Jacob is tricked into marrying Leah rather than Rachel, but is then given Rachel as a wife in return for a further seven years work.
It is ironic that Jacob, who tricked his brother out of his inheritance and blessing, is now in turn tricked himself. He now knew what it felt like to be on the receiving end of trickery and he was probably not impressed. Yet Jacob abides by his word, and even though he was tricked, because he loves Rachel so much he agrees to work a further seven years for Laban.
It is hard at times to have patience. We live in a fast paced world where instant gratification is expected and taken for granted. If you want something, you take it, or you buy it, steal it, use your credit card. Instant access to whatever we want. Waiting for something is exceptional these days, and to work for something for seven years, then to be tricked and find out you have to work another seven years unheard of. Jacob does all this without complaining, he doesn't moan and grumble, mutter under his breath about how deceitful some people are, and how he has already worked his fingers to the bone for seven long years so why should he have to work another seven years when he was promised Rachel as his wife. No, Jacob just gets on with life, accepts what Laban is offering, spends a week's honeymoon with Leah and then marries Rachel and works the extra seven years. I don't know as I would have had that much forbearance or patience. I mean, if you had worked long and hard for seven years, would you have just sat there and agreed to work another seven long, hard years when you had been tricked into marrying the wrong sister without bearing a grudge, or harbouring some ill feeling towards Laban?
This all shows the importance of having patience, of trusting in God no matter what and the importance of being honest and truthful in all our dealings, whether it is with God, family, friends or strangers, and in keeping our promises. Not always an easy thing to do in this day and age.
Friday, 27 March 2009
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Genesis chapter 28
Esau overhears Rebekah and Isaac discussing Jacob and the Canaanite women and he realises, how upset his parents were at his choice of wives. So to please his parents, he marries one of the daughters of Abrahams's son, Ishmael.
I wonder though, why it took Esau so long to realise this - after all, surely he knew from the things Isaac and Rebekah had said and done over the years that they did not approve of the Canaanites? Maybe he was so enamoured of each of his wives that he married them regardless of what his parents thought. Maybe he was more concerned with his own wants and desires than in respecting his parents wishes and it was not until he actually overheard Rebekah and Isaac talking that he fully appreciated what he had done.
Esau's third marriage is, to me, somewhat like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted. After all, Esau could not undo his marriages, the two wives were there living with him and the rest of the family, and now he has a third wife to contend with. But then, don't we all do this? When we do something wrong, we try and put it right in the simplest and quickest way, but this is not necessarily what God would have us do, or at least not in the way we try to do it.
It is easy to carry on our lives regardless of others, giving no consideration to what they are thinking or feeling, how they are reacting to the things we have done or said. Then when we find out we have hurt them disappointed them to try a quick fix to out things right. But as believers, we have a responsibility here on earth to live our lives as God would have us live them, to be an example of the love of Jesus and to be his disciples. Everything we do is liable to be held up to scrutiny by others when they know we are a Christian. I know my children and husband watch the things I do and say, and they will pull me up if they think I am not behaving as a Christian should - which is both a help and a hindrance! It keeps me on my toes, but means I must always be aware of what I am doing or saying, of how my behaviour will effect others and whether or not I am really displaying the love of Christ when I get cross and crabby or moan and grumble. I'll admit, there are times I would do or say something I shouldn't but the knowledge that my children are watching stops me. Yet I know God is always watching too, whether my children are there or not, but there are times when I ignore God, when I just go ahead and do what I want rather than what I should do but He always gives me a nudge, and brings it to my attention. And I should be giving God the priority here, knowing that He is always there watching me, caring for me, and putting Him first in my life.
I wonder though, why it took Esau so long to realise this - after all, surely he knew from the things Isaac and Rebekah had said and done over the years that they did not approve of the Canaanites? Maybe he was so enamoured of each of his wives that he married them regardless of what his parents thought. Maybe he was more concerned with his own wants and desires than in respecting his parents wishes and it was not until he actually overheard Rebekah and Isaac talking that he fully appreciated what he had done.
Esau's third marriage is, to me, somewhat like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted. After all, Esau could not undo his marriages, the two wives were there living with him and the rest of the family, and now he has a third wife to contend with. But then, don't we all do this? When we do something wrong, we try and put it right in the simplest and quickest way, but this is not necessarily what God would have us do, or at least not in the way we try to do it.
It is easy to carry on our lives regardless of others, giving no consideration to what they are thinking or feeling, how they are reacting to the things we have done or said. Then when we find out we have hurt them disappointed them to try a quick fix to out things right. But as believers, we have a responsibility here on earth to live our lives as God would have us live them, to be an example of the love of Jesus and to be his disciples. Everything we do is liable to be held up to scrutiny by others when they know we are a Christian. I know my children and husband watch the things I do and say, and they will pull me up if they think I am not behaving as a Christian should - which is both a help and a hindrance! It keeps me on my toes, but means I must always be aware of what I am doing or saying, of how my behaviour will effect others and whether or not I am really displaying the love of Christ when I get cross and crabby or moan and grumble. I'll admit, there are times I would do or say something I shouldn't but the knowledge that my children are watching stops me. Yet I know God is always watching too, whether my children are there or not, but there are times when I ignore God, when I just go ahead and do what I want rather than what I should do but He always gives me a nudge, and brings it to my attention. And I should be giving God the priority here, knowing that He is always there watching me, caring for me, and putting Him first in my life.
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Genesis chapter 27
Rebekah overhears what Isaac says to Esau, and takes matters into her own hands. Even though God has said that Jacob will be the leader of his people, she decides to help matters along, and gets Jacob to pretend to be Esau to get the blessing Isaac is going to bestow on Esau. As for Jacob, he is more concerned about getting caught than in the wrongness of the situation in lying to his father and stealing his brother's blessing.
But the same is true of each one of us at times. How often do we do something that is perhaps not quite right, not ethical, maybe not even legal, yet it is a shortcut to get where we want to be or to have what we want? In my line of work , accountancy, there are times when it would be easy to cut corners, to do something that perhaps isn't right, yet I know that my professional reputation is so important, that if clients knew I would bend the rules, put something through as an allowable expense when it is not, then sooner or later, it would all come crumbling down around me. I'm not saying I'm perfect, because I know all too often I lose my temper, get impatient, cross, am lazy, idle at times, and do many other things I know are not right. I know God is working on me, changing me into a better person, even though it must be an uphill struggle for Him at times!
I think what the book of Genesis is teaching me this time around more than anything is trusting in God and getting my heart right with Him. The people I am reading about - Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah and so on - are held up as men and women of faith and yet so often when they had a choice, they made the wrong one, they relied on their own instincts rather than trusting in God. I know I often do the very same thing, but the great comfort is that through the sacrifice of Jesus, I have been put right with God, despite all the times when I make the wrong choice or decision, when I choose to rely on my own abilities, my own resources, rather than trusting in God and leaving things in His hands.
But the same is true of each one of us at times. How often do we do something that is perhaps not quite right, not ethical, maybe not even legal, yet it is a shortcut to get where we want to be or to have what we want? In my line of work , accountancy, there are times when it would be easy to cut corners, to do something that perhaps isn't right, yet I know that my professional reputation is so important, that if clients knew I would bend the rules, put something through as an allowable expense when it is not, then sooner or later, it would all come crumbling down around me. I'm not saying I'm perfect, because I know all too often I lose my temper, get impatient, cross, am lazy, idle at times, and do many other things I know are not right. I know God is working on me, changing me into a better person, even though it must be an uphill struggle for Him at times!
I think what the book of Genesis is teaching me this time around more than anything is trusting in God and getting my heart right with Him. The people I am reading about - Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah and so on - are held up as men and women of faith and yet so often when they had a choice, they made the wrong one, they relied on their own instincts rather than trusting in God. I know I often do the very same thing, but the great comfort is that through the sacrifice of Jesus, I have been put right with God, despite all the times when I make the wrong choice or decision, when I choose to rely on my own abilities, my own resources, rather than trusting in God and leaving things in His hands.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Genesis chapter 26
Two things here struck me.
Firstly, this is about trusting God. The chapter starts off with the Lord telling Isaac to avoid Egypt and go live where He tells him and then He will bless Isaac because Abraham, Isaac's father, obeyed the Lord and kept his commandments. Isaac here followed the example of his father, and he trusted in God. As a result, his crops harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, because God blessed him, even though there was a severe famine.
Secondly, Isaac repeats exactly the same thing that Abraham did - he claims that Rebekah is his sister just as Abraham told others that Sarah was his sister, not his wife. I reckon he learned of this from Abraham, or at least got to know that his father had used this excuse.
There is an advert on the radio here at the moment which talks about how if you cross the road whilst using the mobile phone, if you go through a red light when driving, and other things, then your child will copy you. It is so true. The times I have seen my children do something and I know it is because they have seen me or my husband do the very same thing. To me, this is a warning to try and live my life in such a way that my children will see me do nothing bad, nothing that is wrong. I am very often unsuccessful in this, but I would hate for my behaviour, my actions to cause my children to stumble, to do something they clearly shouldn’t, just because they saw me do it. It is such a responsibility bringing up children and yet such a blessing and a joy. Children follow the example of their parents.
And here, Isaac is following the example of his father, both the good and the bad. Yes, he is showing great faith, but he is also showing that often he relies on his own wits rather than turning to God. That such an example today, as you can clearly see both Abraham and Isaac mess up at times, go their own way and get it wrong yet they are both such men of faith. But their hearts were right with God, and when your heart is right with God, everything else falls into place, no matter how much you may mess up your life.
Firstly, this is about trusting God. The chapter starts off with the Lord telling Isaac to avoid Egypt and go live where He tells him and then He will bless Isaac because Abraham, Isaac's father, obeyed the Lord and kept his commandments. Isaac here followed the example of his father, and he trusted in God. As a result, his crops harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, because God blessed him, even though there was a severe famine.
Secondly, Isaac repeats exactly the same thing that Abraham did - he claims that Rebekah is his sister just as Abraham told others that Sarah was his sister, not his wife. I reckon he learned of this from Abraham, or at least got to know that his father had used this excuse.
There is an advert on the radio here at the moment which talks about how if you cross the road whilst using the mobile phone, if you go through a red light when driving, and other things, then your child will copy you. It is so true. The times I have seen my children do something and I know it is because they have seen me or my husband do the very same thing. To me, this is a warning to try and live my life in such a way that my children will see me do nothing bad, nothing that is wrong. I am very often unsuccessful in this, but I would hate for my behaviour, my actions to cause my children to stumble, to do something they clearly shouldn’t, just because they saw me do it. It is such a responsibility bringing up children and yet such a blessing and a joy. Children follow the example of their parents.
And here, Isaac is following the example of his father, both the good and the bad. Yes, he is showing great faith, but he is also showing that often he relies on his own wits rather than turning to God. That such an example today, as you can clearly see both Abraham and Isaac mess up at times, go their own way and get it wrong yet they are both such men of faith. But their hearts were right with God, and when your heart is right with God, everything else falls into place, no matter how much you may mess up your life.
Where does the time go?
Well, real life in the form of tax returns and accounts took over and then after the tax return filing deadline, I was exhausted! However, I really need to get back into a routine of reading my bible and journalling, so am going to try and catch up with all the posts I should have made since my last one.
I will be posting the rest of my comments on Genesis and Exodus here, and then wait and see how things turn out then.
Back in a bit with chapter 26.
I will be posting the rest of my comments on Genesis and Exodus here, and then wait and see how things turn out then.
Back in a bit with chapter 26.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Genesis chapter 25
29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished.
30 He said to Jacob, Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished! (That is why he was also called Edom.)
31 Jacob replied, First sell me your birthright.
32 Look, I am about to die, Esau said. What good is the birthright to me?
33 But Jacob said, Swear to me first. So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.
This is about settling for what you want when you want it, rather than being prepared to wait on God.
Here, Esau was so hungry, he wanted his meal immediately and was not prepared to wait. In exchange for instant access to food, immediate satisfaction of his cravings, his wants, he exchanged his birthright, the blessings that would be his as firstborn, for a bowl of stew. How often do we do that? We want something, "need" it (or we think we do), and when we don't get it from God, we go out and try to get it ourselves. It’s like I tell my children at Christmas: they may want something, but they don't necessarily need it. Our youngest son may want the latest games console, or that new game that has just been released, but he really doesn't need it.
That's probably why there is the saying that patience is a virtue (and the full version, as my family know only too well from me, is "Patience is a virtue, possess it if you can. Seldom found in woman, and never in a man!"). It takes patience to wait on God and in this fast paced world, we are used to living fast, getting immediate access to whatever we want, we are always busy, always looking for the next job, the next thing to do, and have very little time to stop and wait. That's one of the reasons why I like to go out at the weekend with my children, because it gives me time to stop and listen, to look at the world God has created and to give him the thanks and the praise , to get some rest and some time away from the computer, and to spend much needed time with my boys and girl.
But in the west, life is one big jumble at times, rushing here there and everywhere and very few of us have time to just sit and wait on God. We want everything instantly, and when our prayers don't get answered, we try and sort everything out ourselves. But just because we don't get an immediate answer to our prayers doesn't mean God hasn't heard us, or is ignoring us. Sometimes, the answer is "yes", other times we are told to wait, or we might be told the answer is "no", or "yes but not just yet". God knows what we want, and He also knows what we need, and the two are not necessarily the same. But one thing we can be sure of is that God always answers our prayers. And we need to make sure we don't exchange the future blessings of God for immediate gratification.
30 He said to Jacob, Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished! (That is why he was also called Edom.)
31 Jacob replied, First sell me your birthright.
32 Look, I am about to die, Esau said. What good is the birthright to me?
33 But Jacob said, Swear to me first. So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.
This is about settling for what you want when you want it, rather than being prepared to wait on God.
Here, Esau was so hungry, he wanted his meal immediately and was not prepared to wait. In exchange for instant access to food, immediate satisfaction of his cravings, his wants, he exchanged his birthright, the blessings that would be his as firstborn, for a bowl of stew. How often do we do that? We want something, "need" it (or we think we do), and when we don't get it from God, we go out and try to get it ourselves. It’s like I tell my children at Christmas: they may want something, but they don't necessarily need it. Our youngest son may want the latest games console, or that new game that has just been released, but he really doesn't need it.
That's probably why there is the saying that patience is a virtue (and the full version, as my family know only too well from me, is "Patience is a virtue, possess it if you can. Seldom found in woman, and never in a man!"). It takes patience to wait on God and in this fast paced world, we are used to living fast, getting immediate access to whatever we want, we are always busy, always looking for the next job, the next thing to do, and have very little time to stop and wait. That's one of the reasons why I like to go out at the weekend with my children, because it gives me time to stop and listen, to look at the world God has created and to give him the thanks and the praise , to get some rest and some time away from the computer, and to spend much needed time with my boys and girl.
But in the west, life is one big jumble at times, rushing here there and everywhere and very few of us have time to just sit and wait on God. We want everything instantly, and when our prayers don't get answered, we try and sort everything out ourselves. But just because we don't get an immediate answer to our prayers doesn't mean God hasn't heard us, or is ignoring us. Sometimes, the answer is "yes", other times we are told to wait, or we might be told the answer is "no", or "yes but not just yet". God knows what we want, and He also knows what we need, and the two are not necessarily the same. But one thing we can be sure of is that God always answers our prayers. And we need to make sure we don't exchange the future blessings of God for immediate gratification.
Monday, 1 December 2008
Genesis Chapter 24
7 The Lord, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'To your offspring I will give this land'— he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.
This is another chapter all about trusting God, because here Abraham does not want his son, Isaac, to marry a local Canaanite woman, but instead would rather she marry one of his family. So he asks God what to do about the matter, although it doesn't actually say this in this chapter but I don't believe that Abraham would have taken this action without asking God first.
How many of us would do this - stop and ask God first before taking any major decision regarding our job and career, a house purchase, marriage, children? It is so easy just to pay lip service to God, to go through the formalities, the ritual, rather than actually trust God for each and every thing we do. But Abraham is an example here of a great man of faith, someone who wants the best for his child (don't we all?) and he seeks God's advice and guidance, he asks God what to do and then he does what God says. He doesn't dismiss what God has said, or tell himself that he misheard, that God really didn't say what he thought he said. He listens and obeys, and he tells his servant exactly what to do.
The servant listens to his master, Abraham, and does exactly what is told, and then he too prays to God for guidance. He asks God to have one of the girls draw water for both him and his camels, and Rebekah is the one who does this.
It is about trusting God and about giving God the thanks and praise, because what does the servant do after meeting Rebekah? He gives praise to God. It is easy to take what God gives and then forget to give the thanks and praise. But we should thank God, give Him the praise for the healing, the provisions, the daily help, whatever it may be. In our house, we have 2 words that have to be said: "Please" when asking, and "thank you" after receiving. There are many times when I will not give one of my children what they are asking for until they say the word "please"! Yet God himself does not withhold anything from us even though at times we, I, can appear to be so ungrateful.
This is another chapter all about trusting God, because here Abraham does not want his son, Isaac, to marry a local Canaanite woman, but instead would rather she marry one of his family. So he asks God what to do about the matter, although it doesn't actually say this in this chapter but I don't believe that Abraham would have taken this action without asking God first.
How many of us would do this - stop and ask God first before taking any major decision regarding our job and career, a house purchase, marriage, children? It is so easy just to pay lip service to God, to go through the formalities, the ritual, rather than actually trust God for each and every thing we do. But Abraham is an example here of a great man of faith, someone who wants the best for his child (don't we all?) and he seeks God's advice and guidance, he asks God what to do and then he does what God says. He doesn't dismiss what God has said, or tell himself that he misheard, that God really didn't say what he thought he said. He listens and obeys, and he tells his servant exactly what to do.
The servant listens to his master, Abraham, and does exactly what is told, and then he too prays to God for guidance. He asks God to have one of the girls draw water for both him and his camels, and Rebekah is the one who does this.
It is about trusting God and about giving God the thanks and praise, because what does the servant do after meeting Rebekah? He gives praise to God. It is easy to take what God gives and then forget to give the thanks and praise. But we should thank God, give Him the praise for the healing, the provisions, the daily help, whatever it may be. In our house, we have 2 words that have to be said: "Please" when asking, and "thank you" after receiving. There are many times when I will not give one of my children what they are asking for until they say the word "please"! Yet God himself does not withhold anything from us even though at times we, I, can appear to be so ungrateful.
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