Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today devotion comes from Genesis 31:1-21.

“Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what belonged to our father he has made all this wealth.”  Jacob saw the attitude of Laban, and behold, it was not friendly toward him as formerly.  Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”  So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to his flock in the field, and said to them, “I see your father’s attitude, that it is not friendly toward me as formerly, but the God of my father has been with me.  You know that I have served your father with all my strength.  Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times;  however, God did not allow him to hurt me.  If he spoke thus, ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flock brought forth speckled;  and if he spoke thus, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock brought forth striped.  Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.  And it came about at the time when the flock were mating that I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which were mating were striped, speckled, and mottled.  Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’  He said, ‘Lift up now your eyes and see that all the male goats which are mating are striped, speckled, and mottled;  for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.  I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me;  now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.’”  Rachel and Leah said to him, “Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father’s house?  Are we not reckoned by him as foreigners?  For he has sold us, and has also entirely consumed our purchase price.  Surely all the wealth which God has taken away from our father belongs to us and our children;  now then, do whatever God has said to you.”

Then Jacob arose and put his children and his wives upon camels;  and he drove away all his livestock and all his property which he had gathered, his acquired livestock which he had gathered in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac.  When Laban had gone to shear his flock, then Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s.  So he fled with all that he had;  and he arose and crossed the Euphrates River, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.”  Genesis 31:1-21.

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Jacob recognized God’s guidance, protection, and blessing as I have highlighted in bold italic font above.  

Regarding God’s guidance, Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to his flock in the field, and said to them that God told him:  “now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.”

Regarding God’s protection, Jacob told them:  “God did not allow him (Laban) to hurt me.”

Regarding God’s blessing, Jacob told them:  “Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.”

So, Jacob trusted God and took action based on His faith in God.  “So he fled with all that he had;  and he arose and crossed the Euphrates River, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.”

We eagerly read the Scriptures and learn God’s short summary promises to all of His elect, a few of which are below, but we also learn from the longer histories of our fathers according to the faith as from today’s Scripture.  

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  …  

What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:28 and 31-32.