(Genesis 29:1; Genesis 29:2-12 compare with Genesis 24:1-27;
Genesis 13:3-12; Genesis 31:24; Genesis 32:9-12, 24-32, Genesis 33:1-4)

Submit your wisdom and capability to the Lordship of Jesus and follow Him. Jacob’s wisdom seems to be his god. He seemed to view God as the god of his fathers. Making it seem like the space for God in his life was given first to his wisdom (or capability) while he puts God last. He seemed to have confidence only in what he conceived as correct, reasonable, and logical while he …went on his journey (Matthew 29:1). He kept going on his “journey” with his wisdom and strength until he saw how unhelpful his wisdom was after encountering another master schemer – Laban.

Consider how human wisdom kept plunging Jacob into the pit of disappointment. His mother who pushed him to deceive his father Isaac could not render any help than to send him (to exile) away from home. That began Jacob’s woes of disappointment as it is clearly seen in the Word of God, Laban schemes were not the first disappointment for Jacob. But at the height of Jacob’s woes of disappointments in the hands of Laban, God instructed him to return to his father’s house.

Usually, no matter how far we have traveled on human wisdom, when we return to God, we would need to pick up from where we stopped in God’s plan (Genesis 13:3-12), even that does not mean that God will not find a use for some of the results acquired. Of course, we know few successes recorded are still by His mercy. Now, Jacob was to go and face the Esau he ran away from, plus the additional woe (Laban) he gained from his “human” adventure (time spent with Laban). Let us pause a moment to compare what happened in Genesis 29:1-12 and what happened in Genesis 24:1-27.

Glory to God as Jacob returned to God, God (with Jacob’s help) first handled Laban (Genesis 31:24, 29). Before handling the issue Jacob had with Esau, God had to deal with Jacob himself (Matthew 9:17). Just as we may see today that not all enemies are our root problems as much as our untransformed heart is our root problem. God allowed an encounter where Jacob will once show his capability before wounding Jacob as a perpetual reminder to Jacob that it is by God’s mercy and grace and not human capabilities or wisdom. The Bible says in, Zechariah 4:6 “Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts” and in 1 Corinthians 1:29 “That no flesh should glory in his presence”.

It may not only be our Esau and Laban that God needs to help us with. He may also necessarily need to help us with ourselves. After the Lord helped Isaac overcome himself then he helped Jacob find favor and peace with Esau (the one he gravely offended). I implore you brethren as we seek God’s help with our Esau and Laban, let us be open to God to deal with us as he dealt with Jacob. I pray that the Lord Jesus will encounter us today as He helps us to deal with our Esau and Laban. Amen.

Prayer Points
1) Oh Lord, interrupt every of my journey taking me away from Your purpose for my life, in Jesus name.
2) Lord Jesus help me to yield to You and return to where I missed it before You, in Jesus name.
3) Oh Lord help me deal with my Laban that would not let me return to Your purpose for my life, in Jesus name.
4) Lord, I leave myself open to You, remake me and everything concerning me so as to fit into Your good plan for my life, in Jesus name.
5) Father, I cannot trust myself with dealing with my Esau, please help me Lord, in Jesus name.
6) Pray for God’s wisdom, grace, and help in separating from your Laban and reconciling with my Esau, in Jesus name.