Podcasts about Laban

Itinuturing ang COP30 bilang pinakamahalagang pagpupulong ng COP sa loob ng sampung taon, kasabay ng paggunita sa isang dekada mula nang lagdaan ang Paris Climate Agreement na layuning bawasan ang global emissions.

Title: An Explosive Exit from Paddan-aram Passage: Genesis 31:4-55 Family Meeting and Departure (vv. 4-21) Laban's Angry Reaction (vv. 22-30) Laban's Search For His Gods (vv. 31-35) Jacob Loses It (vv. 36-42) An Agreement is Made and a Conclusion Comes (vv. 43-55)

God's protection and providence is on display in Jacob's escape from Laban, even through deceit and conflict.

God's protection and providence is on display in Jacob's escape from Laban, even through deceit and conflict.

Our Bible Reading of the Day is Genesis 29:1-30. Jacob experiences love at first sight when he meets Rachel at the well. Welcomed into his uncle Laban's household, Jacob agrees to work seven years in order to marry Rachel. When the wedding celebration finally arrives, Laban tricks Jacob into marrying Rachel's older sister, Leah. Realizing the deception, Jacob confronts his uncle, who gives him Rachel's hand for another seven years of service. Christ came into the world through this broken family of liars and deceivers. He, however, is sinless and perfect, and has come to restore us to a perfect relationship with the heavenly Father.

What do we do when we're the victim? When we're defrauded, cheated, left? Seth Stewart teaches on Genesis chapters 30 & 31 and the encouragement embedded in this story to seek and trust God with our most painful of circumstances.

The Bible never hides the mess that happens when sinful people collide. It doesnt take much to recognize that since Adam and Eve were promised a descendant who would crush the head of the serpent, the story of Gods people is one of dysfunction. All who make up Jesus family tree include broken and messy people. When we come to Genesis 29, we meet Jacoba deceiverand Leah, the woman no one wanted. But their story began long before this moment. God had promised Abraham that through his descendants would come a child who would bless all nations. That promise passed to Isaac, and before his twins were born, God declared,The older shall serve the younger (Gen. 25:23). Jacob deceived his aging father, stole his brothers blessing, and fled for his life. Alone in the wilderness, with only a stone for a pillow, God met him in a dream.I am the LORD, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go (Gen. 28:1315). God didnt appear to Jacob because he finally got his act togetherHe showed up in Jacobs mess. Thats the beauty of grace: God steps into our brokenness, keeps His promises, and accomplishes His plan through imperfect people. Later, God gave him the name Israel, but for the purpose of this sermon, we will continue to refer to him as Jacob (Gen. 35:9-21). Outside of Eden We Want Rachel (Gen. 29:1-20) When Laban heard his nephew had arrived, heran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house(Gen. 29:13). Jacob stayed with his uncle for a month, and during that time he fell in love with Labans younger daughter, Rachel (v. 18). Why did Jacob love Rachel? The text tells us:Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. And Leahs eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in figure and appearance(vv. 1617). Were not told exactly what it means that Leahs eyes were weak. Some think she was cross-eyed or simply lacked the beauty that her younger sister possessed. Whatever the case, the contrast is clearLeah was plain, but Rachel was striking. Even their names hint at the difference:Leahmay mean wild cow or gazelle, whileRachelmeans ewe or lamba softer, more affectionate name. Rachel was beautiful, and Jacob was captivated. When Laban offered to pay Jacob for his work, Jacob didnt ask for wageshe offered seven years of labor for Rachels hand. Laban agreed.So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days(Gen. 29:20, NLT). Rachel was the apple of his eyethe treasure of his heart. To Jacob, life with Rachel promised the happiness he had always longed for. And isnt that what we all want? On this side of Eden, every heart searches for a Rachelsomeone or something we believe will complete us. We might not call it Rachel, but we chase it in our stories, our dreams, and our longings. We dont want Leah. We want Rachel. If the Bible repeats something, we need to pay attention to it. But, if the Bible repeats something three times, it elevates it to the superlative degree as something super important. Three times we are told of Jacobs love for Rachel: Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel. (Gen. 29:18) So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him like only a few days because of his love for her. (Gen. 29:20) So Jacob had relations with Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years. (Gen. 29:30) Guess how many times we are told that Jacob loved Leah. Zero. In fact, when it comes to love, here is what we are told: Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was unable to have children (v. 31). Outside of Eden We Get Leah (Gen. 29:21-30) After Jacob completed the seven years he had promised his uncle, he was ready to receive what his heart had longed for.Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may have relations with her. So Laban gathered all the people of the place and held a feast(Gen. 29:2122). Finally, Jacob believed life was about to become sweet. The wedding celebration began, the food was served, and the wine flowed freely. When the bride was brought to himveiled and under cover of nightJacob, likely feeling content and confident, welcomed her.Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to him; and Jacob had relations with her.... So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah!(Gen. 29:23, 25a). Morning light brought a brutal truth. The woman beside him was not Rachelthe love of his lifebut Leah, the weak-eyed daughter whose very name meant wild cow. Jacob was furious. He had been deceivedjust as he had once deceived his brother Esau. His dream of happiness, shattered.And he said to Laban, What is this that you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?(v. 25). But Laban, the master manipulator, calmly replied,It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years(vv. 2627). Jacob was trappedused for free labor once again. He was tricked into taking the daughter he hadnt chosen, and bartered into another seven years for the one he loved. Unfortunately for Leah, she was stuck in the middle of all the drama. Outside of Eden There is Still Hope The marriage that Jacob was tricked into began with a week-long celebration. Laban insisted Jacob complete the festivities with Leah, giving enough time for her to become pregnant. Yet Jacob was eager for the days to end, and as soon as the week was over, he immediately married Rachel. Driven by the selfish motives of both Jacob and Laban, Leah found herself trappedcaught between their desires and loved by no one. Leah was rejected, while Rachel was cherished. The striking irony in Leahs story is that, while she was overlooked by everyone else, God loved her: Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was unable to have children (v. 31). Despite Gods blessings with each child, Leahs deepest longing, which was for her husbands love, remained out of reach. After every birth, Leah hoped that her husband would finally love her, yet that hope was continually unfulfilled. Consider how Leah responded after each of her first four child were born: Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, for she said, Because the Lord has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me. (v. 32) Then she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also. So she named him Simeon. (v. 33) And she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons. Therefore he was named Levi. (v. 34) And she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, This time I will praise the Lord. Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children. (v. 35) I wish Leahs story ended with her praising theLORD, but it didnt. She continued to seek Jacobs affection by giving him what Rachel could notchildren. Just as Sarah gave Hagar to Jacob, Rachel followed the same pattern when she could not conceive, unwilling to trust Gods timing. What followed was a rivalry between Leah and Rachel, each striving to win Jacobs love by giving him more sons. Both even gave their servants to Jacob, and through them, four more sons were born. In time, God blessed Leah with two additional sons and a daughter, yet her longing for her husbands love was never fulfilled (seeGen. 30:1921). Rachel, meanwhile, bore only two sonsJosephand, finally,Benjamin, the only son Jacob named. Then they journeyed on from Bethel; but when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and she suffered severe difficulties in her labor. And when she was suffering severe difficulties in her labor, the midwife said to her, Do not fear, for you have another son! And it came about, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin(Gen. 35:1618). Application The irony in Leahs story is striking: although she was overlooked by her father, unloved by her husband, and scorned by her younger sister, she was shown favor by God. Leah became the mother of seven children, including Levi and Judah. Through Levi, the priestly lineage was established, and through Judah, the royal line was formeda line that ultimately led to the birth of Jesus Christ! The promise God made to Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob... was Leahs promise. Listen to the prophetic blessing pronounced upon Judah by Jacob in Genesis 49:8-10, As for you, Judah, your brothers shall praise you;your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;your fathers sons shall bow down to you. Judah is a lions cub;from the prey, my son, you have gone up.He crouches, he lies down as a lion,and as a lion, who dares to stir him up? The scepter will not depart from Judah,nor the rulers staff from between his feet,until Shiloh comes;and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. The ugly wife was loved by God! Leah couldnt have seen it then, but the beauty God would bring through her lineage is staggering. Her name may meanweary,exhausted,gazelle, or evenwild cowyet through her would come the Deliverer promised to Adam and Eve, to Noah, to Abraham and Sarah, to Isaac, and now to Jacob. She was the wife no one loved or treasured, except God Himself. From Leahs sons came the tribe ofLevi, the tribe set apart to oversee the worship and sacrificial life of Israel. From the Levites, God appointed theHigh Priest, chosen from Aarons line, to mediate between God and His people. Upon his chest he wore a sacred breastplate adorned with twelve precious stones, each set in gold and engraved with the name of one of Israels tribes. Thefirst stone,sardiusa deep red rubyrepresentedReuben, whose name meansBehold, a son!Thelast stone,jasper, representedBenjamin, meaningson of my right hand. Leahs legacy was not measured by Jacobs affection but by Gods covenantal love. Through the unloved wife, God brought forth the priesthood that pointed to the Great High PriestJesus Christ. Conclusion Now, permit me to show you something from Revelation 4-5. In Revelation 4, John is invited to see the heavenly throne room of God. Notice what it is that John sees: After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things. Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and someone was sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. John is ushered into heavens throne room, and what captures his attention is that the One seated on the throne radiates with the colors of jasper and sardiusthe first and last stones on the High Priests breastplate. This is not accidental imagery. It is intentional revelation. What shines from the throne is He who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. When you pair the meanings of those names Behold, a Son and Son of My right handyou hear the gospel proclaimed from the very throne of God. Who is this Son at the right hand of the Father? Revelation 1:1718 gives the answer: Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades. The One radiant like sardius and jasper is none other than Jesus Christ. And how do we know He sits at the right hand of the Father? Because Paul who himself was from the tribe represented by the jasper stonedeclares in Romans 8:3134: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring charges against Gods elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. This is the One who is worthy to open the scroll in the Fathers hand. Revelation 5:5 tells us, ...behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals. The elder tells John to look at the Lion of Judah. But when John turns, he doesnt see a lion. He sees a Lamb. A Lamb standing, as if slaughtered... (Rev. 5:6). Jacob chased after a beautiful woman whose name meant sheep, but through Leahthe unloved, weary wifewould come the Lamb of God. The Lamb who stands before the throne as the triumphant Redeemer. And all of heaven erupts in worship: Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing (Rev. 5:12). What is the point of Leahs story? God redeems what is ugly, weary, and rejected. He takes what the world despises and uses it to accomplish His glorious plan of redemption. This is why the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders sing a new song to Leahs descendant: Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Rev. 5:9). And here is where the story turns deeply personal. We are Leah. We are the unlovely bride. We are the weary, broken, and undeserving. But instead of being repulsed by us, Jesus loves us. He makes us His Bride. Paul writes, For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:3839). Leahs story ends not in sorrow, but in the songs of heaven. The woman who was unloved became the vessel through whom the Lamb of God would come. The tribe she bore would point to the Great High Priest, and the Son of her bodys lineage would one day stand at the right hand of the Father. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. That is our story too. If you belong to Christ, then your shame, your weariness, and your rejection are not the end of the story. The throne is. The Lamb is. His love is.

On our 15 year anniversary Sunday, Pastor Ben continues our series in Genesis 30 on Jacob and Laban

The Bible never hides the mess that happens when sinful people collide. It doesnt take much to recognize that since Adam and Eve were promised a descendant who would crush the head of the serpent, the story of Gods people is one of dysfunction. All who make up Jesus family tree include broken and messy people. When we come to Genesis 29, we meet Jacoba deceiverand Leah, the woman no one wanted. But their story began long before this moment. God had promised Abraham that through his descendants would come a child who would bless all nations. That promise passed to Isaac, and before his twins were born, God declared,The older shall serve the younger (Gen. 25:23). Jacob deceived his aging father, stole his brothers blessing, and fled for his life. Alone in the wilderness, with only a stone for a pillow, God met him in a dream.I am the LORD, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go (Gen. 28:1315). God didnt appear to Jacob because he finally got his act togetherHe showed up in Jacobs mess. Thats the beauty of grace: God steps into our brokenness, keeps His promises, and accomplishes His plan through imperfect people. Later, God gave him the name Israel, but for the purpose of this sermon, we will continue to refer to him as Jacob (Gen. 35:9-21). Outside of Eden We Want Rachel (Gen. 29:1-20) When Laban heard his nephew had arrived, heran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house(Gen. 29:13). Jacob stayed with his uncle for a month, and during that time he fell in love with Labans younger daughter, Rachel (v. 18). Why did Jacob love Rachel? The text tells us:Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. And Leahs eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in figure and appearance(vv. 1617). Were not told exactly what it means that Leahs eyes were weak. Some think she was cross-eyed or simply lacked the beauty that her younger sister possessed. Whatever the case, the contrast is clearLeah was plain, but Rachel was striking. Even their names hint at the difference:Leahmay mean wild cow or gazelle, whileRachelmeans ewe or lamba softer, more affectionate name. Rachel was beautiful, and Jacob was captivated. When Laban offered to pay Jacob for his work, Jacob didnt ask for wageshe offered seven years of labor for Rachels hand. Laban agreed.So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days(Gen. 29:20, NLT). Rachel was the apple of his eyethe treasure of his heart. To Jacob, life with Rachel promised the happiness he had always longed for. And isnt that what we all want? On this side of Eden, every heart searches for a Rachelsomeone or something we believe will complete us. We might not call it Rachel, but we chase it in our stories, our dreams, and our longings. We dont want Leah. We want Rachel. If the Bible repeats something, we need to pay attention to it. But, if the Bible repeats something three times, it elevates it to the superlative degree as something super important. Three times we are told of Jacobs love for Rachel: Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel. (Gen. 29:18) So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him like only a few days because of his love for her. (Gen. 29:20) So Jacob had relations with Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years. (Gen. 29:30) Guess how many times we are told that Jacob loved Leah. Zero. In fact, when it comes to love, here is what we are told: Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was unable to have children (v. 31). Outside of Eden We Get Leah (Gen. 29:21-30) After Jacob completed the seven years he had promised his uncle, he was ready to receive what his heart had longed for.Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may have relations with her. So Laban gathered all the people of the place and held a feast(Gen. 29:2122). Finally, Jacob believed life was about to become sweet. The wedding celebration began, the food was served, and the wine flowed freely. When the bride was brought to himveiled and under cover of nightJacob, likely feeling content and confident, welcomed her.Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to him; and Jacob had relations with her.... So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah!(Gen. 29:23, 25a). Morning light brought a brutal truth. The woman beside him was not Rachelthe love of his lifebut Leah, the weak-eyed daughter whose very name meant wild cow. Jacob was furious. He had been deceivedjust as he had once deceived his brother Esau. His dream of happiness, shattered.And he said to Laban, What is this that you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?(v. 25). But Laban, the master manipulator, calmly replied,It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years(vv. 2627). Jacob was trappedused for free labor once again. He was tricked into taking the daughter he hadnt chosen, and bartered into another seven years for the one he loved. Unfortunately for Leah, she was stuck in the middle of all the drama. Outside of Eden There is Still Hope The marriage that Jacob was tricked into began with a week-long celebration. Laban insisted Jacob complete the festivities with Leah, giving enough time for her to become pregnant. Yet Jacob was eager for the days to end, and as soon as the week was over, he immediately married Rachel. Driven by the selfish motives of both Jacob and Laban, Leah found herself trappedcaught between their desires and loved by no one. Leah was rejected, while Rachel was cherished. The striking irony in Leahs story is that, while she was overlooked by everyone else, God loved her: Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was unable to have children (v. 31). Despite Gods blessings with each child, Leahs deepest longing, which was for her husbands love, remained out of reach. After every birth, Leah hoped that her husband would finally love her, yet that hope was continually unfulfilled. Consider how Leah responded after each of her first four child were born: Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, for she said, Because the Lord has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me. (v. 32) Then she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also. So she named him Simeon. (v. 33) And she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons. Therefore he was named Levi. (v. 34) And she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, This time I will praise the Lord. Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children. (v. 35) I wish Leahs story ended with her praising theLORD, but it didnt. She continued to seek Jacobs affection by giving him what Rachel could notchildren. Just as Sarah gave Hagar to Jacob, Rachel followed the same pattern when she could not conceive, unwilling to trust Gods timing. What followed was a rivalry between Leah and Rachel, each striving to win Jacobs love by giving him more sons. Both even gave their servants to Jacob, and through them, four more sons were born. In time, God blessed Leah with two additional sons and a daughter, yet her longing for her husbands love was never fulfilled (seeGen. 30:1921). Rachel, meanwhile, bore only two sonsJosephand, finally,Benjamin, the only son Jacob named. Then they journeyed on from Bethel; but when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and she suffered severe difficulties in her labor. And when she was suffering severe difficulties in her labor, the midwife said to her, Do not fear, for you have another son! And it came about, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin(Gen. 35:1618). Application The irony in Leahs story is striking: although she was overlooked by her father, unloved by her husband, and scorned by her younger sister, she was shown favor by God. Leah became the mother of seven children, including Levi and Judah. Through Levi, the priestly lineage was established, and through Judah, the royal line was formeda line that ultimately led to the birth of Jesus Christ! The promise God made to Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob... was Leahs promise. Listen to the prophetic blessing pronounced upon Judah by Jacob in Genesis 49:8-10, As for you, Judah, your brothers shall praise you;your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;your fathers sons shall bow down to you. Judah is a lions cub;from the prey, my son, you have gone up.He crouches, he lies down as a lion,and as a lion, who dares to stir him up? The scepter will not depart from Judah,nor the rulers staff from between his feet,until Shiloh comes;and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. The ugly wife was loved by God! Leah couldnt have seen it then, but the beauty God would bring through her lineage is staggering. Her name may meanweary,exhausted,gazelle, or evenwild cowyet through her would come the Deliverer promised to Adam and Eve, to Noah, to Abraham and Sarah, to Isaac, and now to Jacob. She was the wife no one loved or treasured, except God Himself. From Leahs sons came the tribe ofLevi, the tribe set apart to oversee the worship and sacrificial life of Israel. From the Levites, God appointed theHigh Priest, chosen from Aarons line, to mediate between God and His people. Upon his chest he wore a sacred breastplate adorned with twelve precious stones, each set in gold and engraved with the name of one of Israels tribes. Thefirst stone,sardiusa deep red rubyrepresentedReuben, whose name meansBehold, a son!Thelast stone,jasper, representedBenjamin, meaningson of my right hand. Leahs legacy was not measured by Jacobs affection but by Gods covenantal love. Through the unloved wife, God brought forth the priesthood that pointed to the Great High PriestJesus Christ. Conclusion Now, permit me to show you something from Revelation 4-5. In Revelation 4, John is invited to see the heavenly throne room of God. Notice what it is that John sees: After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things. Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and someone was sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. John is ushered into heavens throne room, and what captures his attention is that the One seated on the throne radiates with the colors of jasper and sardiusthe first and last stones on the High Priests breastplate. This is not accidental imagery. It is intentional revelation. What shines from the throne is He who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. When you pair the meanings of those names Behold, a Son and Son of My right handyou hear the gospel proclaimed from the very throne of God. Who is this Son at the right hand of the Father? Revelation 1:1718 gives the answer: Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades. The One radiant like sardius and jasper is none other than Jesus Christ. And how do we know He sits at the right hand of the Father? Because Paul who himself was from the tribe represented by the jasper stonedeclares in Romans 8:3134: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring charges against Gods elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. This is the One who is worthy to open the scroll in the Fathers hand. Revelation 5:5 tells us, ...behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals. The elder tells John to look at the Lion of Judah. But when John turns, he doesnt see a lion. He sees a Lamb. A Lamb standing, as if slaughtered... (Rev. 5:6). Jacob chased after a beautiful woman whose name meant sheep, but through Leahthe unloved, weary wifewould come the Lamb of God. The Lamb who stands before the throne as the triumphant Redeemer. And all of heaven erupts in worship: Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing (Rev. 5:12). What is the point of Leahs story? God redeems what is ugly, weary, and rejected. He takes what the world despises and uses it to accomplish His glorious plan of redemption. This is why the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders sing a new song to Leahs descendant: Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Rev. 5:9). And here is where the story turns deeply personal. We are Leah. We are the unlovely bride. We are the weary, broken, and undeserving. But instead of being repulsed by us, Jesus loves us. He makes us His Bride. Paul writes, For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:3839). Leahs story ends not in sorrow, but in the songs of heaven. The woman who was unloved became the vessel through whom the Lamb of God would come. The tribe she bore would point to the Great High Priest, and the Son of her bodys lineage would one day stand at the right hand of the Father. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. That is our story too. If you belong to Christ, then your shame, your weariness, and your rejection are not the end of the story. The throne is. The Lamb is. His love is.

Derek Chapin continues our series in Genesis, showing from Jacob's escape from Laban that even in seasons of deceit, conflict, and hardship, God is faithfully at work to redeem, protect, and free His people, keeping His promises and turning every circumstance toward His good purposes.

Wednesday night 10/22/25 - We are continuing our verse by verse study through the book of Genesis - The title of tonight's message is "Jacob Unloads On Laban" - Genesis 31:36-55 - Pastor James Eakins

What can we do to avoid family disagreements? Jacob's and Laban's conflict over flocks, deceit, and even stolen idols pushed them to the edge—but God stepped in to bring resolution.

What happens when family disagreements spiral into conflict? Jacob and Laban's clashing over flocks and wages shows how quickly strife can divide even close relatives. Join Jim Scudder on InGrace for part one of How to Solve Family Disagreements, and discover God's wisdom for healing broken relationships.

John Riner continues our series in Genesis, showing from Jacob's escape from Laban that even in seasons of deceit, conflict, and hardship, God is faithfully at work to redeem, protect, and free His people, keeping His promises and turning every circumstance toward His good purposes.

Love will make you do some crazy things. Love can change us. It can soften our hearts and change our priorities. Love is selfless. Love starts with a relationship and friendship. The hardships didn't matter because you love each other. Love will cause you to do things others would not understand. Jesus demonstrated His love by laying down. His life, while we were still sinners. In our text, Jacob is with Leben. He loved Rachel and submitted himself to the work for seven years because of his love. We like our payment up front, but Jacob agreed to work for 7 years before receiving Rachel as his wife, AND THEN to work for seven more after Laban tricked him. The bible says it only seemed like a few days because he loved Rachel so much. He was willing to do anything because he loved her. Is our relationship with Jesus like that? Do we view our relationship as a burden or a chore? Can we go back to the moment when we knew we loved Jesus? Can we remember what it felt like when we came up out of the water? Can we go back to when we received the Holy Ghost? Can we remember how we felt then? Does it still feel like that? When we serve, it is not an obligation or a duty; it is done out of love. Don't forget that feeling from the beginning when our love for Jesus was not a chore, but a privilege.

Love will make you do some crazy things. Love can change us. It can soften our hearts and change our priorities. Love is selfless. Love starts with a relationship and friendship. The hardships didn't matter because you love each other. Love will cause you to do things others would not understand. Jesus demonstrated His love by laying down. His life, while we were still sinners. In our text, Jacob is with Leben. He loved Rachel and submitted himself to the work for seven years because of his love. We like our payment up front, but Jacob agreed to work for 7 years before receiving Rachel as his wife, AND THEN to work for seven more after Laban tricked him. The bible says it only seemed like a few days because he loved Rachel so much. He was willing to do anything because he loved her. Is our relationship with Jesus like that? Do we view our relationship as a burden or a chore? Can we go back to the moment when we knew we loved Jesus? Can we remember what it felt like when we came up out of the water? Can we go back to when we received the Holy Ghost? Can we remember how we felt then? Does it still feel like that? When we serve, it is not an obligation or a duty; it is done out of love. Don't forget that feeling from the beginning when our love for Jesus was not a chore, but a privilege.

Genesis 30:25-31:55 - Rev. Max Benfer

In this series, Pastor Trenton Cruse continues our journey through the Bible by discussing the life of Jacob. The goal of this series is to give you a better understanding of who Jacob was; and help you discover that your past doesn't determine your future...(Genesis 29:15-35)

Slaves? Bondsmen? Apprentice? Student loans; Jacob's deal with Laban; Marriage license; Moses' exodus; Julius Caesar's bondage; Contracting rights away; Egypt's Pharaoh; Cause/effect world; Contracts, covenants and constitutions; Asking father for permission to marry daughter; Patriarchy; Parens patria; Isaiah 9:2; Darkness; Error of Baalam; Nicolaitans; Your consent; Offer and acceptance; Pharaoh's sharing; China one-child contract; Benefits as bait; One purse?; Free?; Coercion; What made Rome great?; Loss of values; Decrease in rights; Bait = something for nothing; Pure religion; Sacrificing for your neighbor; Altars; Lively stones; Mark Q?; Communist manifesto; Back in Babylon; Education; Learning from history; Loving the truth; Kristie Q? - Davy Crockett; Lady Godiva?; No exercising authority; Charity requirements; "Faith" defined; Un-holy spirits; Guilt-control; No coveting; Bankruptcy; God's salvation; Walking in faith; Loving neighbor as self; Ekklesia; Miracles; Mark Q? Altars misunderstood?; Creeping corruption; Notes; Denominating money; Deception; Bowing down to statues?; Golden Calf = Reserve fund; Working together; Mystery Babylon; Mark of the Beast; Finger-pointing?; Neglecting our duties; Knowing God; Coming together like Christ; True Church; Allowing choice; Going to the light; Tree of Life; Unhewn stones; Meat with blood in it; Cities of blood; Join the Living Network.

Join us for a fun and inspiring chat with author Terry LaBan as we dive into his hilarious and heartfelt graphic novel Mendel the Mess Up! Discover how Mendel's big mistakes lead to even bigger lessons, what inspired this unforgettable character, and why sometimes being a little messy isn't such a bad thing. Perfect for students, teachers, and anyone who loves a good laugh and a great story!

Brockport First Baptist sermon audio from Sunday, October 12, 2025: “Jacob vs. Laban,” by Rev. Dr. Dan Brockway. Scripture reading: Genesis 30.Our mission is to embody God's love outside the walls of the church, in Brockport and beyond. SUPPORT OUR MINISTRIES: www.brockportfirstbaptist.org/giveLEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CHURCH: www.brockportfirstbaptist.org

Shad Brooks, also known as "Shadiversity" comes in studio to talk about the sword of Laban and "peacemaking" of all things.

God's divine providence in the life of Jacob and the impact of his relationship with Laban. 

Sometimes you pray... and nothing happens. You’re asking for something good, but God isn’t budging. What’s happening? You might be wrestling with God.Maybe He’s been leading you to do something—and you’ve resisted... You won’t let Him into that one area of your life. You won’t break off that relationship that drains you spiritually. You won’t give up that habit that drags you down. You’re afraid to take that step of faith.Remember Jonah? God said, “Go.” Jonah said, “No.” And God said, “Oh?”If that’s you—you’re not alone. Even Jacob wrestled with God. His struggle began with resisting and ended with resting. He stopped fighting and started clinging—saying, “I will not let You go until You bless me.” Pastor Greg Laurie shares more in this message. Notes: Focus verse - Genesis 32 God’s plans are better than ours. Have you ever prayed and prayed for something, and no answer came? The Bible urges us to bring our needs to God.Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) Wrestling with God is not necessarily a bad thing. “My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right."—Abraham Lincoln Hosea 12:3 (NLT)Even in the womb, Jacob struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God. Hosea 12:4 (NLT)Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. There at Bethel he met God face to face, and God spoke to him. Jesus is the Passover lamb in Exodus; in Numbers, He is the bronze serpent lifted up. A Christophany is an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament. Jacob was wrestling with Jesus Himself. Genesis 25:23 (NKJV)And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, …And the older shall serve the younger." Psalm 139:14,16 The meaning of Jacob’s name isheel-catcher, contender, supplanter, grabber. God does not just see you for what you are, but for what you can become. God sees things differently than we do.We see failure, God sees potential.We see the past, God sees the future.We see sin, God sees restoration. Time showed that Jacob was a righteous manand Esau was an ungodly man. It’s not about how we start this race in life but how we finish it. It was not an easy road for Jacob, and that was his own fault. Hebrews 12:16 (NLT)Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. When we get tired of praying, we start scheming, and we make a mess of things. Rebecca sent Jacob to visit her brother, Laban.On the way there, Jacob had an encounter with God. All Jacob had to do was wait on God’s timing. Jacob met his match in his uncle Laban.The trickster met the trickster extraordinaire. We reap what we sow. Christians should try to live in peace with people.Romans 12:18 God meets us at whatever level He finds usand lifts us to where He wants us to be. God will come to you in just the right way.Hebrews 4:16 Read Genesis 32:24–30 Jacob was wrestling with Jesus Christ. We need to get away from all the distractions of life and get alone with God. When you get to the end of yourself, you get to the beginning of God. Now, instead of fighting with God, Jacob is clinging to Him. In surrender to God’s plan, Jacob found what he always wanted,the very blessing he asked God for. We win by losing.Luke 17:33 Genesis 32:28 (NLT)"Your name will no longer be Jacob," the man told him. "From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won." "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."—Corrie Ten Boom Are you running from God?The good news is God is running to you. Join us for the Harvest Crusade: Hope for America on November 16! --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners. Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes you pray... and nothing happens. You’re asking for something good, but God isn’t budging. What’s happening? You might be wrestling with God.Maybe He’s been leading you to do something—and you’ve resisted... You won’t let Him into that one area of your life. You won’t break off that relationship that drains you spiritually. You won’t give up that habit that drags you down. You’re afraid to take that step of faith.Remember Jonah? God said, “Go.” Jonah said, “No.” And God said, “Oh?”If that’s you—you’re not alone. Even Jacob wrestled with God. His struggle began with resisting and ended with resting. He stopped fighting and started clinging—saying, “I will not let You go until You bless me.” Pastor Greg Laurie shares more in this message. Notes: Focus verse - Genesis 32 God’s plans are better than ours. Have you ever prayed and prayed for something, and no answer came? The Bible urges us to bring our needs to God.Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) Wrestling with God is not necessarily a bad thing. “My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right."—Abraham Lincoln Hosea 12:3 (NLT)Even in the womb, Jacob struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God. Hosea 12:4 (NLT)Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. There at Bethel he met God face to face, and God spoke to him. Jesus is the Passover lamb in Exodus; in Numbers, He is the bronze serpent lifted up. A Christophany is an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament. Jacob was wrestling with Jesus Himself. Genesis 25:23 (NKJV)And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, …And the older shall serve the younger." Psalm 139:14,16 The meaning of Jacob’s name isheel-catcher, contender, supplanter, grabber. God does not just see you for what you are, but for what you can become. God sees things differently than we do.We see failure, God sees potential.We see the past, God sees the future.We see sin, God sees restoration. Time showed that Jacob was a righteous manand Esau was an ungodly man. It’s not about how we start this race in life but how we finish it. It was not an easy road for Jacob, and that was his own fault. Hebrews 12:16 (NLT)Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. When we get tired of praying, we start scheming, and we make a mess of things. Rebecca sent Jacob to visit her brother, Laban.On the way there, Jacob had an encounter with God. All Jacob had to do was wait on God’s timing. Jacob met his match in his uncle Laban.The trickster met the trickster extraordinaire. We reap what we sow. Christians should try to live in peace with people.Romans 12:18 God meets us at whatever level He finds usand lifts us to where He wants us to be. God will come to you in just the right way.Hebrews 4:16 Read Genesis 32:24–30 Jacob was wrestling with Jesus Christ. We need to get away from all the distractions of life and get alone with God. When you get to the end of yourself, you get to the beginning of God. Now, instead of fighting with God, Jacob is clinging to Him. In surrender to God’s plan, Jacob found what he always wanted,the very blessing he asked God for. We win by losing.Luke 17:33 Genesis 32:28 (NLT)"Your name will no longer be Jacob," the man told him. "From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won." "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."—Corrie Ten Boom Are you running from God?The good news is God is running to you. Join us for the Harvest Crusade: Hope for America on November 16! --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners. Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MKAU Interviews: Mike Bilder (Chief Executive Officer) & Allard Laban (Chief Creative Officer) @ Jackbox Games

Bible about setting the captive free; Dominion; What practices produce liberty?; Bondage and oppression; Plutarch; Polybius; Perfect savages; Understanding how to live free; Altars of Cain and Abel; Bible: Government of, for and by the people; Biting one another; Becoming merchandise; FDR; Getting back to liberty under God; Structure; Freedom to choose; One purse; Sacrifice; Jacob giving choice to people; vs Laban; Sin of Sodom; City life; Melchizedek; Righteousness; Isaiah 62:6; "Jerusalem"; "Israel"; Returning men to family and possessions; Nature of your sacrifice; Living stones; The standard of God; nun-samach; Faith vs allegiance; Jude 5 "Jesus"?; God's anointed; Following Holy Spirit; Worshipping doctrine?; Nimrod "hunter"?; "Semites"; Keeping your neighbor free; Doing the will of the father; Loving truth; Civil Jerusalem?; Call no man "father"; Extending debt; Maintaining an entrance to the kingdom; Immoral addiction to benefits; Bread and circuses; Abraham's vision; Sanctity of marriage; Individual inspiration; Democracies vs (pure) republics; Knowing yourself; And wanting to know truth; "Dry bones"; Meditation; Faith compels action; Jacob's booths; Becoming part of the network; Free assemblies; Caring about others; Charity; Killing care; Christian = follower of Christ; Whoring after benefits of the beast; "The Way"; Q: Kristie: Conflict on Trinity; Obeying God; Helping others with their unbelief; Q" Mark - civility of discussion; Watchmen; Exercising our rights and responsibilities; "God"; Cancelling; Demoniac; Spirit of destruction; Being used by Holy Spirit; Being at peace; Knowing your weaknesses; Evidence of belief; Seek His kingdom and righteousness.

Cale looks at Genesis 30. Jacob tries to leave Laban and return to his homeland, but this proves a difficult task. Rachel steals Laban’s “household gods”.

It’s one of the greatest love stories in the Bible: the story of Jacob and Rachel. But Jacob, the deceiver, is deceived by Laban and marries Leah. Cale breaks down Genesis 29.

Genesis 29 - Rev. Max Benfer

The Anchor of the Soul Genesis 31 Speaker: Dr. Weston Brown Series: Genesis More info @ covenantshreveport.org Genesis 31 tells the story of Jacob's tense departure from Laban's household, a story filled with deception, fear, and fragile peace. Yet beneath the chaos runs a deeper truth: God remains faithful to His covenant even when His people are not. He protects, provides, and preserves His promise. Through this passage, we see: The God who keeps His covenant: His promises stand firm even in our weakness. The God who protects His covenant people: His presence shields and sustains us. The God who establishes peace through covenant, pointing us to Christ, the true Mediator of a better and eternal covenant. Just as an anchor holds a ship fast beneath stormy waters, God's covenant holds our souls secure through every uncertainty of life. In Christ, the fragile truces of human promise are replaced by unshakable peace and everlasting hope.

Laban son of Nahor; Idolator; Authority; Benefits like protection; Cutting yourself off from the LORD; Protecting righteousness; Abimelech; Welfare snares and traps; Seeking guidance from Holy Spirit; Rachel's treachery; "livestock" vav-lamad-mem-kuf-hey-vav; "Seir"; Strong's numbers; Righteousness of Melchizedek; King Jesus; Semites; Government of love and peace; Structure of The Church; Serving God; Becoming Israel; Repentance; Errors of deception; Jacob's bondage; Covetous practices; Jacob's possessions; Gen 13:12; "Sechem" = "consent"; The way of peace; Tithing; hey-kuf-kuf-resh; Giving consent to city-states; 1 Sam 8 warnings; Today's "Israel"; Charity and altars; Burnt offerings?; Getting back to Holy Spirit; Canaanites; Men made into merchandise (Human resources); Gen 34:1 Dinah; Defiled?; vav+yod+ayin-nun-hey; tet-mem-aleph (defiled?); Hamor's communion; Creating allies; Rape?; Deceit biet+mem-resh-mem-hey = subtle; Circumcision; of the heart?; Markings; Freewill offerings; Sacrifice; Turning children over to the state; Using government to force neighbors; Jesus's instructions regarding covetousness; The way of Abraham; Agreeing for safety; Some choose the city (consent); Ekklesia joining with Jacob; City = terror (binding); Constitutional right to contract; Cash only = "no notes"; Skip to v30? Making Jacob stink; Sons betraying Jacob; Ps 110:4; Heb 5:6; Melchizedek; Heb 6:20; King + high priest; Becoming merchandise; Heb 7:1; Climbing around in the Tree of Knowledge; Daughters? Biet-biet-nun-vav-tav?; Are you following Christ?; Vision of Abraham - smoking furnace dividing sacrifice; Civil systems force sacrifice; King Saul's folly; Consenting against your neighbor; Mystery Babylon; Devouring the world; Connecting with Holy Spirit; Gen 27:35 Blaspheming the Lord; Jer 9:6 deceit; Deceiving yourself; lamad-hey-biet-aleph-yod-shen-nun-yod; Overcoming Jacob's stink; Join us.

     Concerning the permission of divorce, Jesus said the Pharisees, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way” (Matt 19:8). God's permissive will can be observed on a national level, as Paul said, “In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways” (Acts 14:16). This explains much of the poor behavior we see among the nations as we study world history. Though God desires righteousness among the nations (Prov 14:34), He allows them to pursue their own values and priorities. Yet He never relinquishes His sovereignty, and in time, He will hold every nation accountable for its actions (Ps 9:17; Rev 20:12-13).      God is always righteous and directs people to righteous living. However, God is no bully, as He does not force people to obey Him. When people turn negative to God, He permits them to pursue their sinful ways, though they are not free to choose the consequences of their actions. One who plays with fire will eventually get burned. Concerning those who “suppress God's truth in unrighteousness” (Rom 1:18), three times it is written that He “gave them over” to “the lusts of their hearts” (Rom 1:24), and “to degrading passions” (Rom 1:26), and “to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper” (Rom 1:28). Once God permits a person to operate by his/her sinful passions, they are given a measure of freedom to live as they want. These are described as “being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful” (Rom 1:29-31).      Fourth, there is God's overruling will, which refers to those occasions when He hinders His creatures from acting contrary to His sovereign purposes. Throughout Scripture we observe God intervening in the actions of fallen angels and people. After God permitted Adam and Eve to disobey Him, He then drove them from the Garden of Eden and overruled their ability to go back in and eat from the tree of life (Gen 3:22-24). After Abraham lied to Abimelech and told him that Sarah was his sister, Abimelech took her as his wife. However, in order to protect Sarah, God intervened and told Abimelech, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married” (Gen 20:3). Abimelech pleaded with God and claimed his innocence (Gen 20:4-5). God, being just, told Abimelech, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore, I did not let you touch her” (Gen 20:6). Jacob served his uncle Laban for twenty years, but during that time his uncle had mistreated him, and by the end, he saw his uncle “was not friendly toward him as formerly” (Gen 31:2). Realizing it was time for Jacob to leave his uncle, he told his two wives, Rachel and Leah, “your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times; however, God did not allow him to hurt me” (Gen 31:7). During the tribulation, there will be hostile unbelievers who will try to flee from God's wrath by seeking death. But God prevents them from this escape, as John writes, “in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them” (Rev 9:6).      When Satan wanted to attack Job, God granted him permission, saying, “Behold, all that he has is in your power” (Job 1:12a). But then God restrained Satan, saying, “do not put forth your hand on him” (Job 1:12b). When Satan came back a second time, God granted him permission to attack Job's body, saying, “he is in your power” (Job 2:6a), but then told him to “spare his life” (Job 2:6b). When Job's wife advised him to “curse God and die” (Job 2:9), he responded, saying, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10). During the seven-year tribulation, demons are released from an angelic prison and “power was given them” to hurt unbelievers (Rev 9:3). However, they were restrained, as God told them, “not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months” (Rev 9:4-5a). Satan is currently active in the world (1 Pet 5:8; 1 John 5:19) and will be during the tribulation. However, God intervenes at the end of the tribulation and has Satan arrested and “bound him for a thousand years” (Rev 20:2). God's arresting angel “threw Satan into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time” (Rev 20:3).      Fifth, there is God's providential will, which refers to the outworking of His sovereign will in such a way that He creates circumstances that direct our lives and destiny. Believers who understand this will make their human plans contingent on God's sovereign plans (1 Ch 13:2; Acts 18:21; Jam 4:15). As God's people, we know the Lord and His will for our lives because His written Word informs and guides us. The Bible is our divine pedagogical guide. In addition to Scripture, God directs us providentially as He controls the circumstances of our lives to His desired end. However, only the believer with a thorough knowledge of God's Word can properly interpret his/her circumstances and know what God is doing. Interpreting circumstances, or divine impressions on the heart, is never as clear as knowing God's Word. Charles Clough states: "There is a mystical element to Christianity in how the Lord leads you; and He impresses upon you different things. But you can never elevate that mystical part of your Christian life and make it equal to the revelation of Scripture, because the revelation of Scripture is the measuring stick so you can tell the difference between Christ in the heart and heart burn. How you do that is whether it fits the Scripture."[1] God's providence is His continual care over the creation He brought into existence. God continues to create and control circumstances in order to direct history according to His predetermined plan, all for His glory and the benefit of His people. People live in the flow of history, and are moved by the circumstances God controls. J. I. Packer states: "Providence is normally defined in Christian theology as the unceasing activity of the Creator whereby, in overflowing bounty and goodwill (Psa 145:9 cf. Mt 5:45–48), he upholds his creatures in ordered existence (Acts 17:28; Col 1:17; Heb 1:3), guides and governs all events, circumstances and free acts of angels and men (cf. Psa 107; Job 1:12; 2:6; Gen 45:5–8), and directs everything to its appointed goal, for his own glory (cf. Eph 1:9–12)."[2]      God is holy and never creates evil, however, He can and does control those who do. Satan, and those who follow him, are ultimately under God's sovereign control, and even their evil plans and actions are used for His good purposes. For example, Joseph was mistreated by his brothers and sold into slavery and taken to Egypt where he suffered greatly. Yet, later in his life, Joseph interpreted their behavior from the divine perspective, telling his brothers, “Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life” (Gen 45:5). And Joseph repeated himself a second time, saying, “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God” (Gen 45:7-8a). And later, he told them a third time, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Gen 50:20). It was God's providence that drove Saul to chase after his father's donkeys, and then be led to the prophet Samuel and anointed king of Israel (1 Sam 9-10). It was God's providence that directed Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, so the baby Jesus would be born at the appointed time and place (Mic 5:2; Luke 2:4-6; Gal 4:4). Later, Joseph and Mary were compelled to go to Egypt, in order to preserve the baby Savior (Matt 2:13-15). It was God's providence that forced Aquila and Priscilla out of Rome by the emperor Claudius' decree, only to meet the apostle Paul in Corinth and join him in Christian ministry (Acts 18:1-3; Rom 16:3; 1 Cor 16:19). It was God's providence that put the Lord Jesus on the cross to be crucified by the hands of godless men. Peter, charging Israelites in Jerusalem concerning Jesus's death, said, “This Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death” (Acts 2:23). And after being persecuted by the leaders in Jerusalem, Peter and John, along with others, said to God, “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur” (Acts 4:27-28). In these verses we see people behaving sinfully, whether Joseph's brothers, or human rulers who abuse their power; yet God used their sinful choices to bring about a greater good. Because God is righteous, all His actions are just (Psa 119:137). Because He is loving (1 John 4:8), He directs all things for the benefit of His people. Because He is good (Psa 34:8; 100:5), He “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28).      Concerning Christian ministry, God providentially opens and closes doors of service. Throughout the New Testament, an “open door” refers to a divinely orchestrated opportunity for sharing the gospel and engaging in Christian ministry (Acts 14:25-27). On one occasion the Lord closed an opportunity for ministry (Acts 16:6-7), but then opened another (Acts 16:9-10). An “open door” for ministry can have opposition (1 Cor 16:7-9), does not remove everyday concerns about life (2 Cor 2:12-13), should be sought with prayer (Col 4:2-3), and once opened cannot be shut by people (Rev 3:8). As God's people, we do not create occasions for Christian ministry; we simply accept those provided for us by the Lord (Eph 2:10).    In summary, knowing and doing God's will is largely a matter of knowing His Word and walking in it. Those who are positive to God will desire His Word in order to obey it. From Scripture we know about the Lord Himself, His sovereign control over His creation, what He desires of us, His permission of sin, as well as His directing history providentially to the return and reign of Christ. Where Scripture is silent, we may try to ascertain His will through the circumstances of our life, but such understanding must always be subordinate to the clear revelation of Scripture. Steven R. Cook, D.Min., M.Div.   [1] Charles Clough, Lesson 21 - Moral Relativism; Justification & Procedures for Holy War, (2010, 17th minute). https://www.bibleframeworkapplied.org/multi-lesson-series/deuteronomy [2] J. I. Packer, “Providence” in New Bible Dictionary, ed. D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard and D. J. Wiseman, 3rd ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 979-80.

Today, we'll meet Jacob's speckled sheep. We'll see Jacob split from Laban. We'll also talk about Jacob's journey to the lands near Esau's territory. Gen. 30:25 - Gen. 31:3, 4-21, 22-30, 31-55; Gen. 32:1-21 #everydaychristians  

As spring has arrived in Australia, a leading food safety advocate group is calling Australians to also conduct a spring clean for their fridges, freezers and pantries. - Sa pagpasok ng spring o tagsibol sa Australia, nanawagan ang mga food safety advocate group na magsagawa rin ang mga Australyano ng “spring clean” sa mga refrigerator, freezer at pantry.

X-Space discussions; Why hate Charlie Kirk; "Judeo-Christian" ideas; Nicolaitans?; Baalam?; False accusations; What are Judeo values?; Christian values?; Doers of the word; Califates; Importance of context; Translation; "Abimelech"; vs "Melchizedek"; Sycamore tree?; Luke 19 parable; Zacchaeus; Taxation; Perils of electing rulers; Pure religion vs public religion; Jesus hailed as king - of peace; Firing moneychangers; Both king and high priest; Tithing; Freewill offerings; Abraham's altars; "Communities"; Tesserae?; "Logos" = "The Word" = Right reason; vs "Rhema"; Mt 4:10 Worship and serve; Dictates of the LORD thy God; Cloaking the bible in mindless rituals; Corban; Serving God from home; Blessing of Abraham; Understanding your bondage; Willingness to communicate/converse; Gen 32:1; mem-chet-nun-yod-mem (Mahanaim); Gen 28:12; mem-lamad-aleph-kof-yod Angels; Prov 16:11 (Messenger); Unjust weights; Righteousness; "Leaven" = oppression; Two ways to rule a nation; Gifting Esau?; hey+mem-lamad-aleph-kof-yod+mem messenger? "Host" of God?; Messengers, angels; Herod's recognizing messiah; Values of God; Laban's ways; Covering Abraham's wells; Symbolism; Freedom of choice; Altars of charity; Covetous practices = idolatry; Anti-Christ; Is Christ really your king?; Well of satisfaction; Augustus Caesar - son of God?; Welfare snares; Egyptians leaving Egypt; "Shem"ites; "Fear not!"; Is your church taking care of all the needy?; Making Christians "peculiar"; Seeking the fullness of the kingdom; Jacob's procession of gifts; Consistent Christianity; Jacob wrestled a man = mem-lamad-shin-kuf; Gen 32:28 "strive"; Prince having power; Listening to Holy Spirit; Need to pray; Setting others free; Consistency of living in faith, hope and charity; Trusting God; Respecters of persons; pey-nun-yod-aleph-lamad (Peniel); Becoming Israel; Face of God?; Walking with God; What was Esau doing differently?; What about Jacob's sons?; Making Jacob stink; Seek His kingdom and His righteousness.

Jacob and his family leave Laban's home and begin their journey home to the Promised Land of Canaan. This is a story that illustrates how God moves His people back to Himself and His promises.

These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.2 (There are eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.)3 And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the Lord had given him in commandment unto them;4 After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei:5 On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying,6 The Lord our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:7 Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.8 Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.9 And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:10 The Lord your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.11 (The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!)12 How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?13 Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.14 And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do.15 So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.16 And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.18 And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do.19 And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the Lord our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea.20 And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the Lord our God doth give unto us.21 Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.22 And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.23 And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe:24 And they turned and went up into the mountain, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out.25 And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land which the Lord our God doth give us.26 Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God:27 And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the Lord hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.28 Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.29 Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.30 The Lord your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;31 And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the Lord thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.32 Yet in this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God,33 Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.34 And the Lord heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,35 Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers.36 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the Lord.37 Also the Lord was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.38 But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.39 Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.40 But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.41 Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the Lord, we will go up and fight, according to all that the Lord our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill.42 And the Lord said unto me, Say unto them. Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.43 So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord, and went presumptuously up into the hill.44 And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah.45 And ye returned and wept before the Lord; but the Lord would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you.46 So ye abode in Kadesh many days, according unto the days that ye abode there.

Dr. Ted Traylor shares a message Sunday, September 14, from Genesis 29:1-14. He talks about the relationship between Jacob, Rachel and Laban, discusses the Charlie Kirk assassination, and shares about the living water found in Jesus Christ.   00:00 - Introduction 04:25 - I. Three Sinful Shepherds 8:00 - II. Two Emotional Kisses 12:40 - Discussion on the Charlie Kirk Assassination 20:17 - III. One Well of Living Water   Visit olivebaptist.org for more information.

Sons of Jacob; Misunderstanding Abraham; Choosing rulers; Forcing sacrifice; Saul's foolish thing; Davey Crockett; Not to be like the governments of the gentiles; Born again?; Charlie Kirk; Relating to college students; Dependence on benefits; Emotionalizing; Eating at the table of rulers; Becoming Israel; Going into bondage; Corban of the Pharisees; Melchizedek; Altars; Tithing; Sitting down in Tens; Bondage of Egypt; Finding truth; Jacob's dream; Honoring father and mother; Losing morality; Gen 31:1; Laban's eye; Semite?; Setting the captive free; Jacob's wives; Following God explanation; Exodus studies; Jacob's insight; Journeying back to the Tree of Life; Not recognizing evil; Hating truth; Numbering of citizens; Linking by treaties; Social security; X space for HHC; Welfare snares and traps; Making YOU a resource; Spiritual experiences; Returning to righteousness; Culture of Laban; Inheritance for daughters?; Slavery; Bondage worse than Egypt; Cherishing children; Oppression; Going back to Isaac; Laban's authority; Shearing the sheep/people; Biting one another; Devouring; No political solution; Respecters of persons; Allegory and metaphor; Conversation?; Force is not okay; Stolen gods?; Gen 31:31; (afriad) yod-resh-aleph+tav+yod; Rachel's children; Badges of Nahor?; Who is Israel today?; Speaking truth; Customs opposing God; Laban selling everything; New covenant - Galeed; God's protection; Barrier between Jacob and Laban; "shin-hey-dalet" (record), "yod-gimel" (judge of the record), "vav-tav-aleph" = Jegarsahadutha; Galeed - "gimel-lamad-tzedek-dalet"; Freewill offerings; vs Covetousness; A way out of darkness?; Gen 3:8; Hiding from God; Ps 69:22; Darkened eyes; Modern Israel; Agreeing with Moses and Christ; Peace on your house.

The Draft is finally back. The boys start out the pod with another classic Laban story. You are going to want to hear this one. That dude is always up to something. Then the boys get into the most insane and combative draft yet where they must select their ideal items to bring on a roadtrip. 4 brothers, 5 picks each. The categories are: drink, candy, salty/savory snack, an entertainment item, and the WILDCARD pick. What will they choose? Will they choose nothing? Will they abandon the draft and go to Cracker Barrel? Will we discuss the Philly Piece or wait until next week? Where am I? Tune in NOW Do the draft and Email us your picks: thegoodbrothersshow@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram & Facebook @thegoodbrothersshow  

Audio, eng_t_norav_2025-09-10_lesson_rb-1985-11-ba-inyan-vikuah_n1_p4. Lesson_part :: Daily_lesson 1

Video, eng_t_norav_2025-09-10_lesson_rb-1985-11-ba-inyan-vikuah_n1_p4. Lesson_part :: Daily_lesson 1

Rabash. Concerning the Debate between Jacob and Laban. 11 (1985)

Audio, eng_t_norav_2025-09-10_lesson_rb-1985-11-ba-inyan-vikuah_n1_p4. Lesson_part :: Daily_lesson 1

In this week's episode, we explore the mitzvah of bringing the first fruits and the deeper spiritual meaning hidden within it. The Maor VaShemesh teaches that the practice is not only about gratitude, but about desire itself—how we meet our strongest cravings and transform them into offerings of the heart. Along the way, he weaves the story of Laban, Egypt, and the gathering of holy sparks into a map for spiritual life, reminding us that every act of restraint, every pause before pleasure, can help repair something ancient. What does it mean today to dedicate our “first fruits”—our first energy, first thoughts, first creativity—to the sacred?

"Sermon Outline: Genesis 32:1-21 — Unworthy of the Blessings Received by GraceProp: God often brings us to our end to soften our hearts to the gospel.Introduction:Jacob's story is a powerful conversion narrative revealing God's sovereign grace.Before doing good or bad, God's election stands: “the older will serve the younger.”Jacob seems unworthy through all his deception, raising the key question: When will Jacob truly worship God?Jacob's exile and return mirror Israel's exile and restoration in Christ, the true “Way, Truth, and Life.”Jacob's Predicament:Jacob flees Laban after deceit and conflict, then faces imminent threat from Esau, who still wants to kill him.Jacob is vulnerable, trapped between fear and no escape—his back is against the wall.Change of Disposition:In deep distress, Jacob begins spiritual transformation, humbling himself before both Esau and God.“Propitiation” means to turn away wrath — Jacob seeks to appease both his brother and God.Like gold refined by fire, Jacob's heart becomes malleable in God's hands.Jacob's Plan to Propitiate Esau (vv. 3-8, 13-21):First gift attempt confirms fear; Esau approaches with 400 men.Jacob divides his camp, prepares gifts to appease Esau.Though Esau should serve Jacob (older serving younger), Jacob humbles himself and submits.True exaltation in God's eyes comes through humility and service, not worldly status.Jacob's Plan to Propitiate God (vv. 1-2; 9-12):Jacob sees angels, prays humbly to God, acknowledges unworthiness of God's mercy.After a life of striving and deception, Jacob rests fully on God's grace and promises.His petition is for deliverance from Esau, trusting only God's power.Conclusion — God's Grace in the Gospel:Salvation is sovereignly given and requires humility, the opposite of natural human pride.God often brings us to our end so we might see our need for mercy.We are all “unworthy of even the least blessing” and cannot propitiate God ourselves.Christ's humble obedience and sacrificial death is our true propitiation and hope.Those who humble themselves and trust Christ are saved.Hashtags:#Genesis32 #GodsGrace #JacobStory #SovereignGrace #GospelHumility #ChristianHumility #Propitiation #ExaltedThroughHumility #FaithJourney #BibleSermon #ScriptureReflection #Messiah #ChristOurHope #SalvationByGrace #WrestlingWithGod #ExileAndReturn #TrustGod #SermonOutline #GospelTruth #ChristianTeaching"

Jacob in Haran - dry place; Laban?; Rightful king in Judea; Not to be like world governments; Jacob's dream; Melchizedek; Freewill offerings; Blocking wells; Abimelech; Altars; Interpretation of the bible; Rachel and children; hey-tav-chet-tav; Systems of caring; Setting others free; Love = Charity; Liberty under God vs bondage; Becoming Israel; Impatience; Gen 30:3; Curses and blessings; Using Bilhah?; "Sheba"; Using others to get our way; Playing God; Crony capitalism; Envy; Socialism; Sharing through force; Exercising authority; Jacob's blessings; Following righteousness and the perfect law of liberty; Stepping outside your responsibilities; Making Jacob stink; Dowry?; Zebulun; Living by faith, hope and charity; Sea kings?; Ten Commandments; Covetousness; Degeneration society; Independence and responsibility; Capitalism; v21 Dinah; God remembering Rachel; Exceptional Joseph; Jacob leaving Laban; Why wait for Rachel?; Understanding Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Human resources; "Call no man Father"; Welfare snares; Loving the truth; Free assemblies; Lessons from bondage; Beersheba: Well of satisfaction; Revelation of Got via Tree of Life; Choosing to sacrifice; "Mystery Babylon"; Getting ready for freedom; Caring for neighbors; Your salvation; Freedom to choose righteousness; Overcoming selfishness; Micah 5:1; "troops" tav-tav-gimel-dalet-dalet-yod; Seven men; Living by faith; Putting faith into action; Self-organization; Practicing pure religion; Peace.

Big & Tom Tweak are BACK in the Fancy Lad Podcast studio with legend Laban Pheidias to talk Bonkersville, juggling, and Blockhead. All this!