1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: And it came to pass when Jacob saw Rachel, the 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:06,560 Speaker 1: daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban, 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: his mother's brother, that Jacob went near and rolled the 4 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: stone from the well's mouth and watered the flock of 5 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: Laban for his mother's brother. Genesis twenty nine ten. My Lord, 6 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 1: as the sun greets me, and as I take in 7 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: the breath of life, I do so meditating on the 8 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 1: truths found in Genesis twenty eight one through twenty nine 9 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: twenty nine, I do so basking in the wonder of 10 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 1: your glory, because, like Jacob, I know that you have 11 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:44,560 Speaker 1: a vision for my future. Thank you God that angels 12 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: are ascending and descending on my behalf, bringing blessings and 13 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: provision for my future. As I lay on the rock 14 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: of your word, I will be reminded of your faithfulness. 15 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: I will be reminded of your limitless love towards me. 16 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: Thank you that you are with me and that you 17 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: will never leave me no matter where I go. As 18 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: I begin to take territory in the land you've promised me, 19 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: I thank you that you're providing the perfect partner for me. 20 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: As I set my gaze on my promise, I will 21 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 1: not hesitate to put the necessary work in to lay 22 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 1: hold of my heart's desire, like Jacob did with Rachel. 23 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: I declare that I will not stop until I've obtained 24 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 1: what you have ordained in Jesus name. Amen. Thank you 25 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 1: for making prayer a priority in your day. To learn 26 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: more about the Bible, stay tuned for today's story, brought 27 00:01:50,920 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: to you by Bible in a Year dot com. 28 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 2: Jacob meets Rachel. Before this story, we learned about Jacob's 29 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 2: trick to rob his brother of his blessing. He deceived 30 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:13,839 Speaker 2: his father into giving him his blessing instead of Esau. 31 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 2: Esau's rage boiled and he sought after the life of Jacob. 32 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 2: Rebecca told Jacob to go stay with her brother Laban 33 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:26,639 Speaker 2: until it was safe to return. Now we will learn 34 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 2: about Jacob's vision of a ladder and his desire to 35 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:34,639 Speaker 2: marry Laban's daughter Rachel. Inspired by the Book of Genesis. 36 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the 37 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. When we last saw Jacob 38 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 3: in our previous passage, he was running from Esau, fearing 39 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 3: for his life. Isaac and Rebecca send him to Rebecca's 40 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 3: brother Laban to wait out Esau's anger. Today will rejoin 41 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 3: Jacob on his way to his uncle's home. But before 42 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 3: or that, we'll see what Esau is doing as he 43 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 3: mourns his losses and seeks to reclaim in some way 44 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:11,119 Speaker 3: a blessing that he knew and felt was due to him. 45 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 3: As Jacob travels, we'll see him encountering God in a dream. 46 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 3: Notice the promises that God makes to Jacob there and 47 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 3: Jacob's response. Then, as he finally arrives in Laban's land, 48 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 3: Jacob encounters a woman with whom he'll fall madly and 49 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 3: deeply in love, and that love will lead him to 50 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 3: extraordinary lenks to ensure Rachel will be his wife. Notice 51 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 3: how Jacob and Laban begin a close relationship, a fact 52 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 3: that will seem peculiar in a future passage. But for now, 53 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 3: Jacob seems to have found the home and family that 54 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 3: he has lost. The theme of today's passage is really 55 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 3: that of promises. First is the promise God gives to 56 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 3: Jacob as he meets him along the way in a dream. 57 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 3: These promises are profound and will shape the course of 58 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 3: history as the line of Abraham continues heading in the 59 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 3: ultimate promise the Messiah who will deliver the world from sin. 60 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 3: But we'll also see the promise of a wife, the 61 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 3: treasured prize for which Jacob will agree to work for 62 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 3: years on end. As you listen, notice the conviction in 63 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 3: Jacob's heart, the certainty about what he desires. Less hear 64 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 3: now the love story of Jacob and Rachel. 65 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 2: Jacob desired to be blessed by God, and he sought 66 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:32,479 Speaker 2: it out from his father since he knew it would 67 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 2: not come to him through birthright. Jacob was one of 68 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 2: the first to pursue God's blessing. Instead of allowing it 69 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 2: to be given to him through birth, he chose God. 70 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:46,359 Speaker 2: Yet his desire was at the expense of his brother Esau. 71 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 2: In fear for his life, Jacob fled to pad ann Airam, 72 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 2: the land of Laban, Rebecca's brother. There he sought to 73 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 2: build a life for himself and hopefully find a wife, 74 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 2: since it was always his father's dea desire to marry 75 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:06,279 Speaker 2: from the family of Laban. Sorrow plagued Esau's knights, and 76 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 2: he mourned the loss of his blessing and birthright. He 77 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 2: had not cherished his birthright before, and now that it 78 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 2: was given away. He was greatly disturbed. While Jacob was away, 79 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 2: Esau also sought out another wife. His desire to reclaim 80 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: a blessing from God was muddied by rage and contempt. 81 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 2: In an effort to please his father, he went to 82 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 2: Isaac's half brother Ishmael and married his daughter Mehalath. Esaw 83 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 2: began grasping for any sort of blessing he could. Jacob 84 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 2: was on his way to padan Aram. The eastern sun 85 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:46,839 Speaker 2: was setting and the lights scraped the top of the 86 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 2: plains before finally descending beneath the valley. The cool dark 87 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 2: of night replaced the sun, and Jacob found a secluded 88 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 2: place to lay his head. He took a stone and 89 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 2: put it under his head and lay beneath the stars. 90 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 2: Jacob counted the stars in the sky, mindful of God's 91 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 2: promise to his grandfather Abraham that his people would outnumber 92 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 2: the stars. The summer breeze hummed across the valley, and 93 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 2: Jacob drifted into a deep sleep. Jacob opened his eyes 94 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 2: to a dream. Set firmly in the earth was a 95 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 2: ladder that stretched all the way to the heavens. He 96 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 2: watched as the angels of God were ascending and descending 97 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 2: on the ladder. Jacob stood, watching as the heavenly hosts 98 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 2: of God moved gracefully to and fro. The Lord stood 99 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 2: above the ladder, setting his gaze towards Jacob. The gentle 100 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 2: yet terrifying voice of God bellowed across the earth, and 101 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 2: Jacob marveled as he listened to the Creator speak, I 102 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 2: am the Lord, the God of Abraham and Isaac, your forefathers. 103 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 2: The land in which you lie your head will be 104 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 2: given to you and your offspring. They shall be like 105 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 2: all the dust of the earth, spread abroad and limitless. 106 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 2: Through them. Every family on earth shall be blessed. Jacob 107 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 2: marveled as he hung upon every word the Lord spoke. 108 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 2: I am with you, the Lord said, and I will 109 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 2: keep you wherever you go, and I will bring you 110 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 2: back here to this land. I will never leave you. 111 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 2: And Jacob awoke with a mixture of joy and terror. 112 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 2: Surely God is in this place, Jacob said to himself, 113 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 2: this is none other than the House of God, and 114 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 2: the gates of Heaven meet here. As the sun was 115 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 2: rising and the heat of day replaced the coolness of night, 116 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 2: Jacob took the stone that he had put under his 117 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 2: head and set it up for a pillar and poured 118 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 2: oil on the top of it, and he named that 119 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 2: place Bethel. This would be a special place Jacob would 120 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 2: return to. Jacob journeyed alone to Laban's land. When he 121 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 2: arrived and began to greet some of the men there, Rachel, 122 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 2: Laban's daughter, came with her father's sheep. Rachel was a 123 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 2: sheep herdis and beaming with a strong yet gentle beauty. 124 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 2: Jacob watched Rachel descend from the fields where she was 125 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 2: working and immediately began to weep. Though they had yet 126 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 2: to meet, Jacob knew that he had just gazed upon 127 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 2: the woman meant to be his wife. His love for 128 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 2: her was immediate, and he ran to her to give 129 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 2: water to the flock. As he helped her care for 130 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 2: the sheep, their eyes met, and Jacob, in a moment 131 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:49,439 Speaker 2: of unexpected passion, kissed her. Jacob told Rachel who he was, 132 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:53,679 Speaker 2: and immediately she went to go find her father. Laban 133 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 2: ran to Jacob and the two embraced. A joyful mingling 134 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 2: of souls began to emanate from the entire higher family. 135 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 2: Jacob was accepted into the house of Laban, and the 136 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 2: two became closer than father and son. Jacob asked that 137 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 2: he could serve under Laban and his family. Laban was 138 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 2: ecstatic and accepted Jacob's request. Just because you are my 139 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 2: kinsmen does not mean you should work for free, Laban said, 140 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 2: name your price for working for me. Jacob knew that 141 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 2: there was one thing more precious than money or land. 142 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 2: He knew the second he laid eyes on her, that 143 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 2: Rachel was the one he was supposed to marry. Allow 144 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 2: me to work for seven years under you so that 145 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 2: I can marry your daughter, Jacob asked. Laban agreed, and 146 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:49,679 Speaker 2: so began their friendship and Jacob's diligent pursuit to work 147 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 2: for his bride. Jacob loved Rachel deeply, and their love 148 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 2: for one another grew each year. 149 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,439 Speaker 3: He sought out a blessing from Isaac, his father. In reality, 150 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,959 Speaker 3: it was God's blessing that Jacob wanted to cling, and 151 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 3: he was able to claim it, but his way of 152 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 3: securing the blessing was dishonest and deceitful. His motives were right, 153 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 3: but his methods were very wrong, so his victory seems hollow. 154 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 3: At this point, He's been blessed by Isaac, but now 155 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 3: his life is in danger. His own brother wants him dead, 156 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 3: so he flees, leaving his mother and his homeland far behind. 157 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 3: Sometimes when we achieve things, even though it's a good thing, 158 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 3: the way we get there can have lasting negative consequences. 159 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 3: That was the case for Rebecca and Jacob. They would 160 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:44,800 Speaker 3: never see each other again, a mother and a son 161 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 3: now separated in life. But what to say of Esau. 162 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 3: He had not cared for the blessing until it was lost. 163 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 3: He didn't treasure it or value it, so he became careless. 164 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 3: And when he lost God's blessing, he became bitter and 165 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 3: in rape each but he still craved his father's approval. 166 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 3: Esau did what he thought his father would want and 167 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 3: marry one of Ishmael's daughters. He was desperate for any 168 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:14,520 Speaker 3: form of blessing he could attain. How often we are 169 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 3: like this, not valuing the thing that is right in 170 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:20,320 Speaker 3: our reach until it is no longer available, so we 171 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 3: begin grasping at straws, acting out of desperation, trying to 172 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 3: make things right. Sometimes it proves to be too little, 173 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 3: too late, as in the case of Esau. Next we 174 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 3: heard of Jacob's dream as he traveled to layman's land. 175 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:37,840 Speaker 3: God appears to him and makes a covenant with Jacob, 176 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:40,719 Speaker 3: affirming that the line of blessing will indeed pass through 177 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 3: him and his offspring. Jenesis twenty eighth fourteen and fifteen 178 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:49,960 Speaker 3: records God's words, your descendants will also be like the 179 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 3: dust of the earth, and you will spread out to 180 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:53,959 Speaker 3: the west and to the east, and to the north 181 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 3: and to the south. And in you and in your 182 00:11:56,679 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 3: descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, 183 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:03,679 Speaker 3: I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, 184 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 3: and will bring you back to this land, or I 185 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 3: will not leave you until I've done what I've promised you. 186 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 3: With each generation Abraham, Isaac, now Jacob, God is reminding 187 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 3: them that his blessing isn't only for them, but it 188 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:24,080 Speaker 3: is for all the families of the earth. We need 189 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 3: to remember that the blessings that we receive from God 190 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:28,959 Speaker 3: not only benefit us, but they are given for a 191 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:32,320 Speaker 3: larger purpose, and that is to bless others. We are 192 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 3: blessed to be a blessing. This is certainly the case 193 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 3: with this covenant, as we see glimpses of Jesus the Messiah, 194 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 3: coming through a blessing for all the families of the world. 195 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 3: Jacob awakens and sets about building a monument, a pillar 196 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:50,720 Speaker 3: to mark this place where God spoke to him and 197 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 3: made his promises to Jacob. This place, named Bethel, will 198 00:12:56,160 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 3: have great importance as the house of God. Finally, Jacob 199 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:05,440 Speaker 3: arrives in Laban's land and greets his family, and then 200 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 3: he first sees Rachel, Laban's beautiful daughter. Jacob cannot wait 201 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:14,439 Speaker 3: to meet her and rushes to her. We can see 202 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 3: here that Jacob, though described as mild when he first 203 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:20,680 Speaker 3: came into the world, is not a man without passion. 204 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 3: He even steals a kiss from Rachel, knowing this is 205 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 3: the woman for whom he would do anything. But it 206 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 3: is not only in Rachel that Jacob seems to find 207 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 3: a home. He feels, perhaps for the first time, like 208 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:36,839 Speaker 3: he is accepted into a family. Rebecca his mother loved him, 209 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 3: but he never enjoyed the approval of his father. Now 210 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 3: Laban is giving him that it's really a beautiful time. Jacob, 211 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 3: on account of his own actions, had to flee from 212 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 3: his own home, But God, just as he promised, does 213 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 3: not abandon Jacob and even gives him a sense of 214 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 3: place among Laban's family. Even when we go in the 215 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:00,840 Speaker 3: wrong direction, God can bring us back to himself, because 216 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:04,200 Speaker 3: where God doesn't rule, he overrules. And this is what 217 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 3: is happening with Jacob. In this closeness and connection, an 218 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:11,839 Speaker 3: agreement is struck between Jacob and Laban. Laban wanting to 219 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,960 Speaker 3: pay Jacob for his work, ask his wages, and Jacob, 220 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 3: setting his eyes on a prize greater than gold, says 221 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 3: he will work seven years for Rachel's hand in marriage. 222 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 3: You could say that Jacob was blinded by his desire 223 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 3: and entered into a deal that would cost him greatly. 224 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 3: You could also say that he knew the great value 225 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 3: of a mate, a wife, and whom he could delight. 226 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 3: Both is true, and as we continue in our next 227 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 3: time together, we'll see what happens in this agreement. We'll 228 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 3: see what comes of this agreement between Laban and Jacob. 229 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 3: Heavenly Father, thank you for the story that we have 230 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 3: just read, and how we can see your hand guiding 231 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 3: Jacob and continuing to affirm and to keep your promises 232 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 3: as he rescues the family line of Abraham. Thank you, also, Lord, 233 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 3: for what this passage today teaches us about the purpose 234 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 3: of blessing, and that we can see your heart for 235 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 3: the fatherless the lonely, as you gave Jacob a family 236 00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 3: who loved and welcomed him as he had never experienced before. 237 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 3: Thank you for welcoming us into your family through your son, 238 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 3: the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is in his name 239 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 3: that we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening to today's Bible 240 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 3: in a Year podcast. I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. 241 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 3: Download Theprey dot com app and make prayer a priority 242 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 3: in your life. If you enjoy this podcast, share it 243 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 3: with someone you love. By sharing this podcast, you can 244 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 3: make a difference in someone's life. And if you want 245 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 3: more resources on how to tap into God's power for 246 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 3: successful Christian living, be sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. 247 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 3: God bless you. 248 00:15:56,680 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 2: This episode is sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative health 249 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 2: care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.