October 21, 2020
Dearly Beloved, 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, “ Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou would have sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesterday night. “
From the above context we learn that Jacob left secretly to his Father’s land, fearing that Laban would carry away his wives and children. But When Laban heard that Jacob was fleeing to his father’s place he chased him from behind. He took his brethren with him and pursued him and overtook him in the mountains of Gilead. But God appeared to Laban in a dream that night and warned him to be careful to speak to Jacob neither good, nor bad. For God had seen the affliction of Jacob in the house of Laban and the labour of his hands and therefore delivered him from his hands.
Jacob on seeing Laban, was rather sacred that Laban would carry away his wives and children. So he reminds him of the hard labour he had done for Laban, during the twenty years, of his stay in his uncle’s place. Jacob actually left his father’s place Canaan to Padan Aram, in order to make his lively hood. He ran away from his father’s house, for fear of his elder brother Esau, who had planned to kill, him for cheating him and taking away his blessings from his father. And since Jacob’s parents did not have money or wealth to give him to do his business, they blessed him from the depth of their heart and sent him away.
But we see that Jacob did not live a peaceful life in his uncle’s place. He had to work hard for his bread. He was asked to tend his uncle’s sheep. So he worked hard for seven years to inherit his uncle’s daughter Rachel. But he was cheated by Laban. He gave his eldest daughter, Leah to be his wife. So he worked for another seven years, and married Rachel. Then he worked for next six years for the welfare of his family. Thus we see that Jacob worked under his uncle for nearly twenty years. And during this period of work under him his wages were changed ten times. He worked under very hard circumstances. His entire carrier was a period of much stress and strain. His uncle was rather cruel, since he kept cutting his wages whenever it pleased him. He worked in the midst of much difficulty while tending the sheep. Especially when he lost a sheep from his sheep fold. Or someone would have stolen one of his sheep or it might have gone astray. It was not his mistake yet Laban would cut off his wages as punishment. He felt miserable because he worked night and day. Both in the cold and heat of the day. Be it winter or summer. His sleep was far from him, says the word of God. He worked tirelessly. Thus his days in his uncle’s place was a period of distress. The difficulties he faced was inexpressible.
Jacob then made a business partnership with his uncle. As a result his business began to multiply. Since God was with Jacob, he blessed the work of his hands. Those sheep that were feebler were Laban’s and the stronger ones were Jacob’s. Because of Jacob his uncle too was blessed but he never realized it. Thus Jacob became exceedingly prosperous and had large flocks, female and male, servants and camels and donkeys. Twenty years back we see Jacob running from his father’s house to his uncle’s place and crossed the river Jordan, with an empty hand and a staff. But now he had two companies. So he decided to return to his father’s land Canaan with his wives and children. Therefore Laban realised that he should not interfere with Jacob and bidding farewell to his daughters and grandchildren he returned to his place without harming Jacob.
To those of you who are reading this message I wish that you prosper like Jacob. Are you willing to do well in your life? Do you wish to rise up in your status? Then receive the blessing of your parents and start working hard. You will succeed. God expects hard work from you. God does not help lazy people. The Bible says, the hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labour. Jacob endured patiently in his uncle’s place and the Lord had observed his hard work and his truthfulness with which he worked. God had seen his affliction and therefore he set him free to return to his home land without the interference of his uncle. God shut the mouth of Laban from hurting Jacob. Are you facing trouble in your work spot. Well God will bind the mouth of your boss or those who unnecessarily interfere in your business when you walk in the fear of God as Jacob did. May be your beginning in the office where you have started to work or taken up a business may be small initially but gradually your end shall increase abundantly. God blesses those who obey and respect their parents. In case you have not been obedient or failed to respect your parents please learn to do so. Then God will bless you. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Thank You Lord for telling us the importance of receiving the blessing of our parents. Help us to obey and respect them for what they are to us. Teach us to work hard like Jacob in spite of all hardship, with the hope of prospering in the future. Prevent us from being lazy and lethargic in our work. Even we remain empty handed before You Lord, fill us with your blessings. For Wealth and riches come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
