Navigating Changing Circumstances

“Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before. Then the Lord said to Jacob, ‘Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.’” [1]

Have you noticed the countenances around your work place changing towards you? Have you prayed to the Lord about it? What is the Lord saying to you about it?

“Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, and said to them, ‘I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. And you know that with all my might I have served your father. Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me.’” [2]

Jacob noted the change at his work place and verbally processed it with his wives. He examined himself first and knew that he had given his best effort. Then, he faced the facts about his employer. The man was deceptive and exploitive. In the grand scheme of things it was God who had been preserving and providing for him not his employer.

“Then the Angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’ …’I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. I am the God of Bethel… Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’” [3]

After prayer, and verbally processing the situation with his spouses, the Lord spoke to Jacob and told him what to do next. His wives also agreed with his assessment of the situation.

“Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, ‘Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? Are we not considered strangers by him? For he has sold us, and also completely consumed our money. For all these riches which God has taken from our father are really ours and our children’s; now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.’” [4]

Their husband’s employer was their father. He was stingy and impersonal towards them. He traded their lives to Jacob in exchange for 14 years of his labor. God blessed Jacob’s efforts but their father intended to consume their blessings and leave his children, and his children’s with scraps.

Jacob and his family departed that place without giving notice. The employer would have done Jacob’s family harm but God told him not to do so. Even so, his boss did confront him. This confrontation provided an opportunity for Jacob to express his grievances, “These 20 years I have been with you… I bore the loss [es]. …I served you 14 years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times [to my loss]. Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night.” [5]

Yes, God had protected and provided for Jacob not this unfair employer and relative.

Laban did not see things Jacob’s way, he responded, “These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine.” [6] His self-centeredness blinded him to his abusive behavior.

“So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.” [7]

The Lord was with him as he departed from abuse and exploitation. When he faced a trial after his departure, he prayed to the Lord, “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. Deliver me, I pray… for You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’” And the Lord blessed him. [8]

“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, and a man is valued by what others say of him.” [9] How people treat us does influence our sense of self-worth. Jacob and his wives endured being under-valued and under-appreciated with great patience and long-suffering, but thanks to the Lord, He provided a day of redemption and vindication for them. They were able to get out from under that oppression as they trusted in the Lord and followed His leading.

The Scripture says that those who are led by the Spirit are God’s children. [10]

[1] Genesis 31:2-3
[2] Genesis 31:4-7
[3] Genesis 31:11-13
[4] Genesis 31:14-16
[5] Genesis 31:17-24; 38-42
[6] Genesis 31:44
[7] Genesis 32:1
[8] Genesis 32:10-12, 29
[9] Proverbs 27:21
[10] Romans 8:14