God’s Plan Not Thwarted By Human Failures
BRD REFLECTION 2026
Genesis 31:22-35 and Psalm 94:1-11 (NIV)
(Ng Bee Kuan, Associate Lay Leader)
READ:
Genesis 31:22-35 (NIV)
In today’s passage, we see how God intervened in the episode of Jacob fleeing from Laban. His faithfulness is unveiled in this and many other instances in Genesis to fulfil His promise to rescue and bless His people.
OBSERVE:
- God de-escalated the potential conflict even before Laban met Jacob, after Laban caught up with him at Gilead. God cautioned Laban not to say anything to Jacob, whether good or bad and this allowed both to openly speak their minds and seek answers when they met.
- Jacob, who had earlier deceived his father Isaac, to receive the birthright meant for Esau, was now on the receiving end of deception under Laban. It was ironic for Laban to claim that Jacob had deceived him when Laban had cheated Jacob for years by changing his wages 10 times.
- It was unclear why Rachel stole her father’s household gods (teraphim). Whatever the reasons, be it to gain legal inheritance rights or break Laban’s divination powers & practices, Rachel should have trusted God who was the one who called her household to return to Canaan. Despite Rachel’s sin, God intervened again to protect Rachel from her theft being found out and losing her life.
- Genesis 31 ended with a covenant between Jacob and Laban to part amicably, acknowledging God as the Judge in their lives.
- When the Lord told Jacob to go back to Canaan, He promised “I will be with you” in Genesis 31: 3. The Lord kept that promise as we witnessed His intervention in Jacob’s favour. Jacob should have trusted the Lord and sought Laban’s blessings for his family’s return to Canaan instead of fleeing in fear.
APPLY:
- When the Lord calls us to something, obey Him wholeheartedly and act in a manner pleasing to Him.
- Trust our promise-keeping God that He will bring His plan to completion and it will not be thwarted by mere man.
- Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fear God and not man
DO:
• Seek God earnestly to align my will with His and pray for the Holy Spirit to help me submit in total obedience.
PRAY:
Search me, O God and know my heart;
Test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
