“And it came to pass, whenever the stronger livestock conceived, that Jacob placed the rods before the eyes of the livestock in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods. But when the flocks were feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. Thus the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.” (vs41-43)
Jesus Christ must have the reward of His labor. He has served God under the law for us, and now, the captives must be free. We read, “Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service which I have done for you” (vs26). Death can't hold Him. He is risen, and He must have His glory and His church must be His forever (Acts 2:25-28). He cannot serve and then not have us. He has appeased God, answered justice, and brought in everlasting righteousness.
Laban is unwise. He mistreats the One whom God has blessed, rather than rejoicing in being BLESSED with Him. He had said, “I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for your sake”, but he does him harm and not good (vs27). Yet, the transaction is just. Just as Goliath challenged Israel, Satan challenged God in Jesus Christ and lost.
It will be eternally known that He deserves the redemption He gives. He said, “You shall not give me anything... So my righteousness will answer for me in time to come, when the subject of my wages comes before you: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the lambs, will be considered stolen, if it is with me” (vs31-33). He won't take any who are not sinful and helpless, who don't believe, who weren't given to Him by God already, marked out as His. He will save all who call on Him and none else. He has laid the terms.
Justice entered the contract, and Jesus fulfilled the terms with blood atonement and obedience. All the disfigured, all the despised of the earth, all the sinners, all who like Blind Bartimaeus cry out incessantly to Him - though rejected of men, shall be saved, and none else! He makes a distinction, separating us from the lost and proving His greatness by our redemption.
Jacob, our Lord Jesus, saves by His life from the dead (vs37-43). We read, “Now Jacob took for himself rods of green poplar and of the almond and chestnut trees (fruit bearing), peeled white strips in them (showing life), and exposed the white which was in the rods”, so that He saves by revealing that He is alive from the dead, holy and clean. Peter writes, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet 1:3).
His holiness is revealed by the death that He accomplished, and His life is glorious by the fact that He laid it DOWN to take it up again (John 10:17-18). He died SO we could live, and His resurrection to die no more is proof that we shall live too.
As we drink the gospel, we see the living Christ, and the church grows. We read, “And the rods which he had peeled, he set before the vlocks in the gutters, in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, so that they should conceive when they came to drink” (vs38). As He is preached, those who receive His word are saved. We drink, receiving His victory as our hope, and we live.
It is imperative to hear the word, for FAITH comes by hearing. What you need is given by the ear drum, as faith produces fruit. His plan works perfectly, and His kingdom prospers on schedule, saving all the Father gave Him, all who believe, and every sinner in need.
He separates down here by the new birth and good works, and He'll separate His sheep from Satan's goats at the Day. We read, “Then Jacob separated the lambs, and made the flocks face toward the streaked and all the brown in the flock of Laban; but he put his own flocks by themselves and did not put them with Laban's flock” (vs40). We are in the world but not of the world, we are the sheep of His pasture, we hear the Shepherd and follow Him. We will be with Him, forever.
This life giving process is unique. We look to Him for life is in a look. But, He only saves WHOM He pleases. We read again, “whenever the stronger livestock conceived, that Jacob placed the rods before the eyes of the living stock in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods. But when the flocks were feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban's and the stronger Jacob's” (vs41-42). He is willing, but He has a people who WILL be saved by power and not chance. The kingdom of Christ shall reign and prosper until the end, growing great by His faithfulness and life giving strength. Not only did He earn salvation, but He gives us victory and every good thing. His church is more than can be numbered, as the sand of the sea and stars of heaven, a multitude the Revelation calls, “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” (Rev 5:11). It is true, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing” (Rev 5:12). We are part of His glory, the beauty and size of His elect, our willing and loving service, honors Him who saved us!
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