Running away from his brother, Jacob
stopped at Luz where he later named Bethel. The dream he had was God affirming him
as the successor to the Abrahamic Covenant. The vision he saw in his dream was
God’s affirming promise of His presence with him for the rest of his journey. The presence of God in his life was by no means
an indication that his life was complete. In reality he was still a work in progress.
We saw how alive the old Jacob was, despite the revelation of God in the dream.
He was still bargaining with God. His selfish, carnal, me-first perspective was very much alive. So he
said in Genesis 28:20-22, “If God
will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will
give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father’s house in safety, then
the Lord will be my God. This stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be
God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to
You.” Notice the number of times he mentioned the “I” and “me.” With
this attitude he made his journey to Haran. What would soon take place was
educational for him. God was shaping his life, equipping him and honing him to
be the man who would be ready to take the Abrahamic Covenant further.
With the assurance of God, Jacob went on his
journey with greater certainty. He must have been more assured with each step
he took toward Haran and finally arrived. It would not be too speculative to
believe that Rebekah, his mother, must have told him on many occasions how she
became his father’s bride. She must have narrated how she offered that drink to
Eleazar, the grandfather’s servant, and then went on to water his camels. And
how all she did became affirmation of God’s guidance, leading to her eventual
marriage to Isaac. This account can be found in Genesis 24.
It was not uncommon for shepherds to gather around wells to water their sheep. When Jacob had arrived, he found a well in the field and three flocks of sheep and their shepherds probably lazing around the well. The mouth of the well was covered by a large stone obviously to prevent the water from being contaminated. None of the shepherds seemed to bother with his presence till he courteously enquired where they were from. They then responded saying that they were from Haran. Jacob then proceeded with his next question: ‘Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?’ When they said they did, he then asked if everything was well with him and was told Laban was well. And as providence would have it, Rachel, one of the daughters of Laban, arrived at the well. As it was not time for the cover of the well to be removed the shepherds just lazed around. On seeing the arrival of Rachel, Jacob advised them to go about their job. But they explained that only when all the flocks were gathered would the watering of the sheep begin. Why was Jacob so assertive once Rachel arrived? Perhaps he was scheming to get some time alone with her. More than his concern for the shepherds, Jacob was strategizing for his own gain. This account shows us the remarkable way God led Jacob to Haran and eventually to meet with his bride. While Jacob was scheming, God was engineering his future. We can trust the Lord to work out His plan for our life. We do need to take note of the little details to be alert to His working, and then to collaborate with Him.
It was not uncommon for shepherds to gather around wells to water their sheep. When Jacob had arrived, he found a well in the field and three flocks of sheep and their shepherds probably lazing around the well. The mouth of the well was covered by a large stone obviously to prevent the water from being contaminated. None of the shepherds seemed to bother with his presence till he courteously enquired where they were from. They then responded saying that they were from Haran. Jacob then proceeded with his next question: ‘Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?’ When they said they did, he then asked if everything was well with him and was told Laban was well. And as providence would have it, Rachel, one of the daughters of Laban, arrived at the well. As it was not time for the cover of the well to be removed the shepherds just lazed around. On seeing the arrival of Rachel, Jacob advised them to go about their job. But they explained that only when all the flocks were gathered would the watering of the sheep begin. Why was Jacob so assertive once Rachel arrived? Perhaps he was scheming to get some time alone with her. More than his concern for the shepherds, Jacob was strategizing for his own gain. This account shows us the remarkable way God led Jacob to Haran and eventually to meet with his bride. While Jacob was scheming, God was engineering his future. We can trust the Lord to work out His plan for our life. We do need to take note of the little details to be alert to His working, and then to collaborate with Him.
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