Genesis 29:1-14A When a door closes, God opens new doors to greater promises

Genesis 29:1-14A  When a door closes, God opens new doors to greater promises

1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the sons of the east. 2 He looked, and saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for from that well they watered the flocks. Now the stone on the mouth of the well was large. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, they would then roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the mouth of the well. 4 Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Haran.” 5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.” 6 And he said to them, “Is it well with him?” And they said, “It is well, and here is Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep.”

7 He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them.” 8 But they said, “We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered, and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”

9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept. 12 Jacob told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.
13 So when Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Then he related to Laban all these things. 14 Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.”

Background

The contrast between the journeys of Jacob and Abraham’s servant surfaces an inconsistency. Although both are seeking wives, Jacob came on foot and empty handed while the servant came with a well-laden camel train and an entourage of maids and servants. Upon closer examination, one cannot help but surmise that Isaac’s intent (in sending Jacob away) was not merely to acquire a wife and immediately return to Beersheba. The lack of a bride price requires Jacob to work for Laban for a length of time. And this boded well with Isaac and Rebekah whose intention was to keep Jacob and his brother apart. It seemed for Jacob, the way forward was bleak and to think of one day returning to his father’s house was almost impossible. Nevertheless, at the closing of a door, God opens an unlikely door to fulfil His promises to Jacob. By divine providence, Jacob arrived at the right location, at the right time and met the right people. 20 years later, he returned to the promised land a very wealthy man despite the odds set against him. Today’s devotion teaches us: when a door closes, God opens new doors to greater promises.

Observation

Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the sons of the east.

The grandeur of the dream did not alleviate the rigours of the journey. But it brought for Jacob fresh hope and assurance of God’s providence in every step of the way. Then Jacob went on his journey, in Hebrew literally reads “then Jacob lifted up his feet”.

It is about 100 km from Beersheba to Bethel and another 720 km to Haran. The journey for Jacob is arduous to say the least (see map below, the RED line). Assuming Jacob covered 40 km a day, it would have taken him approximately 18 days to reach Haran. However, the text says that Jacob came to the land of the sons of the east which suggests that he was not aware of his precise location.

Nevertheless, the ensuing description of the scene points unmistakably to God’s providence. It appeared that Jacob had arrived at the right location, at the right time and met the right people. At that time, a fellowship of the shepherds were waiting for the rest of the flock to arrive. For only then could they remove the stone that covered the well and water the flocks before going out to the pastures. Jacob quizzed the shepherds only to realise that he was in the vicinity of Laban and that Rachel, his daughter was approaching with the sheep.

Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them.

Jacob’s cockiness was evident in his follow up conversation with the shepherds. Jacob, in his words was in fact alluding to their laziness: “Why are you standing around? Water the flocks now and let them graze.” Jacob observed that the shepherds were idling when they should be working. The shepherds’ lethargy points to a difference in work attitude and culture between the sons of the east and the patriarch’s household.

When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother…

The arrival of Rachel broke the tense exchange with the shepherds. One cannot help but notice Jacob’s enthusiasm when Rachel came into the scene. For he single-handedly rolled away the large stone and watered his uncle’s sheep. And then he kissed Rachel and explained that he was a relative of her father and that he was Rebekah’s son. Jacob’s mannerism depicts a man who was overjoyed (lifted his voice and wept) and relieved at finally finding a relative in a foreign and foreboding land.

Rachel went home to inform his father who greeted Jacob warmly. However, the text is silent as to how much Jacob divulged concerning his past. Nevertheless, Laban had discovered enough to know that Jacob did not have much financial assets to offer apart from his raw abilities. Thus, Jacob was very much at Laban’s disposal. Laban’s intimate words, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh” will soon have Jacob realised that he has unwittingly trapped himself at the mercy of a man more sinister and unscrupulous than he is.

Truth

When a door closes, God opens new doors to greater promises

Jacob, by leaving Beersheba enters into unchartered waters. Never before in his life was he all alone by himself facing an uncertain future. Even though he had been unduly enriched by his father’s blessing and the dream at Bethel, still, he has to grapple with real world situations and issues of livelihood. When Jacob arrived at a certain place unaware of his actual location, God’s providence found him at the right place, at the right time and with the right people. And that reminded him of the circumstances that surrounded Rebekah’s meeting with Abraham’s servant. The impeccable timing, the stroke of serendipity offer divine assurances that all things will eventually be well. God has opened for Jacob a new door that leads to the fulfilment of Abraham’s promise.

Therefore, believers must take their minds off their circumstances while looking for signs of divine providence, the unlikely doors that lead to greater promises. So often, we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. The door that has been opened may be dull and small, but it can lead to doors bigger than the one that was closed. God closes the doors that lead to destruction while opening new doors with better promises. Hence, we must not be too quick to judge the appearance of a door but allow God to impress upon us the possibilities that lie beyond it. Proverbs 14:12 says,

There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

Therefore, believers must repent from unbelief and praise God for the doors that are closed. In doing so, their eyes may be opened to see the doors that are opened for them. God desires none to perish but for all to be saved and blessed. Today, God is actively closing and opening doors in your life so that you may experience the abundance that he has intended for you. All you need to do is to give God the benefit of doubt and to trust Him fully. Do not worry about tomorrow, but take joy in fulfilling the tasks of the day. And eventually, all will turn out well.

Application

Are you bemoaning the loss of a relationship, the shattering of a dream or the loss of career or investment? Have faith in God who is in control of all things. Take your mind off your current loss while opening your consciousness to God’s unsearchable love and possibilities. Our hope must be rightly secured on the steadfastness of God’s word and promises. Ask God to show you the unlikely door that has been opened for you. The door has been disguised so that many will despise it because of its appearance. It may be a new relationship, a new career, or a new investment opportunity. But God will open your eyes to see its potential and give you courage to enter in.

Dear Lord, I thank you for your steadfast love towards me. You have ordained for me a glorious future and have been busy closing and opening doors so that I may experience your goodness. Remove my prejudices towards doors of dull appearances and help me see beyond it. Give me assurances by divine providences and signs that I am indeed walking in your will. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.