# 281 I Will Be With You

The Book of Genesis

Day 281

Ge 30:37 Now Jacob took for himself rods of green poplar and of the almond and chestnut trees, peeled white strips in them, and exposed the white which was in the rods.  38 And the rods which he had peeled, he set before the flocks in the gutters, in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, so that they should conceive when they came to drink.  39 So the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted.  40 Then Jacob separated the lambs, and made the flocks face toward the streaked and all the brown in the flock of Laban; but he put his own flocks by themselves and did not put them with Laban's flock.  41 And it came to pass, whenever the stronger livestock conceived, that Jacob placed the rods before the eyes of the livestock in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.  42 But when the flocks were feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban's and the stronger Jacob's.  43 Thus the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.  31:1 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, "Jacob has taken away all that was our father's, and from what was our father's he has acquired all this wealth."  2 And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before.  3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you."

Jacob uses an elaborate procedure in order to bring about conception of speckled and off-colored animals. I have no clue as to the scientific validity of such a process. I do know that Jacob was aware of certain genetic probabilities. For instance, he knew enough to keep the feebler of the animals from reproducing, and if they did, he put them in Laban’s flocks. (These guys were both stinkers when it came to wheeling and dealing!)

In a matter of six years, by using this technique, Jacob became exceedingly prosperous. That’s when the grumbling starts. Laban’s sons aren’t stupid. They see what’s happening. Their bottom line is being greatly affected! Jacob is getting richer by the moment and they are getting poorer!

Laban’s countenance changes for the worse and Jacob notices it, and one can almost sense the danger that he is in as the Laban clan begins to brood about their losses. It’s just like it says in Jas 4:1-3, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?  2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.  3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

In the midst of this turmoil and uncertainty, God speaks to Jacob. “Return to the land of your fathers and your kindred, and I will be with you.” There we go again, another simple one word command from God, “Return.” Along with the command God throws in his assurance, “I will be with you.” This is the equivalent of “fear not.” So often, we read of God calling His people to an act of obedience and inevitably, He whispers these words of comfort, “Fear not, for I will be with you.”

God knows of our great enemy “doubt.” Doubt almost always comes along with fear, and where there is doubt, faith is lacking. So God assures us, “Fear not.”

We ought to be encouraging each other with these words often! Isa 35:3,4 says, “ Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees.  4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear!“

Is God calling you to exercise a measure of faith in His Word today? Make sure you are hearing from God, by checking with His Word and then act!  Fear not beloved! God is with you!