Introduction

Good day, everyone. Today, we delve into Chapter 30 of Genesis. From this chapter onwards, the entire Book of Genesis gradually builds to a climax, becoming increasingly compelling. Jacob's story is more captivating than Isaac's, and while Isaac's narrative is brief, it surpasses that of his father, Abraham. Joseph's story, in turn, is even more remarkable than Jacob's. The brilliance of their stories lies in their practice of faith, which is the central theme of Genesis. Though we may perceive flaws, God sees good in them.

Practicing faith is no easy feat. A life of ease, with food readily available and ample rest, requires no faith. Long ago, an old pastor shared with me that churches that diligently study Genesis tend to flourish. I didn't grasp this at the time, but now, I can affirm that studying Genesis leads to prosperity. If this resonates with you, and you feel compelled to study Genesis diligently, beware of interpreting it as a doomsday prophecy. Reading it and deciding to build an ark in Yunnan because the end is nigh would be problematic. Such pronouncements, coupled with selling ark tickets, might deceive many, as the mere mention of the end of the world can disorient people. In the end, the ark remains unbuilt, the money vanishes, and the perpetrators become swindlers.

Today, practicing faith is the cornerstone of a Christian life. Regardless of whom I encounter, whether within or outside our church, I share the importance of building faith. I am adept at bolstering faith, though some may dismiss it as mere persuasion. I genuinely believe, yet the practice of faith often feels challenging. The theme of Chapter 30 is "God Made Jacob Fruitful and Prosperous." Everyone appreciates this theme, desiring prosperity. However, God only began to make Jacob fruitful and prosperous when he was in his nineties, which is the crux of the matter.

I. The Presence of God is Priceless

Faith can usher in God's presence, imbuing Jacob's journey of faith with profound meaning. But what exactly is the object of this faith? Many believe they will become millionaires, though that has lost its appeal, so they aspire to be multi-millionaires. When that pales, they aim to be billionaires. If God were to ask what they would do with such wealth, they would be at a loss for words, unsure of their purpose. Why, then, should God grant it? Today, we speak of God's presence, but with whom does God dwell? God dwells with those who have faith, like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If we study Genesis and elucidate the faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, God will surely be with us. God was with Jacob, but he only began to prosper in his nineties. Jacob lived to be 147 years old, and he was 75 when he went to his uncle Laban's house. It's hard to pinpoint his exact age when Joseph was born. Joseph was sold into Egypt at 17, became prime minister at 30, and brought his father Jacob to Egypt at 39. By calculation, Jacob was likely around 90 when Joseph was born, yet Jacob remained unhurried. Some among us are perpetually anxious, and anxiety leads to trouble.

After Rachel bore Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, "Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country. Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, that I may go, for you know the service that I have given you." (Genesis 30:25-26)

Jacob resigned from his uncle Laban's service after Joseph was born. Jacob was already advanced in years, yet he remained unhurried. Anxiety erodes faith; the perpetually anxious cannot be people of faith. I often advise against haste, as it dissipates faith and banishes God's presence. Jacob's faith was remarkable; he waited until he was 75 to receive Esau's blessing. He didn't prosper while working for his uncle Laban, waiting until his nineties. He left his uncle's house as an old man, nearing 100.

The presence of God is priceless. God dwells with those who have faith like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, many misunderstand faith. During my ministry, I often hear people question why God allows certain events to occur. Upon hearing this, I know that God's presence has been lost. When you question God's actions, God might well ask why you question them. It's as if God orchestrated the situation, but that's not the case. Like Hagar, Lot, Laban, or Abimelech, many witnessed God's presence with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Laban was well aware that he wasn't wealthy when Jacob arrived, but he became exceedingly rich after Jacob worked for him for many years. It wasn't due to Jacob's superior work ethic, but because God blessed Laban for Jacob's sake. Laban's focus was on money, while Jacob's was on destiny, his mind and heart set on God. Sadly, Laban didn't aspire to be like Jacob; he merely sought to benefit from him, to gain wealth. This distinction is significant, revealing the extent of one's vision.

Today, I address this to you: how expansive is your vision? I believe you all witness God's presence with me, but have you considered becoming people with whom God dwells? Over the years, I have often encountered those who revere masters. I must receive them, even if they have traveled great distances, but their opening remarks are often those I detest most. They claim to enjoy my sermons, as if their enjoyment benefits me. I have a penchant for addressing uncomfortable truths, so I ask them which sermon they heard yesterday and what they gleaned from it. They stammer, struggling to fabricate a response. What I long to hear is your desire to emulate Jacob, to join me in loving God and building His glorious church. I long to hear your gratitude for the grace to build God's glorious church with me. You must strive to be like Jacob, to build God's temple, to make this place the house of God, the gate of heaven. That is wonderful! But people often fall short. They are awestruck by the miracles they witness, yet few remain. Know that those who remain are like gold. Do people value God's presence or the benefits that follow? These two perspectives are worlds apart. If one values the ability to earn money through God's presence, trouble ensues.

When I say that God made Jacob fruitful and prosperous, some only hear "prosperous" and are pleased. Do you value the result of God's presence, or God's presence itself? Valuing the result alone is insufficient; you must understand how to dwell with God. Avoid emulating Hagar, Abimelech, Laban, and Lot, who only observed with their eyes. What can one discern through mere observation? Laban saw only his cattle and sheep, viewing Jacob as a decent fellow. He knew God was with Jacob, acknowledging the excellence of his sister Rebekah's son, yet he didn't aspire to be like him. What a mindset!

The presence of God is a priceless treasure; do not misunderstand it. Do not fixate on prosperity upon hearing that God made Jacob fruitful and prosperous. The previous chapter, "God Was With Jacob," and the chapter before that, "This is God's House, and This is the Gate of Heaven," refer to places where God dwells.

II. The Strife Between Jacob's Two Wives Was Ultimately Beneficial

The strife between Jacob's two wives was beneficial because God used their contentions to make Jacob fruitful. Jacob saw the strife between his two wives and deemed it good, retreating indoors to chuckle, letting them contend.

When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!” Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” (Genesis 30:1-2)

Rachel's sister, Leah, bore many children, in part because of Rachel. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Some who read the Bible criticize Jacob for his favoritism. Once, while leading a Bible study on this passage, someone asked why it wasn't monogamous. Was it necessary to revert to the patriarchal era and institute monogamy? Whether monogamy or polygamy is practiced is irrelevant; what matters is that God made Jacob fruitful and prosperous. God didn't concern Himself with monogamy or polygamy. Jacob saw the strife between his two wives and understood it, so he didn't interfere. If God ordains it, do not attempt to alter it. Why did God do this?

Then she said, “Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my knees, that even I may have children through her.” So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her. And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan. (Genesis 30:3-6)

Rachel said, “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali. (Genesis 30:8)

This was hardly a victory. Rachel was consumed by these matters, while Jacob had to confront these disputes daily. In English, we say, "face the music." Jacob had to endure this music every day upon returning home, but it wasn't pleasant music. Nonetheless, it was insignificant. What mattered most was God's work in Jacob's life, and Jacob saw it as good. We marvel at why God allowed Sarah to bear only one child. Couldn't He have allowed Sarah to bear one child per year? Wouldn't it have been better to have 12 consecutive births in Abraham's time, forming the 12 tribes? In truth, Abraham's faith didn't match Jacob's. Faith developed to the point where Jacob produced the 12 tribes. Isaac's faith only produced two children, Esau and Jacob, and their two nations contended. Jacob's faith was remarkable, leading to fruitfulness; God was in control.

We, as brothers and sisters, must cultivate a good habit: never question why God acts as He does. Jacob never questioned God's actions. When Rebekah was pregnant with twins, she suffered greatly and wished for death. How would Rebekah have reacted to Jacob's many troubles? This is why God arranged for Jacob to produce the 12 tribes, rather than through Abraham and Sarah, or Isaac and Rebekah.

III. God Made Jacob Fruitful

With increased fruitfulness comes increased complexity.

When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Then Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. And Leah said, “Good fortune!” so she called his name Gad. Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. And Leah said, “Happy am I! For women have called me blessed.” So she called his name Asher. (Genesis 30:9-13)

During the wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son's mandrakes.” But she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son's mandrakes also?” Rachel said, “Then he may lie with you tonight in exchange for your son's mandrakes.” When Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have hired you with my son's mandrakes.” So he lay with her that night. And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. Leah said, “God has given me my wages because I gave my servant to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar. Then Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun. (Genesis 30:14-20)

Jacob conceived whenever he lay with Leah. Some wonder why Leah was so fertile. It was under God's control; He caused her to conceive or prevented her from conceiving. All the stories revolve around God's intention to make Jacob fruitful. Some may not perceive God's hand in these stories, but it is indeed God's doing. Leah bore six sons before Rachel conceived Joseph, a miraculous arrangement. Joseph's arrival was indeed arduous. Jacob seemingly "deceived" his brother and father to obtain the birthright, but Joseph had ten older brothers. How much red lentil stew would it take to deceive these brothers and secure the birthright? The brilliance of the Bible stories lies in these details. Joseph was sold into slavery and became the savior of his family.

IV. Laban Became Wealthy Because of Jacob

Some find it peculiar that God was with Jacob, yet Laban reaped the benefits. What exactly was God doing?

Laban said to him, “If I have found favour in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.” (Genesis 30:27)

Laban clearly understood that his current wealth was due to God's presence with Jacob. However, despite seeing this so clearly and acknowledging the goodness of Jacob's God, he did not seek to gain Jacob's God for himself. He was only concerned with the sheep that Jacob tended for him. Laban became wealthy because of Jacob, so he considered Jacob as money, as an asset. Do you all know what assets and liabilities are? Anything that generates money is an asset, while anything that loses money is a liability. Jacob was an asset because God was with him, and the reason God was with him was because Jacob had faith. He had the faith inherited from Abraham and Isaac, a faith that surely sought the glory of eternity. Don't just see Jacob as an asset and think we ourselves should also be assets; we must know how to be that asset. Jacob became an asset because he did not value earthly money but valued the glory of eternity. I have mentioned the glory of eternity so many times, but when I hear you speak, you still don't seem very interested. I can only say in faith that this is your destiny. The glory of eternity is priceless, but some people doubt whether it can put food on the table. Is eating really that important?

God made Laban wealthy because of Jacob, but Jacob did not feel that he was the one making his uncle Laban wealthy. Nor did he become anxious or emotional because Laban did not share any of his wealth with him. If you were Jacob, you would surely be emotional and resentful about this. Jacob didn't care about it at all. If a person cares about money, they will definitely feel upset that they earned so much money for someone else without getting a share. Jacob himself was an asset, earning so much money for his uncle, yet he was not anxious at all. Brothers and sisters, you must know that one cannot be anxious. Jacob earned billions for his uncle every year, but Laban was completely stingy. It was such a miserly boss who met a very hardworking Jacob, making Jacob someone the world was not worthy of. There are not many such people in the world, but if you are such a person, it will be easy to handle.

V. Being Faithful in Another's Things, God Will Give You What Belongs to You

One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? (Luke 16:10-12)

Being faithful in another's things, God will give you what belongs to you. I didn't quite understand this saying of Jesus many years ago. Jesus deeply knew God's operating principles. God was with Jacob because Jacob was faithful in his uncle Laban's things. He would not vent his anger on the sheep because his uncle treated him badly. If he got angry and kicked a sheep, he would kick away the wealth that would come later. Don't focus on money, or it will be difficult to be a faithful person. Focus on being an asset, shaping yourself into an asset. Jacob was very faithful in tending sheep for his uncle Laban. God looked at whether he had faith in eternity. A person with faith in eternity will not kick away their future wealth. So, everyone should be faithful in their work. I used to be very faithful in my work, definitely a good employee, and today God has given me what belongs to me.

Today, a sister shared with me about her former pastor, who had been in the church since his twenties. Decades have passed, and now in his sixties, he sees the church as a place of infighting. So, when he built his own church, he was particularly afraid that someone would come and fight with him. A few years ago, a pastor wrote a passage before his death, deeply moved by the infighting in the church. I also found it strange. Wasn't the church built by him? Why did it become a church of infighting? Some people might ask if there is infighting in our church? The answer is no! There is only fighting dragons, fighting tigers, fighting demons, no infighting. In a church of infighting, everyone lacks faithfulness. If you are not faithful in another's things, how can God give you what belongs to you?

When you are doing things, see if you have Jacob's faith and faithfulness. Work with the mindset of a boss. When I was working, although I was an employee, I never said that I was just an employee. If I encountered a problem in my work, I would solve it without hesitation. Even if it wasn't my problem, I would find a way to solve it when I saw it. I acted like a boss, and that's how I developed my skills over the years. That's faithfulness. Don't always have the mindset of an employee. A few days ago, someone in marketing called me, saying that he was just an employee. The tone sounded very strange, but since it wasn't a pastoral relationship, I couldn't directly point it out to him. He told me about his experiences over the years, and he had never been faithful. He had made a mess of himself. He lost a lot of money doing business himself, which proves one thing: if you are not faithful in another's things, how can God give you what belongs to you? In the end, going bankrupt can only be said to be deserved. Collapsing the company just confirms that people must have the mindset of an owner and be able to take responsibility.

When working, you can think in terms of a business model or an employment model. Although you are working, when you think in terms of a business model, you are an owner. When you think in terms of an employment model, you are an employee. If you serve God according to the employment model, that is not a faithful and good servant, but an unfaithful and wicked servant.

VI. God Made Jacob Exceedingly Wealthy

That day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and all the black sheep, and put them in the charge of his sons. And he set a distance of three days' journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob pastured the rest of Laban's flock. Then Jacob took fresh sticks of poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white that was in the sticks. He set the sticks that he had peeled in front of the flocks in the troughs, that is, in the watering places, where the flocks came to drink. And since they bred when they came to drink, the flocks bred in front of the sticks and so the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted ones. And Jacob separated the lambs and set the faces of the flocks toward the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban. He put his own droves apart and did not put them with Laban's flock. Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding, Jacob would lay the sticks in the troughs before the eyes of the flock, that they might breed among the sticks. But when the flock was weak, he did not lay them there. So the weak were Laban's, and the strong Jacob's. Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys. (Genesis 30:35-43)

In just a few years, God made Jacob exceedingly wealthy. When we read this passage of the Bible, you will find that Jacob was manipulating the branches when the sheep were mating. Don't think that Jacob was a biologist. This is not a biological issue, but a theological issue. Don't think about it from a biological perspective, or you will bring a few livestock over today, peel off the branches, and find that it doesn't work. Don't put your hope in the branches, but put your hope in Jacob, because the branches were placed by Jacob. Once Jacob placed them, the spotted and black ones that were mentioned earlier belonged to Jacob, and God caused them to give birth to spotted ones. That is not biology, nor is it molecular breeding, it is theology. God not only controlled how Jacob's wives bore children for him, making Jacob fruitful and numerous, but also controlled the sheep that Jacob tended to be fruitful and numerous. In the past, he was tending for his uncle, but now God is going to take these things back to Jacob in a reasonable, rational, and legal way. Our God is not an illegal God. Although He is not the God of the Tao Te Ching, our God is absolutely reasonable and rational.

Let me now summarise Jacob's story. Jacob and Esau made a normal exchange. Esau sold his birthright, and Jacob gave Esau the lentil stew. That is called fulfilling the contract. It was not Jacob who deceived his father Isaac, whose eyes were blind, but God who wanted to fulfil the blessing He had given to Jacob, reasonably, rationally, and legally, and all with contracts. When he arrived at Laban's place, Jacob did not deceive either. Laban took away all the spotted, black, and striped ones, leaving only the white ones. Now, the ones born with spots, stripes, and black belong to Jacob. As for how the white ones gave birth to such lambs, ordinary people cannot see through it and will find it very strange. However, if his uncle Laban said to take away the white ones, and any more white ones would belong to Jacob, then all the ones born would be white. Even if the branches were placed there, the ones born would still be white, do you believe it? Because all of this is controlled by God. That is to say, if you want to become wealthy, it is under God's control, so God's presence is very important. Today, those among us who are poor and in debt must begin to learn to love God and learn to imitate Jacob, Abraham, and Isaac. It is easy for God to make you wealthy, but the question is whether we are faithful people.

Some of our brothers and sisters sell their houses and donate a tenth of the proceeds. Do you think that is a good deal or a loss? Many people don't know that it is a bargain and will feel very distressed in their hearts. However, if you know that a person has God's presence, they will not care about that tenth. I have heard some money-loving people pray that if God gives them ten million, they will donate five million. But then they think again and say, "God, why don't you just keep the five million and give me the five million instead?" If such a person is really given ten million, they will not donate five million. After they deceive God, He will curse them severely, and they will not feel good. They are deceiving God, aren't they looking for death? In fact, this generation is truly an unbelieving and rebellious generation.

I encourage everyone to gradually understand God's presence and trust in God. There are many such people among us. Some people have stocks in their hands that they cannot sell because they do not have the heart to donate. God made Jacob exceedingly wealthy. If you want God to make you exceedingly wealthy too, then you must be like Jacob. Have you received this concept now? Especially those of us who are doing small businesses, don't get it wrong. Don't focus on money, but focus on whether you are the kind of person Jacob was. May God bless everyone!