I CONNED MY UNCLE OUT OF ALL HIS GOATS
GENESIS 30:25 to 31:55

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The number one characteristic employers are looking for is: _________________

When people feel they can’t rely on us, they want nothing to do with us, or ______ whom we claim to represent.

“All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring”.  (Genesis 28:14)

“After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me on my way so I can go back to my own homeland. Give me my wives and children, for whom I have served you, and I will be on my way. You know how much work I’ve done for you.

“Laban said to him, “If I have found favour in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.” (Genesis 30:25-28)

Jacob joins the cast of Hustle…

“Pure” sheep and goats à Laban

“Spotty” sheep and goats à Jacob

The con: “Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches. Then he placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs, so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat and came to drink, they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.” (Genesis 30:37-39)

What’s really going on: “In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted. The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’ And he said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.” (Genesis 31:10-12)

1) Integrity means honesty not sharp practice

Where are you at risk of compromising your honesty?

“Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.” And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been. Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.” (Genesis 31:1-3)

“Go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:9-12)

 

THE MOSES WAY Go to see Laban “The Lord says ‘Let my people go’”

THE JACOB WAY Sneak out of town when he’s not looking…

“When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household gods.  Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was running away. So he fled with all he had” (Genesis 31:9-11)

 

2) Integrity Means Living like its true!

How we act reveals how much we trust God’s promises.

People dismiss Christians as hypocrites when we don’t appear to have God involved in our life.

Why do Christians spend their time worrying about things that God promises he’s got covered?

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

“On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled. Taking his relatives with him, he pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead. Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.” (Genesis 31:22-24)

3) Integrity means being humble, not self-righteous

#3 – Church is too ______
#2 – Church is too______
#1 – Christians are too ___________

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)

We’ve no integrity of our own, but our Saviour has total integrity.

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43)
“Father forgive them, they don’t know what they’re doing” (Luke 23:34)
I “came not to be served but to serve and to give [my] life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45)

 

DISHONEST					HONEST
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
NOT TRUSTING					TRUSTING
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
SELF-RIGHTEOUS/JUDGEMENTAL					HUMBLE
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10

 

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I want to know more:

• To read: Humility: True Greatness, By C J Mahaney and Joshua Harris
• To read: If you want to walk on water, You’ve Got to Get out of the Boat, By John Ortberg
• To read: The Secret of Contentment by William B Barcley
• To study further, “Jacob Gets LAban’s Goat” Bob Deffinbaugh, https://bible.org/seriespage/jacob-gets-laban%E2%80%99s-goat-genesis-3025-3116
• What is Christianity? http://www.christianityexplored.org/what-is-christianity