Genesis 31
Genesis 31
One sad, but true reality of life is that doing the right thing will often cost you something. That has been the case with Jacob. Jacob was not perfect by any means but sought to do right by Laban, his father-in-law. For being nicknamed “the deceiver” Jacob ironically gets tricked and conned by his father-in-law over and over until chapter 31 when God tells Jacob to leave and go home.
Jacob was between a rock and a hard place. In his current situation, he had a Laban who mistreated him and no longer favored him. Back home he had an angry brother, Esau, whom he tricked. The way seemed uncertain, but the Lord showed him the right thing to do - to go home and make amends. We might not always know the outcome of a situation, but we aren’t called to know, we are called to honor God by doing the right thing.
What about your life? Are you doing what is right before the Lord? At your work, in your home, with friends, or when you’re alone? James 4:17 says, “Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” Works do not save us, Scripture is clear about that, but our actions prove our faith in the Lord (James 2:18). When our heart is consumed with Christ then our actions should reflect Christ - seeking to honor the Lord in every situation.
Jacob trusted the Lord and obeyed his call to leave Laban and go home. Jacob would be chased down by Laban and eventually come face to face with Esau. Doing the right thing isn’t always comfortable. It doesn’t always result in blessing, but it honors God. And we will find our truest and deepest blessing in honoring/worshiping our Lord. It’s what we were created to do.
Family Discussion:
By: Joe Weaver
One sad, but true reality of life is that doing the right thing will often cost you something. That has been the case with Jacob. Jacob was not perfect by any means but sought to do right by Laban, his father-in-law. For being nicknamed “the deceiver” Jacob ironically gets tricked and conned by his father-in-law over and over until chapter 31 when God tells Jacob to leave and go home.
Jacob was between a rock and a hard place. In his current situation, he had a Laban who mistreated him and no longer favored him. Back home he had an angry brother, Esau, whom he tricked. The way seemed uncertain, but the Lord showed him the right thing to do - to go home and make amends. We might not always know the outcome of a situation, but we aren’t called to know, we are called to honor God by doing the right thing.
What about your life? Are you doing what is right before the Lord? At your work, in your home, with friends, or when you’re alone? James 4:17 says, “Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” Works do not save us, Scripture is clear about that, but our actions prove our faith in the Lord (James 2:18). When our heart is consumed with Christ then our actions should reflect Christ - seeking to honor the Lord in every situation.
Jacob trusted the Lord and obeyed his call to leave Laban and go home. Jacob would be chased down by Laban and eventually come face to face with Esau. Doing the right thing isn’t always comfortable. It doesn’t always result in blessing, but it honors God. And we will find our truest and deepest blessing in honoring/worshiping our Lord. It’s what we were created to do.
Family Discussion:
- What’s a situation in your life where doing the right thing cost you something? (A promotion, a friend, a test score)
- Christ was perfect. From birth to death he always did what was right. What did it cost him?
- What are the different ways the Lord blesses us when we obey him?
By: Joe Weaver
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