Building Materials For A Good Home Series

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BUILDING MATERIALS FOR A GOOD HOME

Gen. 29 - 30

From “Preaching through the Old Testament”

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In the land of Haran Jacob found two wives and wound up with thirteen children. He built quite a home for himself. And in this episode of love, marriage and parenting God gives us some principles by which we are to build our homes if they are to be pleasing to Him and pleasant for us.

When I built my house, the cost factor tempted me to order precut materials and build it myself. One thing stopped me - the realization that I would be stuck with and have to live with what I had built. The same is true of the home. We live with relationships we build.

Jacob’s spirit had been revived at Bethel. The lonely fugitive, running from the wrath of his brother, had been found by God. He revealed His presence, gave His pardon and issued His precious promises of protection and provision (28:10-22).

Jacob, enthused, “picked up his feet” (29:1) and headed north on his 400-mile trip. Finally he came to a beautiful pastoral scene of shepherds and their flocks by a well. Asking them if they knew his uncle Laban (his mother Rebekah’s brother), they answered, “Yes. And here comes his daughter Rachael with her sheep” (29:6).

Jacob saw this beautiful girl, coming at just the right time, to just the right place and he was overwhelmed. It was the action of God and it was love at first sight. He went over, introduced himself, rolled the heavy stone away from the well, kissed her and then began to weep for joy (29:9-11).

They went to Laban’s home and there Jacob offered to work seven years if he would give him the hand of Rachael in marriage. Laban agreed and the Bible beautifully records, “So Jacob served seven years for Rachael, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her” (29:20).

Finally the seven years were up. When Jacob went in to his bride during the marriage festival, and lifted the veil, there was the very homely face (29:17) of Leah. Jacob the deceiver had been deceived. He protested to Laban and they worked out a deal that for seven more years work he could have Rachael.

She became his second wife seven days after this first wedding (29:27) but still he worked for her for the next seven years. During this time six sons and a daughter were born to Leah, four sons were born to two concubines, and finally one son, Joseph, was born to Rachael.

After they returned to Canaan, Rachael gave birth to Benjamin (35:17). Thus Jacob became father to the twelve sons - the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel (Jacob’s new name). What materials for a good home do we find here?

I. THE PRESENCE OF GOD (28:10 - 29:1)

Before Jacob found his wife he found God, or was rather found by God, at Bethel. There we find two significant and valuable things. We find

1. Our Commitment To God

Jacob built an altar and pledged to tithe. Here are two ingredients of a godly home worship and stewardship. The Christian home needs worship. One pastor commented, “In twenty years of marriage counseling I have never yet had one couple come who were in the habit of praying together,”

The strong family will also WORSHIP together at the CHURCH. This means far more than warming a pew on Sunday morning. The right kind of family does not debate over church attendance. Sunday night and Wednesday night belong to God. It does not support the organizations of the church, it attends them, helps in them and is supported by them.

The strong Christian home also practices STEWARDSHIP.

This involves money but includes much more than money. Some people in these inflationary times are afraid to tithe. The best thing you can do for your family financially is to tithe. This means you are putting God in charge of your finances. You are trusting Him to provide for your needs.

This doesn’t mean you will be wealthy or sheltered from the hard knocks of life. But it does mean you can have the peace and power and purpose that come from being obedient to God.

2. God’s Commitment to Us

You see, we not only have Jacob’s commitment to God, but God’s commitment to him. What more could we ask as marriage partners and parents than Genesis 28:15, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. . .” We can sail through hell itself on that promise.

You cannot beat a home where Biblical Christianity is preached and practiced and where God’s presence is something genuine and powerful.