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TROUBLE

Text: Genesis 31
25 September 2012

(I) TROUBLE

1. Laban’s sons

a) Noted the growing wealth of Jacob

b) Noted also Laban’s diminished wealth (in comparison)

c) Complained to their father (Genesis 31:1)

2. Laban’s response

a) His countenance changed for the worse

b) He was upset with what he had heard (Genesis 31:2)

3. Jacob’s awareness

a) He became acutely conscious

b) He knew he had to make a firm decision soon

(II) GOD’S LEADING

1. God’s word to Jacob (Genesis 31:3)

a) Jacob was to return to the land of his fathers

b) And to his family

2. God’s promise

a) He would be with Jacob

b) His Presence would offer sufficient protection

(III) JACOB’S WORD TO RACHEL AND LEAH

Genesis 31:4-13

1. Presenting the plans to go to Canaan

a) Rachel and Leah

b) Out in the field

2. Reviewing the situation

a) Unfavourable change of Laban’s countenance (Genesis 31:5)

b) Faithful service of Jacob reviewed (Genesis 31:6)

c) Laban had changed Jacob’s wages 10 times (Genesis 31:7)

3. Tracing God’s hand

a) God had been with Jacob (Genesis 31:5)

b) He had kept Jacob from being harmed by Laban (Genesis 31:7)

c) He had had taken the livestock of Laban and given that to Jacob (Genesis 31:9)

4. God’s word to Jacob

a) It was not his attempts to make Laban’s sheep and goats speckled, spotted and brown that accounted for the success (Genesis 30:37-42)

b) It was God’s hand of mercy and grace (Genesis 31:8-12)

c) The God of Bethel (Genesis 31:13) (Cf. Genesis 28)

i) Recall the first encounter with God

ii) Command to leave Haran

iii) Return to Canaan – “the land of your family”

(IV) RESPONSE OF RACHEL AND LEAH

Genesis 31:14-16

1. No reason to stay on in Haran (Genesis 31:14)

2. Laban had treated his own daughters as if they were strangers (Genesis 31:15)

3. All their wealth had been taken by Laban (Genesis 31:16a)

4. The wealth that Jacob had acquired was rightfully theirs (Genesis 31:16b)

5. Readiness to obey whatever God had commanded Jacob (Genesis 31:16c)