A Lamp Unto My Feet Bible Study Website
GENESIS 30:25 – 31:13
Lesson #46
DETERMINING GOD’S WILL AND HEARING HIS VOICE
- Memory verse: Psalms 5:12
- Read Gen 30:25-43
- Jacob’s prosperity points to a merciful God who blesses his children even when they are not perfect.
- Even Laban recognized that God was blessing Jacob and in turn he (Laban) was benefitting from it. (27)
- When Jacob suggested he leave Haran, Laban was reluctant to have Jacob leave so offered to raise his wages as an incentive to stay.
- However, Jacob had learned that he could not trust deceitful Laban for he had changed Jacob’s wages 10 times in the past 20 years. (31:7)
- How did Laban attempt to deceive Jacob over the cattle and goats?
- The animals
- The speckled and spotted sheep. Palestinian sheep are almost all white.
- The dark colored lamb. Lambs were normally white.
- The speckled and spotted goats. Goats in that area are normally black
- Jacob was asking for the very unusual animals among the flock. Laban agreed (34)
- However, Laban immediately collected all those animals that were supposed to be Jacob’s and sent them away to be hidden by his sons, three days away. (35)
- The animals
- The superstitious breeding plan
- Jacob thought to influence the breeding animals to bear speckled and spotted young.
- However, it was God who blessed Jacob with young animals that fulfilled the agreement between Jacob and Laban. (37-39)
- The tree branches
- The Hebrew words for poplar and white are a play on words that refer to the meaning of Laban’s name. “Laban” means = “white”.
- Jacob had tricked his brother, Esau, with “red” stew. He would trick Laban with “white” branches.
- Jacob’s selective breeding plan (41)
- Jacob kept breeding the speckled and spotted animals to produce more speckled and spotted animals. This kind of selective breeding is done today. Back then it was not a known practice.
- This breeding process took some time to accomplish. The Bible doesn’t say how many more years Jacob spent in Padan-Aram over the 21 years he had agreed to serve.
- Jacob’s counter deception:
- Jacob kept the stronger animals for himself.
- Then he gave the weaker ones to Laban.
- Summary:
- During Jacob’s 21+ years in Padan-Aram (Haran), we never see Jacob pray. We never see him worship God. He never builds an altar to God for animal sacrifice and communion.
- Before he arrived in Padan-Aram, he had a born again experience. (Gen 28:10-22)
- However, he has done nothing with his relationship to God.
- Many Christians are like that. They only want Christ as “fire insurance” and not as the Lord of their lives.
- Although God, in his faithfulness is always with us, sometimes we are not with Him.
- However, we will see Jacob’s apathetic attitude toward God change as we continue our study of Jacob’s life.
- Read Gen 31:1-13 God tells Jacob to leave Padan-Aram
- There are several reasons why Jacob decides to leave at this time.
- Laban’s sons complain about Jacob’s wealth
- They may have discovered Jacob’s deceptive breeding practices.
- They were worried about their own inheritance being greatly reduced.
- Laban began to look on Jacob with disfavor.
- Rachel and Leah felt that Laban had cheated them out of their inheritance by allowing Jacob to take it over. (31:14-16)
- God told him to leave.
- Laban’s sons complain about Jacob’s wealth
- How can you know when God is guiding you?
- How do you know God’s timing as well as His will?
- The principles for discerning God’s will are in chapter 31.
- God had assured him that he would one day return to the Promised Land.
- You can know God’s will and timing when the following three principles line up together:
- Read Psa 37:5
- =1= A definite desire to return sprang up in Jacob’s heart. (30:25)
- God puts desires into our hearts and minds.
- However, that isn’t enough on which to base your decision that it’s God’s will.
- =2= Circumstances became advantageous so that the move seemed to be the wise thing to do. (31:1,2)
- Relationships became strained between Jacob, his wives, Laban, and Laban’s sons.
- You do what seems wise at the time.
- God does not expect us to sit back, do nothing, and wait for a lightning bolt from heaven.
- If it is not God’s perfect will and you are praying for his perfect will, he will change circumstances to show you not to continue in a certain direction.
- =3= There was a “clear” word from God. (31:3)
- Jacob was assured of God’s perfect timing when a “clear” word came from the Lord.
- That clear word is a surety within yourself that you know without a doubt it is God’s perfect will and timing.
- God uses some specific scripture that suits our case in order to bring us that “clear” word. (2Tim 3:15-16)
- There are several reasons why Jacob decides to leave at this time.
- Hearing God’s voice:
- Read Joh 10:3,27 Joh 18:37
- =1= God is not determined to “hide” His perfect will or disguise His voice in order to trick you. It is not supposed to be some deep, dark mystery, nor is His will supposed to be unfathomable and beyond comprehension. These passages tell us that we will hear His voice and that we will know that it is He who is leading us.
- =2= The devil also speaks to us, so we must know the difference (Joh 10:5) Apply this test to tell the difference between God’s voice and Satan’s:
- =a= The Holy Spirit never contradicts the word of God, so test everything by the word of God. The more you know of the word of God, the more automatic this becomes.
- =b= Internally, you will either have a solid peace or an uneasy feeling. Christ brings peace. Do not pass this aspect off as meaningless, because it is the Holy Spirit working within you.
- =c= Satan nags, compels, and pushes while the Holy Spirit is tender, gentle, and kind.
- =3= God often asked questions when he confronted people in the Old Testament. Those questions were not so God could gain information. He already knows the answers. The questions were to bring things to the person’s attention. (Gen 3:9) When God asks you questions, it is to lift your faith and reveal new viewpoints to you.
- =4= Sometimes Satan asks questions when confronting people. (Gen 3:1) When Satan asks you questions, it leads to temptation.
Homework
Genesis 31:14-55
- Application of Gen 30:25 – 31:13
- Name a specific instance when God blessed you when you were not living the way He wanted you to live.
- Name a specific instance when God guided you to do something and you knew without a doubt that it was God speaking to you.
- Preparation for Gen 31:14-55
- Read Gen 31:1-42
- What do you think was right and what was wrong in the way Jacob left Laban’s household.
- Read Gen 31:1-42
| Right | Wrong |
- Why do you think Rachel took her father’s household gods (teraphim)?
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- Read Gen 31:43-55
- What do you think Gen 31:49 means?
- Read Gen 31:43-55
- Memory verse: Heb 12:14
