Genesis 29:1-15

Repeated phrases: 

(1) A large stone covered the mouth of the well v.2, 3, 8, 10 Jacob met a group of shepherds waiting around the well for they cannot roll the stone off the mouth of the well until enough people come. Then together they could moved that stone off and then they could get the water from the well and water the sheep. 29:8 “We can’t,” they said, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone is rolled off the mouth of the well. Then we water the sheep.” The author, Moses, wrote v.1-8 to describe that stone. Why? 

(2) Laban v.5, 10, 13, 14 When Jacob found out that the shepherds were from Haran he asked them about Laban. 29:5 So he said to them, “Do you know Laban, the grandson of Nahor?” “We know him,” they said. 29:6 “Is he well?” Jacob asked. Laban was his safe haven to avoid Esau and that explains his eagerness to meet him. How much did he want to find this refugee? See his reaction when he met Rachel: 29:10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, and the sheep of his uncle Laban, he went over and rolled the stone off the mouth of the well and watered the sheep of his uncle Laban. That stone was a huge one and required quite a few people to roll off (several shepherds were there waiting and they needed more people to roll the stone off). Jacob did it all by himself. He was desperate to help Rachel and meet Laban. 29:11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep loudly. Jacob left his own home because of the threat of Esau. 

He wanted to go back there and therefore set that up as a test if he should worship God. 28:20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God is with me and protects me on this journey I am taking and gives me food to eat and clothing to wear, 28:21 and I return safely to my father’s home, then the LORD will become my God. 

Now, when Jacob met his extended family all the worries and homesick exploded. Finally, his emotion was relieved when he found his second home. Laban welcomed him with compassion and admitted that he was his family. 29:13 When Laban heard this news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he rushed out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban how he was related to him.29:14 Then Laban said to him, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.” So Jacob stayed with him for a month. 

 (NET) he presence of “indeed” may suggest that Laban had to be convinced of Jacob’s identity before permitting him to stay. That was the beginning of the encounter of Jacob and Laban. However, from the following passages we knew that that was not the case. Laban did not treat Jacob as family, but more like a crafty business man. 

Reflection: Jacob was a strong man, but he was also in great emotional need when he met Rachael. He was longing for a family. Do we care for the emotional need for our husbands? Do you know about or care about his need? Pray for your husbands and show your care to him, especially during the Father's Day tomorrow. 

 Laban seemed to be a very welcoming uncle, but indeed he was not. In the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and now Jacob, they met a lot of situations that was threatening to them e.g. Abraham faced the famine and went down to Egypt, he lied about Sarah and almost lost her, Isaac faced similar situation. God protected them from the dangers, but to Jacob, his danger was more subtle and he needed to face it for a much longer period of time (stay tone for tomorrow's passage). God promised to protect Jacob and brought him back home again 28:15. What have God done to protect you from dangers in the past? From famine, from people's scheme, or from wrong Bible teaching from false teachers, anything else? Thank God for His goodness and His grace. 

 Audrey

2026

1. Context: God renewed the Ab's covenant with Jacob and promised to be with him and protect him until he return home. Jacob worshipped God and made a vow with God. 28: 20..." “If God is with me and protects me on this journey I am taking and gives me food to eat and clothing to wear, 21 and I return safely to my father’s home, then the LORD will become my God..."29: 1, So Jacob moved on (NET) Heb “and Jacob lifted up his feet.” This unusual expression suggests that Jacob had a new lease on life now that God had promised him the blessing he had so desperately tried to gain by his own efforts. The text portrays him as having a new step in his walk.

2. What did the author want to draw our attention?
v.2 He saw in the field a well with three flocks of sheep lying beside it, because the flocks were watered from that well. Now a large stone covered the mouth of the well. 

v.3 The stone required the multiple of shepherds to roll off and put back after use. 

3. What was the attention of Jacob?

From his conversations with other shepherds, he wanted to find out about Laban v.5-6. 

Knowing about the fact that the stone requiring multiple of shepherd stone to roll off the well, his conversations with the shepherds finished v.8. 

4. The last time the stone on top of the well was mentioned v.10. 

10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, and the sheep of his uncle Laban, he went over and rolled the stone off the mouth of the well and watered the sheep of his uncle Laban.

Summary: Before Jacob meet his family he helped them to solve their problem. He showed his ability to help with their sheep and it was important for him being receiving by his uncle and staying with him afterwards. Scripture did not explain why he had this ability. From the context, this incident happened just right after God promised him His protection and guidance. It is clear that God was the source of his power and gave him a way to be received by Laban. 

Reflection: God's protection and guidance may come in the form of giving us extra strength or power. Our path may be difficult or tough but we can have the power to face it. 

In Jacob's case, the power/task was given to him before he realized the importance of it. He just did it. When we received the power from God we probably should just did it.