Audio Links

Video Links

Awesome Hands – Part 20

“ It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt”

In part 19 of the study, we covered several interesting aspects of the Lord working all things after the counsel of His own will. There is a revealing type and shadow playing out in Jacob being used to separate the flock that is his hire from the flock which belongs to Laban.

In type and shadow, Jacob represents the one who is “peeling back” the outside of the cup to reveal what is truly on the inside, if indeed Christ is in you.

Just as Jacob is used to bring about a “flock” of those who will be conceived in this revealing, we too must see that we are intricately involved in this same process because the Lord does not change how He works with His people.

The Faith of Christ is revealed as we hear the Word of God testify to all the different stages of our walk with Christ as it is shown to us in this separating of the flock with Jacob.

First, we are stripped, spotted and speckled and it is in this “blind” state that we first have Christ come to us.

Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

It is near the water that the cattle of Jacob, soon to be named Israel that our walk starts. It is before the RODS that we are given the birth of Christ in us but this is only the start of this cleansing.

Gen 30:39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.
Gen 30:40 And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban’s cattle.
Gen 30:41 And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.
Gen 30:42 But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s.
Gen 30:43 And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

Thus far, we have been looking at the first part of this process with Jacob contending with Laban to give him a hire that Jacob can call his own and use to provide for his own household.

During this time, Jacob continues to feed the flocks of Laban as well but Jacob also starts the second part of this process by encouraging the flocks to conceive at the rods.

The second part of this process and type and shadow leads our flesh and our carnal mind to cringe at what is happening during this process.

The process of Christ being revealed in us is NOT something that our “old man” and his household are going to like very much. This truly is a war between that which is natural and that which is spiritual.

When our flesh sees that we are increased greatly spiritually, even as babes in Christ, we should not fail to recognize that there will be a time when our carnal mind will not like that Christ is increasing in us and we can see this type and shadow continue in this story.

Gen 31:1 And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s; and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory.
Gen 31:2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.

It is now that the Lord will direct us to start the last stage of this process and truly return to our Father’s house, but this will not come without “our old man” and our carnal mind being at enmity with that thought.

Gen 31:3 And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
Gen 31:4 And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
Gen 31:5 And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.
Gen 31:6 And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
Gen 31:7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

Jacob gives credit to God for being “with” Jacob during the time that Jacob was in service to his father in law Laban.

Indeed, just as Jacob uses all his power to serve Laban 20 years, a witness to the completeness of his flesh, we too will fully serve our flesh before we are “peeled back” to reveal the white that “is in the rods”.

Jacob serves seven years each for his wives and another six years for his cattle.

Laban is translated as “white” and we serve the negative “fleshly white” first and think that “the shadow thereof is good”.

However, we are in the process of being called, chosen and faithful to the “white that is revealed inside” when the outside of our flesh is peeled back.

While we serve the flesh, “Laban’s house” initially, we will soon be shown of the Lord that it is time to serve the “white that is within,” and the journey of returning to our Father’s house will soon begin.

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

It is at the temple of God that we find judgment beginning and this is the start of the process of Christ dethroning the beast which calls the throne his own.

This is where we continue the story of Jacob coming to the point of actually leaving Laban to go to “Isaac’s house” in Canaan.

“ Jacob stole away unawares”

Gen 31:7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
Gen 31:8 If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.
Gen 31:9 Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
Gen 31:10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.

Notice, Jacob tells his wives that their father was prevented from hurting him, but God did work it out that Laban would change his wages and deceive Jacob multiple times.

Of course, Jacob is reaping what he sowed in the deception department, seeing as his being in this whole situation was because he was running from his brother Esau of whom he stole his blessing and deceived his own father Isaac.

A second point to notice is that Jacob points out that it is God who has “taken away the cattle of their father.”

The next revealing step in this exodus from Laban’s homestead is that Rachel and Leah both answer Jacob and blame their father for his actions but then give God credit for having done it.

This sounds much like how I use to talk while in the babylonish church when I would say God is sovereign except over my “free will.”

Gen 31:11 And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.
Gen 31:12 And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
Gen 31:13 I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.

Just as we pointed out in the last study and at the first of this study, it is an angel of God, a messenger of God, who is used to speak to those who we are sent to.

We know scripturally, that the God of the OT is Christ. As such, and in type and shadow, are we sent as Jacob to separate from the “flock of the WHOLE world” those whom we are sent to, “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Since we are as He is in this world, let us see how Christ responded in context about who He was sent to and by extension, who we are sent to.

Mat 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
Mat 15:23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Christ is petitioned by his disciples to send away this crying lady and then Christ says He is sent to the lost sheep. What happens next is the way the plan of God is happening even unto this very day.

Mat 15:25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
Mat 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.
Mat 15:27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
Mat 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

The first time, this woman comes crying to Christ asking for mercy and Christ says “not a word,” but once this woman comes worshipping in Truth and asking for help, Christ answers her according to her faith.

This is a great witness for us to know exactly what the will and mind of God is towards those we are sent to.

Most of the folks we are sent to will probably not be counted among those that endure and overcome to the end because they simply do not know to count the cost.

They will only cry unto the Lord for mercy when they have been put into a situation to cry out.

However, there will be some who come to worship Christ if only to receive but the tiniest bit of Truth, the tiniest bit of bread they can get from the “masters table”.

How then, does this relate to God’s hands working Laban’s, Leah’s, Rachel’s and Jacob’ lives at this point in their walk?

Gen 31:13 I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.

“This land” and attitude of serving God because He serves me is “this land” and is that mind which we must depart from. We must return to the “land” of our Father’s house which is where we worship God in Spirit and in Truth.

Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Joh 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
Joh 4:26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

Does anyone see the connection between Christ’s second reply to the woman who has a daughter with a devil and the second time that Christ listens to the reply of this woman at the well which finally proclaims, “I know that Messias comes, which is called Christ?”

There is a difference in crying out to the Lord because you just want help versus worshipping the Lord in Truth and calling Him Master. This is why Jacob must “return” to His true Father’s house and depart from his deceptive father in laws house.

As with the women in this story, there is a time when Jacob answers “God” according to what He perceives “God” as and makes a vow to “God”, versus yearning to do what God says in that He does God’s will by separating the flock according to the dream that God gives Jacob.

God tells Jacob in this dream, “I have seen what “Laban” has done unto you,” now “return to the land of THY kindred.”

Jacob is going to separate himself from his idol loving and “false God serving” father in laws house, but those Jacob brings with him are not going to separate themselves so easily, at least not from the idol and god worship of their father Laban.

Gen 31:14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?
Gen 31:15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
Gen 31:16 For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children’s: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.

Rachel and Leah recognize that God is working in Jacob’s life but they also are angered that there is no portion or inheritance left for them and their children. Indeed, when God separates us from our brethren, we will be separated.

Gen 31:17 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
Gen 31:18 And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
Gen 31:19 And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s.

Laban is in the process of removing the value of his sheep’s maturity; thus shearing them, when Rachel steals the images that belong to Laban.

Jacob’s next actions are to do unto Laban what Laban had done to him. Jacob decides to deceive Laban by not telling him he is leaving. Jacob is going to tell Laban why he does this, but we’ll get to that in a bit.

Gen 31:20 And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.

Gen 31:20 And Jacob deceived the heart of Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him that he fled. (MKJV)

Gen 31:21 So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.
Gen 31:22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
Gen 31:23 And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.

Laban is told on the third day that Jacob is fled and it takes seven days from that point to overtake Jacob. Once they catch up with Jacob, Laban reveals what God tells him to do while Laban “sleeps at night.”

Isn’t it interesting that we are told that Laban has to wait until the third day to learn of Jacobs fleeing and then it is seven days of journey before he catches Jacob? Additionally, it is in the night that Laban is given a dream of God.

Gen 31:24 And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
Gen 31:25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
Gen 31:26 And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?
Gen 31:27 Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?
Gen 31:28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing
Gen 31:29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

Laban sounds a lot like Pilate talking to Christ doesn’t he?

Joh 19:9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
Joh 19:10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
Joh 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

Well, we all know that it was God who gave the dream to Laban for the very purpose of making sure Laban did exactly as God had planned and Jacob simply was never in trouble of being hurt by Laban.

However, we all feel awfully powerful against the will of God even as we are bound to do whatever God has willed.

So, Laban moves on to what the problem really is, which Jacob has let Laban know about several times already. Jacob wants to return home but Laban wants to know why Jacob has supposedly stolen his Gods, his images. Laban also knows that when Jacob goes, so do the “blessings” which God has blessed Laban with via Jacob.

Gen 31:30 And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father’s house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
Gen 31:31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.
Gen 31:32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
Gen 31:33 And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the two maidservants’ tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent.
Gen 31:34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel’s furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.
Gen 31:35 And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images.

It appears to be that Jacob is so naive and favors Rachel so much that he doesn’t even suspect that his wife could have taken these images and idols.

He wouldn’t have made the statement to kill the person found with the images if he thought there was a chance that his favorite wife would have been the guilty one.

Now, it is Jacob’s turn to get upset with Laban that Laban would accuse Jacob of such a thing as stealing his gods.

Gen 31:36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
Gen 31:37 Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.
Gen 31:38 This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
Gen 31:39 That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
Gen 31:40 Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
Gen 31:41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
Gen 31:42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.

Here, we finally see Jacob confront the “old man” with what the God of the “new man” has laid upon his mind and heart.

The flesh and the carnally minded old man require everything to be in submission to his will. This must be confronted in us all as we start the journey to head home to our Fathers house.

Notice, we do have proverbial baggage which we DO NOT even know about which will be making the journey with us in our most valued and cherished thoughts and feelings.

In Jacob’s case, his love for Rachel has deceived him into proclaiming harshly and loudly what was on his heart and mind to and towards Laban.

“Conclusion of part 20”

I am going to end this study with finishing out this chapter because it reveals just what we do when we make deals with the flesh.

Gen 31:43 And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?
Gen 31:44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.

Laban just a little before this tells Jacob pointedly, “it is in my hand to do they harm” and then turns around and lets Jacob know that everything that now belongs to Jacob is really Laban’s in Laban’s mind.

Then Laban goes on to say, “what did you expect that I would to THEM my daughters and their children?”

As was mentioned before, Laban came out thinking full well that Jacob had stolen his gods from him and he was undoubtedly coming to take back what he considered to be his, ALL of his.

However, God steps in and changes things up according to His perfect will and this is just what God does to this day for us. He gives us peace with our enemies and gives us dominion over various giants, as He “hammers out” the daily dying in us all.

As we die daily, we are slowly given dominion over various parts of our lives only to move on to the next “city” in our land for Christ to conquer.

Gen 31:45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
Gen 31:46 And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
Gen 31:47 And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.
Gen 31:48 And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;
Gen 31:49 And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.
Gen 31:50 If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.
Gen 31:51 And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee;
Gen 31:52 This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.
Gen 31:53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.
Gen 31:54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
Gen 31:55 And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.