Finding the Path: Genesis 29.1-14

 

The Meeting of Jacob and Rachel by the Well
oil, canvas by Antonio Paroli (1700-1800)

When J.K Rowling was a young woman she was living on government assistance to meet her basic needs.  She was a teacher at night while writing and the first twelve times she submitted her manuscript she was told, “Don’t quit your day job.”  She’s sold half a billion copies of her Harry Potter books.

In Genesis 29 we’ve been looking at what God has done in Jacob’s life.  Today we’ll see Jacob at his best, finding his way forward to what God has for him.  He reminds us of his mother, Rebekah.  Rebekah’s story sounds familiar here, how God is working.

How do you get back on track?  Jacob has to face the unknown.  We understand this idea of the unknown.  Jacob has new strength after experiencing the stairway to Heaven.  He’s gained an insight where he realizes God is with him facing the unknown.

Face the unknown.

                    ¹Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.

Interesting phrases are used here.  It literally says, “He picked up his feet” like he is skipping.  He’s excited again and he goes to the people of the east.  “The people of the east” is a vague statement.  Jacob went to a people and a culture he didn’t know.  For Jacob to follow God he has to face the unknowns.  We are facing unknowns as well, not just because of COVID, but we are learning things like getting our temperatures checked, air hugs and air high fives.  We have a sense of what it’s like to go into new territory.  God moves us into the unknown.  As school starts again we face the unknown.  We come from a long line of people who have faced the unknown.  The hymn, Because He Lives says, “This child can face uncertain days because He lives.”  There are some things we know in the unknowns.

Embrace what you know.

            ²As 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.

Jacob encounters a scene.  He spent his whole life growing up around animals.  Abraham was wealthy and had lots of animals, so Jacob knew about animals.  Jacob has been traveling through the desert, the wilderness, and he comes upon flocks of animals that are waiting to be watered.  Jacob is drawn there.  These are his kind of people.  A well would have been welcoming to him.  He’s been traveling.

Last summer our mission team from Thailand was returned this same time of year.  We visited shrimp farmers who raised shrimp in ponds.  They found a big fish in their pond and they didn’t know what kind it was.  It was familiar to me because it was a catfish!  No matter where you are in the world, a catfish is a catfish!  Even as we navigate these spaces in life and uncertainties there's a grounding that’s there.  Jacob finds that.  These are shepherds, his kind of people.

Be willing to learn.

We have to allow God to teach us.  Jacob is a hard worker.  He is successful like Abraham.  He knows how to work hard and is a maximizer.  Even though he’s not met these people, he’ll tell these people what they’re doing wrong.  When we are entering new territory it’s not time to tell others how to fix things.  It’s a time to step back and learn.  Don’t waste this opportunity.  God is teaching us.  We are able to learn in this situation.  It’s a time for us to hear from God.

            ⁷He 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.” ⁸But 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.”

Jacob walks up to these strangers.  They’re resting.  He tells them they’re burning daylight.  Get up and go!  Jacob was a bit arrogant in his youth.  Their custom is that they wait.  This was a unique well covered by a large flat stone.  When it was time to water the flocks they’d move the stone together.  They waited on everyone.  Jacob didn’t know this.  To Jacob they were wasting time. 

When we enter into new circumstances we can learn.  We have unique things here in our North Carolinian culture as well.  When I moved here someone offered me a Cheerwine.  My response was, “No thanks, I don’t drink.”  Sometimes what’s familiar to us isn’t familiar to others.  Jacob learns in all of this.  He rushed in and was quick to tell others what to do.  God will continue to teach Jacob.  I pray we will have a teachable spirit.  Jacob had a servant’s heart like his mom did, even with all his faults.  Jacob’s servant heart points us to Jesus.  It’s impossible for us to grasp the servanthood of Jesus.  God breathed into dirt and made human life.  Jesus reigned in Heaven when human life was formed.  All of the universe bows down to Jesus.  Jesus came as a vulnerable baby.  Jesus took the role of a servant.  We have an example of what it means to be a servant.  What we find is this group is waiting on Rachel.  Rachel is beautiful. 

Continue serving.

            ¹⁰Now 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.

Jacob doesn’t know who this is.  He will find out this is the person he’s been looking for.  It takes several people to move the stone.  Jacob moves the stone by himself.  Rachel approaches.  She’s a shepherdess.  Jacob’s a single guy; he’s probably flexing his muscles!  He gets Rachel’s attention.  Jacob and Rachel become husband and wife.  There’s a providential moment here.  We don’t’ always like to serve.  We don’t’ like to be treated as a servant or slave.  God is teaching Jacob here.  If the other shepherds had done what Jacob said, Jacob may have never stopped there and met Rachel.  In the waiting Jacob meets Rachel.  It’s not by accident; it’s the providential hand of God.  God may be wanting us to slow down so we don’t miss what He’s doing in our lives. Meeting at wells was a common thing.  Moses met his wife at a well.  God is bringing Jacob to his foundation.

Discover your foundation.

            ¹⁴and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month.

Rachel takes Jacob back to Laban, his uncle.  Jacob finally finds home.  Jacob was expelled.  He fled all he knew with nothing.  He was wealthy growing up.   He found himself all alone and now he finds a home and some stability.  This will be a place where God restores him.  Jacob is learning and finding that foundation.  What is your solid ground?  Maybe you feel like you have been knocked down?  Ever notice how babies fall all the time?  They fall like 50 times a day.  We even know they’re going to fall.  That’s how we learn to walk.  God has prepared this foundation for our lives.  The foundation of prayer, reading God’s Word, and spending time with other believers is coming back to the cross where God forgives us and restores us.  What is your foundation?  Are you ready to face the unknown?  Can you stand solid and firm with God?

Sermon Notes are taken, transcribed and posted by Jeni Martin Johnson.