Backstage
Opening Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for having a plan for my life. Show me how You are at work in the small and the big details.
Read Genesis 29:1–14a
[1] Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. [2] There he saw a well in the open country, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well. The stone over the mouth of the well was large. [3] When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well’s mouth and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well. [4] Jacob asked the shepherds, “My brothers, where are you from?” “We’re from Harran,” they replied. [5] He said to them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?” “Yes, we know him,” they answered. [6] Then Jacob asked them, “Is he well?” “Yes, he is,” they said, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.” [7] “Look,” he said, “the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.” [8] “We can’t,” they replied, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.” [9] While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherd. [10] When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban’s sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep. [11] Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud. [12] He had told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and a son of Rebekah. So she ran and told her father. [13] As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things. [14] Then Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.” After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What are the promises you feel God has spoken over your life? Write some of them down. Jacob had headed east to flee his brother and to find a wife. He had been directed to go and findLaban (Gen. 27:43; 28:2). Now without GPS, mobile phones or even a basic road map, it musthave been quite a daunting journey to set out on. Would he ever find his relatives?Jacob happens to stop by a certain well. And there happen to be some shepherds there who knowLaban. And then Rachel just happens to turn up at the same time. Coincidence? Or is this Godworking behind the scenes to make good on his promises?In Bethel, God had spoken promises over Jacob (28:13–15), and it’s in this following chapterthat we begin to see God’s faithfulness. Rachel runs to Laban and Laban welcomes Jacob intothe family. God has provided for Jacob.What’s interesting is that there is no mention of God in these verses. It’s almost as if God isworking backstage behind the scenes. At no point does Jacob appear to thank God or worshipGod in some way. And the question for us is this: do we sometimes miss seeing God at work inthe day-to- day?Jacob had headed east to flee his brother and to find a wife. He had been directed to go and find Laban (Gen. 27:43; 28:2). Now without GPS, mobile phones or even a basic road map, it must have been quite a daunting journey to set out on. Would he ever find his relatives?
Jacob happens to stop by a certain well. And there happen to be some shepherds there who know Laban. And then Rachel just happens to turn up at the same time. Coincidence? Or is this God working behind the scenes to make good on his promises?
In Bethel, God had spoken promises over Jacob (28:13–15), and it’s in this following chapter that we begin to see God’s faithfulness. Rachel runs to Laban and Laban welcomes Jacob into the family. God has provided for Jacob.
What’s interesting is that there is no mention of God in these verses. It’s almost as if God is working backstage behind the scenes. At no point does Jacob appear to thank God or worship God in some way. And the question for us is this: do we sometimes miss seeing God at work in the day-to- day?
Apply
Make a note of the ways in which God has provided for you today. Give God thanks!
Closing prayer
Thank You, Lord, that I can cast my cares on You because You care for me! May I never take Your goodness for granted.
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