Genesis 31 has Jacob acknowledging God for his blessing. He realizes all of his positive mental imagery wasn't what changed the flocks from streaked to speckled or to whatever Laban demanded. Laban's sons are disturbed at Jacob's good fortune with their father's flocks. Jacob receives word from the Lord that it is time to go back to the land God had promised. They leave without telling Laban and when he finds out he is angered and chases after them. To add insult to injury his idols are missing. God appears to Laban in a dream and tells him not to mistreat Jacob. When they meet up Laban is intent on finding his gods. Pretty Rachel has stolen them without Jacob's knowledge. The contrast between the power of Jehovah and the idols is startling. God has blessed and directed the paths of Jacob, but the idols have to be protected by a mentrating woman. Laban seems foolish to acknowledge how powerful the God of Jacob is and then to be so obsessed with finding his idols. But when we choose to put our man made idols in front of God we become just as foolish. The passage ends with Laban blessing his familly and kissing them good-bye.
"Lord, keep us from the temptation to make idols. Forgive us when we make money, possessions and people idols in our lives. Deliver us from this temptation. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen."
About Me
- Robert and Ray Miller
- Robert is the pastor of First Baptist Texas City, Tx. And Ray is the pastor of First Baptist Mertens, Tx. Robert brings over 30 years of biblical study as a pastor. Ray brings a younger perspective to the Bible and also a command of the original languages. Our greatest passion is to see lives changed through the good news of Jesus Christ.
2 comments:
I think your prayer could not be more timely or on the mark for today's society. Are we in a recession or are we just not able to buy so many useless toys. Time to get back to what God had in mind and not Madison avenue.
mdt - I agree with your comment. We are still so blessed and we complain because we have lost SO much in the stock market when most of the world goes to bed hungry.
God always blesses us so that we may be a blessing to others. Our churches are hurting for support and ministries are never started for lack of funds while our big screen TV's and bulging closets grow ever larger.
May I become more kingdom minded and less wordly grounded.
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