Genesis Lesson 53
POWER OF MAN AND POWER OF GOD
(Gen. 31:1-16)
Laban's sons thought that Jacob's wealth had accumulated over the past six years was the result of taking away his father's possessions. They never thought of Jacob's past days when he could not collect a single penny even though he served as a servant for the first 14 years for his wife's ransom, and the lowliness of his father who cut his wages several times. Laban's sons were busy envying Jacob, who became rich as a result of God's sovereignty, completely forgetting the blessing of prosperity they had enjoyed by Jacob's side by the grace of God who had been with him.
Laban who Jacob served is cleverness man. He want to use Jacob so he utilize his daughters and use servant girl. He changed wages ten times but he could not block the blessing that Jacob received.
1. The foundation of our faith.
1) 1 Chronicles 29:10-12 God's sovereignty
2) Ephesians 1:1-13 God's way (Jesus Christ)
3) John 14:16-26 God's work (Through the Holy Spirit)
4) 2 Timothy 3:1-17 God's Word is the Bible
5) 1 Corinthians 3:16 God's temple (We are God's temple)
6) Acts 18:1-4 God's plan ( Where I am is a mission field)
7) Psalm 139:1-9 God's reign ( God knows and rules all things)
8) Hebrews 9:27 God's providence ( Life is limited)
9) Luke 16:19-31 God's judgment (Heaven and Hell)
10) Matthew 10:40-42, God's reward
Revelation 22:10-12
2. The special promise for the people of the covenant.
1) Individual salvation and companionship.
2) Family salvation and companionship.
3) Nation salvation and blessing(descendants)
4) World salvation and history.
Gen.12:1-10 (Abraham), 22:1-13(Isaac), 25:28-34(Jacob and Esau),
Gen.28:10-22 (Jacob saw himself connected to the throne of heaven in a dream in Bethel)
3. Mystery of answer of prayer.
1) Prayer in covenant and mystery. (Heb.11:1-38)
2) Scheduled time prayer and power.
3) Continuous prayer and mystery.
4) Concentrating prayer and mystery.
4. The answer that Jacob received is the power of God.
1) The power of Laban can not over come the power of God.
2) Atmosphere of life.(Gen.31:1-3)
v. 1. Jacob heard that Laban's sons were saying, "Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged
to our father."
v. 2. And Jacob noticed that Laban's attitude toward him was not what it had been.
v. 3. Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you."
3) Gen.31:5
v.5. He said to them, "I see that your father's attitude toward me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me.
4) Gen.31:7
v. 7. yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me.
5) Gen. 31: 8-12
v. 11. The angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob.' I answered, 'Here I am.'
v. 12. And he said, 'Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has
been doing to you.
Conclution:
Rachel and Leah also experienced what kind of person their father was while being with their father for a longer time than Jacob. Their father, rather than
leaving the dowry that Jacob had paid for the marriage to the daughters, took it all himself. At that time, it was customary for the groom to leave part of
the dowry paid to the bride's house as the share of the bride. It was a kind of safety device to help his daughter, who returned to her parents' home as
a widow after her husband died, prepare the minimum means to live on her own. Laban was the one who took care of all of that, even his daughter,
who used it like a thing to call his property. So Rachel and Leah agree to leave their father and follow their husband to the land of Canaan according to
God's word.
Jacob must have been very afraid of starting anew. He had to resolve his old feelings with Esau, and before that, he needed to straighten out his relationship
with Laban, who might be trying to kill him. However, since God said he would be with Jacob, he would have made God his only comfort and strength.
To Jacob, God was the God of Bethel. When he left his father's house alone and slept in the field, Bethel was the place where he promised to come
and protect him. Bethel was a place where he experienced the existence of God and at the same time realized that He was my God.
Where was Bethel to you today?
I hope you live in Bethel and enjoy the blessing of the throne.