25_Providing for my own household Gen 30:25-30 As soon as Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country. 26 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.” 27 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you. 28 Name your wages, and I will give it.” 29 Jacob said to him, “You yourself know how I have served you, and how your livestock has fared with me. 30 For you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I turned. But now when shall I provide for my own household also?” A young family from the south settled in the north where they worked. Soon after their first baby was born, they traveled home to celebrate the holidays. The days were filled with joy, catching up, and togetherness. On the day they left, the entire family gathered at the small railway station to bid them farewell. The train arrived. They parted with hugs and goodbyes and rushed to get on board with all their bags, laden with gifts, delicacies, and fruits. It was only when the whistle blew and the train was about to move that they realized they had forgotten the most important thing: their baby, still at the station with their relatives. This story illustrates how easy it is to forget what matters most. We can become so engrossed in the busyness of life that we overlook the only things that really matter - the things of eternal importance. In Genesis 30:25-30, Jacob asks a question that echoes through the centuries: “But now, when shall I provide for my own household also?” This question is not merely about material provision; it is a call to examine our priorities and refocus on what truly matters. Jacob’s story unfolds far from home, in Padan-Aram, 600 kilometers from his family in Canaan. Fourteen long years had passed since he fled his home after deceiving his brother Esau. During this time, Jacob worked tirelessly for his father-in-law, Laban, to win the hand of both Leah and Rachel. He had first served seven years for Rachel, but Laban deceived him by substituting his elder daughter Leah for Rachel at the time of the wedding. Unwilling to give up Rachel, Jacob agreed to serve another seven years for her. Jacob’s own deception of his father Isaac seemed to echo back to him through Laban’s schemes. It was a poignant reminder of the principle, “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). Despite the hardships and the trickery he endured, Jacob remained steadfast. He didn’t discard Leah, though their union was not his choice, nor did he abandon his responsibilities. Instead, he did what was right. Thus, without overt religiosity, his actions demonstrated that he feared God. Indeed, God demonstrated his wisdom, bringing