God speaks to Jacob again.
Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.
Let’s recap this story of Jacob just a minute. He’s got a twin brother, of whom he’s swindled the family birthright and blessing. Because of this, his twin wants him dead. So he runs for his life, and settles down with his mom’s extended family in a far part of the country. He marries a pair of sisters. Has 12 kids. He’s made a pretty good life for himself with a sheep & goat business.
And this is when God interrupts. This is when God speaks.
Go back home. Go back to the brother who wants you dead. No worries, I am with you.
Now presumably, this is only the second time Jacob has heard from God. The last time, Jacob was single, homeless, sleeping on a rock. As I seem to remember, that was an interruption as well. God seems to do that.
And back then, God said I am with you. I will be your God. I will protect and bring you back.
And now, while Jacob seems to be prospering pretty well, God seems ready to make good on the last part of that promise. A lot of life has happened for Jacob since then. A lot of life happens after 2 wives, 12 kids, and a career. But this life in Haran with Laban is not part of The Plan.
Isn’t that just like God to go silent for a long time on a person and then all of a sudden show up and shake that person out of their complacency to a radically new and scary place.
Does that only happen to Jacob and me?
What about you? What do you see?
Fiftyeight 