Providence

O.T. "Providence" June 3, 2012
Genesis 29-Part 1
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
Genesis 29:1

LET IT GLOW

Providence-there is a city in Rhode Island by that name. Roger Williams, a religious leader in American Colonies, founded the settlement in 1636. He named it Providence because he believed God had guided him there. (The World Book Encyclopedia)
Do you believe in the Providence of God?

We left Jacob on a spiritual mountain in Bethel. He met Jesus in a dream, which involved Jacob's ladder, on which angels went back and forth from heaven to earth. Jesus gave Jacob some promises, which He had given to his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham. Jacob descended into everyday
life at Haran where Jacob gets acquainted with scheming Laban, his mother's brother. Jacob ends up staying around for 20 years under God's disciplining hand. A lot happens to him during that time.

In chapter 29, we see the setting of what becomes Jacob's well. It was God's Divine Providence
that brought Jacob to the very field where his uncle's flocks were to be watered and he met his
future wife Rachel. This was the same well where Abraham's servant Eliezer met Jacob's mother Rebeka. (She watered his camels, also.)

In an age before clearly marked roads and signs, Jacob did not know where he was until he asked some of the locals, and he discovered he was at his destination. (Guzik)

The shepherds at the well watered three flocks by rolling away the stone over the well. They
replaced the stone and left.

The stone on the well's mouth was either to secure their property in it, for water was scarce, to save the well from receiving damage from the heat of the sun, or to prevent the lambs of the flock from being drowned in it. (Westley's Explanatory Notes)

Rachel came with her father's sheep to be watered. So Jacob rolled the stone away so she could.
On an ordinary day, Rachel (means ewe) is homely dressed as a shepherdess, hot and sweaty, hair
a mess. She meets the love of her life and future husband, although she doesn't know it. Jacob addresses himself to her with tears of joy and kisses of love (verse 11). Jacob told her who he was and she ran to tell her father.

Things don't just happen by chance. Look for God, who is always working around us, in our lives, and through our circumstances.

Did you notice that Jacob did not pray about this situation? Eliezer prayed for God's direction
before he met Rebekah. Do we pray when we meet people? Before making decisions?

LET IT GROW

Rachel left Jacob at the well and her sheep, too. She brings back her father Laban, Jacob's uncle.
Laban brought Jacob to his house. Then Jacob told Laban what was going on. Jacob stayed there
for a month before anything else happened.
Let me interject here: Laban's household had idols for their gods, which will be discussed later (31:34). Should Jacob have stayed so long? God used scheming Laban to discipline Jacob for His service. We will continue this saga this week. It is rather interesting how Jacob reaps what he
sowed back home.

Who do we associate? Are they believers in Jesus? Are our family and friends that we daily talk
with Christians?

LET IT GO

Recognize the Providential hand of God working in our lives.

Submit to Him; acknowledge Him; love Him.

Be aware of who our friends, relatives, and coworkers serve and love-God or the flesh (self).