Jacob Plans to Take His Family Home

By Mary Vee
Genesis 31:4-16

Jacob paced. One of the lambs playfully followed him back and forth. "Watch out, little one, I don't want to step on you."

He scooped up the bundle of fur. "What do you think I should do? Should I wait until tonight to tell Rachel and Leah, or should I send for them?"

The lamb licked his nose then said "Baaaah."

Jacob laughed. "I agree." He set the lamb back on the ground and gave it a gentle pat. The lamb scurried off and tumbled with another lamb.

Jacob called a servant. "Go to my house. Tell Rachel and Leah I must speak with them."

While the servant delivered the message, Jacob continued his work. "I wonder what they'll say. They've spent their whole lives here. Will my wives willingly leave their father's land to go back with me to my homeland? How should I tell them?"

He rubbed his eyes and paced some more. A moment later he heard Rachel and Leah's voices greeting him from across the pasture.

"Jacob! Are you all right? You've never called us out here before? What's wrong?"

Jacob laughed. "Whoa! I have one answer for all those questions. I'm fine."

Rachel and Leah looked at each other and shrugged. "Then why did you call us?"

Jacob pointed to three boulders. "Sit. I need to tell you something."

Jacob took a deep breath. "I overheard your brothers talking today. They're quite angry that my flock has grown large and strong. They say I've stolen from your father."

Leah rolled her eyes. "I'm not surprised. You have to ignore them, Jacob. They're just talking."

Jacob shook his head. "Not this time. Your father showed his anger by shaking his fist. I saw him from over here."

Rachel sighed. "Really?"

"Yes. Look, you know how hard I've worked for your father. I gave him my best, yet he deceived me and changed my pay ten times. God didn't allow him to hurt me, instead He's taken away Laban's livestock and given them to me."

Jacob leaned closer to them. "God spoke to me today saying, 'I am the God of Bethel where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land and return to the land of your family'"

Leah looked at her sister. "Is there any inheritance left for us in our father's house?"

Rachel shook her head. "No. He sold us to make Jacob work for him. He spent all the money he made from Jacob's work and still ignores us."

They turned to Jacob. "Whatever God has said to you, do it."

Jacob took a deep breath. He gazed at the pasture land around him then at his wives. "OK. Pack everything. We leave tomorrow."

God clearly told Jacob when he needed to move away. Jacob had many problem days working for Laban. He probably wanted to leave many times but he didn't. He waited until God told him to go.

God allows us to be in difficult situations to help us learn things. When the time is right, He tells us to go somewhere else. Has this happened to you? How did God show you it was time to leave?