16 April 2022
Youth Worship 16 April 2022 : "God has seen my affliction and the labour of my hands” Live-streaming from 2.45pm
Youth Worship 16 April 2022 : "God has seen my affliction and the labour of my hands” Live-streaming from 2.45pm
Text: Genesis 31:31-42
- Speaker:
- Rev Dr Charles Tan
- Series:
- Focus on Faith
Message Notes
YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 16 April 2022
Scripture Text: Genesis 31:31-42
Message: “God has seen my affliction and the labour of my hands” Genesis 31:42
INTRODUCTION
1. Laban pursued Jacob with armed men
2. But he was warned by God not to harm Jacob
3. Laban caught up with Jacob after seven days
4. He confronts Jacob
a) For departing without informing him
b) For stealing his household idols
JACOB’S ANSWER TO LABAN’S QUERY
31 Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.’ 32 With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live. In the presence of our brethren, identify what I have of yours and take it with you.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
Genesis 31:31-32
1. Fear in the heart
a) Fear of Laban
b) Fear that Laban would take his daughters away from him by force
2. The household idols
a) Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols
b) He was willing that the thief be severely punished, even with death!
LABAN’S SEARCH FOR THE HOUSEHOLD IDOLS
1. All the tents were searched
a) Jacob’s tent
b) Leah’s tent
c) The tents of the maids Genesis 31:33
d) No idols were found
2. Rachel’s tent
a) Laban searched Rachel’s tent too
b) She had hidden the idols in the saddle of her camel
c) She then sat on the saddle Genesis 31:34
3. Rachel’s Excuse
a) It was customary for a son or daughter to stand in the presence of the father
b) Rachel asked to be excused for not rising up
because she was having her menses Genesis 31:35
c) No idols were found in Rachel’s tent also
THE ANGER OF JACOB
36 Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban, and Jacob answered and said to Laban: “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued me? 37 Although you have searched all my things, what part of your household things have you found? Set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge between us both!
Genesis 31:36-37
1. Jacob was angry with Laban
2. He had been accused of theft of the household idols
3. But they were not found among his possessions!
RECALLING TWENTY YEARS OF LABOUR WITH LABAN
38 These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock. 39 That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. You required it from my hand, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40 There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes. 41 Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.
Genesis 31:38-41
1. He had endured much, serving Laban
2. He had to bear the loss:
a) If anything had been stolen
b) If any animal had been attacked by wild animals
3. The hard work put in
a) The drought
b) The frost
c) Many sleepless nights
d) Years of work
i) 14 years for the daughters
ii) 6 years for his flocks
iii) Changing of payment: 10 times!
INVOKING THE NAME OF GOD
Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked you last night.
Genesis 31:42