasoned that if Esau attacked the first group, the second could escape. Jacob then reminded God of his promise that one day he would bring him back to his own land and that he would multiply his descendants too many to count. Jacob did what we need to do when we are faced with fear. We need to remember the promises of God for us and repeat them back to God. This is spiritual warfare - claiming what is ours. In Matthew, Jesus said that students were not above their masters but should want to be like their masters. They had said that Jesus was the master of the house of Beelzebub which was a name for Satan and meant “the dung-god”. If they called him this, what would they call his disciples. He told the disciples not to fear their enemies because all that was being done in darkness would one day be brought to the light. Nothing would stay hidden. They were to bring to the light everything he told them in secret. It works both ways. He also told them don’t be afraid of the people who threaten to take your life because they can never have your soul. God watches every soul that is taken and rewards them in heaven. Whoever denies the Lord on earth, will be denied in heaven. There will always be conflict on earth, even in families. Jesus came to bring a sword which is truth. It divides people. We are to take up our cross and follow Jesus. If we receive a prophet as a prophet, we will receive what he says. If we receive a righteous person as a righteous person, we will receive a righteous man’s reward. This means that if we see the gifting in another person and honor that, we will receive the same reward as them. Their gift came from God so to honor it is to honor God. Lord, may we honor the giftings we see in others instead of being jealous or feeling less than them. May we see you in others and be blessed by their gifts. May we bless others with our gifts. Thank you that you are the gift and the giver.