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  (GENESIS) GENESIS 31:1-6
  by J. Vernon McGee
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Summary: God calls Jacob to leave Laban's influence for the sake of his
family, demonstrating His faithfulness and sovereignty.

Duration: 3:21 Topics: "Genesis"
Scripture References: Genesis 31:3-42

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DESCRIPTION
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In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Jacob leaving
Laban's household. Jacob decides to leave without giving notice, as he
realizes that the influence of Laban and his sons is not good for him
and his growing family. God calls Jacob to return to the land promised
to Abraham, and Jacob takes his wives Rachel and Leah with him. Jacob is
perplexed and frustrated, but he obeys God's call for the sake of his
family's well-being.

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CONTENT
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Now, in chapter 31, Jacob now leaves Laban without giving notice, and he
takes French leave, and they don't even have a farewell party. And Jacob
and Laban then make a contract not to defend or hurt each other. Then
they separate in an outwardly friendly manner.

Now, this is a rather lengthy chapter that we've come to. Here it has 55
verses, chapter 31. We're going to save most of it for next time.

But here's the other side of the coin. God wants to get him out of that
land. He recognizes that the influence there is not good for Jacob and
this growing family that's coming along for these boys, because these
are to be the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel, and God is anxious
to get them out from that environment and back into Abraham's country,
the country He had promised to Abraham.

And God now is calling Jacob to return. And you'll notice here as we
come into chapter 31, you'll see that Jacob now is getting more than
Uncle Laban is getting, and he doesn't like it, and his sons don't like
it either. That is Laban's sons.

And this man wants now to leave, and he takes Rachel, and Leah meets
them out in the field, and they plot to take leave, and they do take
leave. And poor Jacob, he's perplexed. He's frustrated.

He doesn't know now where to turn. And it's this time that God has
called him to leave, and God has called him to leave for the sake of his
family, the boys, the children there, that they should not stay in that
environment. We recognize that we're in a section that God has given to
us to minister to our needs, because we're dealing here with a man that
was also a very sinful man in many ways, and a man that God would not
give him up.

And you can take courage from that. The Lord will never give you up. As
long as you'll keep coming to him, he'll keep receiving you.

And if he'll take a fellow like Jacob and a fellow like I am, then he'll
take any of us. I'm of the opinion, and let's now come here. You will
recall that Jacob now has had a pretty sad ordeal of 20 years with Uncle
Laban.

And Uncle Laban has really given him a course in the college of hard
knocks. And poor Jacob is now beginning to wince under all the pressure
that he's been under. And he senses now that God has prospered him so
that the face of Laban is turned against him, and also the sons of
Laban.

And Jacob now has a call from God. God tells him to leave. And he calls
his wives, Rachel and Leah, together that he might talk to them about
it.

And he tells them that which is on his heart.

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Audio: https://sermonindex1.b-cdn.net/8/SID8960.mp3
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/j-vernon-mcgee/genesis-genesis-311-6/
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