Beyond the Brook Cedron

Forgetting Those Things Which are Behind….

“And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.” Genesis 31:3

A decisive moment had come to Jacob. We can read of the account of Jacob’s sojourn to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel the Syrian, in Genesis Chapter 28 through 31. Jacob had spent many years rendering faithful service to Laban. But Laban had defrauded and treated Jacob unjustly.

It was about the time that Jacob discerned that Laban’s attitude toward him had changed, that the Lord commanded Jacob to leave Laban. In Laban’s absence, Jacob gathered all his family, flocks, and goods and departed. “And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled. And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.” (Genesis 31:22-23)

Laban and Jacob reasoned together. Laban proposed a covenant. “And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made a heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.” (Genesis 31:45-46)

The conflict between Laban and Jacob had ended. It could have continued. Jacob had good reasons for pointing out Laban’s unfairness to him. And although Laban was covetous and greedy for gain, he could have given good reasons for his actions. But God brought them to a place where they had to put some things behind them and go on with their individual lives.

As Apostle Paul went about preaching Christ, he often told of how he persecuted the Church. No doubt, this was to reinforce the truth of his conversion, but along with that, it weighed upon his heart! So he came to realize the hindrance that this could cause him: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

There will be decisive moments in life. Souls can wrestle against obstacles until they become weak and engulfed in discontentment and despair. Or they can, with God’s help, forget those things that hinder their Christian progress, and press on toward the prize. It is their choice to make!