God Makes a Way through Difficulty

Background Scripture: Genesis 28-31
Lesson Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22

Introduction

Life has its difficult times for every one of us: times of financial stress, loss of a loved one, failing health, and spiritual battles. Without faith in God’s presence and providential care, we would be overwhelmed by the sorrowful, troubling times of life. Sometimes we travel a troublesome and perplexing path because of our own imprudence, as was also the situation with Jacob. May our faith be strengthened as we study the care that God provided for Jacob as he fled from his angry brother. A new chapter in his life began while he lived with his mother’s family, all while God was propitiously guiding him.

Key Verse

And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest (Exod. 33:14).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

Jacob and Rebekah’s treachery toward Isaac and Esau resulted in Jacob departing from his family in fear. Because of taking matters into their own hands and not relying on God’s timing, Jacob suddenly faced the endless miles of an unknown road away from home and all that was familiar. He experienced the loneliness of a fugitive and the darkness of night when he found a stone for his pillow and prepared for rest. As he slept, he dreamed he saw a ladder that reached to heaven with the angels of God descending and ascending on it. God was above the ladder speaking to him, saying, “I am the God of your father and grandfather.” The promise given to Abraham that his seed would fill the earth was now linked to Jacob and his descendants, confirming God’s care over him. Only a part of Abraham’s and Isaac’s descendants continued as heirs of the promise, but all twelve of Jacob’s sons became progenitors of the tribes of God’s chosen people. Thus the terms “the house of Jacob” and “the children of Israel” reflected God’s blessing upon him. Here God reassured him of his presence wherever he would be.

After this night encounter with God, Jacob continued on his way to the house of Laban. In the house of his kinsfolk he became employed by Laban his uncle, and for his wages he was promised the hand of Rachel. She was Laban’s daughter, and he had loved her at first sight. Upon the completion of seven years of service, he anticipated the long-awaited marriage but was deceived into marrying Rachel’s sister Leah. After a promise of another seven years of labor, he was given Rachel also as his wife. That he was given in marriage to two wives was not by his own choice but by the fraud of Laban. The consequences of this trickery were much jealousy, strife, and mistrust in Jacob’s domestic life.

For twenty years, he was faithful in his labors in spite of having his wages changed ten times. At the end of his years with Laban, he was told by God to return to the land of his fathers. As he gathered his large family and flocks to obey the Lord’s direction, he began the journey to his homeland. There were several incidents of interest as they traveled toward home: Laban’s attempt to hinder his leaving, Laban’s accusation of stealing his gods, and wrestling with the angel prior to meeting his brother Esau. Jacob experienced many disappointing events during these years, some of them the results of his own imperfect character and some caused by the deceitfulness of others. We can only speculate how many times he may have had doubts as to the promise given that night as he slept under the stars at Bethel. God’s promises sustained Jacob and evidently meant something to him, for later he returned to that place where, in a dark and difficult season of life, God had drawn near to him.

Practical Truths for Today

Abraham was called of God, and he obediently followed, not knowing where he was being led; likewise, Jacob was fleeing for his life and did not know where he was going or what was going to happen to him. Surely he feared and questioned what the future held for him. He had just experienced the apparent failure of the promise “The elder shall serve the younger” (Gen. 25:23) told to Rebekah his mother. Not only that, but the one who was supposed to serve him was now seeking his life. He had no promise he would ever see his family again; he was soon to face a dark and lonely night by himself without a decent place to lay his head. Surely he may have thought, “This is the darkest hour of my life.” All he could afford was a rock for his pillow to try to rest a bit for the coming day and the many weary steps that would be required to reach his destination. God was watching, and his compassion was stirred by Jacob’s crushed and broken hopes. As He observed Jacob asleep on the rock, God comforted him by way of a vision of a ladder—a connection reaching from God in heaven to Jacob sleeping alone on a hard rock.

Many of us have occasions in life that have caused us to feel just as lonely and forsaken as Jacob felt on that long-ago night. The loss of a dearly beloved family member can leave an ache that hurts beyond words, robbing us of all joy of life. Financial failure may make life seem unfair and leave us questioning, “Why me?” A health crisis could leave someone unable to work, while failing health can be attended with much bodily pain and discomfort or requiring help with the care of personal needs. In the difficult experiences of life, what can we learn from the story of Jacob? Can it help us to envision the ministry of angels coming from God to us with their messages of comfort and strength?

First of all, let us renew the eternal truth in our innermost being that God is good. What He sends us will be for our growth and strength if we permit it to do so. He also understands that our earth-dimmed vision may not see what He sees. God will prepare a ladder, or a way, for us to reach Him and a place of rest and refuge. Our faith will falter at times, and we will weep, but God sees that too; those are the times when He longs most to carry us. We could believe that Jacob was not expecting God to appear to him that night; in our darkest night God is there even when we do not see Him. Who are the angels on the ladder between us and heaven? They are the unseen spiritual agents of God that pray with us and for us, offering consolation when we are ill and holding our hand. They turn our face to the light, pointing us to see the rainbow behind the clouds.

Spiritual difficulties can affect us differently than physical misfortune. Sometimes when we are walking on a spiritually dangerous path, we fail to accept the full import of how straying from the right way will affect our future. When we do realize our dire need, we may become frustrated, confused, or even offended. God makes a way in this difficulty also. He uses the same avenues of help as in the case of physical and material needs. In all spiritual difficulties, a complete trust in God and his church is paramount. Trusting God includes the surrender of our past, present, and future into his hand.

Illustration

A certain man lay injured, bleeding, and barely conscious. Hearing footsteps nearby, believes that help is coming. But no, they move on their way, not wanting to get involved with a sticky situation. Again he is aware of help approaching, and perhaps, through half-closed, swollen eyes, he can see the shoes and feet of someone who appears to be capable of lending him the needed assistance. This one also passes on by. Next he is aware of someone lifting his head to better wash his face and attend to his cuts and bruises and notices he is one of those that he least expected to care for his needs, a Samaritan. Carefully transported to a place where his wounds could be cared for, he pondered being the recipient of a caring heart. His body still ached, the pain nearly unbearable at times, but his soul felt warm and blessed.

A brother who had just buried his companion of many years said, “There are rainbows even in this, but I will need to look for them.”

Another, who for an extended time after surgery needed help walking, was amazed at the kindness and care of others, even from strangers, when they noticed his needs.

A patient in a large city hospital who was visited daily, even several times a day by family and friends, received this comment from one of his nurses: “It just isn’t fair you have people with you all the time and the man next door gets no visits at all.” Among God’s people there are innumerable angels descending the ladder to anoint our afflicted spirit.

Questions

1. Is it ever a workable solution to run away from our difficulties?
2. Give some suggestions for times when our faith falters.
3. What are some parallels between Jacob’s encounter and some of our times of searching and uncertainty?
4. Are some of life’s problems avoidable?
5. Verse 16 of the lesson text says, “And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.” What are some examples of how this might happen today?
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).