Being Homesick

26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.
27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake

The older I get, the more I look forward to going home. So much discourages us anymore that we'd just like to get on that old ship of Zion and go home. God has prepared it and all we need is for the trumpet to sound. Yet some act like they want to stay here forever. I'm kind of homesick.

Family trouble sent Jacob away. He had deceived his father and his brother hated him for it. His mother sent him away to his uncle's home. While there he fell in love with a young, beautiful woman named Rachel. Then you couldn't run off and get married; you had to get permission from the father. Jacob asked Laban what he could do to have Rachel as his wife. Seven years of working for Laban was the answer.  Jacob did so and said they seemed but a day. When the time came, Laban slipped his other daughter Leah in as the bride. So Jacob worked another 7 years to get Rachel. Then Laban asked Jacob to stay another 6 years. He had seen how God blessed him because of Jacob and he wanted to take advantage of that longer. Jacob agreed but asked for the animals of Laban's flock that were blemished. The tables turned on Laban for God began to bless Jacob. After his time was up, Jacob became homesick for his father's home. We should cry out to God to go home just as Jacob did. God wants us to live in a country of life, not the wicked world we have around us. There will be no darkness in heaven; Christ, God's son will be the light up there.

Jacob headed for home knowing that Esau had threatened to kill him. Jacob was nervous about it and began to pray.  God told him not to worry. Jacob didn't realize that God had blessed Esau so much he had no room to hate. God works in miraculous ways. Jacob ended up wrestling with the angel of God all night long; he wouldn't let him go. While here, how much are you willing to hold on this week?  At the break of day the Lord changed Jacob's name to Israel which means the prince with God. He had wrestled so long that his hip was hurt; yet after this he got up to head home. He didn't complain about his hip; he just headed home limping all the way.

When Jacob saw his home he began to be nervous and sent gifts to Esau probably in order to bribe him a little bit. Him men came back and told him that Esau was coming with 400 men.  He panicked and began to divide up his family in groups to meet Esau. However it was not for war. Upon seeing Jacob he ran to his brother and hugged him. We serve a God who can take care of all things. God is bigger than all our fears.

Are we homesick? Home is a place of no more death, no more sorrow, no crying and no pain. The Father wants us home; Jesus told the disciples it was expedient for Him to go away but assured them He would come back. I want to go. We have to be ready to meet Him. The price has been paid. God will never ask for a repayment from us. Are you ready? Are you homesick to go home?