Jan 12 2009 Gen 29-30, Luke 12

Scripture
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth Genesis 29:1-2

Observation
For all of its simplicity this passage is another example of how God can take the broken lives we bring to him to bring about his purposes. After the Bethel experience, it’s here that we see God beginning to do a great work in Jacob’s life.

As Jacob continues his journey, he did the walking, but God did the leading and Jacob ended up precisely at the right spot. He finds a field with a well in it and pulls in for directions only to find out that he’s exactly where he needed to be. Someone else might call that a coincidence – I would call it providence. Jacob has now travelled some 400 miles for 10 days to arrive at this specific well.

Now notice God’s timing…verse 9 says…And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep. Again one could say it was a coincidence – and I would counter that it’s providence.

Jacob had agreed to let God run his life and now He was doing it.

Application
It shouldn’t surprise us. God’s timing and direction were perfect for Abraham’s servant back in chapter 24 of Genesis and its perfect when Ruth shows up in Boaz’s field, and his timing is perfect in his plans for our lives even when we don’t know it.
It’s in Jacob’s story and struggle that I find a parable of my own life. The drama of this patriarch’s transformation from deceitful schemer to humbled servant of God was just as painful for him as my own transformation is for me.

For a man who was used to doing things his way, learning to trust in God wasn’t automatic for Jacob and it isn’t automatic for me either. Through this story, God reminds me his timing and direction is not only better than mine, it is perfect.

Prayer
Wow, what a difference the Lord can make. Not just a change, but a total transformation. How encouraging it must have been for Jacob to sense your guiding him. Lord, please allow me to see that same thing in my life.