Genesis 30 A Flock His Own Pt. 2
Jacob has completed his work to pay for his wives. Now he is building a flock of his own while working for Laban. Laban is a cheat!
We left Jacob as he was coming out of his third lambing season using his special method of inducing spotted, striped, and black sheep. Laban is NOT happy with Jacob’s success. For, every sheep Jacob gets to keep, is one less that Laban doesn’t. Laban keeps changing the terms of the deal, but God finds a way to bless Jacob anyway.
Let’s rejoin our family as Jacob continues to raise his children and gain his fortunes.
♥ ♦ ♥
Jacob’s flocks were very large by now. Laban’s hardly grew this year, again. Jacob was hoping that Laban would get the message and stop changing his ‘wages’ all the time. God was blessing Jacob. Jacob was doing his part in putting out the sticks, but the fact that the number of black sheep dropped off to almost nothing and then rose again when Laban returned them to Jacob was proof enough of His hand for Jacob.
Jacob wondered if he even needed to worry about the sticks, since God was really in control. He decided to use them again the next year, in order to show God that he was his part.
Asher turned five at the end of lambing season. It was his turn to go and meet with Jacob’s God. Asher was excited for this birthday for a couple of reasons. First, he would meet his Abba’s God, and second, his Abba would allow him to help with the sheep game the next time. But first things first.
Jacob thought about waiting for Issachar to reach his fifth year and bring the boys together. They were only two months apart in age and had reached many milestones together; including sharing a weaning ceremony. Jacob decided against this because he wanted each of the boys to know that they were worthy of their own special times. They were not twins as he and Esau were.
Jacob took Asher to choose a lamb. He was certain that his brothers had informed him of what to expect this day, as well as how to pick the lamb. He hadn’t needed to go over these instructions in quite some time.
Asher is a happy child. Always willing to do whatever is asked of him, including sharing with his brothers; especially Issachar. Always looking for the best in any situation. His outlook is a lot like Judah’s. Where Judah actively seeks to make people happy, Asher does it by giving it to the desires of others. This way, there is no fighting.
Being uncertain which lamb Jacob would want him to choose, Asher asked his Abba for help.
“Abba.”
“Yes, Asher.”
“Can you help me? I don’t know which one to pick.”
“Do you know the ‘rules’ of picking? The lamb has to be a boy. It can have no spots or cuts. It needs to be healthy and clean. All this means that it has to be the BEST lamb we can find, as it is a gift to the Lord.”
“What if I choose wrong Abba?”
“I have faith in your decision. I know you will choose only the best lamb.”
Asher still stands in the middle of the pen, uncertain. His normally happy attitude is being stretched. Out of desperation, he finally just grabs one. When he brings it to Jacob, he doesn’t say a thing.
“You’re sure this is the one you want” asks Jacob.
The stress is getting to Asher and he begins to cry. He is afraid that his Abba is saying that he did something wrong and he doesn’t know how to fix it.
Jacob sees Asher’s distress. The lamb is not the one Jacob would have chosen but he is not going to challenge Asher’s choices without good reason. “Ok. Let’s take him to the altar to meet with our God.”
The two set out on the road. Asher has calmed down and his smile is back. Jacob is happy to see it back in its place. But the ease with which it was pushed away troubles Jacob. He knows that Asher is a ‘people pleaser’ and that is how he finds his place in life, but Asher needs to learn that there are some things worth standing against the crow for. Things that truly matter. Jacob fears that this is going to be a hard lesson for Asher. He prays that Asher will appreciate it later in life. As Gad said, “Even if this hurts, it will still be alright.”
“Asher” Jacob calls as they near the place of the altar.
“Yes, Abba” replies Asher.
“Can you tell me what you were thinking as you chose the sheep.” Before Asher has a chance to worry, Jacob quickly adds; “You did nothing wrong. I am simply curious.”
Not wanting his Abba to know about the fear he faced in the sheep pen, he simply shrugs his shoulder.
Jacob couldn’t let that be the extent of Asher searching his own mind. “This conversation needs to happen face to face” thinks Jacob. Jacob walks over to a rock beside the road and sits down on it. He brings the lamb with him and gets it to settle down beside him. Asher follows slowly. Gone is the smile. Uncertainty replaces it and is clearly visible in Asher’s eyes.
Asher had been told by his brothers what to expect of today. That he would pick a sheep, that Abba would walk with him, that Abba would sacrifice it to his God by cutting its neck and cutting it up into bits, and that they would eat some of it in the end. He had also heard that Abba would find a lesson to teach along the way and it was important to listen.
Asher was afraid that the lesson was coming. He was afraid it would be a hard one, like Levi’s was. He would do whatever he could to make Abba happy so he wouldn’t have to have a hard lesson.
As he approached Abba, Abba reached out to him. When Asher reached back, Abba pulled him onto his knee. This felt safe. Surely, he would be safe in his Abba’s arms.
“Asher, I really want you to think about why you chose this sheep. And I want you to tell me what was in your mind and your heart.”
“I wanted you to be proud of me” Asher says before he falls silent again.
“I am proud of you. And you telling me about how you came to your choice is not going to change that.”
“Levi said it had to be the BEST sheep. Reuben said that it couldn’t have any sores or be dirty. Simeon said no spots. Dan said it had to be strong. I wanted to make them all happy but I didn’t know which one they would say to choose. I was afraid of choosing wrong.” Asher shifted on his Abba’s lap so he could look away instead of look in Abba’s face.
“So how did you finally choose this one?”
“I didn’t” confesses Asher. “I took the one that was closest to me.”
“Did you look at it and the others first to see if they fit the rules your brothers gave you?”
“I did, but there were so many rules. I might have forgot one.”
“Which one would that be?”
“I don’t know.” Tears started streaming down Asher’s face and he looked back at his Abba. “Please tell me if I picked the right one Abba!”
Jacob’s heart was breaking for Asher. He had never realized how insecure he was. It was if he doubted his every move that was not dictated by another. This was a dangerous way to live your life. Jacob could not come right out and say that or he would crush what there was of Asher’s strength.
“You picked a good sheep Asher. And you did it by yourself.”
Asher’s slowed to a trickle, so Jacob continued.
“I have a different question to ask you. There is no right or wrong answer; only what is in your heart. Do you understand?”
Asher was slow but he did nod.
“Do you remember your weaning ceremony?”
“I do” said Asher with a brighter tone.
“Did Ima Zilpah and Ima Leah ask you if you wanted to share with Issachar?”
“I think so.”
“What did you say?”
“I said yes.”
“Did you want to say ‘no’?”
Asher looked at his Abba with a confused expression.
“What I mean is, did you, in your secret heart, want a celebration all your own.”
Asher’s cheeks redden and he bows his head. “Yes” he whispers.
“Did you tell your Ima this?”
“No. I heard her talking to my other Ima and they said what they wanted. I didn’t want to make them angry, so I didn’t tell them.”
“Did Issachar say what he wanted?”
“He said he didn’t want to wait and asked me to share.”
“Did you tell him what you really wanted?”
“No” admits Asher again.
“Here is another question for you that I want you to think very hard about. Is it easier for you to do what others want instead of what you want.”
Asher nods his head. “It makes them happy.”
“Even if it makes you unhappy” Jacob touched Asher’s chest, “down in here?”
“I am happy because they are happy.”
Jacob turned Asher so they were eye to eye again before going on. “It is good that you care about others, but if you don’t care about what is important to you, you might be dragged into doing something bad, just to make someone happy.”
Asher gave Jacob his confused face again, so Jacob went on.
“Let’s say I decided to hurt somebody; to his them with a rock. And I told you to hit them with one too. Would you do it, to make me happy?”
Asher struggled with an answer. Finally, he said; “I don’t know.”
“That is what I’m talking about. You know it is not right to hit someone with a rock, but you would do it so I would be happy. My bad actions dragged you into trouble because you wouldn’t tell me ‘NO’, just to make me happy. This is a danger to your soul.”
Ashers tears start to flow again.
“I know this is hard, but it is really important. I am glad you shared this with me so we can work on helping you stand firm on important things. It is fine to let others have their way some times, but there are other times when you HAVE to stand up and say ‘NO’.”
“How will I know when to say ‘no’?”
“That is one of the things my God has taught me. One that I am still learning too. When someone asks you to do something that you KNOW is wrong, you HAVE to stand up and say ‘NO’. Your Imas and I have been teaching you right and wrong all your life. ‘Do not hurt others, do not tell lies, do not take things that don’t belong to you’; things like this. I pray that these things have sunk deep into your heart. Once they are there, you can judge the things others want you to do. If they go against what we have taught you is right, you HAVE to stand against it. God will tell you things” Jacob points to Asher’s chest again, “in here. You HAVE to listen to them. You have to be able to stand against those who would tell you to go against what God has said to you. And you have to learn to make him your God. That takes standing firm against ANYONE who would try to get you to worship other gods. Our God is God of ALL creation. He is above ALL other gods. And He has called you to be his own. Of that, you MUST be certain and STAND strong.”
Asher nods his head. He doesn’t understand it all, but he wants to make his Abba happy.
Jacob is not fooled by Asher’s acceptance of this lesson. He knows this will be a lesson he struggles with much of his life. But, Jacob vows to help him learn it a little more each day. This is a start. Before going on to the altar, Jacob asks Asher one more question.
“Are you still happy with your choice of the lamb, or do you want to try and pick again; using what YOU know is right when you decide? And whatever you decide IS right.”
Asher thinks about it for a minute before answering. “I want to pick again.”
Asher wound up picking the same lamb again, but this time it was a ‘pick’ instead of a ‘whatever is closest’. Jacob let Asher pick a few other things during the rest of their time. Asher got to pick which sticks to gather, which way to lay them down, and even which piece of the meat, that Jacobb had said was theirs, to eat. Asher was pleased with being able to pick and Jacob promised him that he would have many more opportunities to pick things in his life.
“Always pick by looking in your heart first and seeing if it goes against what you know is right. As often as possible, pick what is right. There will be times when you pick wrong. When you do, apologize to whomever you have wronged, especially if it is God, and then pick the right thing instead.
There isn’t a lot going on while the sheep are nursing. The sheep still need to be cared for but Jacob doesn’t have to worry about where and when to lay the sticks or about Laban changing his wages. It is a slow time of waiting for the sheep to be weaned. As they were not all born at the same time, they will not be weaned at the same time. Taking dams back to Laban’s flock when their lamb is weaned is the most ‘stressful’ of all the jobs. The lambs often cry for a few days. Those charged with watching over them have to get both dam and lamb through the separation. The lambs who were bread in Jacob’s flocks don’t have to suffer this. Jacob’s older dams can also serve as surrogates for the lonely lambs.
During this transition, Issachar reached his fifth birthday. It is time for Jacob to take him to meet his God. Jacob takes him to the sheep pen the Sabbath after his fifth birthday.
Issachar is the exact opposite of Asher. Jacob knows why Asher always gave in. Issachar pushes until he gets his way. He never saw a boundary he wouldn’t push against; at least a little. He respects his parent’s authority but not that of his brothers. One would think that, being so far down the line, he would have learned to ‘listen to his elders’. Not Issachar. He was the strong-willed child of the bunch.
When Issachar chose a lamb, he brought one that he liked best. It was one with black ‘boots’ on all it’s feet.
“Issachar.”
“Yes, Abba.”
“Have your brothers told you what the requirements for the lamb are?”
“I think so.”
“Your lamb has spots on its legs. One of the requirements is for no spots. Yet you chose this one.”
“I thought he was the prettiest. I like his spots.”
“It is fine for you to like his spots, but that isn’t the point. The point is that you have chosen a lamb that you KNOW is unacceptable. You will need to choose another.”
“But Abba, look how strong he is! And he is bigger than the others.”
“No ‘buts’. Take it back and choose according to the requirements.”
Issachar kicks the dirt as he walks back to the sheep pen; his attitude of rebellion clearly evident. This does not please Jacob.
Issachar returns with a lamb that fit the requirements this time. Jacob nods his head and the two of them begin the walk to Jacob’s altar.
“Issachar.”
“Yes, Abba” Issachar says with frustration in his voice.
Jacob cuts his eyes towards his son and raises a brow. This is certainly something Jacob was not expecting. “How could I not have noticed this before” thinks Jacob. He has been so busy making his stake in the world that he has missed two of his children’s personality and attitude difficulties. Asher lacked confidence and Issachar was stubborn. He vowed that he would pay more attention to his children. They all needed his guidance. Issachar needed it, even if he wouldn’t admit it.
“Issachar, that is not the proper way to answer me.”
“I used the words Ima taught me” he protested.
“It was not the words that were improper but the attitude in which they were delivered.”
“What do you mean?”
“The way you answered me tells me that you don’t want to talk to me. Your tone tells me that you are angry with me. I know you understand what I am saying, because you certainly would be upset if I or your Ima spoke to you that way.”
Issachar dropped his head. “I’m sorry Abba.”
This time Jacob heard truth in Issachar’s repentance. “That is a much better attitude.”
They walked on a little farther before Jacob reset their conversation. “Issachar.”
“Yes, Abba” Issachar said with respect in his voice.
“We need to talk about the lamb and your attitude.”
Issachar’s head dropped. He didn’t want to have to talk about it. “Why can’t Abba let me do what I want” thought Issachar.
“Did you know that there is danger in your attitude of always having your own way?”
“Why” asks Issachar. He doesn’t see any danger in getting your way all the time. Asher lets him have his way and it makes him happy. Asher even says he likes seeing Issachar happy.
“Because you do not know all the dangers that are in this world. When your Ima or I tell you to do something, it is part of training you up to be safe as well as a godly man. I have seen the damage that happens when one person always gets what they want, regardless of the needs of others.”
Jacob wrestles with whether to let Issachar in on the conflict between him and Laban, but Jacob thinks it might be an appropriate example for him. He gives in to the urging within him.
“I want to tell you about something. It is something that few people know; or at least the fullness of. It is not something that I want you sharing with everyone. Do you understand.”
Issachar nods his head.
“I want to hear you say the words. That you will not share with your brothers or your Ima.”
“I will not tell Abba. I promise.”
“I trust you to keep your word. It is not a bad secret, but one that could cause your Imas to be upset at their Abba.”
Jacob and Issachar had reached the place where the altar was. Jacob sat with Issachar to explain his dilemma. “I am trying to make a flock for us. I don’t want to live with your grand Abba forever. I want to go back to my Abba, but grand Abba Laban keeps trying to stop me. He tells me I can have one kind of sheep, then he changes it because he wants them instead. Every time I start to get more sheep or goats, he gets angry and tries to take them away.”
“That’s not nice!”
“No, it isn’t. But I am like Asher in this instance. I try to keep him happy by not getting mad and saying ‘Those are MY sheep.’ I let grand Abba Laban change the kind of sheep he wants, but I do NOT give back what I already have. Instead, I trust God to give me what I need. And you know what.”
“What?”
“He does! When grand Abba wants the kind of sheep I have, God stops making the dams have those kind. And the kind that grand Abba said I could have instead, God makes the dams make that kind of sheep instead.”
Issachar laughs. “That’s funny Abba.”
“It is, isn’t it” laughs Jacob. But what is important is that grand Abba Laban is being like you were earlier. Trying to get what he wants and not listening to the rules. The rules say that, if you make a promise, you keep it. Am I right in this?”
“Yes Abba. You should not break a promise. And you have to follow the rules” admits Issachar.
“I will tell you something else. God is not blessing grand Abba. God does not like it when we break the rules, especially when it hurts someone else. God is blessing us though because I am being kind and letting God take care of us.”
“But what about the sticks that Judah moves? Is that breaking the rules? Is that why you tell Naphtali to pretend like he is playing if someone sees him?”
“It’s not breaking the rules to know special ways of getting things done. I watched and learned what made sheep do certain things. I’m using what I learned to make the sheep like we need them to be. If grand Abba Laban wanted to know this, he could learn it too. But even using the sticks does not make everything like I want it. Grand Abba changed the kind of sheep I could have after the sticks were already done. I couldn’t change anything when he changed. But God changed it for us. He protected us from grand Abba’s rule breaking.”
“I’m glad God protected us.”
“I am too. But something else you should know about always trying to make everything be your way. When you won’t let anyone else have their way or their say, you also don’t learn. If grand Abba would stop and learn by watching the sheep, he could figure things out too. But he is so busy trying to make it so he ‘wins’, he can’t learn. This is called being stubborn. When you are stubborn, it takes something VERY BAD to get you to stop and think. If I had let you bring the lamb with the spots on his legs, as pretty as it was, God would have been angry with me for not following the rules He gave me. And He would have been right to stop helping us. I would have broken the rules, and I would have to learn a bad lesson.”
“I’m sorry Abba. I didn’t know I would make God mad.”
“He would have been more mad at me than you, because He expects me to teach you these things. And I know that I have not done a good job. I promised to help Asher learn how to say ‘no’ to those who would try and get him to do bad things, even if it means they won’t like him. Now I promise you that I will help you learn how to stop and listen to others and to the rules, instead of always trying to get your way. It won’t be easy, and you won’t always like it, but it is a lesson you MUST learn. One I MUST teach you. One that God has taught me.”
“I will try Abba.”
“And you will fail at times too. We all do. And I will forgive you and we will start again.”
Issachar let Abba do things his way for the sacrifice. Abba taught him more of the rules and he promised to try and obey them. He was glad though when Abba let him choose which piece of meat was his from what Abba had saved for them.
It’s breeding season again. Asher and Issachar join the ‘sticks team’ along with Gad. Each will take a pasture of Laban’s sheep. Naphtali will carry sticks for Jacob’s sheep. And Laban is still clueless. His shepherds ignore the boys but Jacob cautions them to still not put the sticks down in the water or pick them up from it while the shepherds are watching them. Dan and Judah join the teams of shepherds. Jacob’s flocks are nearing the point where he will split them again. He is sure he will have to do this after this breeding season.
“Now, remember. This is our secret.” Jacob instructs his new sticks team as they peel branches together. “Do not lie if you are confronted, but don’t give out information just to be friendly.”
Jacob has been teaching Reuben and Simeon how to use the staff and sling. He is not ready for them to stand against a predator alone though. “You may hold them at bay from a distance, but if they come in close, do NOT get between them and the sheep. Call for help when they are farther away. We will be there to help you. YOU are FAR more precious than all the sheep in the world.” Jacob knows that lambing season is when the predators are the greatest, but he prepares his sons every month, just to be safe. One day, he knows that they will be the ones standing between the sheep and death, but he doesn’t want it to be now.
The new teams are working quite well. Jacob is most concerned about Issachar, doing exactly as he says. Issachar is still strong willed and wants to be the one in charge, but he is mellowing with each passing month. Jacob has spoken with all his wives on how to stand against Issachar’s spirit, without breaking it. Jacob prays that Issachar never loses all of his determination in life; just the stubbornness that keeps one ignorant of the consequences of their own actions.
As expected, Laban comes to Jacob shortly before the lambs are to be born. Jacob expected him to come earlier, like in the previous years. If he had, Jacob would have been able to adjust the number of sticks according to Laban’s decision as to what Jacob’s wages would be. Being this late, Jacob will have to rely on God to bring forth the lambs he needs for his flock. And Jacob KNOWS that he can rely on God, for He has NEVER failed him, even when Laban keeps changing his mind.
“Jacob.”
“Yes, Laban.”
“What kind of results are you thinking will come this year?”
“I don’t know. I’m hoping for a good return.”
“As am I. Which sheep are you asking for this year for your wages?”
Jacob is shocked by Laban asking him to choose. “When I agreed to work for you, I asked for the spotted, striped, and black lambs.”
“That is too much. As you have noticed, there are fewer and fewer white sheep being born each year. My flocks are dwindling instead of growing. And I don’t know why, other than that yours are growing by leaps and bounds.”
“Have you considered that it may be because you keep changing my wages and my God is watching over me?”
“I have.” Laban fixes his eyes on the horizon instead of looking at Jacob. He knows Jacob is right, but it still feels wrong for him to be prospering far above Laban himself. “I will make this arrangement with you; you may have the spotted and striped. I will take the solid colors, whether black or white.”
“As you wish.” Jacob wonders if this will remain the agreement for the whole season, or if Laban will change it midway, as he has done for the last several seasons. Time would tell.
As the lambs begin to drop, Laban is keeping a close count on them. Jacob is still getting more than half of the sheep, but not nearly as many as the previous years. Half way through the lambing season, he cannot resist the temptation to try and shift the balance in his favor.
“Jacob.”
“Yes Laban” Jacob says with as much respect as he can muster; KNOWING what Laban is about to do.
“You may have only the spotted sheep as your wages.”
“I will take the spotted ones from now on. I would remind you of our conversation from earlier in the season though.”
“What is that supposed to mean” demanded Laban.
“Nothing more that reminding you that my God has been blessing me, in spite of all the changes.”
Laban walks away whispering curses under his breath against Jacob. Jacob watches him go without saying another word. Jacob is excited to see what God will do now.
Just as Jacob expected, the balance shifts again in his favor. The majority of the lambs are now being born with spotted coats than before. It is all Jacob can do not to throw this in Laban’s face.
EVERY TIME Laban changes his wages because he is not happy with the ‘split’, God widens the gap between what Jacob keeps and what remains with Laban. Jacob is becoming rich while Laban is becoming poorer. Not that Laban isn’t still increasing his flocks too. But it is not nearly as much as Jacob is increasing his. Jacob’s have now actually passed Laban’s in numbers.
Jacob knows that the time is coming when he will have to withdraw from Laban before he becomes so angry with God’s hand that he strikes out at Jacob. Jacob is hoping he can get another season or two before this critical point.
While the lambs are nursing, Zebulun reaches his fifth birthday. It is time for Jacob to take him to his altar to meet his God. The Sabbath after Zebulun’s birthday, Jacob comes to Leah’s tent to gather him.
Dinah watches from beside her mother’s skirt as her Abba approaches. She has spent very little time with him and she is frightened of him. Not that he has ever given her reason to fear him. She simply does not know him; beyond the stories her brothers tell.
Jacob bends down to greet Dinah. “Hello my daughter. How are you this fine morning?”
Dinah quickly ducks behind her mother.
Leah puts a hand on her and brings her back to the place where she started. “It is not polite to ignore your Abba. Answer his question.”
“I am good” offers Dinah in a shy voice.
“That is good to hear.” Jacob reaches out to give Dinah a little touch on the cheek when she recoils. He pulls his hand back. He knows that he has missed another of his children’s needs. That of Dinah to actually know him and be comfortable in his presence. “Another issue I need to work on” he thinks to himself.
Jacob stands and addresses Leah. “Is Zebulun read for our time together?”
“He is more than ready. He is chomping at the bit” says Leah with a smile.
“Then let’s not keep him waiting any longer” Jacob says with a return smile for Leah.
His heart has softened towards Leah after years of working on it. Work that was started by God through Dan. The unforgiveness he held against Leah is gone. He still doesn’t love her as he loves Rachel, but neither does he resent her any longer.
Jacob takes Zebulun to Laban’s sheep pen. As Jacob has no white lambs, he chooses from Laban’s lambs for his sacrificial lamb. He has to give Laban two sheep for every lamb he takes. This has been their arrangement from the time Jacob started earning his own flock.
Zebulun carefully chooses a lamb for their sacrifice. He has learned well from his brothers the requirements for choosing the lamb. Issachar sternly warned him to follow all the rules today wit Abba, as Abba would know if he didn’t. Issachar needn’t have worried about this, for Zebulun is good at following Ima and Abba’s rules.
As Jacob has made this trip with his sons so many times, and each time brings a new lesson that they share with one another, he is worried that he won’t have one to share with Zebulun. One of his greatest desires is to teach each of his sons their own special lesson on their first trip to meet with the Lord. He trusts God to give him that lesson, when the time comes, but he has no idea what it could be.
Jacob engages Zebulun in casual conversation as the make their way to the altar. “Your Ima tells me that you are ‘chomping at the bit’ this morning.”
Zebulun looks at his Abba with confusing. He has no idea what that means, but he is reluctant to tell his Abba this. He might think him a dumb child.
Jacob laughs when he sees Zebulun’s expression. “That phrase isn’t one you know, is it?”
Zebulun shakes his head.
“It means that you are excited and ready to go. It is like a donkey who is tired of standing still and starts moving its feet, kicking at the dirt and chewing on the bit in its mouth. It is trying to tell its owner to ‘hurry up’ so he can get on the trail.”
“Oh” says Zebulun with a smile. “I am excited. I am ‘chomping my bit’”, he adds a chewing motion and paws the ground.
Jacob bursts out laughing. “Tell me why you were so excited today.”
“Because I get to have you all to myself!”
“That is a pretty good reason, and I’m glad we have this time together, just the two of us, too.”
“It took FOREVER to be five! And Reuben said I had to wait to be five first.”
“He was right about having to wait. Do you know why?”
Zebulun shakes his head.
“Because I was waiting for your spirit and heart to mature. For you to grow enough so that you could truly appreciate this time.”
Zebulun quietly thinks this over before asking, “Why five?”
“You know, that is a good question. There really isn’t a rule that says you have to be five, but I figured that five was probably old enough to be able to remember this time for the rest of your life.”
“Why?”
“When I was little, like you, many things happened in my life. Some things that I don’t remember and some that I do. The special things I do remember, but I have very few memories of things that happened when I was even younger. I wanted your first time visiting with the Lord to be a memory you would carry with you for the rest of your life. A special time, set aside, that would be the foundation of your walk with the Lord.”
“What is a foundation?”
“It is the base of every structure that is built to last. Like grand Abba’s house. It is the stones at the bottom that were cut with great care, so that when the house was built, it would stand strong and true for a VERY long time.”
“We don’t have stones for our tents. Do we have a foundation?”
“Our tents do not have a foundation but they have framework. The framework is as important as a foundation. The framework makes our tents stay straight and not fall over on top of us. But a framework is able to be taken down and put back in place. A foundation never moves once it is set. We have tents because I do not plan on staying in this land forever. One day we will journey back to a land where our God has told me that He will give it to us. Where we will, one day, make homes with foundations.”
“I like Ima’s tent. It is strong; and warm.”
“It is. And until we have an actual foundation, the framework will keep us safe. Did you know that a foundation is nothing without a framework though?”
“Why?”
“A foundation gives you a starting point; a strong place to build. But a framework gives you guidance along the way. We need both. And they both have to be strong and true for the house to stand for a long time.”
“How can our tents stand strong for a long time without a foundation? Does that mean that they will fall down soon” asks Zebulun with concern in his voice.
“No. They will stand strong for a long time. When we choose where to place them, we are actually looking for something like a foundation. We don’t choose ground that is on the side of a hill or soft with water. We choose a level, and firm place for our foundation. And if ever one of our poles cracks, we replace it with another sturdy one right away.
“So it won’t fall down!”
“Exactly!”
“I will look for cracks.”
“Thank you for wanting to help. Your Ima keeps her eyes open for cracks, so you shouldn’t have to worry about it.”
“Can I look too?”
“You can if you want to.”
“Is today my foundation day.”
“I suppose it is. And the lessons that you have learned until now are part of the framework of your life. Learning about right and wrong. About loving your brothers. About obeying your parents. And now, about who God is. These, along with even more lessons, will make you strong and true.” Jacob thought about this for his own life. “The more time I spend with God, the stronger my framework becomes. I have much to do in my life, including teaching each of you what you need to know for a strong framework, but I have to remember go set time aside to be with my God. He gives me strength to do all that I am required to do. And He blesses me for the time I spend with Him.”
“Will He bless me too?”
“Absolutely! When you make Him your God, He will do wonders in your life. That doesn’t mean you won’t have trouble, but that you can depend on Him to carry you through whatever comes.”
Zebulun is glad his Abba set this time aside for him to meet God. He is certain that he will remember it FOREVER. And Jacob is amazed that his God has, once again, brought him a lesson that is special, just for this child at this time in his life. One he prays that Zebulun will treasure always; and build upon.
Another breeding season is approaching. Before it gets in full swing, Jacob has to sheer his sheep. This is the first time that any of his sons will be running the sheers. Reuben has reached his tenth year. He is actually a bit older than ten, but this is the first time he has been past the age Jacob felt safe with him in this role. He has proven himself faithful in watching the flocks and his younger brothers. Jacob is wrestling with the idea of letting Simeon join in too. He is near the age of ten and has been helping protect the sheep with the sling and staff.
“Abba.”
“Yes, Simeon.”
“I have served faithfully beside Reuben from the time you first gave us sheep to watch. I have learned a LOT. I was able to hit a wild dog with my sling before it could carry off any sheep just a few days ago. And I listen carefully to all your instructions.”
“Yes, you do and you have. Are you asking to be part of sheering the sheep?”
“Yes, Abba. I am.”
“This will be Reuben’s first year with the blades. I will be watching him closely and helping whenever needed. I don’t know if I can teach both of you at the same time.”
“We could take turns. One day he will sheer and the next I will. It usually takes more than two full days to complete the task.”
“This is true. Sheering is a harder job than collecting and stacking wool. Neither of you may be able to go a full day with the blades. And that is not a bad thing. It would give me the opportunity to switch out with you and Reuben, while keeping you both busy and fresh for the difficult job of sheering.” After a moment of thought Jacob remarks. “This is a good plan. Both of you will learn to sheer this year.”
“Thank you, Abba.”
“Thank you, Simeon for helping me think through this.”
The next day sheering started. Reuben and Simeon both got to try their hand at it. It was HARD work. Having to hold the sheep in place and turn it was more than either Reuben or Simeon could do on their own. Jacob helped them with this. This slowed down the sheering some because Jacob was fast on his own. He wouldn’t sheer a single sheep alone this season.
Reuben and Simeon are excited but exhausted by the end of the day. Jacob walks them to Leah’s tent after he has them wash at the water trough. When the arrived home, Leah could read the exhaustion on their faces.
“How was your first day sheering sheep?”
“I learned a LOT” offered Reuben.
“I learned that it is a LOT harder than it looks!” exclaimed Simeon with a huge smile.
“They both did very well. They may be sore and stiff in the morning. It will help to rub a balm on their hands, arms and upper back.”
Leah made certain the boys ate a full supper, even though they were tired. “You need this to replenish you bodies from all the work you did today and to prepare you for tomorrow.”
Both boys were grateful in the morning for their mother’s hands. She was able to work the soreness out of their shoulders and hands before their Abba arrived to pick them up each morning. Sheering took more than a week this year and the boys were VERY grateful for their Ima’s hands before it was all over.
Jacob has Zebulun, Issachar and Asher move the sticks this year. Zebulun is excited as he is finally able to join in with his brothers. Jacob makes certain that Asher and Issachar know that they are each responsible for their own areas and to follow his instructions. Jacob only had one or two issues last season with Issachar trying to do things his own way. Jacob quickly corrected them and Issachar fell back in line.
“I know”, Zebulun says, “We pretend we are playing if someone catches us with the sticks.”
“Very good Zebulun. It appears your brothers have done my work for me, in teaching you what is expected. Remember to pick them up is one of the sheep I point out to you comes to drink. We don’t want weak sheep in our flock.”
Jacob split his flock into three flocks, anticipating all the new lambs. Reuben, Simeon, and Levi are his ‘head shepherds’ and they are quite proud of their positions. Reuben has Gad as his helper, Simeon has Judah as his, and Levi has Dan and Naphtali to help him.
Laban came to discuss Jacob’s wages just as the season was starting. “I will stand firm this year” Laban promised. “You may have all the striped sheep this season.”
Jacob didn’t know if Laban would live up to his word about not changing mid-season. Time would tell. He decided to offer him and incentive. “I truly believe that if you will return to the original bargain, God will bless you this year. I will even pray that He does” offered Jacob.
Laban shook his head. “I just don’t know. Let me think on it.”
Jacob didn’t push. He would do as he had been doing for the past several years and leave the rest in God’s hands.
Laban returned the next morning. “My sons are angry that you have been getting the increase. They will not let me return to the original agreement. They say that you have robbed me.”
“How have I robbed you? You have seen for yourself the shifts in coats that God brings about each time you alter the agreement. My fortune is in His hands. Will you put yours there also?”
“Not this year. Maybe next. My sons won’t allow it.”
Jacob wants to ask him who the parent is, but that would probably start even more trouble. Jacob knows that this will probably be his last season with Laban. “I will take the striped lambs as you have proposed.”
Jacob’s ‘helpers’ were in good form this year. They brought the sticks exactly where and when he directed. And the shepherds ignored them again. Jacob is certain that this is from God also. If not for God’s hand, surely, they would have figured out what Jacob already knew. Poplar and almond in the water affected the sheep’s coat.
When the lambs begin to drop just over half of them are striped. Jacob is happy with this number. He is wondering if Laban will be, or if he will, once again, change the agreement.
Laban is at war within himself. On the one hand, he wants more of the increase, while on the other, he made an actual promise to Jacob that he would not alter the terms this season. On top of that, he clearly remembers that, each time he changed the terms, the shift towards Jacob was MUCH bigger.
Jacob has been watching Laban. Every day he goes into the field and counts the lambs born the day before. He keeps shaking his head. Jacob expects Laban to change the agreement any day. If he does, that will say more to Jacob about Laban’s character than any previous experience. Laban “promised” to leave the agreement in place instead of alter it mid-season.
Jacob sees Laban walking across the field towards him. The season is a little over halfway through. “Here is comes” thinks Jacob. “He is going to break his solemn word.”
“We need to talk.”
“I am here” replies Jacob.
“My sons want me to change our agreement. They are unhappy. They have proposed that you take the spotted sheep only.”
Jacob shakes his head. “And what do you want?” Jacob was not about to let Laban pass this off onto his sons. He was the Abba. He would be the one to bear the responsibility.
“I will bow to their leading.”
“Remember, it is you who have made this choice. And my God is witness to it, as He has been since the day I came to work for you. He will judge between you and me; again. I will take the spotted from this day on. The result will be on your head.”
As Jacob knew it would, the split shifted significantly in his favor. Two thirds of the sheep born from that moment on were spotted. Laban, once again, hurt his cause by changing the agreement.
Jacob also knew that it was time to leave. He would not see another breeding season in Haran. Laban could not be trusted. In fact, Laban could not be trusted not to try and stop Jacob from leaving. Jacob knew that Laban would try and hold onto everything Jacob had gathered, including his wives and children, if he knew Jacob was planning on leaving. Their departure would have to be done in secret. Until that day, all must appear normal.
One thing that was out of the ordinary was the need for a celebration. Rachel had finally weaned Joseph! Joseph is only two months shy of his fifth birthday. Jacob had told Rachel that he would not take a nursing babe to meet with his God.
“He has to be mature enough to understand the importance of this event. That means that he must have had time to experience the lessons of life; including that of death. Meeting with God requires a sacrifice be offered. Joseph has had no experience in learning where meat comes from or even had a taste of responsibility.”
“He has not been totally without responsibility. I give him tasks to complete each day.”
“And what happens if he fails to complete them” asks Jacob with a knowing look.
Rachel ducks her head. “You are right.” Joseph was weaned that very day. He was only still a nursing infant by his mother’s choice; not his own.
Rachel wanted Jacob’s celebration to be as far above all the other weaning ceremonies as Joseph’s circumcision ceremony was above his brothers’. Jacob refused her wish.
“If Joseph had been weaned earlier, like the others, he would deserve praise for his accomplishment. This is your accomplishment. He was ready a long time ago. You were not. We will celebrate this transition in the same manner that we celebrated his brothers’.”
Joseph’s celebration was joyous. Leah even contributed her special cakes, at Jacob’s request. Jacob introduced Joseph all around as his young son who was no longer a nursing infant. Dinah watched all this with fascination and a little bit of envy. She had stopped nursing a long time ago but she wasn’t given any kind of recognition. He Ima had praised her and given her a new robe, but nothing like this.
Leah could tell that Dinah was feeling conflicted. “I’m sorry. I know it doesn’t seem fair. That is part of being a girl. We celebrate differently. And we celebrate privately. Your big ceremony will be your wedding. It will be grand. One other thing about being a girl, you have enough brothers to tend the sheep” chuckles Leah. She never tended sheep, but Rachel did. She may tell Dinah this if Jacob ever decides he needs her to help out in the fields.
The next morning Joseph was with Dan and Naphtali when Jacob came to pick up the boys. Joseph would be starting at lesson one. One that came much earlier for all of his brothers. That first step was meeting the lambs.
Joseph was eager to learn. He went above and beyond in every task his Abba gave him. His Ima had told him that his Abba would return him to a ‘nursing infant’ if he refused or only did half a task he was given. Joseph did NOT want to be sent back. He was tired of being alone. He was now with his brothers! And his Abba. He saw his Abba every night, but this was different. His Abba was spending time teaching him instead of simply being near him.
By the time Joseph’s fifth birthday came, he had made up much of the ground he lacked in responsibility and skills. He sought out opportunities to learn. And the more he learned, the more he wanted to learn. Jacob was very proud of his son. How could he not. He was Rachel’s son; the wife of his heart.
Just as with his brothers, Joseph went to meet with Jacob’s God on the Sabbath after his fifth birthday. Jacob was certain that Joseph had heard all the stories of his brothers’ time at the altar. Levi made sure to scare him with a version of his experience. “You don’t want to make Abba angry. He will make you start all over again.” Joseph vowed to do everything Abba asked, exactly as he was told to do.
Jacob watched as Joseph picked a lamb for their sacrifice. He took his time examining each of the lambs. Once he found the one he wanted, he quickly brought it to his Abba and handed him the rope.
“This is a fine choice” Jacob complimented.
Joseph beamed at his Abba’s approval.
Jacob and Joseph started for the altar. Jacob was again wondering what God would have him teach Joseph. He would leave that in God’s hands; again.
“I am very impressed with the progress you have made since joining your brothers in the fields.”
“I try my hardest. I want to be the BEST. To prove to everyone that I am not a baby. Just because I am the youngest doesn’t mean I can’t be big too!”
“Being the youngest isn’t always easy. I am the youngest, and I only had ONE brother to try to outdo.”
“Did you show him that you were the best?”
“I suppose in some ways I did. But there are other areas where he was certainly the best. We each had things that we could do better than the other. My brother, Esau, was a MIGHTY hunter. The biggest thing I can ‘hunt’ is a good breakfast” Jacob teases. “But I am smart and cunning. I learn things that others don’t even think about. And I use what I learn to help myself.”
“Like the sheep and the sticks?”
“Yes. That is a very good example. Your grand Abba still hasn’t figured it out. I doubt he ever will. But there are other times when my cunning mind can get me into trouble; it can make people angry with me.”
“I am not angry with you Abba” offers Joseph.
Jacob smiles. “I’m glad to hear that. There is something else that I have learned over the years.”
“What is it, Abba?”
“I have learned that sometimes I try too hard to be the best. I have learned to do all I can and then to trust God to take care of the rest.”
Joseph looks at Jacob, waiting for him to continue. He is sure there is a story coming.
“When I first started using the sticks to get the sheep to give lambs with spots, stripes, and black coats, I did EVERYTHING I could to make it work perfect. I practiced and planned. But I could not know how many lambs would have stripes or spots or be black by the time I was done using the sticks. I had to wait and see. The first year when I did this, I was excited by the results. I got exactly what I wanted. Because I started small, with only one flock, your grand Abba did not get angry. But he did change the terms of our agreement at the beginning of the next year. So, I tried harder. I used the sticks with ALL the flocks. And you know what?”
“No. What” asked Joseph.
“It worked! It worked even better than before. Except that grand Abba became angry. He changed the terms of our agreement right in the middle of the lambing season. I couldn’t go back and undo anything that had already been done. I had to trust God to make things work out. And He DID! Grand Abba was VERY unhappy. Each season, I tried my best and then had to let God do the rest. God gave me more and more sheep every year. And EVERY TIME grand Abba tried to take them away from me by changing which lambs I would get, he got even less than before.”
“Did he get mad?”
“He certainly did! But there was nothing he could do about it because he was the one who kept changing things. I had to trust God to take care of our flocks. I believe God did this for us because of three things.”
“What are they Abba?”
“The first is my willingness to submit to grand Abba’s authority. I could have got mad and said that we had an agreement and he broke it. But I didn’t. I submitted to his authority; even though he was wrong in what he did. The second thing is my faith in my God. I KNEW my God would take care of me in ANY situation. I trusted Him to make things right when I couldn’t. And the third thing is that I did my best. I did as much as I knew how. I didn’t stand by and ‘hope’. I worked as hard as I could and did what I knew to do.” Jacob stopped on the path and looked at Joseph. This was a point Joseph needed to grab hold of. “I knew I had done enough and that I was enough.”
“What do you mean, Abba?”
“I mean that I had done all I could and I trusted in God’s love for me to do the rest. I KNOW He loves me. I KNOW that, even when I make mistakes, I am still loved by Him. He expects me to ask for forgiveness and try and make right what I did wrong, but He NEVER tells me I am not ‘good enough’ or ‘smart enough’ or ‘rich enough’ to be loved by Him. I am enough, just as I am.” Jacob needs Joseph to truly hear this last part. “I am enough because HE said I was. NOT because of anything I did to make Him love me. He called my Abba’s Abba a long time ago and made a promise to him. He promised to be his God and to be his children’s God forever more. HE chose me. I chose Him too, but it was long after He chose me. And HE said that I am enough, even though I still have a LOT of learning to do.”
“Am I enough?”
Jacob looks deep into Joseph’s eyes and says to his heart, “You are enough.”
While eating his portion of the meat of the ‘meal with God’ Joseph prayed a child’s prayer that would stay with him all his life. “I will do my best God. I will leave the rest to You. Because I know that I am enough. You told Abba so.”
(to be continued)
We are going to leave Jacob here. He is a very wealthy man, thanks to God’s favor. But his is losing favor with Laban. The next time we see him, he will be making a break for it. Something he tried to do six years earlier.
I had to MAKE myself stop here. There is so much going on that it is hard to put the story down. My arms, and the change in chapter, tell me I have to.
Father God, thank You for sharing more of Your story with me. I’m still amazed at where You take me, especially in the time at the altar. I can’t wait to see where You take me next. Even though the next part of the story seems to tell itself, I’m sure You will slip something in for me to see.
