TIME TO RETURN HOME - THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)

DATE: WEDNESDAY, 9TH FEBRUARY, 2022 

TOPIC: TIME TO RETURN HOME

TEXT: GENESIS 31:1-24 

1. 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.

22.  And Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled.

23.  Then he took his brethren with him and pursued him for seven days' journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead.

24.  But God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, "Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad."

MESSAGE:

Jacob served Laban for 20 years (fourteen for his two wives and six to get his own flock). Laban found it very difficult to settle Jacob after this lengthy service; he was reluctant to let Jacob go because he had realised that God had blessed his flock since Jacob arrived.

 However, Jacob devised a means to get his own flock so that he could fend for his own family. God reminded Jacob it was time to return home to his people so he called Leah and Rachel for a family meeting to inform them of how their father had short-changed him. He convinced them to be on his side. They stole away So that Laban would not know. Many apprentices have tales of woes in the hands of their masters.

No matter how long one stays in another man's place, one day he will long for home. To return home, one must be prepared to face the Challenges one may meet. Some persons may have taken over their property in their absence. Our ultimate home is heaven. We must start reparations today if we have not done so to avoid any embarrassment on the last day. No matter how long one stays on earth, one day, God will remind one it is time to return home. Which home will you head for, heaven or hell?

PRAYER: 

Dear Father, constantly remind me there is a better home because here is not my home.