Genesis 29:6-12: a reflection

6He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.” 7He said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.” 8They said, “We can’t, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we will water the sheep.” 9While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them. 10When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.

Jacob, fleeing far from home into an unknown land, comes to a well in the region where his mother's family lives, and there, in the providence of God, he meets Rachel, his kinswoman, at the very moment she arrives with her flock. A stranger and a fugitive, alone and far from all he knew, Jacob is led by God's unseen hand to the very family and future God had prepared for him. He did not know, arriving at that well, that he had come to the right place; but God's providence had guided him, a wanderer, to where he needed to be, to the family and the future that awaited him there.

Notice how God's providence led Jacob, a wanderer, to where he needed to be. Jacob was a fugitive, far from home, alone in an unfamiliar land, not knowing what lay ahead. Yet he arrived at the very well where his kinswoman came, met the family God had for him, at just the right time. This was not chance; it was God's providence, guiding the wanderer to where he needed to be, to the future God had prepared. Jacob could not see the guiding hand at the time; he was simply a stranger arriving at a well. But God had led him there, to the right place, the right people, the future awaiting him. The wanderer was guided home by a providence he did not see.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's providence can guide us to where we need to be, even when we cannot see the guiding hand. We can feel like wanderers, far from home, uncertain, not knowing what lies ahead or where we are going; but God guided Jacob, a fugitive, to the very family and future he had for him. God's providence can lead us to where we need to be, to the people and the future he has prepared, even when we cannot see it at the time. When you feel like a wanderer, uncertain where you are going, remember that God's providence can guide you to where you need to be, as it led Jacob to Rachel and his family. Trust that God's providence can guide you to where you need to be, to the people and future he has prepared, even when you cannot see the guiding hand, as it led Jacob, a fugitive far from home, to the very well where he met his family; for God guides the wanderer by a providence we do not always see, leading us to where we need to be and to the future he has prepared.

Lord, Jacob, fleeing far from home into an unknown land, comes to a well in the region where his mother's family lives, and there, in your providence, he meets Rachel, his kinswoman, at the very moment she arrives with her flock. A stranger and a fugitive, alone and far from all he knew, Jacob is led by your unseen hand to the very family and future you had prepared for him. He did not know, arriving at that well, that he had come to the right place; but your providence had guided him. Show me how your providence led Jacob, a wanderer, to where he needed to be. Jacob was a fugitive, far from home, alone in an unfamiliar land, not knowing what lay ahead. Yet he arrived at the very well where his kinswoman came, met the family you had for him, at just the right time. This was not chance; it was your providence, guiding the wanderer to the future you had prepared. Jacob could not see the guiding hand at the time; but you had led him there. Take that to my heart, for your providence can guide me to where I need to be, even when I cannot see the guiding hand. I can feel like a wanderer, far from home, uncertain, not knowing what lies ahead; but you guided Jacob, a fugitive, to the very family and future you had for him. Your providence can lead me to where I need to be, even when I cannot see it. When I feel like a wanderer, uncertain where I am going, help me remember that your providence can guide me, Lord, as it led Jacob to Rachel and his family, and help me trust that you lead me to where I need to be and to the future you have prepared.