PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Genesis 29-30
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband.” (Genesis 30:18)
These two chapters describe how Jacob is blessed with wives, children and sheep.
Jacob is blessed, as measured by ancient cultural standards: wives, children and flocks.
But these standards are disturbing to us today; how can God bless this??
For the narrator, God favours unloved Leah, and blesses her giving her slave to him!?
Is God blessing the cultural practices, and saying they are OK for all time?
Can God bless cultural relationships and practices that are not creational?
I am struck by how God works within the messed up cultural practices of that time.
Jacob’s way of separating sheep also seems bizarre, yet God uses it to increase his flocks.
If God could only bless the truly righteous, then no one could be blessed.
God becomes human with human limitations, working within flawed people and cultures.
We are so quick to say for God who God can or cannot bless… just like the Pharisees did.
Jesus blew their pious religious minds with the people he blessed… just like God!
No one measures up to God’s standards; none of our practices or relationships are pure.
This reminds me that God can bless me too… despite my flaws, failures and falling short.
PRAYER
Lord, forgive us for thinking that we know better than others, that our ways are more ‘biblical’ and less ‘cultural’ than others. Thank you for blessing us despite our falling short!
God moves in mysterious ways.
Where do I place my trust?
On relationships, family, romance, trying to work our my own plan, deceiving, etc.
I am not in charge although at times I may think I am. God is enough. He is in charge all the time and brings His purposes to fruition. My ways are flawed and God can still use that His purposes to perform. He is in charge and not I.
1 God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform.
He plants his footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
2 You fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
3 His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding ev’ry hour.
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow’r.
4 Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan his work in vain.
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.
It is amazing that God allows Jacob to be such a blessing to his Uncle Laban – even though there is all kinds of scheming going on. Is Jacob prosperous because of his scheming or his family growing because of the scheming of his wives? In spite of it all, God blesses Jacob – but Jacob has so much to learn yet. God is being true to his promise to Jacob – to bless him while he is away from his father’s home. It seems to me a lot like Goshen – a agriculturally fertile place – is used by God to multiply his people before they leave for the promised land – despite the obvious presence of ‘sin’ God helps his people. As I live among people who do not know you Lord Jesus – help me to be an effective witness for you in spite of my own sinfulness!