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Stuck in a Difficult Place

Words of Faith Final

Stuck in a Difficult Place
Words of Faith 6-2-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Genesis 30
[25] After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, "Send me on my way so I can go back to my own homeland. [26] Give me my wives and children, for whom I have served you, and I will be on my way. You know how much work I've done for you."
[27] But Laban said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you." [28] He added, "Name your wages, and I will pay them."
[29] Jacob said to him, "You know how I have worked for you and how your livestock has fared under my care. [30] The little you had before I came has increased greatly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I have been. But now, when may I do something for my own household?"
[31] "What shall I give you?" he asked.
"Don't give me anything," Jacob replied. "But if you will do this one thing for me, I will go on tending your flocks and watching over them: [32] Let me go through all your flocks today and remove from them every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb and every spotted or speckled goat. They will be my wages. [33] And my honesty will testify for me in the future, whenever you check on the wages you have paid me. Any goat in my possession that is not speckled or spotted, or any lamb that is not dark-colored, will be considered stolen."
[34] "Agreed," said Laban. "Let it be as you have said."

This is a story of God's watching over Jacob and his family.
Jacob's family was growing to the point he really needed to be out from under his father-in-law, Laban. Another reason to leave was that Laban was an idolater. Laban kept little "idol gods" around the house and did not worship the one true God. He practiced divination instead. Laban also was fundamentally dishonest and continually changed wages and agreements with Jacob.
But God was watching over Jacob. In the next chapter, we learn from Jacob that Laban had cheated him by changing wages ten times. But his confidence in God was not shaken. He stated, "However, God has not allowed him to harm me" (31:7). Jacob learned that it was more important to live by faith than to live by his wits.
Perhaps more interesting than the fact that it was time for Jacob to leave was that God had allowed him to stay so long! There is no universal "principle" to learn here, but we can certainly see that sometimes God, in His purposes, may leave us in a place that does not honor Him. In His purposes, God may leave us among those who would intend to cheat or hurt us. But in such a situation, "God has not allowed him to harm me." He watches over us. We will see this principle even more clearly in the story of Joseph. God uses difficult circumstances for His purposes.
Have you found yourself in a difficult place? A challenging job situation? A complex family setting? A less than desirable roommate? Are you working with someone who tries to cheat you? Are you in an environment given to idolatry? What is the answer? The answer is listening to God and knowing that He will protect you. He will tell you when it is the right time to leave. He may leave you in a difficult place for a time if that serves His purposes. Learning to trust God is often not the by-product; it is the goal.

Heavenly Father, I am thankful for Your careful watch over me. Thank You for Your care and protection. Show me when You want me to stay and when You want me to move. Teach me to trust You. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2022 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.