Genesis 31:19-55
The Preserving Power of God
V.19-20 “teraphim”- idols
· Practiced divination (30:27)
Why did Rachel take the teraphim?
1. Rachel wanted to _________________ her father from continuing in idolatry
2. These idols were used as __________________ that were passed down as an inheritance
3. She worshipped these idols and did not want to be without them.
4. ________________ (31:14)
V.20-21 Jacob deceives Laban by leaving secretly
V.22-23
“Are we willing to do for the truth what the cults are willing to do for a lie?”-Hank Hanegraaff
V.24 God speaks to Laban in a dream
Job 33:14 For God does speak-now one way, now another- though man may not perceive it. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds, 16 he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, 17 to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, 18 to preserve his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.
God primarily speaks through His ________________
V.25-30 Yeah right!
V.31 God had assured safe passage.
“We have nothing to fear but fear itself”- Franklin D. Roosevelt
Matt 6:30 O you of little faith?
Matt 14:25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 28 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
V.32 Are you sure you’re sure?
V.33-35 Rachel deceives
V.36-37 “[Jacob] took Laban to ask”
Biblical Mandate
Matt 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Gossiping or complaining about another’s fault should not happen in the ____________________
V.38-42 Jacob did more than was expected as an employee
What kind of an employee are you?
Col 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Titus 2:9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
Eph 6:5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
1 Peter 2:18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.
V.43-47 Notice the boasting and pride
“Jegar Sahadutha”- Aramaic
“Galeed”- Hebrew
V.48-54 An agreement steeped in ______________________
V.55 The preserving power of God
See Rom 8:29
The Preserving Power of God: John 5:24, 6:37-47, 10:27-30, Eph. 1:13-14, Phil. 1:6,
· Those who apparently leave Christ (1 John 2:19)
· Not everyone who claims Christ is of Christ (Matt. 7:21-22)
· We ought to test our salvation (2 Cor. 13:5, 2 Pet. 1:10, 1 John: all)