QT 10/28/2025 Gen 29:1–14, Doing it in your own effort, or trusting God to do something

Genesis 29:1–14 (ESV) —

1 Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. 2 As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well’s mouth was large, 3 and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.

4 Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, “We are from Haran.” 5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” 6 He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!” 7 He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.” 8 But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”

9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman, and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.

13 As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, 14 and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month.

 

NOTE: I guess Haran was a great place to find a wife. All kidding aside, the story is very similar to the story of Abraham's servant's effort to find a wife for Isaac. There are a number of differences which might be important. For one, Jacob did not pray as the servant did prior. Jacob did make a vow some days earlier, but I'm not sure that even qualifies since it was all about what Jacob wanted out of life. In the earlier story, the servant waited why Rebekah worked to water his animals, here Jacob waters Rachel's animals. Here, Jacob does all the talking and we do not hear Rachel say anything. In both cases, the girls run to tell their family. Here, Jacob stays a month, whereas the servant did not dally. Finally, Laban runs to meet the visitor in both cases, and whereas Laban was only one voice among many (Bethuel, Rebekah's mother, and Rebekah), here he is the only person making decisions.

 

What do we learn from the differences? Some might disagree, but Isaac served Rachel because he thought she was beautiful and wanted to make a good impression. He probably already saw her as potentially his wife. Rebekah was also beautiful, but the servant waited upon God before acting. So far, Isaac is operating entirely on human effort, whereas the servant was trusting God to work. I think this is the theme, doing things in our own effort versus waiting upon and trusting God.

 

PONDER:

1. Where do I do things in my own effort and where do I wait upon God?
2. In this last third of my life, what are the things that I want to accomplish? How am I trusting God in those things?

 

PRAYER: Father, continue to lead an guide me. I have been raising babies and toddlers for the last 18 of 24 months. It was not in my retirement plan, but I am grateful for these children and once again, learning how much you care for little ones. There will come a day where I will miss this job, help me to enjoy each day that you give. And prepare me for the next assignment that you have for me.