GOD IS IN CONTROLS - Scripture: Genesis 31:1-55
Excerpt and Summary: "And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah ... And said unto them ... the God of my father hath been with me ... God suffered him not to hurt me ... And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, [saying], Jacob: And I said, הִנֵּֽנִי 'Here [am] I' ... And He said ... I [am] the God of Beth'el (בית–אל "House of God"), where thou anointedst the pillar, [and] where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred ... Then Jacob rose up ... And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban ... And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled ... And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him ... And God came to Laban ... Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad ... And Laban said to Jacob ... It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but ... God ... And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban ... [Except God ...] Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands ... And Laban said ... God [is] witness betwixt me and thee ... And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac ... Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount ... And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place ..."
O - Observations:
When God speaks our first response should be that of Jacob's in verse 11 הִנֵּֽנִי Hi-ney-ni "Here I am". In this passage above we see how much God was in control and had His hand in the plan for Jacob's life. God, the giver of life, saw to it that the herds were "ringstraked, speckled, and grisled" so that "If he [Laban] said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked. Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given [them] to me [said Jacob]. v.8-9"
When the time was right, after 20 years in this passage, then God gave the "green light" for Jacob to return with his family and all he had been given in Haran to go back to the land of his father.
A - Application for me today:
God is in control and His timing is perfect. This is a hard one, right? Someone may say I have this situation or that and God is not coming through for me ... it may be a health crisis, a financial crisis, a job situation, the salvation of a loved one, a death of someone special or whatever the personal situation is that it is for you ... you question His timing which seems to be delayed ... a deadline in your personal life is coming due and you wonder about the timing and control of God. Will He provide in the right time? And if He is in control why is this "bad" thing happening?
You may say with Job, "Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? " (31:4)
God may answer, "For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. " (Isaiah 55:8)
P - Prayer in response:
Father God, we know in our minds and our intellect that EXCEPT for you we could have been destroyed many times over. You are gracious and compassionate ... The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin (Exodus 34:6-7a) ... הִנֵּֽנִי Here I am LORD. I trust you with all that I am and all that you have given me. I know from your WORD that You are "Emmanuel, God with us, God the Provider, God the Healer and now in this lesson the God who is in control and so much more ...". Be with me as in the days of Jacob. Guard my wages so that even when the enemy tries to change them You, O LORD, will protect me. Guard my family so that even in the face of fearing that someone might "take them by force" (31:31) I know whose they are LORD, they are yours. Guard them. Guard my household and let me not be "sent away" empty handed. Watch over me. Guard the lines that You have drawn that no one cross over to do us harm I pray.
B'Shem Yeshua HaMashiach
In the name of Jesus the Messiah
Amen & Amen.
For more encouragement click here for more verses about God's control: http://www.seekgod.ca/control.htm
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