1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,320 Speaker 1: Let us pray, And it came to pass when Jacob 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and 3 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:11,399 Speaker 1: the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother, that Jacob went 4 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth and 5 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: watered the flock of Laban for his mother's brother. Genesis 6 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 1: twenty nine ten. My Lord, as the sun greets me, 7 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,479 Speaker 1: and as I take in the breath of life, I 8 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,200 Speaker 1: do so meditating on the truths found in Genesis twenty 9 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: eight one through twenty nine twenty nine, I do so 10 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: basking in the wonder of your glory, because, like Jacob, 11 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: I know that you have a vision for my future. 12 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 1: Thank you God that angels are ascending and descending on 13 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: my behalf, bringing blessings and provision for my future. As 14 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 1: I lay on the rock of your word, I will 15 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 1: be reminded of your faithfulness. I will be reminded of 16 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:06,119 Speaker 1: your limitless love towards me. Thank you that you are 17 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: with me and that you will never leave me no 18 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:13,919 Speaker 1: matter where I go. As I begin to take territory 19 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: in the land you've promised me, I thank you that 20 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: your providing the perfect partner for me. As I set 21 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 1: my gaze on my promise, I will not hesitate to 22 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 1: put the necessary work in to lay hold of my 23 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 1: heart's desire, like Jacob did with Rachael. I declare that 24 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 1: I will not stop until I've obtained what you have 25 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: ordained in Jesus name. Amen. Thank you for making prayer 26 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: a priority in your day. To learn more about the Bible, 27 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: stay tuned for today's story, brought to you by Bible 28 00:01:54,440 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: in a Year dot com. 29 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 2: Jacob meets Rachel. Before this story, we learned about Jacob's 30 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 2: trick to rob his brother of his blessing. He deceived 31 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 2: his father into giving him his blessing instead of Esau. 32 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 2: Esau's rage boiled and he sought after the life of Jacob. 33 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 2: Rebecca told Jacob to go stay with her brother Laban 34 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,959 Speaker 2: until it was safe to return. Now we will learn 35 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 2: about Jacob's vision of a ladder and his desire to 36 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:36,959 Speaker 2: marry Laban's daughter Rachel. Inspired by the Book of Genesis. 37 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the 38 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. When we last saw Jacob 39 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 3: in our previous passage, he was running from Esau, fearing 40 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 3: for his life. Isaac and Rebecca send him to Rebecca's 41 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 3: brother Laban to wait out Esau's anger. Today will rejoin 42 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 3: Jacob on his way to his uncle's home. But before that, 43 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 3: we'll see what Esau is doing as he mourns his 44 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 3: losses and seeks to reclaim in some way a blessing 45 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 3: that he knew and felt was due to him. As 46 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 3: Jacob travels, we'll see him encountering God in a dream. 47 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 3: Notice the promises that God makes to Jacob there and 48 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 3: Jacob's response. Then, as he finally arrives in Laban's land, 49 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 3: Jacob encounters a woman with whom he'll fall madly and 50 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 3: deeply in love, and that love will lead him to 51 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 3: extraordinary lynks to ensure Rachel will be his wife. Notice 52 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 3: how Jacob and Laban begin a close relationship, a fact 53 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 3: that will seem peculiar in a future passage. But for now, 54 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 3: Jacob seems to have found the home and family that 55 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 3: he has lost. The theme of today's passage is really 56 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 3: that of promises. First is the promise God gives to 57 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 3: Jacob as he meets him along the way in a dream. 58 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 3: These promises are profound and will shape the course of 59 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 3: history as the line of Abraham continues heading in the 60 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 3: ultimate promise the Messiah who will deliver the world from sin. 61 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 3: But we'll also see the promise of a wife, the 62 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 3: treasured prize for which Jacob will agree to work for 63 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 3: years on end. As you listen, notice the conviction in 64 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 3: Jacob's heart, the certainty about what he desires. Less hear 65 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 3: now the love story of Jacob and Rachel. 66 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 2: Jacob desired to be blessed by God, and he sought 67 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:34,719 Speaker 2: it out from his father since he knew it would 68 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 2: not come to him through birthright. Jacob was one of 69 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 2: the first to pursue God's blessing. Instead of allowing it 70 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 2: to be given to him through birth, he chose God. 71 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:48,599 Speaker 2: Yet his desire was at the expense of his brother Esau. 72 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 2: In fear for his life, Jacob fled to pad ann Airam, 73 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 2: the land of Laban, Rebecca's brother. There he sought to 74 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:00,840 Speaker 2: build a life for himself and hopefully find a since 75 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 2: it was always his father's desire to marry from the 76 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 2: family of Laban. Sorrow plagued Esau's knights, and he mourned 77 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 2: the loss of his blessing and birthright. He had not 78 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 2: cherished his birthright before, and now that it was given away. 79 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 2: He was greatly disturbed. While Jacob was away, Esau also 80 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 2: sought out another wife. His desire to reclaim a blessing 81 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 2: from God was muddied by rage and contempt. In an 82 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 2: effort to please his father, he went to Isaac's half 83 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:39,359 Speaker 2: brother Ishmael and married his daughter Mehalath. Esau began grasping 84 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 2: for any sort of blessing he could. Jacob was on 85 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 2: his way to padan Aram. The eastern sun was setting 86 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 2: and the lights scraped the top of the plains before 87 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 2: finally descending beneath the valley. The cool dark of night 88 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 2: replaced the sun, and Jacob found a secluded place to 89 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 2: lay his head. He took a stone and put it 90 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 2: under his head and lay beneath the stars. Jacob counted 91 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 2: the stars in the sky, mindful of God's promise to 92 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 2: his grandfather Abraham that his people would outnumber the stars. 93 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 2: The summer breeze hummed across the valley, and Jacob drifted 94 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 2: into a deep sleep. Jacob opened his eyes to a dream. 95 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:26,360 Speaker 2: Set firmly in the earth was a ladder that stretched 96 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 2: all the way to the heavens. He watched as the 97 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 2: angels of God were ascending and descending on the ladder. 98 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:38,480 Speaker 2: Jacob stood, watching as the heavenly hosts of God moved 99 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 2: gracefully to and fro. The Lord stood above the ladder, 100 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 2: setting his gaze towards Jacob. The gentle yet terrifying voice 101 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 2: of God bellowed across the earth, and Jacob marveled as 102 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 2: he listened to the Creator speak, I am the Lord, 103 00:06:55,680 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 2: the God of Abraham and Isaac, your forefathers. The land 104 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 2: in which you lie your head will be given to 105 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:07,039 Speaker 2: you and your offspring. They shall be like all the 106 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 2: dust of the earth, spread abroad and limitless. Through them. 107 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 2: Every family on earth shall be blessed. Jacob marveled as 108 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 2: he hung upon every word the Lord spoke. I am 109 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 2: with you, the Lord said, and I will keep you 110 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 2: wherever you go, and I will bring you back here 111 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 2: to this land. I will never leave you. And Jacob 112 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 2: awoke with a mixture of joy and terror. Surely God 113 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 2: is in this place, Jacob said to himself, this is 114 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 2: none other than the House of God, and the gates 115 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 2: of Heaven meet here. As the sun was rising and 116 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 2: the heat of day replaced the coolness of night, Jacob 117 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 2: took the stone that he had put under his head 118 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 2: and set it up for a pillar and poured oil 119 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 2: on the top of it, and he named that place Bethel. 120 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 2: This would be a special place Jacob would return to. 121 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 2: Jacob journeyed alone to Laban's land. When he arrived and 122 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 2: began to greet some of the men there, Rachel, Laban's daughter, 123 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 2: came with her father's sheep. Rachel was a sheep herdis 124 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 2: and beaming with a strong yet gentle beauty. Jacob watched 125 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 2: Rachel descend from the fields where she was working and 126 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 2: immediately began to weep. Though they had yet to meet, 127 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 2: Jacob knew that he had just gazed upon the woman 128 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 2: meant to be his wife. His love for her was immediate, 129 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 2: and he ran to her to give water to the flock. 130 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 2: As he helped her care for the sheep, their eyes met, 131 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 2: and Jacob, in a moment of unexpected passion, kissed her. 132 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 2: Jacob told Rachel who he was, and immediately she went 133 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 2: to go find her father. Labon ran to Jacob and 134 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 2: the two embraced. A joyful mingling of souls began to 135 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 2: emanate from the entire family. Jacob was accepted into the 136 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 2: house of Laban, and the two became closer than father 137 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 2: and son. Jacob asked that he could serve under Laban 138 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 2: and his family. Laban was ecstatic and accepted Jacob's request. 139 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 2: Just because you are my kinsmen does not mean you 140 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 2: should work for free, Laban said, name your price for 141 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 2: working for me. Jacob knew that there was one thing 142 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 2: more precious than money or land. He knew the second 143 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 2: he laid eyes on her that Rachel was the one 144 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 2: he was supposed to marry. Allow me to work for 145 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 2: seven years under you so that I can marry your daughter, 146 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 2: Jacob asked. Laban agreed, and so began their friendship and 147 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 2: Jacob's diligent pursuit to work for his bride. Jacob loved 148 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 2: Rachel deeply, and their love for one another grew each year. 149 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 3: Jacob had sought out a blessing from Isaac, his father. 150 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 3: In reality, it was God's blessing that Jacob wanted to cling, 151 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 3: and he was able to claim it, but his way 152 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:15,959 Speaker 3: of securing the blessing was dishonest and deceitful. His motives 153 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 3: were right, but his methods were very wrong, so his 154 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 3: victory seems hollow. At this point, He's been blessed by Isaac, 155 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:26,559 Speaker 3: but now his life is in danger. His own brother 156 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:29,719 Speaker 3: wants him dead, so he flees, leaving his mother and 157 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 3: his homeland far behind. Sometimes when we achieve things, even 158 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 3: though it's a good thing, the way we get there 159 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 3: can have lasting negative consequences. That was the case for 160 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 3: Rebecca and Jacob. They would never see each other again, 161 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 3: a mother and a son now separated in life. But 162 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 3: what to say of Esau. He had not cared for 163 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 3: the blessing until it was lost. He didn't treasure it 164 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 3: or value it, so he became careless. And when he 165 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 3: lost God's blessing, he became bitter and enraged, but he 166 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 3: still craved his father's approval. Esau did what he thought 167 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 3: his father would want and married one of Ishmael's daughters. 168 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:14,200 Speaker 3: He was desperate for any form of blessing he could attain. 169 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 3: How often we are like this, not valuing the thing 170 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 3: that is right in our reach until it is no 171 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 3: longer available, so we begin grasping at straws, acting out 172 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 3: of desperation, trying to make things right. Sometimes it proves 173 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 3: to be too little, too late, as in the case 174 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 3: of Esau. Next we heard of Jacob's dream as he 175 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 3: traveled in layman's land. God appears to him and makes 176 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 3: a covenant with Jacob, affirming that the line of blessing 177 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 3: will indeed pass through him and his offspring. Jenesis twenty 178 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 3: eighth fourteen and fifteen records God's words, your descendants will 179 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 3: also be like the dust of the earth, and you 180 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 3: will spread out to the west and to the east, 181 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 3: and to the north and to the south. And in 182 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 3: you and in your descendant shall all all the families 183 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 3: of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you 184 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 3: and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring 185 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 3: you back to this land, or I will not leave 186 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 3: you until I've done what I've promised you. With each 187 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 3: generation Abraham, Isaac, now Jacob, God is reminding them that 188 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 3: his blessing isn't only for them, but it is for 189 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 3: all the families of the earth. We need to remember 190 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 3: that the blessings that we receive from God not only 191 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 3: benefit us, but they are given for a larger purpose, 192 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 3: and that is to bless others. We are blessed to 193 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 3: be a blessing. This is certainly the case with this covenant, 194 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 3: as we see glimpses of Jesus the Messiah, coming through 195 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 3: a blessing for all the families of the world. Jacob 196 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 3: awakens and sets about building a monument, a pillar to 197 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 3: mark this place where God spoke to him and made 198 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 3: his promises to Jacob. This place, named Bethel, will have 199 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 3: great importance as the house of God. Finally, Jacob arrives 200 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:08,319 Speaker 3: in Laban's land and greets his family, and then he 201 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 3: first sees Rachel, Laban's beautiful daughter. Jacob cannot wait to 202 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 3: meet her and rushes to her. We can see here 203 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 3: that Jacob, though described as mild when he first came 204 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:23,679 Speaker 3: into the world, is not a man without passion. He 205 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 3: even steals a kiss from Rachel, knowing this is the 206 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 3: woman for whom he would do anything. But it is 207 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 3: not only in Rachel that Jacob seems to find a home. 208 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 3: He feels, perhaps for the first time, like he is 209 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:39,199 Speaker 3: accepted into a family. Rebecca his mother loved him, but 210 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:43,319 Speaker 3: he never enjoyed the approval of his father. Now Laban 211 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 3: is giving him that it's really a beautiful time. Jacob, 212 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 3: on account of his own actions, had to flee from 213 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:52,520 Speaker 3: his own home, But God, just as he promised, does 214 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 3: not abandon Jacob and even gives him a sense of 215 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 3: place among Laban's family. Even when we go in the wrong, 216 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 3: God can bring us back to himself, because where God 217 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 3: doesn't rule, he overrules. And this is what is happening 218 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 3: with Jacob. In this closeness and connection, an agreement is 219 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 3: struck between Jacob and Laban. Laban wanting to pay Jacob 220 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:17,840 Speaker 3: for his work, ask his wages, and Jacob, setting his 221 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:20,800 Speaker 3: eyes on a prize greater than gold, says he will 222 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 3: work seven years for Rachel's hand in marriage. You could 223 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 3: say that Jacob was blinded by his desire and entered 224 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 3: into a deal that would cost him greatly. You could 225 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 3: also say that he knew the great value of a mate, 226 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 3: a wife, and whom he could delight. Both is true, 227 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 3: and as we continue in our next time together, we'll 228 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 3: see what happens in this agreement. We'll see what comes 229 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 3: of this agreement between Laban and Jacob. Heavenly Father, thank 230 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 3: you for the story that we have just read, and 231 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 3: how we can see your hand guiding Jacob and continuing 232 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,440 Speaker 3: to affirm and to keep your promises as he rescues 233 00:14:57,520 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 3: the family line of Abraham. Thank you. Thank you also, 234 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 3: Lord for what this passage today teaches us about the 235 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 3: purpose of blessing and that we can see your heart 236 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 3: for the fatherless the lonely, as you gave Jacob a 237 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 3: family who loved and welcomed him as he had never 238 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 3: experienced before. Thank you for welcoming us into your family 239 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 3: through your son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is 240 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 3: in his name that we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening 241 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 3: to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm pastor Jack 242 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 3: Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download thepray dot Com app and 243 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 3: make prayer a priority in your life. If you enjoy 244 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 3: this podcast, share it with someone you love. By sharing 245 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 3: this podcast, you can make a difference in someone's life. 246 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 3: And if you want more resources on how to tap 247 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 3: into God's power for successful Christian living, be sure to 248 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 3: visit Jack Graham dot org. God bless you. 249 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: This episode is answered by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare 250 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 1: solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality. 251 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 4: Welcome to the Pray News podcast, where hope is our 252 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 4: only bias. Each day, we'll unpack the most prominent stories 253 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 4: happening in the news and offer a Christian perspective. We 254 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 4: won't shy away from the hard topics, and we won't 255 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 4: dilute the hopeful message of Christ. This is more than 256 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 4: a daily brief on the news. It's a way to 257 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 4: be informed and transformed. Listen to Prey News on the 258 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:35,720 Speaker 4: iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.