When you read the account of Jacob in Genesis 30 and 31 you really feel sorry for the guy. His uncle took real advantage of him (not that Jacob didn't deserve it after he swindled his brother out of the birthright and the blessing).
But Jacob's trouble with Laban was only part of God's plan to help Jacob realize that he no longer needed to depend on his own wits to succeed, but that he needed to depend only on God. We need that lesson too.
It's like God took Jacob through a series of unmanagable situations to prove how incapable he really was, then showed Jacob through a series of miracles that God could provide where Jacob could not. An example is with the flocks. Jacob agreed to take the spotted and speckled sheep. Then all the sheep started being birthed spotted and speckled. Genesis 30 seems to suggest that it was Jacob's plan of showing the sheep the streaked stakes that made them streaked. That's unlikely, for it was really God who was making Jacob a success.
For us it is the same way. We get cheated and taken advantage of and we want to strike out and get back at that person. In reality we need to trust that it is God who will provide for us, not matter how much other people take advantage.
Focus on God as your provision, and not on how unfairly others treat you.
1 Corinthians 6:7 Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? NKJV
Philippians 4:19-20 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. NKJV
Pastor Tom
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1 comment:
It never ceases to amaze me how comforting the Bible really is. No other book ever written has the power to heal like this one... it's absolutely amazing.
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