We pick up in our text immediately following the birth of Joseph. In our last message on the life of Jacob we looked at how Jacob laboured for Laban for 14yrs for his two wives Leah and Rachel. This polygamous relationship resulted in a family feud that pitted Leah and Rachel against each other in a contest for Jacobs’ affections.

Today we are going to look at the blessing of God upon Jacobs’ life in spite of the opposition from those around him and the circumstances he find himself in.

Theme: Blessing in spite of opposition

I. Jacob’s wages established (30:25-34)

  1. The request is for departure (Vs 25-26)
  2. The request to remain (Vs 27-28)
  3. The request for wages (Vs 29-34)

II. Jacob’s wages earned (30:35-43)

  1. The stealing of cattle (Vs 35-36)
  2. The tending to cattle (Vs 37-42)
  3. The blessing of cattle (Vs 43)

III. Jacob’s wages coveted (31:1-13)

  1. The bickering brothers (Vs 1-2)
  2. The blessing of God (Vs 3-13)

Conclusion

  1.  Jacob was cheated out of his due wages and the odds were meant to be stacked against him, but God blessed him in spite of his circumstances.
  2. God brought Jacob to the end of his own strength before he blessed him and Jacob increased exceedingly.
  3. God used the oppression of Jacobs’ in-laws to prepare him to leave Haran.
  4. I hope you can see through all this that God is able to bless you in spite of your circumstances and in spite of those around you who would drag you down.
  5. Don’t give up on serving God just because the fruit doesn’t appear right away. God may be just about to pour out a blessing.