Part 1 – Flexibility Training – Reading
After 20 years of working with Laban, Jacob was ready to pack up and leave. God gave him several confirmations that it was time to go. His brothers-in-law started eyeing him with suspicion. His wives were fed up with their father and his failure to keep his promises. God even came to Jacob in a dream and said, “pack it up – move it out.”
And who could blame him for sneaking out the back gate while Laban was out on an extended trip? The last time Jacob tried to leave with his family, he was pressured into staying for another six years. Best to just to cut anchor and run.
Read chapter 31 and find out what happened.
ESV – Genesis 31 – BibleHub
NLT – Genesis 31 – BibleHub
How about Rachel part in the story? Were you surprised to find her stealing her father’s idols? The Bible gives no indication of why she took them; however, there have been many speculations about her motives. Perhaps she took them so her father could not use them to divine where they had gone. Perhaps she took them so her father could not practice his idolatry any more. Perhaps they were of precious metal, and thus valuable to use in their travels. Perhaps she took them thinking they could help her conceive another child. Whatever the reason, we are not told. Only that her taking them gave rise to to the opportunity to demonstrate before the whole family, who Laban had brought with him as a posse of sorts, that Jacob was honest throughout the last twenty years and Laban was not.
PART 2 – Strength Training – Memory & Thinking
Three weeks of memorization completed. Well done. Today’s verse is taken from Laban’s speech. Don’t forget to memorize the location of each verse. And think about its context as you memorize it.
Genesis 31:48-49 Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” Therefore he named it Galeed, and Mizpah, for he said, “The Lord watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight.”
Colossians 3:23-25 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Genesis 29:20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
Hebrews 11:20 It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.
Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
1 Peter 3:5-6 This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.
Part 3 – Cardio Training – Prayer
As you pray today, perhaps you, or someone you love, is facing the possibility of a big change. Perhaps a new job, a new city, a new life. As you pray through these times, it is good to ask God to send you wise counselors to help you think through the ramifications of the change, as Jacob talked it through with his wives. As you pray through your decisions, you can ask God for confirmation that this is what He has in mind for you, as God confirmed for Jacob through the attitudes of his brothers-in-law, and as God Himself confirmed in a dream. You might pray something like this:
Dear Father, it seems like it might be time to move on, to make a change. Please give me good counselors to advise me, and give me confirmation one way or the other. You said in Proverbs 3:5-6 that if I trust in You, it I acknowledge You, or seek Your will, You will make my paths straight. Help me to trust more in You and Your ability to provide for me. Help me want the things that You want. Help me listen to the wise counselors You send my way. Please make it clear which direction I should go.
Part 4 – Endurance Training
We live in a time when the Word of God has been written; God is more likely to speak to us through His Word rather than dreams. So keep reading and memorizing God’s Word. Keep asking the Holy Spirit to teach you and guide you through the verses you’ve memorized and read.
And keep reading!
An Extra Lap
Have you ever seen those cute little necklaces that girls, or young lovers, like to give each other? The necklaces that each have half of a heart that fits together and say: “The Lord watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight.” It always sounded like a lovely blessing between two parted friends.
But that is NOT the original context of the meaning. Take a moment to think through the 20 years of hostility and distrust that had festered between Laban and Jacob. Think about this covenant that becomes a curse if either party breaks it. “I may not see you break this vow, but God will see!”
Faith Gym 