Escaping With Jacob: 7 Days Of IdentitySample

Jacob’s arrival into the land of his uncle is a short refuge from the difficulty he escaped and the troubles he was about to face.

The first people Jacob meets are a number of shepherds who are waiting to water their sheep. During his wait another shepherd arrives, but this one is different. Jacob sees Rachel, one of Laban’s daughters. 

Jacob rattles off questions about his uncle to the shepherds and to Rachel. Even after his journey, he is still the same Jacob we saw before – one who is always on the lookout for how he can benefit from the situation at hand.

Encouraged by the response he gets from the shepherds, Jacob takes action: first by moving the stone (which would have likely required a number of men and was why the shepherds were waiting in the first place) and second, by watering all of his uncle’s sheep.

The scene ends with Jacob meeting the fated Laban and earning his approval. Quietly, he stays under his uncle’s care for a month and the reader is left wondering what Jacob’s next move will be.

Even in this short segment of Jacob’s story we start to see a change in him. Up until now, Jacob has never showed his strength. Readers could assume Esau was strong because of his skills as a hunter, but Jacob never had any reason to use his talents until now – when he moved the stone away for the benefit of others.

On top of that, Jacob is acting out of obedience to both of his parents by staying with Laban. On the one hand, he is biding his time until his brother calms down. On the other hand, he isn’t looking to rush back home either.

For the first time we are seeing glimpses of the patriarch Jacob was destined to become. It’s a rough picture with countless challenges ahead. But there is hope. In the eye of the storm of Jacob’s trials, his character is starting to take form.

The same can often be said for us. Too often we measure our progress in all or nothing terms. We are either saints or failures. But that is not how it works. And that is not how God sees us. Jacob was a work in progress. Selfish, yet serving. Greedy, yet gracious. 

We are a mix, too, of both mature and immature natures. Take compassion on yourself, because you are absolutely a work of God. The only way we fail is if we quit the journey.

Takeaway: God loves using works in progress.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You are patient and willing to grow me. 

If you're ready to continue the journey with Jacob (for a full 30 days) learn more here !