Genesis 28:2 Get ready, and go to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel in Paddan-Aram. Take a wife for yourself from the daughters of your mother’s brother Laban.
Jacob was sent on a journey to find a wife however the trip was not a pleasant one. It wasn’t just a leisure holiday or a working holiday; it was a boot camp for robbing his twin-brother Esau of his blessings. Esau said to himself, “The days when I will have sorrow for the loss of my father are soon. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.” (Genesis 27:41). He had to run away from his own home as a fugitive and take asylum in his maternal uncle’s home. The journey of Jacob was fearful and shameful, shrouded with guilt. There was a second purpose behind his journey. He went to find a wife among his maternal relatives. The Lord God did not forget the runaway crook. He met Him in the wilderness. See, I am with you. I will care for you everywhere you go. And I will bring you again to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done all the things I promised you.” (Genesis 28:15).
Jacob married wives and had children but he also faced unfairness and injustice. His employer Laban, his maternal uncle, was a man who was craftier than Jacob. He changed Jacob’s wages to suit his convenience. Jacob says to his wives (the daughters of Laban), your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times (Genesis 31:7). But God kept His promise and brought Jacob back to his home – not as a shameful mugger but as a blessed man. The journey of Jacob lasted for 20 years. He faced prejudice and persecution in a foreign land but God was working on his character.
“God is more interested in our character than our comfort”. The injustice, unfairness and uncertainty that we face in our journey are to develop our character and trust in Him. The unreasonable workload, unjust boss and unscrupulous co-workers are strategically positioned to shift our trust from material and monetary securities to the Majesty. Trust in the All-Mighty God. He is molding, making and manicuring your character.
Trust God through the tough journey:
1. Prove: God will prove to the slandering world that He is with us. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps (Genesis 33:10b). Be patient. God will not leave us where we are. He will prove His goodness, kindness and greatness through us.
2. Provide: God will provide us more than what we need to make us a blessing. The same Jacob who stole from his brother gave stupendous gifts to Esau. Jacob sent Esau 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 female sheep, 20 rams, 30 milk camels and their young ones, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys and 10 male donkeys!
3. Promote: God promotes those who journey with Him and allow Him to melt, mold and remake their character.
Be patient in the journey, God is working through your character.
Genesis 33:20 He built an altar there, and gave it the name El-Elohe-Israel.
Prayer: Father God, teach me to be patient for my promotion while you are working on my character. Amen.
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