Jacob had to flee home because of Esau’s grudge against him. He threatened to kill Jacob after their father Isaac’s death.  But Jacob was sent out with his father’s blessing and command, to take a wife from his mother’s house in Paddan Aram (Gen.28:1,2).  On his way there he had an encounter with the Lord at Bethel and received some promises. God promised him that He will be with him, will watch over him, and will bring him back home (Gen.28:15).  Jacob was on the run with God’s promises and his father’s blessing and command. 

Jacob arrived in Paddan Aram and started to work for his uncle Laban for a wife (Rachel).  After 7 years of labor he was deceived into marrying Leah instead of Rachel.  He continued to work for 7 more years to marry Rachel, the one he loved.  Jacob was ready to go back home after he obeyed the command to take a wife from his maternal home.  The process of  returning starts when the commands are obeyed.  The greatest commandment: ♥♥♥ Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). Laban agreed to give him all the spotted, speckled and dark-colored sheep and goats as wages.  But on the same day he tried to sabotage the wages by removing all the male and female goats that were speckled or spotted and dark-colored (Genesis 30:35).  But God was with Jacob and caused the animals to bear flocks that were spotted, specked, and dark-colored.  His flocks increased tremendously and Laban’s attitude towards him started to change.  Now he had to flee again because of the jealousy of his cousins over material blessings.  Jacob returns with a harvest – wives, children, servants, live stocks.

Spiritual blessings (Isaac’s blessings) and material blessings ( flocks) can cause us to step out of our comfort, our security, and our family for a season.   This is to bring us back to the Fathers home with a harvest.  Do we dare to pray, “Lord bless us?”  If so, then be prepared to be on the run, to obey His commands ( love God, love people), to work hard, , and to wrestle with God (renew our mind with the WORD).  

Lord, reveal the magnitude of your love to us so that we can love others the way you love.  Help us to return with a harvest we have been working for (by praying, caring, inviting, spending time, giving).  Release every soul that is held by “Laban” that belongs to you and every thing the enemy has held back from us.  Thank you for the harvest of answered prayers in the spiritual, physical, emotional and financial realms of our lives.