Test in obedience?

Jacob had two great fearful situations for him to overcome in obeying God’s command

“Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives” in faith (Gen. 31:3).

The first great fearful situation was his father-in-law Leban pursuing him (v. 23).

Jacob was afraid that Leban might take his two daughters Leah and Rachel from him by force (v. 31).

In that fear, Jacob fled without telling Leban

after he saw Leban’s attitude wasn’t friendly toward him anymore (vv. 2, 5).

When Leban found out about it on the third day that Jacob had fled,

he took his kinsmen with him and pursued Jacob a distance of 7 days’ journey (vv. 22-23).

Leban had power to harm Jacob (v. 29).

What a fearful situation.

But God came to Labanin a dream of the night and said to him,

“Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad” (v. 24).

Eventually as God promised to Jacob that He would be with him (v.3)

even in that fearul situation (vv. 5, 42)

And He stopped Laban and didn’t allow him to harm Jacob (v. 7).

The second great fearful situation was

his older brother Esau was coming to meet Jacob with 400 people (32:6).

When Jacob heard that news, he was greatly afraid and distressed (v. 7).

He feared that Esau would come and attack him and the mothers with the children (v. 11).

So Jacob cried out to God:

“Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau” (v. 11).

Eventually, God saw Jacob’s affliction and the toil of his hands (31:42)

He delivered Jacob from Esau.