God’s Faithfulness in Provision and Protection
This is from a sermon preached on Genesis 30:25-31:55.
Trusting God in Hard Times
Life’s hardships often tempt us to take control. We try to fix things, strategize solutions, and rely on our own strength. But as we see in Genesis 30:25–31:55, that’s not how God works.
Jacob, after years of labor under his deceptive father-in-law Laban, found himself at a crossroads. He longed to return home, yet he was still entangled in a difficult situation. Laban had taken advantage of him, changing his wages multiple times, but God remained faithful. Instead of removing Jacob from hardship, God provided for him in the midst of it.
God’s Provision Doesn’t Always Look Like We Expect
Laban sought to control his prosperity through superstition and manipulation, but Jacob learned that true provision comes from God. As Genesis 31:42 says:
“If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night.”
Jacob’s increase in flocks wasn’t due to his own efforts, nor was it because of Laban’s divination. It was because God was faithful to His promises.
How often do we try to secure our own success, relying on strategies, superstition, or personal effort instead of trusting in God’s provision?
God’s Protection is Our Security
Jacob also experienced God’s protection. Though Laban pursued him, seeking to harm or control him, God intervened. The same God who watched over Jacob watches over us today.
Romans 8:31 reminds us:
“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
This doesn’t mean life will be free from hardship. But it does mean that we are never alone. God doesn’t always take us out of trials, but He promises to be with us through them.
What This Means for Us
We may not face a deceitful father-in-law like Jacob did, but we all encounter difficulties—financial struggles, broken relationships, uncertainty about the future. Like Jacob, we must learn that our security isn’t in our ability to fix our problems, but in God’s faithfulness to walk with us through them.
So, what’s your Laban? What situation are you trying to control when you need to trust in God?
A Call to Trust
If you’re in Christ, God’s faithfulness isn’t just a historical fact—it’s a present reality. He has promised to be with you. He has provided for your greatest need through Jesus Christ, and He will never leave you. Will you trust Him today?
“The good news isn’t that hardships disappear. The good news is that we are never alone in them.”