Genesis 30:25-43

What are you fed up with? Politicians? The economy? Particular Relationships? Your Job? School? Today we are going to look at how Jacob became fed up with his work and his boss and how we can learn from him how to deal with being FED UP

Video – Cubicle

Let’s say something good about Jacob He’s patient. He’s a hard worker. He’s smart, industrious and creative. He fulfills his contract (keeps promises). He’s committed to his family. He remembers his roots. He believes and is committed to God’s Promises.

I want out of here! Gen. 30:25–26 (NET) 25 After Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me on my way so that I can go home to my own country. 26 Let me take my wives and my children whom I have acquired by working for you. Then I’ll depart, because you know how hard I’ve worked for you.” Jacob was ready to go home? – 14+ years working for Laban with the payment of two wives. – He had nothing to show for it for himself- a bad job. Do we want out? – Your job? – A contract? – To just go home?

A New Deal can prolong our stay Genesis 30:27–28 27 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, please stay here, for I have learned by divination that the L ORD has blessed me on account of you.” 28 He added, “Just name your wages – I’ll pay whatever you want.” Laban’s motivation for keeping Jacob: – Not his daughters – Not his grandkids – Jacob is profitable to him Laban is willing to write a new contract What will keep you in a bad situation? – Higher pay, promotion, job description, new contract? – Family obligations?

Unless things change, I’m out of here Genesis 30:29–30 29 “You know how I have worked for you,” Jacob replied, “and how well your livestock have fared under my care. 30 Indeed, you had little before I arrived, but now your possessions have increased many times over. The L ORD has blessed you wherever I worked. But now, how long must it be before I do something for my own family too?” Jacob’s complaint: – I’m doing all the work – You’re getting all the profits You were poor before I came You’re wealthy because of me. – When am I going to make enough to support my family? Sound familiar? – Are you blessing to your employer? – You in a job going nowhere? – Worst, is your boss a family member?

Let’s Negotiate Gen. 30:31–32 31 So Laban asked, “What should I give you?” “You don’t need to give me a thing,” Jacob replied, “but if you agree to this one condition, I will continue to care for your flocks and protect them: 32 Let me walk among all your flocks today and remove from them every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb, and the spotted or speckled goats. These animals will be my wages. Jacob negotiated a new contract for wages. – He’d take the minority sheep (spotted, speckled, dark colored). Most sheep are white. – And the spotted, speckled goats. Most goats are dark brown or black. – It’s very fair to Laban What can you negotiate? – Pay raise, promotion. – Change in job description – Location – Vacation time How did Jacob come up with this idea? Jacob tells us in the Chapter 31: “Once during breeding season I saw in a dream that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled, and spotted. 11 In the dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ ‘Here I am!’ I replied. 12 Then he said, ‘Observe that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled, or spotted, for I have observed all that Laban has done to you.

Keep you integrity, make it fair Gen. 30:33–34 33 My integrity will testify for me later on. When you come to verify that I’ve taken only the wages we agreed on, if I have in my possession any goat that is not speckled or spotted or any sheep that is not dark-colored, it will be considered stolen.” 34 “Agreed!” said Laban, “It will be as you say.” Jacob cares about his integrity to the contract. – He has always kept to the contract in the past – He will keep to the new contract. Negotiate in a way: – You can maintain your integrity – You can fulfill the terms of the contract – That it is agreeable to the boss

Start the contract with a clean plate Gen. 30:35–36 35 So that day Laban removed the male goats that were streaked or spotted, all the female goats that were speckled or spotted (all that had any white on them), and all the dark-colored lambs, and put them in the care of his sons. 36 Then he separated them from Jacob by a three- day journey, while Jacob was taking care of the rest of Laban’s flocks. Jacob’s deal – The wages only applied to new born sheep and goats, not those presently meeting the negotiated standards. – Spotted, speckled and dark- colored sheep where separated by three days so Jacob couldn’t use them to manipulate breeding. You’re negotiation – Play fair

Do we take credit for what God does? Gen. 30:37–38 37 But Jacob took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees. He made white streaks by peeling them, making the white inner wood in the branches visible. 38 Then he set up the peeled branches in all the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink. He set up the branches in front of the flocks when they were in heat and came to drink. God told Jacob that the sheep and goats would be born spotted and speckled and off colored. Jacob only half-heartedly believes God. – He will attempt to manipulate circumstances and make it look like he caused it. – It’s all pseudoscience.

When are we just spinning our wheels? Gen. 30:39–40 39 When the sheep mated in front of the branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked or speckled or spotted. 40 Jacob removed these lambs, but he made the rest of the flock face the streaked and completely dark-colored animals in Laban’s flock. So he made separate flocks for himself and did not mix them with Laban’s flocks. The result would have occurred regardless of Jacob’s attempts. The only wisdom is in separating the flocks.

Do we form phony cause and effect relationships? Gen. 30:41–42 41 When the stronger females were in heat, Jacob would set up the branches in the troughs in front of the flock, so they would mate near the branches. 42 But if the animals were weaker, he did not set the branches there. So the weaker animals ended up belonging to Laban and the stronger animals to Jacob. Jacob was certain that his scientific actions were the cause of the results. Result: Credit is taken from God. What pseudoscience do we practice? What false cause and effect relationships do we form? – In our work? – In our relationships? – In our self-healing?

Every Good gift is from God Gen. 30:43 In this way Jacob became extremely prosperous. He owned large flocks, male and female servants, camels, and donkeys. God prospered Jacob. He doesn’t deny that God prospered him. But, his scheme makes him and others think he helped God. The testimony and glory that should have been God’s is diminished. “In this way …” Only in the eyes and heart of Jacob.

God May Test Our Faith with Strange Requests. It was strange to trust there would be more spotted, speckled and off colored sheep and goats. Moses was to hold up a pole with a serpent to heal those bit by a snake. Elisha told Naaman to dip himself seven times in the Jordan. God tells Isaiah to have Hezekiah apply a fig cake to his sores to get well. But God did not inform Jacob to do something in this text.

Lessons – When You’re Fed Up Be Patient – Jacob worked for 14 years Work hard Fulfill your contract (promises). Receive guidance from God before you make changes (either in the contract or leaving). – Jacob was told about the sheep and goats. – Later, Jacob would be told to leave.

Lessons Go with a plan. Jacob had a plan when he went to his boss. Be flexible enough to make changes in your plans. Let God have the glory – The Sheep and Goat plan was God’s means to bless Jacob. – It was also God’s means to testify of His sovereignty to others.

Humbly Give Credit to God 1 Corinthians 1:26–31 26 Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position. 27 But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, 29 so that no one can boast in his presence. 30 He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” Even in Your Job, to your boss and to your family.