Moses Escapes to Midian

Jacob Returns Home

Bible Study Lessons, Read Genesis 31:1-21

Jacob returns home
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What happens when we judge our wealth and happiness by that of other people?

In this lesson for study from Genesis, we see that Jacob returns home in secret after Labon’s attitude changes toward him.

The sons of Labon become hostile with jealousy.

This is envy to the extreme!

 

What Envy Can Do – Jacob Returns Home

Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what belonged to our father he has made all this wealth.”

Jacob saw the attitude of Laban, and behold, it was not friendly toward him as formerly.

Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.” – Genesis 31:1-3

Jacob Returns to Canaan in Secret – Jealousy

Jacob is wealthy – Labon’s sons are jealous and full of envy.

Sound familiar?

Labon treated Jacob in an unfair manner, beginning with the promise of a wife – the woman he loved.

Jacob fulfilled all the requirements, became very wealthy and now Labon’s sons are extremely jealous of him.

This prompted Jacob to return to Canaan secretly along with the wealth he had accumulated.

Life is Unfair

Have you ever had someone treat you in a way you felt was biased or unfair? Most likely, your answer is “yes”.

We have all been in that situation at one time or another; or at least we felt that way.

Reaction Method Makes All the Difference

What was your reaction to being treated in such a manner?

I’ve heard it said that success is the best revenge (if we are going the vengeful route) and this is what happened between Jacob and Labon.

Jacob “took his medicine” so to speak and God blessed him.

Labon’s Sons are Furious with Jacob

This blessing was more than the sons of Labon could tolerate. They let themselves be dragged into the destructive habit of comparing themselves to Jacob, using wealth and success as their measuring stick.

We can empathize with the sons to an extent. After all, they didn’t see God working in this situation.

They only knew the fact that their father’s fortune (and their inheritance) was disappearing in front of their eyes.

Envy

Clay Sherman, a well-known management consultant, once said;

“Don’t blame other people for what you are.”.

Although this does not exactly apply here, the outcome is similar.

When we compare our means to that of others in way of money, belongings, talent or accomplishments, we are headed for failure no matter how successful we become in a physical sense.

Be True to Yourself

You see, we are never going to be that other person no matter how hard we try.

[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”160″ identifier=”0310340756″ locale=”US” src=”https://makingchristknown.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/51KFnvbo4BL.SL160-1.jpg” tag=”bobpardphot-20″ width=”111″]It’s best to just use what we have – use it in the best way we can, and allow God to bless us in His own way.

The outcome might be totally different from what we expected; maybe not money or accumulation of physical things at all.

Nevertheless, when God is behind it, the blessing will be wonderful and will glorify Him!

Love in Christ

– Bob

If you would like to discover the love and life-changing experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to go here to learn more.

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