Genesis 31:1-13
1 Jacob had heard the words that the sons of Laban were saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has gained all this abundance.”
2 Jacob also saw Laban’s face. See, nothing with him was like it was before.
3 Then the LORD told Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”
4 So Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah, calling them into the field where his flock was
5 and saying to them, “I see your father’s face, that that nothing with me is like before. But the God of my father has been with me.
6 You know that I have worked for your father with all my strength,
7 but your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. Yet God did not allow him to harm me.
8 If he said, ‘The spotted will be your wages,’ then all the flock gave birth to spotted; and if he said, ‘The striped will be your wages,’ then all the flock gave birth to striped.
9 This is how God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.
10 In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that had mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled.
11 And an angel from God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’
12 And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that have mated with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, because I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.
13 I am the God of Bethel, where you have anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now get up, go out from this land and return to the land of your relatives.'” _________________________________________
making life decisions
Three separate sets of information are coming together for Jacob to help him make his next life decision. First, he hears the complaints of Laban’s sons. He knows that unless he gets along with them, he cannot stay with Laban’s clan forever. Secondly, he sees a change in the face of Laban. He can tell that Laban’s attitude is different now. Jacob is no longer the flavor of the month. Thirdly, the LORD comes in a dream and leaves no doubt: it is time to leave Laban.
Jacob calls a family meeting out in the field to let Rachel and Leah know what is going to happen next. The decision is made, but he owes it to them to explain why. Any life decision is a major one. We owe it to ourselves and those who are with us to have very good reasons for changing course.
LORD, help us to be considerate and cautious when making life decisions.
