In Genesis 29:1-14, God led Jacob in finding a wife. The principles here can be applied to understanding God’s direction, and how we need to obey and follow God’s direction in our lives.

1 The preceptive will of God

The Lord led Jacob to Rachel. God’s preceptive will is revealed to us through His direct command from the Word of God. When we want to discern God’s will, we must know God’s preceptive will. Jacob obeyed the Lord in this regard. Jacob’s parents did not want him to marry a Canaanite woman, and Jacob obeyed. Thus, he went to Haran to look for a wife (Gen 29:1). God has the right person, at the right place, for us (Gen 29:5-6). This must be according to the preceptive will of God and we must obey Him fully.

2 The directive will of God

Besides the right person at the right place, there must be the right timing also. In God’s directive will, He will lead and guide. We have to wait upon God’s timing. Jacob had to wait (Gen 29:14, 18, 27). In Genesis 29:7-8, at an appointed time, the well would be uncovered so that the people could fetch water for their sheep. It is at that time that Rachel came with her father’s sheep (Gen 29:9). At the right time, God brought Rachel to Jacob. This was the right time that Jacob met Rachel (Gen 29:10). However, we also see Jacob wanting to take things in his own hands. Even though it was the right timing and the right person, it was still not the time for Jacob to marry Rachel.

3 The cooperative will of God

Not only are we to be in the will of God in the right place and at the right time, it must also be done in the right way. In Genesis 29:11, Jacob saw how the Lord provided him with a wife. He knew that the Lord had directed the place and the time, but he must also do it the right way. Jacob must trust in the Lord’s providence. In Genesis 29:11-14, Jacob did the right thing by going to Laban, and by waiting for God’s timing to marry Rachel.

Let us trust in God’s preceptive will, obey His directive will and his cooperative will. When we follow the Lord’s way, He will lead us. We must be patient to trust and wait upon the Lord.