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Youth Worship 2 April 2022 : "Return to the land of your fathers”

Text: Genesis 31:1-16
2 April 2022

INTRODUCTION

1. Jacob had been in the land of Haran for a long time

2. He now had a family of 12 children

3. He had become wealthy and strong enough to leave Laban’s employ

THE DETERIORATING CIRCUMSTANCES

1. The complaint of the sons of Laban

“Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.”

Genesis 31:1

a) This was a false accusation
b) It reflects how Laban’s family regarded Jacob
c) Their observation was that Jacob was now very wealthy
d) This wealth stemmed from Laban

2. The countenance of Laban

a) And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed
it was not favourable toward him as before.
Genesis 31:2
b) This was vastly different from how he felt when he first saw Jacob
13 Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things. 14 And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month.
Genesis 29:13-14
i) Ran to meet Jacob
ii) Embraced him
iii) Kissed him
iv) Brought him to his house
v) He said
“Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” Genesis 29:14

A WORD FROM THE LORD

Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”

Genesis 31:3

1. The LORD took the initiative again

2. He spoke to Jacob

a) Directly
b) Personally
c) Clearly
i) Jacob is to return to his homeland
ii) God will be with him all the way

RESPONDING TO THE LORD’S WORD

1. He called Rachel and Leah for an urgent conference

a) Bilhah, Rachel’s maid was not invited
b) Zilpah, Leah’s maid was not included either
c) They may have borne children for Jacob but their official role was still that of a maid

2. The Place of Meeting

a) In a field
b) Among his flock Genesis 31:4
c) The home was not the safest place to have this secret conference

A VERY CANDID FAMILY CONFERENCE

4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, 5 and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favourable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. 6 And you know that with all my might I have served your father. 7 Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me. 8 If he said thus: ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked. 9 So God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.

Genesis 31:4-9

1. The Facts laid before Rachel and Leah

a) Laban’s countenance was no longer favourable Genesis 31:5a
b) Laban had deceived
and changed Jacob’s wages 10 times Genesis 31:7a

2. God’s Hand Appreciated

a) “But the God of my father has been with me” Genesis 31:5b
b) “But God did not allow him to hurt me” Genesis 31:7b
c) “So God has taken away the livestock of your father
and given them to me.” Genesis 31:9

3. God’s word to Jacob

10 “And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted. 11 Then the Angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’ 12 And He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’ ”

Genesis 31:10-13

a) A special dream given to Jacob
b) The Angel of God spoke to Jacob personally
c) He identified Himself as The God of Bethel
d) He directs Jacob to make plans to return to Canaan

THE RESPONSE OF RACHEL AND LEAH

14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? 15 Are we not considered strangers by him? For he has sold us, and also completely consumed our money. 16 For all these riches which God has taken from our father are really ours and our children’s; now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.”

Genesis 31:14-16

1. Rachel and Leah

a) They were not fighting now
b) They spoke as one

2. Their observations

a) “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us
in our father’s house?” Genesis 31:14
b) “Are we not considered strangers by him?” Genesis 31:15a
c) “For he has sold us,
and also completely consumed our money.” Genesis 31:15b
d) “For all these riches which God has taken from our father
are really ours and our children’s;” Genesis 31:16a

3. Full support for Jacob

“Now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.”

Genesis 31:16b

CONCLUSION

1. God’s hand is to be appreciated

a) His protection
b) His provision
c) His presence

2. Family harmony
This was not foreseeable but the family was now fully united!