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Daily Devotions

Genesis

Genesis 
Day 
Day 212

"Let Your work appear to Your servants, And Your glory to their children." Psalm 90:16

Text: Genesis 29:1-35

SURELY GOD’S LEADING RATHER THAN MERE COINCIDENCE

Jacob quickly struck up a conversation with the shepherds. They must have known the land well, being shepherds who led their flocks out to good pasture-land. Perhaps they would be able to help him locate the whereabouts of his uncle Laban.

“And Jacob said to them, ‘My brethren, where are you from?’
And they said, ‘We are from Haran.’
Then he said, ‘Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?’
And they said, ‘We know him.’
So he said to them ‘Is he well?’
And they said, ‘He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel
is coming with the sheep.'”

GENESIS 29:4-6

Jacob probably did not hope to meet with almost immediate success, as he began his search to locate his uncle Laban.

1. The First Surprise

A friendly and general inquiry was proper. Did the shepherds know who Laban was? This question led to the first happy surprise! Yes, the shepherds knew who Laban was!

2. The Second Happy Surprise

Jacob was in for another happy surprise! The shepherds told him that Laban’s daughter had come to the well with her sheep! What a coincidence! Or was it mere coincidence? Did not his grandfather’s servant speak of how the Lord led him to Rebekah his mother? She too was at a well when Eliezer met her! Surely, the Lord God he had newly encountered was keeping His word and watching over him!


LEARNING ABOUT LOCAL CUSTOMS

As Jacob conversed with the shepherds, he asked why they were milling around the well. Why had they not watered the sheep? Why didn’t they take care of the sheep first, and then care for the cattle later on?

“Then he said, ‘Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle
to be gathered together; water the sheep, and go and feed them.’
But they said, ‘We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together,
and they have rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, then we
water the sheep.'”

GENESIS 29:7-8

Jacob had much to learn about the ways of the people of the East. Their way of looking after their livestock was different from that adopted by Isaac’s shepherds. They owned the water wells in a number of places. Their sheep and cattle did not have to wait at all if they needed water. They would be attended to immediately. This was one of many local customs that he would have to learn well, should he need to stay in the region.