Jacob’s Escape

*from Bible Exposition Commentary

Genesis 31:1-21

Jacob had been away from home twenty years, and it was time he returned to his roots. His father Isaac and his brother Esau were still alive, and Jacob had some “unfinished business” to settle with both of them.

How did the Lord tell Jacob that it was time, to leave? The same way He leads His people today: through the inner witness in the heart, the outward circumstances of life, and the truth of His Word.

Six years before, God had put the desire in Jacob’s heart to return to his own country (30:25), and that desire had never left him. While not every longing in the human heart is necessarily the voice of God (Jer. 17:9), and we must carefully exercise discernment, the Lord often begins to speak to us in that way.

Along with the desire within us, God also directs us as He did Jacob through the circumstances around us (Gen. 31:1-2). Toward the end of those six critical years, Jacob noticed that his in-laws weren’t as friendly toward him as before, largely because of the increase in his wealth. Circumstances aren’t always the finger of God pointing out His way (Acts 27:1-15), but they can be significant indicators of God’s will. When God wants to move us, He occasionally makes us uncomfortable and “stirs up its nest” (Deut. 32:11).

The third and most important way God leads us is through His Word. God had already spoken to Jacob in a dream (Gen. 31:10-13), but Jacob remained in Padan Aram to acquire his wealth. Then God said to him, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you” (v. 3). As the story of Jacob unfolds, you will discover that God spoke to him at every important crisis in his life: leaving home (28:12-15), returning home (31:1-13), meeting Esau (32:24ff), visiting Bethel (35:lff), and moving to Egypt (46:1-4). God leads us in the paths of righteousness if we’re willing to follow (Ps. 23:3).

But Jacob took time to share his thinking with Rachel and Leah; for after all, he was asking them to leave their people and home and go with him to another land and people. Even though the Word of God is our primary source of wisdom in making decisions (119:105), it’s good for us to consult with others and weigh their counsel, particularly those closest to us. Both Rachel and Leah agreed that their father hadn’t been fair with Jacob or loving toward them, and that it was time to make a new beginning. Not only had he treated their husband like a common slave, but also he had used up their own dowries (Gen. 31:14-15).

But instead of facing Laban honestly and trusting the Lord to keep His promises and work things out, Jacob fled with his family like a criminal escaping justice. This was an act of fear and unbelief, not an act of faith; for “whoever believes will not act hastily” (Isa. 28:16, NKJV). In fact, Jacob later admitted to Laban that he had departed secretly and quickly because he was afraid (Gen. 31:31). It isn’t enough to know and do the will of God; we must also do His will in the way He wants it done, the way that will glorify Him the most.

My 2010 Election Thoughts

          This election (so far) is the most memorable for me as I take part in the Philippine’s first automated election. Thanks to Sen. Gordon for the Election Automation Law, we looked civilized citizens of the world. ^,^

The Election Process

Thanks to automation, the election results would be available more quickly BUT thanks to the 1 PCOS machine to 1000 voters ratio, it took us 3 hours to vote - 3 hours to wait for our turn to shade the ballot and accomplish other forms for 2 minutes, which would result to 6 years of new Philippine government.

          I hope next election, the ratio would be at most 1:500 para naman  1-1/2 hr na lang kami pipila and hindi na kami masyado magagastusan sa pagbili ng kung ano-anong makakain while in line. 

          The thought that the voter gets to feed his/her ballot to the PCOS machine got me so excited, to the point that I dreamt about it – I immediately fed my ballot after shading my president & VP! kawawa naman gov & mayor.

The Voters

          The long wait in line exposed the different kinds of people we are. Nakakainis pero andami pa ring walang discipline - “makapal ang mukha” na sumingit sa pila. There were people who were honest enough na hindi sumingit dahil lang may kakilala - great people! But then, there were those “not so honorable” people who would be given special treatment. haiz! So happy to see old faces din - my elementary teachers, some classmates, and of course my neighbors!

          I’m also proud that our precincts cared for the elderly, pregnant, and disabled; we had an “express lane” for them.

The Candidates

          Compared to the 2004 election (my first one), I had choices for presidency. Among these presidentia-boys - Mama’s Boy, Little Boy, Chick Boy, AmBoy, Amazing Boy, Pretty Boy, Poor Boy, Good Boy, and Feeling Boy - I honestly feel that there’s only one candidate that I was really bothered if elected president. It was like choosing which one is the best and not just the lesser evil.

          This is also the election that I attended a presidential forum. A political forum that made me cry. I got teary-eyed, but my heart was flooded. His statements aroused my desperation to see a new Philippines where people don’t beg and ask for help (the poverty mentality), but people who would stand with dignity and pride as a Filipino.

The Election Coverage

ABS and GMA wowed me. Need not ask why - the sets and the gimmicks were great! HI-TECH! But in how they covered the campaign, it didn’t surprise me. Their “biased” coverage was expected - more exposure for the big names, less exposure for the rest. It’s okay. I don’t think there are a lot to cover if the candidate does not have a big concert-like meeting de avance full of celebrities. 

          And by the way, we also covered my youngest sister’s first time to vote. We had a family pic showing our indelibly inked index fingers while proudly wearing red under the 1PM heat of the sun (just imagine). Unfortunately, i deleted my pictures’ folder in my SD card. Of course I cried! haha!

The Election Results

          Man, that’s really fast! New local officials were proclaimed within 48 hours. No more maze-like blackboards or whiteboards lined up in gymnasiums. I can access the internet from time to time to see updated results. WOW! I just hope I can really trust the integrity of these results.

The New Government

I got disappointed with the top 5 senators (except for Defensor), moreso, with the top 2 presidentiable. What kind of voters do we have?!?! It broke my heart that the Filipinos seem to have forgotten EDSA 1 & EDSA 2.

Noynoy is leading the presidential race, no doubt he’s gonna be the next president. But I have other doubts. Does he have the Filipinos’ mandate even his votes were less than 50%? He might be a clean slate, but he hasn’t proven anything yet. People might have liked him because of Ninoy & Cory. Without the proven track record, I hope he would have servant-hearted people to advise him. I’ve mentioned once that I think I’m more afraid of him winning the presidency than if it is Villar. The reason - i fear another doll would be erected along EDSA, just like the one in Ortigas.          

I pray that we Filipinos would not just rely on the one sitting in Malacañan. It’s a collective effort, and so let’s help build this nation. We might have supported different presidentiables, but once the new officials are proclaimed, the bible tells us…

          ¹Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. ²So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. (Romans 13:1-2,NLT)

¹I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- ²for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4,NIV)

          God Bless the Philippines!