In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks and maid servants and camels and donkeys (Genesis 30:43).

Jacob left his homeland after a broken relationship with Esau for stealing the family blessing. He goes to work for his uncle Laban where he stays for 20 years. It was time for him to leave, but he had no physical assets to show for those years under Laban. Laban had taken advantage of his nephew in every way. (In some ways, Jacob was reaping the seed he had sown his entire life as a manipulator and controller.) Nevertheless, God's hand was upon Jacob and He had plans to prosper him. However, Jacob had one problem -- He had no resources of his own. For Jacob to launch out on his own, he would need resources. In those days resources often meant large flocks of animals. God gave Jacob a dream that resulted in a strategy for creating wealth by multiplying his sheep. Even though Laban sought to thwart his efforts, God overcame the evil in Laban to allow Jacob to prosper.

There are many important lessons for us in this story. First, when God decides it is time to move you into a larger place of His calling, He has the ability to provide the resources you need to support the call. God gave him a dream that resulted in a strategy to build wealth never used before. It was totally from the hand of God. It was creative and new. God called Jacob to move out after he had demonstrated his faithfulness in 20 years of serving Laban. He learned to live under authority and served Laban faithfully, even though he knew he was being taken advantage of.

God will do the same for you and me. However, a word of caution. Be sure the strategy is born from above, and not from our own self-effort. This is the difficulty for most of us business people: to learn the difference between the strategy born of God versus the strategy of self-effort.