God's Work
Read Genesis 31
Genesis 31:53-55 So
Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac. 54 He offered a
sacrifice there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal. After
they had eaten, they spent the night there. 55 Early the next morning Laban
kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and
returned home.
CHAPTERS 30 & 31 of Genesis are a long
account of Jacob going to find a wife, marrying Leah (against his will) and
Rachel. He then has through these women and their two servants Bilhah and Zilpah
the sons that would eventually become the fathers of the 12 Tribes of Israel.
It
is a difficult account to read. Jacob fathers his children through Leah, Rachel’s
maidservant Leah’s maidservant, and finally Rachel. But one born to Rachel is
Joseph, and God has prepared the next act of the drama that will eventually form
the people Israel.
For
his own reasons, God has set the stage in a way we wouldn’t expect. Why not
have Jacob take one wife and have his children through her? It would seem to be
more pure, and there possibly would be less contention in Jacob’s household.
With
the rivalries that would develop among his sons and in the issues Jacob had with
his father-in-law, Jacob had a difficult life. And before this, Jacob had been
deceitful to his father Isaac. The story makes no sense until we remember: God
is at work here.
How
God accomplishes his will is his business. It is his way. We can be
surprised, but we can’t say “This will never work.” God will often take people into
difficult times or new places to strengthen them into a deeper trust
relationship with him.
LIFE Link: It is comforting to know that God
works with sinners.
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