Revival

Genesis 30:25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my country.”

After Jacob had settled down well in Padan Aram, he had worked really hard for twenty years for Leah, Rachel and his flock but had earned nothing. Laban had gained a lot of cattle but Jacob had none. Jacob took another six years after his agreement or bond to realize that he was suffering in vain (Galatians 3:4). Laban had benefitted because of Jacob’s work and presence. But the pathetic situation was that Laban had received all blessings from Jacob but has still been an idol worshipper (31:30) throughout the twenty years. That’s why God had allowed Jacob to be restless and created a need in his life so that he would move back to Canaan.

This need is the start of a revival which is a phenomenon required to every person, church or even country to come back to the Lord for renewal from a very expensive backslide. In history this situation had happened a lot of times so that people would realize that they are heading towards nothing during one or a series of experiences. This realization would help them toil hard to build their relationship with God back after those losses. Since God had promised another revival very soon specially from south India to the ends of the world, it is needed for us to understand this revival and gear up.

The first stage is experiencing a need for renewal. If we really understand how sleeping we are (or the church is) we can easily get into this experience. Jacob sees that he is living in a foreign land and he is an alien here. In Christianity we have to first accept the fact that we are not at home. There was a time when most hymns were like “we shall gather at the river” and “In the sweet by and by”. But now our doctrines are now trying to convince us that we will prosper here. Philippians 3:20, Hebrews 3:1 states clearly that our nationality is of heaven. Jacob asks that “What shall I provide to my own house”. This wonderful question shows that Jacob had hundred percent understood that all his efforts proceed to waste. We should use this experience to move forward into Christ. In Revelation 3:17, the church in Laodicea is categorized as wretched, poor and blind in spite of its belief of being rich and satisfied.

Laban is an illustration of the devil who is unjust and selfish to consume all our hard-work. Jacob is first offered any wage he names, and once he names it Laban tactically removes all of Jacob’s sheep and hides them. Mathew 6:19-21 explains this clearly. But God creates all of Jacob’s wages afresh from nothing making him powerful than Laban. The devil seems to be very kind, formal and polite but always intends to eat all our blessings. We should not expect a fair wage from the devil by working harder and harder inside his realm. The devil uses our own words against us as in Gen 30:34. We need to be very careful in what we commit to the world. We need to see that it uses all sorts of loopholes to consume our blessings against us.

Genesis 30:36 says that Laban had put a three day journey between him and Jacob after separating all of Jacob’s wages away from him. These three days can be compared with the three days of Jesus between death and resurrection. This is an opportunity or an escape God gives to us where there is a gap between us and the devil because of Jesus. This separation is a wonderful opportunity where we allow God to build us with riches. We can read this again in 31:22-24 where Laban takes three days to know that Jacob has fled and takes another seven days to reach where Jacob is. Even when the devil tries to come and fight with us at a time when we are not ready, God intervenes and orders him to not speak to him either good or bad. This means that God knows even good words from the devil would clearly bring nothing but harm to us. We need to realize at some time that we do not belong here and start our thirst towards the Heavenly Kingdom.

Also, during this revival we unknowingly carry the world’s idols with us and that brings us disgrace at another unknown opportunity. Let us try to bring our will and needs as low as possible so that we would be honored at Canaan.

The whole cause or initiative for this revival was that Jacob decided he wanted to go back to Canaan to his father’s place. When this spark happened, God was immediately there in making Jacob prosperous and using that prosperity and wealth God delivered Jacob out of his bondage. But Satan in many ways would convince us that Padan Aram is heaven and we can happily live here. But the whole purpose of God will not be served if we stay in our own world’s plans. This sort of revival is what the church needs. According to Romans 12:1,2, the mind renews when we submit ourselves to God as living sacrifices just as Jacob wanted to go to Isaac’s home realizing that he does not belong here. As in Lamentations 5:21 we need the longing that old times were much powerful than our current state. We are just surviving this place and not progressing anywhere towards the kingdom of God. We should ask God to restore us to Him and not to prosperity. When we have this thirst towards righteousness not only inside us but to our community and church, God would initiate this revival inside us and then spread out His power victoriously.

Amen.