December 5, 2019
My dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Blessed word that the Lord has given for you today is from the book of Genesis 31:42,” If God of MY father, the God of Abraham and the fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty handed. God saw my affliction and the labour of my hands and rebuked you last night.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, from the above passage we come to learn that we ought to have the grace of God. To obtain his grace we need to walk diligently before God. Only then He will rescue us from all danger and harm that could befall us in our life. God is mindful of us and our family. He knows all our needs. God blesses both the small and the great. Here in this passage we find how God rescued Jacob from the cruel hands of his uncle Laban. Jacob was one of the sons of Isaac. He feared God and walked in His ways. Jacob after receiving all the blessings from his father departed from Canaan to Haran the place where his uncle Laban dwelt.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, Isaac and his wife Rebecca wanted to send Jacob to his uncle’s house in order to make his dwelling. They did not have wealth to give him to do his business. But they blessed him with all their heart, and sent him away to his uncle’s house with the hope that he will do well there and prosper in his business. The Blessing of his parents was so important to him.
He went with staff and hand and crossed River Jordan. But Jacob worked in his uncle’s house day and night tirelessly for His living. He worked for seven years for his wife Rachel but he was cheated. So he served another seven years and married her. He continued to work for another six years for his family. Thus he slogged all his days both in summer and winter and in chilly weather. His salary was changed for 10 times. Later he made a covenant and became partner with his uncle. But God blessed the labour of his hands abundantly. Because of Jacob, his uncle Laban too was blessed. They both had great wealth and prospered much.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, Many times wild animals killed the sheep and at times some men stole the sheep from the fold during the night time so his salary was deducted. He was penalised by his uncle very much. His sleep was far from him, says the word of the Lord. Thus he suffered much in the hands of his uncle Laban.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, May be you too are suffering like Jacob in your life. Never fail to get the blessing of your parents. It will help you in the long run. Your beginning may be small but your end will be fruitful and blessed. Despite your hard effort your boss is displeased with you. He doesn’t pay you sufficiently. But God is mindful of you and your problems. God is bringing all this to an end today. Even though Laban taxed him and reduced his salary several times God stood on his side and increased Jacob more and more.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, Having become a wealthy man Jacob decided to return to Canaan his father’s place with his wives and children. Though he came with staff and hand now he had two companies. He was on his way, but Laban started chasing him to plunder him of all his wealth. Therefore God warned Laban not to speak anything against Jacob and never to harm him or plunder him. But to make a peace treaty and send him peacefully to his father’s place.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, God will even warn your enemies who stand against you and your family. He will obstruct them from harming you and rescue you from all your enemies and also protect and save you from all those who cause trouble to you. Therefore be cheerful and rejoice in the Lord talways. God will keep you in perfect peace. The Bible says, the Lord gives strength to his people, the Lord blesses his people with peace.
God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank you for this blessed day. Lord we are grateful to you for protecting us from our enemies and helping us from all our troubles. Teach us to be faithful and honest to our taskmasters like Jacob, who in spite of all hardship endured patiently for God to bless him. Increase us too oh Lord, as you increased Jacob.
In Jesus Name we pray.
Amen.
