Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “A New Direction” – Thursday, 24 July 2014 - Scripture: Genesis 31:1-13

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “A New Direction” – Thursday, 24 July 2014 - Scripture: Genesis 31: 1-2 Jacob learned that Laban’s sons were talking behind his back: “Jacob has used our father’s wealth to make himself rich at our father’s expense.” At the same time, Jacob noticed that Laban had changed toward him. He wasn’t treating him the same.
3 That’s when God said to Jacob, “Go back home where you were born. I’ll go with you.”
4-9 So Jacob sent word for Rachel and Leah to meet him out in the field where his flocks were. He said, “I notice that your father has changed toward me; he doesn’t treat me the same as before. But the God of my father hasn’t changed; he’s still with me. You know how hard I’ve worked for your father. Still, your father has cheated me over and over, changing my wages time and again. But God never let him really hurt me. If he said, ‘Your wages will consist of speckled animals’ the whole flock would start having speckled lambs and kids. And if he said, ‘From now on your wages will be streaked animals’ the whole flock would have streaked ones. Over and over God used your father’s livestock to reward me.
10-11 “Once, while the flocks were mating, I had a dream and saw the billy goats, all of them streaked, speckled, and mottled, mounting their mates. In the dream an angel of God called out to me, ‘Jacob!’
“I said, ‘Yes?’
12-13 “He said, ‘Watch closely. Notice that all the goats in the flock that are mating are streaked, speckled, and mottled. I know what Laban’s been doing to you. I’m the God of Bethel where you consecrated a pillar and made a vow to me. Now be on your way, get out of this place, go home to your birthplace.’” 
“A New Direction” by Lisa Mueller
After 20 years, the time has come for Jacob to return to his family. He was still not a fully developed believer—there are few indications that he sought God during those years in Laban’s household. However, now God was intervening and Jacob was moving in a new direction. The situation had become tense between Jacob and Laban. Lies and deception on both sides had sown an unhealthy climate of mistrust. Staying was not an option; but going home was fraught with danger.

How do we respond when neither choice is easy? Sometimes we are prominently involved in the details of God’s plan for our lives. We must think, strategize, and work toward God’s plan. Like Jacob we may begin working toward that end. Other times, we must simply be prepared to obey without interfering in the big picture, such as Jacob's risky return to his family. Even in Jacob’s limited commitment to God, he seemed to know when to work the details and when to follow God’s direction. This can be one of our greatest challenges as well. May God give us great clarity as we seek to follow His direction.

Hymn for Today:

“All The Way My Savior Leads Me” by Fanny J. Crosby
1. All the way my Savior leads me,
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.
2. All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.
3. All the way my Savior leads me,
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.
Thought for Today:
“Circle Zion, take her measure,
    count her fortress peaks,
Gaze long at her sloping bulwark,
    climb her citadel heights—
Then you can tell the next generation
    detail by detail the story of God,
Our God forever,
    who guides us till the end of time.”(Psalm 48:14)
Prayer Needs:
Developing Christian leaders Reunion!
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