Genesis 31:1-21 NKJV 31 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.” 2 And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before. 3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”
4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, 5 and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. 6 And you know that with all my might I have served your father. 7 Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me. 8 If he said thus: ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked. 9 So God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.
10 “And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted. 11 Then the Angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’ 12 And He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’ ”
14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? 15 Are we not considered strangers by him? For he has sold us, and also completely consumed our money. 16 For all these riches which God has taken from our father are really ours and our children’s; now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.”
17 Then Jacob rose and set his sons and his wives on camels. 18 And he carried away all his livestock and all his possessions which he had gained, his acquired livestock which he had gained in Padan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. 19 Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the household idols that were her father’s. 20 And Jacob stole away, unknown to Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee. 21 So he fled with all that he had. He arose and crossed the river, and headed toward the mountains of Gilead.
Where there is prosperity, there can definitely be pitfalls. Why? Because this is a fallen world, full of sinful men! Jacob prospered and grew rich (albeit in a shrewd fashion), but it made him an object of envy—therein lies the sin of man being displayed. Laban, full of jealousy or covetousness, was embittered against Jacob’s success, so he takes on a prideful attitude, choosing not to give him a good word. Jacob, then, could no longer look to Laban for any good thing.
In this anguishing situation, Jacob turned to His faithful God and cast this cares upon Him. By grace, God promptly answered him and called him to withdraw from the sight of the troublemaker Laban and “return to the land of your fathers and to your family and I will be with you.” Luther writes: “Because God’s Word orders it, he [Jacob] is not fearful but proceeds in the name of the Lord, for these are the words of God, who is liberating Jacob from distress and promising to defend him in the future” (AE 6:11).
Oh, how many who go through hardships in this life would long to hear the Lord say to them, “I will be with you.” But, sadly, those who go by such an understanding are not hearing, reading, or meditating upon enough of God’s Holy Scripture to believe and confess the truth of God’s Word—specifically how God is with us, especially His believing/baptized children.
In biblical theology, God fills the whole universe with His presence (Jer. 23:23) and providential goodness (Mt 5:45; Ac 17:24-28; Rom. 1:20). However, God is especially present with His saving power and grace where He has promised to be present, namely in His Christ-focused Word and Sacraments, which you partake of often. Yes, God is with you, indeed!
Let us pray: O Lord, if You grant me blessings, fend off those who may sinfully try to destroy what You have given. Bring me to rejoice in Your comforting and protecting presence as You keep me in the truth of Your Word and the reception of Your Divine Service toward me. Amen.