Bibledoorajar Tracks Jacob's Education in Service

     Jacob had come to his uncle's house and community. His mother and father were both sure that a wife from there would make a more prosperous and godly future for their sons. Esau had rejected this wisdom and had sorely disappointed his folks. How many Christians   have been disappointed when their children did not follow this godly counsel. But Jacob was there and he had met a girl from the right community and he had fallen head over heels for her. He was so much in love with her that he agreed to work seven years for her father to receive her hand in marriage. For seven years Jacob would labor in an environment that would be greatly influenced by his uncle. As a matter of fact his influence would be paramount. Whatever Jacob did, Laban would always be there sealing him in service. But Jacob was at peace with this plan because He had been given a promise while asleep and while he was deeply moved by his sin. His heavenly father had been discovered to be in the desert with him. He was not just in his father's tent, but he was real in Jacob's life. His promises included a ladder to heaven given in a dream.

                             Dreams grow holy put in action,
                             Work grows fair through starry dreaming;
                              But where each flows on unmingling,
                              Both are fruitless and in vain.

                                                      A.A. Proctor

This dream with all its' promise was a "born again" experience for Jacob. It was an opportunity that was divine. Surely as Jacob looked at Rachel, he felt a divine peace in his inner man. We will see this inner peace guide a man through all the forces that come against him. It will start first with a trick from Laban. But lest we forget, there is an Omnipotent One that will ensure Jacob success in his necessary endeavors. What great encouragement we can take from this story: chosen to carry on the work of God with perfect confidence within our inner selves. Does that describe you today?