Jacob - Pt. 7

 

Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, “We are from Haran.” He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!” He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.” But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.” While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman, and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father. As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” (Genesis 29:4-14 ESV).

 

Perhaps you have heard me say, “La famiglia e tutto.” It is a long taught and learned principle from my dad. It is Italian and translates as “Family is everything.” This is the background of our reading today. After a long journey, Jacob, running for his life, arrives at the home of his uncle. These are “his” people, his mother’s family. This, surely, should be a good place to begin rebuilding his life. The fact that God had guided him to this spot where he finds Laban’s warm welcome must have reassured Jacob. He would have a home away from home.

 

It is somewhat baffling to me when I find people who don’t seem to have such a safe haven. Of course, I am not denying that some of the greatest hurts and betrayals are performed against those we are closest to biologically. Certainly that was the case with Jacob and his brother Esau. However, forgiveness and restoration ought to prevail within the family. All of us need a safe place to land when we’ve made a mess of our life. We need our people.

 

Perhaps “your” people are a group of friends to whom God has led you, people who will stick with you through good times and hard times. Perhaps you’ve made a mess of your life, but God has led you to find reliable support in a recovery group or even in prison. Sometimes God graciously provides us safe places, as he does for Jacob, so that we can begin growing and rebuilding our lives. But the most important change God works in our lives is not in our circumstances or our location; it is in our hearts. God may sometimes grant a reprieve from the effects of our sin. But as Jacob will learn, God continues to pursue us until we rest in his grace alone. The only place to truly be at home is at the cross of Christ, where sins are forgiven and messed-up lives are made new. That should be our family as much as any blood relation!