Reflections from January 21, 2011

Praise to God for His encouragement to continue in His word.

Today we read of Jacob's children being born to him by Leah, Rachel, and the concubines. After their births, Jacob is ready to cut out, and strikes a final deal with Laban for his wages. Once again, Laban is trying to deceive Jacob, but God is with Jacob and we read in Genesis 30:43,
"Thus the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys."

God blessed Jacob very well for all his years of service to Laban, simply because he loved Rachel and desired to have her as his wife. He did everything that was asked of him, and God took care of him.

That is an important lesson for me as well, that no matter how much the story changes from someone who has authority over me, to react in an honorable, upright and righteous way is what is pleasing to God. Irregardless of what happens with the person or between us, God will take care of me if I trust in him as Jacob did.

God made this clear to Jacob in the very next chapter of Genesis when He told Jacob to leave with his family and his possessions. God knew what Laban had done to Jacob, and He said to him in Genesis 31:13,
"I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me."

God never forgets His people and He will take care of them. It may not come without trials though as we read in Psalms 11:5,
"The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates."

We can't be paralyzed by a test that God gives us, we actually should rejoice in it. To be tested for twenty years as Jacob was would be tough, but in the end, Jacob rejoiced and was made very, very prosperous. Jacob was able to trust completely in God with unreserved confidence and God looked favorably on him for it.

As we move on to Jacob's eventual reuniting with Esau, we read a very small, seemingly insignificant verse in Genesis 32:28,
"Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have struggled with God and men, and have prevailed."

I find this very interesting, because that is essentially all there is to how the name Israel came about. And ever since then, to this day, the name prevails as a nation that has struggled with men, but I am convinced with God as well.

Now, Jacob was afraid upon hearing that Esau was coming with 400 of his men, and believed that Esau would do him harm because of the deception that he and his mother Rebekah had engaged in to take Esau's birthright and his blessing from Isaac. But, as they say, time heals all wounds and we read in Genesis 33:4,
"But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept."

God knew that the time was right for them to reunite, and He is placing this verse in front of me for my consideration to get with Doug as well.

Jacob's past did not escape him, however, and we see the ramifications of sin in his past, and that with his mother as it is "passed down" to his sons. Jacob's daughter, Dinah, was raped and then the perpetrator acted as if nothing happened by coming to Jacob requesting Dinah in marriage. Jacob's sons deceived him and his family, and in the end, killed all the males, and took the women and children as slaves. Jacob was very distressed by this and said in Genesis 34:30,
"You have troubled me by making me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land."

I don't think "obnoxious" is the word I would use.

I wonder if Jacob ever thought about why this happened, and if he ever looked back on his and Rebekah's deception to Esau.

If only they had the benefit of Psalms 145:4 that says,
"One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your might acts."

Parents, both in ancient times, and today, must help their children understand who God is and take the first steps in walking with Him. I believe I'm very blessed to have two children who are close to God, keep His commandments and love Him, and I'm confident that they will do the same for their children as well.

Blessings to all