In Genesis 29:1-14, Jacob arrives in the land of his relatives and encounters Rachel, the daughter of Laban, while watering flocks at a well. The passage emphasizes the importance of obedience and taking initiative, as Jacob rolls away the stone blocking the well to help the shepherds water their sheep. Additionally, it highlights themes of dreams, divine promises, and the necessity of active faith in pursuing one's calling.

2. Genesis 29:1–14
1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to
the land of the sons of the east. 2 He looked,
and saw a well in the field, and behold, three
flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for
from that well they watered the flocks. Now
the stone on the mouth of the well was large.
3 When all the flocks were gathered there,
they would then roll the stone from the
mouth of the well and water the sheep, and
put the stone back in its place on the mouth

3. of the well. 4 Jacob said to them, “My
brothers, where are you from?” And they said,
“We are from Haran.” 5 He said to them, “Do
you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they
said, “We know him.” 6 And he said to them,
“Is it well with him?” And they said, “It is well,
and here is Rachel his daughter coming with
the sheep.” 7 He said, “Behold, it is still high
day; it is not time for the livestock to be
gathered. Water the sheep, and go, pasture
them.” 8 But they said, “We cannot, until all
the flocks are gathered, and they roll the
stone from the mouth of the well;

4. then we water the sheep.” 9 While he was still
speaking with them, Rachel came with her
father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10
When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban
his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban
his mother’s brother, Jacob went up and rolled
the stone from the mouth of the well and
watered the flock of Laban his mother’s
brother. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted
his voice and wept. 12 Jacob told Rachel that he
was a relative of her father and that he was
Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.

5. 13 So when Laban heard the news of Jacob his
sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and
embraced him and kissed him and brought
him to his house. Then he related to Laban all
these things. 14 Laban said to him, “Surely you
are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed
with him a month.

7. Review
Actions have consequences
Obedience to father
At an uncomfortable place
A dream form the Lord

8. God shows up
“I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham
and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I
will give it to you and to your descendants. Your
descendants will also be like the dust of the
earth, and you will spread out to the west and to
the east and to the north and to the south; and in
you and in your descendants shall all the families
of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you
and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring
you back to this land; for I will not leave you until
I have done what I have promised you.”
Genesis 28:13–15

9. Is this the
place? Then Jacob went on his
journey, and came to the
land of the sons of the east.
He looked, and saw a well in
the field, and behold, three
flocks of sheep were lying
there beside it, for from that
well they watered the flocks.
Now the stone on the mouth
of the well was large.
No road map
Traveling by landmark
Ask along the way
Behold, I am with you and will keep
you wherever you go
Genesis 29:4–5 (NASB95)
4 Jacob said to them, “My brothers,
where are you from?” And they said,
“We are from Haran.” 5 He said to
them, “Do you know Laban the son of
Nahor?” And they said, “We know
him.”

10. Jacob notices a problem
When all the flocks
were gathered there,
they would then roll
the stone from the
mouth of the well and
water the sheep, and
put the stone back in
its place on the
mouth of the well.
Genesis 29:7 (NASB95)
7 He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be
gathered. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them.”

11. Sound
familiar?
But they said,
“We cannot, until
all the flocks are
gathered, and
they roll the stone
from the mouth
of the well; then
we water the
sheep.”

12. We have always done it this way
Tradition
Large stone
Sense of fairness
Voted

13. But Lord we hath never doneth it that way before
The first church committee meeting

14. Take Charge
When Jacob saw Rachel
the daughter of Laban
his mother’s brother,
and the sheep of Laban
his mother’s brother,
Jacob went up and
rolled the stone from
the mouth of the well
and watered the flock
of Laban his mother’s
brother.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever your hand
finds to do, do it with all
your might;
Romans 12:11 not lagging
behind in diligence,
fervent in spirit, serving
the Lord;

15. Dream foundation
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven
and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples
of all the nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I
commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age.”
Jesus didn’t give us the “how”
He gave us the “what”

16. Dreams have to be acted on
‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE
LAST DAYS,’ God says,
‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH
OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL
MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS
AND YOUR DAUGHTERS
SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR
YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE
VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD
MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;
Acts 2:17
1. Prophecy
2. Dreams
3. Visions

17. Doing “Power”
Gifts-Charismata, abilities
the Holy Spirit gives to
the church
Ministries-The activities
of serving
Effects-the state or
quality of being active,
working, operation,
action
Now there are varieties
of gifts, but the same
Spirit. And there are
varieties of ministries,
and the same Lord.
There are varieties of
effects, but the same
God who works all
things in all persons.
1 Corinthians 12:4–6

18. Don’t be bound by tradition
I have become all
things to all men, so
that I may by all
means save some.
1 Corinthians 9:22
just as I also please
all men in all things,
not seeking my own
profit but the profit
of the many, so that
they may be saved.
1 Corinthians 10:33