Jacob Called to Go Back

3Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”

4So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were. 5He said to them, “I see that your father’s attitude toward me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me. 6You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength, 7yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me. 8If he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, ‘The streaked ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked young. 9So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me.

10“In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted. 11The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 12And he said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. 13I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.’ ” (Genesis 31)

Thoughts: This was important. God showed Jacob He had a plan for him- to go back to the promised land and begin to fulfill the promise.  With Jacob, it wasn't just one son, or two, but 12.  The multiplication and fulfillment had begun. The blessing also.  This shows us that when God wants to bless someone, it doesn't matter if people want to cheat them out of their blessing or not.  God can overrule the foolish and evil plans of others.  The vow at Bethel was in part to tithe if God would bless him when he came back.  Now God is saying, He has fulfilled His part of the bargain.  Now it is time for Jacob to come back and fulfill his part- by tithing, giving God glory, and living in the promises of his people given by God.  

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to live in your calling, hope and your promises.