When God Stops What You Can’t

Genesis 31:19-24

¹⁹Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods. ²⁰And Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee. ²¹He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the Euphrates, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.

²²When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, ²³he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead. ²⁴But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

(ESV)

Thought:
Jacob has fled and now Laban finds out, he pursues him but before he overtakes him, God comes to him in a dream. But now God warns him to say nothing at all, good or bad, to Jacob.

Why could he say nothing good? Because he spoke of good things to Jacob in order to manipulate him. God knew Laban’s character, he was manipulative and deceitful, God was telling to simply accept what was happening and not to fight against it.

In this moment, God was protecting Jacob, both from his father-in-law’s manipulative nature and also his greater ability to cause harm to Jacob due to his larger household. Jacob had a smaller household, more children, he didn’t have sufficient resources to defend himself, and yet he was safe, why?

God was with him. At every moment of the day we are under God’s protection. He is working a million things together, to keep us from a million dangers which if it were not for him would assail us all day. How would you feel to know God is out there at this moment possibly sending dreams to someone in order to protect you.

God doesn’t protect you through some magical forcefield that can’t be penetrated; he is working through and intervening in all these everyday situations, often in tiny, indiscriminate ways, that we never notice.

Why do I say this? Because I want you to realise this amount of sheer effort, time and coordination goes into your protection every single day. God is working tirelessly so that nothing harms you except those things that he allows.

What an incredible love he shows to you, never is there a second in the day when his eye is not upon you, watching over you, caring for you. You are a child of God, and I hope you realise this incredible love and kindness that is shown to you every day by your heavenly father, especially in how he protects you.

Reflection:
Trust that God is protecting you today in ways you cannot see. Notice one fear you carry and consciously place it under His care, knowing He is already working around you.

Prayer:
Father, thank You for the protection I never see. Help me rest in Your constant care and trust that You are working in every detail to guard and guide me. Keep my heart steady in Your love. Amen.