Genesis 31:1-55
Preached Sunday Morning February 19, 2012

Introduction:

We human beings are generally a fiercely independent lot. If there is a problem in our lives, we attempt to fix it. If there is a road block, we navigate around it. It there is a barrier, we often attempt to crash through it. That is only natural. It is what everyone does, at least before we trust in Jesus as Savior. Once we come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, we must learn that He is the one in control. He is the one directing our paths. He is the one on whom we must lean. This is necessary in order to have a happy and successful life, but this kind of trust does not come naturally. This kind of trust comes from a daily persuit and readjustment of our thoughts. It comes as we gain experience walking with our Savior. It is all part of learning to lean.

? God took 20 years to teach Jacob that human efforts do not equal the power of divine intervention. Jacob slowly learned to trust God rather than relying on his own plans and schemes. This morning we will see how God lovingly worked with him through the years as he was learning to lean on Jesus.

I. Trusting God for direction

A. When life’s circumstances change

Genesis 31:1–3 (AV)
1 And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s; and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory. 2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before. 3 And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

1. Hostile situation
2. Ever changing moods within a relationship

3. Jealousy and envy that comes when God’s blessing is evident.

4. God still has a plan

Revelation 3:7 (AV)
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

B. When others must follow your lead

1. God has protected in the past

Genesis 31:4–5 (AV)
4 And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, 5 And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.

2. God has been just in the past

Genesis 31:6–10 (AV)
6 And ye know that with all my power I have served your father. 7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. 8 If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked. 9 Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. 10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.

Psalm 37:25 (AV)
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

II. Trusting God for provision

A. The God of Bethel

1. God heard the vow

Genesis 28:20–21 (AV)
20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21 So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:

2. God did provide

Genesis 31:11–13 (AV)
11 And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.

B. Those around us learn to trust

Psalm 40:4 (AV)
4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

1. Realize that man can not do it alone

Genesis 31:14–15 (AV)
14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? 15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.

2. Realize that God is the real provider

III. Trusting God for protection

A. From the manipulators

Genesis 31:25–30 (AV)
25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead. 26 And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword? 27 Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp? 28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing. 29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. 30 And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father’s house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

B. From the oppressors

Genesis 31:31 (AV)
31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.

C. From the sins of others

Genesis 31:19 (AV)
19 And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s.

D. From the accuser

Genesis 31:32–35 (AV)
32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them. 33 And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the two maidservants’ tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel’s furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not. 35 And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images.

Revelation 12:9–11 (AV)
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

IV. Trusting God for wisdom

James 1:5 (AV) 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

A. Wise and pointed rebuke

Genesis 31:41–42 (AV)
41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times. 42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.

B. Some men will never earn trust

Genesis 31:43 (AV)
43 And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?

C. Good fences make good neighbors

Genesis 31:44–55 (AV)
44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee. 45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. 46 And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap. 47 And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed. 48 And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed; 49 And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another. 50 If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee. 51 And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee; 52 This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm. 53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac. 54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount. 55 And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.

1. God will be watching you
2. Keep your distance

Conclusion:

Life in this sin cursed world can be difficult to navigate from time to time. The Apostle Paul tells us that it takes some experience to discover contentment and trust.

Philippians 4:11–12 (AV)
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Over a 20 year period, God has to work with Jacob to teach him that he can trust God for direction, for provision, for protection and for wisdom. It is not natural to trust God for direction. Search your heart and see that God has been faithful with you so far. He can be trusted. Your stress will decrease and your love will increase as you learn to lean on Jesus.