Take This Job and Shove It

I Quit!! Take This Job and Shove It Genesis 31:1-18 By David Turner www.BibleStudies-Online.com

Video – Take this job… • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av2iaABI_ws&feature=fvsr • Show the video from youtube.

Review • Last week we talked about: • Jacob being fed up with the conditions of his job. He desired to leave. • But God guided him to renegotiate the contract of his job and he stayed. • All his children were under seven years of age. • He didn’t have the resources to make the trip. • God was setting up a plan to help him for the journey.

This Week This week we will see: • How God revealed to Jacob it was time to leave. • How God prepared Jacob and his family for the journey. God may allow hardships and difficult relationships to guide us in making decisions toward His purpose.

How do we know it’s time to move on? Gen. 31:1–2 (NET) 1 Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were complaining, “Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father! He has gotten rich at our father’s expense!” 2 When Jacob saw the look on Laban’s face, he could tell his attitude toward him had changed. • Tension was building with Labon’s sons • Jacob interpreted dissatisfaction in Labon’s disposition. • We may know it’s time to leave when? • Tensions are building with employees or family? • The boss’ disposition toward us is going south?

Is God directing a change? Gen. 31:3 The Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives. I will be with you.” • Jacob’s struggles were not going unnoticed by God. • God directed him to make the change. • How does God direct us? • Maybe the negative circumstances is God’s directive. • Maybe through His word, during Prayer, counsel, your spouse.

Consult with those affected Gen. 31:4–5 4So Jacob sent a message for Rachel and Leah to come to the field where his flocks were. 5 There he said to them, “I can tell that your father’s attitude toward me has changed, but the God of my father has been with me. • Jacob included his wives in the decision. • Jacob kept it private with them. It wasn’t communicated to the kids or servants. • He told them of the relationship struggles with their Dad. • Who do we consult? • Spouse? • Do you spread it to everyone?

Is the decision logical, emotional…? Gen. 31:6–7 6You know that I’ve worked for your father as hard as I could, 7 but your father has humiliated me and changed my wages ten times. But God has not permitted him to do me any harm. • I’ve done my part. • He doesn’t play fair. • He meant me harm, but God protected us. • Are we logically justified in leaving? • Is there mistreatment? • Has God been protecting us?

Is God’s work evident in providing and leaving? Gen. 31:8–9 8If he said, ‘The speckled animals will be your wage,’ then the entire flock gave birth to speckled offspring. But if he said, ‘The streaked animals will be your wage,’ then the entire flock gave birth to streaked offspring. 9 In this way God has snatched away your father’s livestock and given them to me. • Labon’s treatment was selfish. • Jacob demonstrated God’s sovereignty in the situation. • Is God’s sovereignty evident to others in your decision? • What good is he doing in your life situation?

Are you sure God is guiding and that it is God? Gen. 31:10–13 10“Once during breeding season I saw in a dream that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled, and spotted. 11 In the dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ ‘Here I am!’ I replied. 12 Then he said, ‘Observe that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled, or spotted, for I have observed all that Laban has done to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the sacred stone and made a vow to me. Now leave this land immediately and return to your native land.’” • God gave him direct insight into His provisions. • God made it clear that the guidance was coming from Him. • How certain are you that the guidance is from God? • Is the guidance consistent with God’s directives in the Word of God? • How clear is the testimony now to leave?

Make sure your wife/husbandis in agreement. Gen. 31:14–16 14Then Rachel and Leah replied to him, “Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father’s house? 15 Hasn’t he treated us like foreigners? He not only sold us, but completely wasted the money paid for us! 16 Surely all the wealth that God snatched away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So now do everything God has told you.” • Rachel and Leah weren’t happy with Labon either. • They had no inheritance • He treated them like foreigners • He sold them to Jacob • He had wasted the finances Jacob provided to receive them • Jacob’s present wealth is theirs. They side with Jacob/God out of disappointment with Dad.

Do we hesitate to obey God? Genesis 31:17–18 17So Jacob immediately put his children and his wives on the camels. 18 He took away all the livestock he had acquired in Paddan Aram and all his moveable property that he had accumulated. Then he set out toward the land of Canaan to return to his father Isaac. • Once the decision was made they moved. • He took what he could. • Left behind what he couldn’t. • What about us? • Do we move when God tells us to? • Do we hesitate? Why?

Applications Are you fed up with your job or certain relationships? Are you at the emotional point you want to say, “Take this job and shove it?”

Maybe it’s time to renegotiate the terms of your job. Or Maybe it’s time to leave.

What we learn from Jacob • In discerning whether it is time to leave: • Take note of the attitude of other employees • Take note of the attitude of your employer • But don’t get into verbal or physical battles • Ask yourself, is this God’s means of guiding me towards something else? What? • Continue to work hard and be honest until God gives clear direction.

What we learn from Jacob • Know where God is leading (Location/Job). • Know for certain God is directing the decision. • Make sure mistreatment is not merely a perception. Be specific, don’t generalize. • Share and discuss your dissatisfaction with your wife/husband in private. • Don’t bring everyone else (employees, friends, family) into your dissatisfaction or decision.

What we learn from Jacob • Know the cost: • Is the family ready (Jacob waited until the kids were 7 plus years, and he had resources). • Know what you’ll be leaving behind. • Know that your spouse is with you. • Know that God is guiding in it. • Don’t think that the change will be all roses (even roses have thorns).

What we learn from Jacob • Continue to work hard until you go. • Don’t quit if it makes you a burden to others. • Don’t put off what God says to do “now”. • Leave a testimony of God’s guidance in your life with those you leave behind. • If at all possible, leave on good terms. • Is what I’m about to do, more honoring to God than what I was doing?

Endure until God sets you free Titus 2:9-10 Slavesare to be subject to their own masters in everything, to do what is wanted and not talk back, not pilfering, but showing all good faith,in order to bring credit tothe teaching of God our Savior in everything.

Take This Job and Shove It