Rebuke

 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 labour of my hands and rebuked you last night."
Genesis 31:42 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.31.42.ESV

Jacob the deceiver was deceived by his father in law Laban. Laban tricked him into marrying both his daughters and tricked him out of his wages time and again. Finally, Jacob had enough and upped and left.

Laban wasn't happy that his best worker resigned, and tried to bring him back. This verse is Jacob's reply. How did he put up with all Laban's cheating and exploitation? By the grace of God.

The God of his fathers was becoming Jacob's God too. Jacob's journey of faith was long and arduous, but it seems he was coming to a faith of his own by this stage. He knew that the God of grandfather Abraham and father Isaac was with him too.

Jacob came to realise he didn't need to lie, steal and cheat to get God on side. God was for him despite his deceitfulness, not because he often sought to twist God's arm as it were. He was finally coming to acknowledge God as his Lord and Saviour.

'God, we acknowledge You as our Lord and Saviour. Please forgive us for thinking we can manipulate You. May we submit to Your sovereignty, in Christ's name, amen'

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