Title: Jacob Gets Rich (Genesis 30:25-43)
Contents
Genesis Exposition 58
Jacob became rich (Genesis 30:25-43)
Jacob, who had come to Laban's house for the purpose of escaping Esau and getting married, decided to return to his hometown. This was the time when Joseph was born and was a slave in Laban's house for about 14 years. Esau must have lost his will to kill since many years had passed, and since he already had four wives, the purpose of marriage had already been fulfilled. While he was at Laban's house, Jacob emphasized that Laban had been blessed and asked that he take his wife and children. Laban also admits this.
In the end, Laban and Jacob agreed to set the sheep or cattle with the pattern as Jacob's, and Jacob promised to raise Laban's cattle for another six years. Jacob uses strange methods to increase his possessions. Eventually, Jacob is rejected and leaves Laban's house. Let's share grace by listening to God's voice through Jacob and Laban's contract signing and Jacob's rejection.
my hometown my homeland
(25) "When Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, "Send me, and let me go to my homeland and my own country." Of course, who doesn't have a fondness for their hometown? But Jacob is not like that. It has a deeper meaning. The reason Jacob says he wants to go home means that he has not forgotten that he is the heir of Canaan. He never forgot the promise to the land of Canaan that followed Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Obviously, Jacob is a poor man. But he did not forget the promise of the Lord.
God is not looking for perfect people, but He is looking for people who will keep His promises. Since we do not forget God's promise to our homeland, it is natural that such Jacob will be used. We believers should never forget our hometown for a moment. (Hebrews 11:15,16) “If they had thought about the country from which they came, they would have had the opportunity to return, but now they long for a better homeland, which is in heaven; therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God. He has prepared a city for them.” Yes. Although we live in the world, we must not forget that we are citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
Laban's house symbolizes this world, and Haran, to which he must return, symbolizes the kingdom of heaven. Jacob, who did not forget the kingdom of heaven even though he lived in this world, will receive blessings in this world as well. Jacob said that his maternal uncle was blessed because of him. Laban does not object to this, but admits (verse 27), "I understand that you have blessed me because of you." So Laban holds Jacob for more. Who would reject a Christian who is a source of blessing even today? Even if you live in this world, I hope that you will be blessed because you live like the people of the kingdom of heaven, and that those who do not believe will enjoy being with you.
set the wages
(Verse 28) "And he said, "Set your wages, and I will give them." In the end, Jacob, the man of blessing, set his wages according to Laban's suggestion, contrary to what he thought he would go out with only his wife and children. You decide on your own. This was because Laban acknowledged that the blessing was due to Jacob. Jacob doesn't say pay anytime soon. You can see Jacob's humanity here.
(Verses 29, 30) again mentions his work. They argue that it is natural for Laban to listen to whatever compensation he asks for. Laban's livestock was small before Jacob's coming, but after Jacob's arrival, it reminds us that it has grown in number thanks to God's blessing, and Laban is also convinced of this. Even the greedy Laban couldn't help but say, "With what shall I give you?" Jacob is still a smart person. The phrase “When will I build my house?” makes us realize that he is now the head of the family, not just one body.
Laban knew how to ask for some of his possessions. However, the wage he decided on was surprising because Jacob wanted God's blessing rather than Laban's. He said that he would make the long, spotted and black sheep, and the long and spotted goats his own. This is a contract against Jacob. Because they are zealous. Of course Laban agrees with this. (Verse 34) “Laban said, I will do as you have said.” A man of God can know that even though he is a servant, he can be a decision maker. It's not because he's really good, but because God is with him. Laban covers everything that has patterns already and attaches them to his sons, and Jacob starts from nothing.
Here we need to realize that Laban and Jacob have completely different ideas. Laban accepted Jacob's opinion because he had the idea that Jacob would not have much of his possessions. They pull out all that have patterns, so how can Jacob raise livestock with patterns? The basis of his knowledge is common sense and experience. But Jacob is different. You must be convinced that you are a man of God. The basis of his thinking is the belief that there is nothing that God cannot do with him. What is the outcome of those who think outside of God and those who think within God?
Jacob's way
(Verses 37-43) tells how Jacob made patterned cattle. I used willow (poplar), apricot (almond), and sycamore (sycamore) branches. They were peeled and placed near watering troughs to influence the slaughtering of young, resulting in brindle or long-striped offspring. There is no scientific basis. It is probably a psychological method used by the shepherds of Canaan.
However, God had already decided to bless Jacob, not this way, so many animals with patterns came out. (Genesis 31:9-12) testifies well. “This is how God took your father’s beast and gave it to me. When the flock was giving birth, I lifted up my eyes in a dream and saw that all the rams that were in the flock were spotted, spotted, and jagged. Then the angel of God said to me, “Jacob, here I am,” he answered. He said to them, “Lift up your eyes, and behold, all the rams of the flock are speckled and speckled, and all rams are speckled. I have seen all that has been done." Yes.
Jacob still needs a lot of refinement. Later, the weak mother did not plant branches, and the weak mother planted the branches only when she pruned her young. He's still not polished, but it's important that God is with him. It doesn't matter what method Jacob used. If Jacob had used a method other than that, God would have worked to enrich Jacob's possessions. It is important that the branches did not have magical powers, but that God worked in Jacob's way. To say that all males were patterned is a passage from which we can read God's order that does not go against science.
Although it is genetically recessive, it is said that the patterned offspring were born through a patterned male. It's extremely scientific. Actually, Jacob believed only in God and used an unscientific method, but God blessed Jacob in a scientific way. Those who say faith is unscientific are stupid people. Science is also in God.
Dear saints,
Jacob, the man with whom God was with him, was suddenly rejected. (43) “Then the man became very prosperous, and there were many flocks, slaves, camels, and donkeys.” . It was not by Jacob's effort, but purely by God's blessing. Do not forget that, like Jacob, you can live a blessed life regardless of your method or occupation if you do not forget that you are a citizen of the kingdom. Hallelujah!