25 As soon as Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country.” – Genesis 30:25
Have you ever just wanted to go home? It’s a desire that can come over us at any age. When we’re young, the desire can come over us simply because we’re tired. As we get older, homesickness can set in on trips or summer camp stays. As adults, long business trips and lengthy deployments of service can cause us to miss our families. My first taste of homesickness struck when I went away to college. Honestly, I loved being away from home. The initial liberation that accompanied living away from home for the first time distracted me at first. But after the newness wore off, I had this quiver in my gut that could only be satisfied with a “visit back home.” The only problem was, as a poor college freshman, I didn’t have enough gas money to make the trip. Hold that thought.
As we come back to Genesis, Jacob begins longing for home. Frankly, I would say it’s about time that he does. After all, his “short trip” has turned into an unforeseen 14-year stay. In some ways, it can seem as though, in the midst of paying off his debt to Uncle Laban, Jacob has grown a family and built a life for himself where he’s at. But alas, it’s not his home. Deep in the heart of Jacob is the memory of God’s promise to take him back home to the land of Promise. BUT, there’s just one problem… Jacob doesn’t have the “gas money to get home.” What? You don’t see that part written in the story? Well, all I’ll say is take a look again at Genesis 30:25-43 and come Sunday ready to have your mind blown yet again by the faithfulness of our God.
This week’s message is entitled “Echoes of Provision.” All of us are longing for home. One day we’ll all arrive with our homesickness quelled but only through the provision of the Lord.
Love you Church!
Pastor Jerry Lingenfelter