# 291 I,Me My, Mine

The Book of Genesis

Day 291

Ge 31:43 And Laban answered and said to Jacob, "These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne?  44 "Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me."  45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.  46 Then Jacob said to his brethren, "Gather stones." And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there on the heap.

Jacob has just ticked off all his charges against Laban and let us note Laban’s response. “My daughters, my children, my flock, and all you see is mine.” “My, my, my , mine.” Kind of sums up Laban’s philosophy of life doesn’t it? This is the mantra of those who are of the world. Whereas, the mantra of the Christian is to be You, You, You, Yours! All glory goes to God, and all that we have, children, grandchildren, flocks, and anything else belongs to God!

De 10:14 says, "Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it.”

And Ps 24:1, “The earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.”

This is one of the most liberating truths that man can know and believe! It sets you free from the sin of covetousness. This is the sin that so deeply gripped Laban and look what he ended up with in the end………nothing!

There is no further recorded contact between Jacob’s family and his relatives in Mesopotamia! Laban never sees his children or grandchildren again. This is typically what happens when we fall in love with the grass that appears greener on the other side, and isn’t that what covetousness boils down to? 

Although they end their relationship on friendly terms, this covenant is not so much about peace as it is about not crossing a boundary. This is a marker that stands forever as a witness between “My, my, my, mine, and You, You, You, Yours.”

What side of the marker are you on? Will you travel on with Jacob to the Promised Land, or return to the godless world of Laban, utterly consumed over things that will eventually perish?

Jas 4:4 says, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

The marker is set, one leads to life, the other leads to death: Jos 24:15 "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

# 290 The Fear of Isaac

The Book of Genesis

Day 290

Ge 31:36 Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban, and Jacob answered and said to Laban: "What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued me?  37 "Although you have searched all my things, what part of your household things have you found? Set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge between us both!  38 "These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock.  39 "That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. You required it from my hand, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.  40 "There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes.  41 "Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.  42 "Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night."

Twenty years of frustration with the unfairness of Laban has come to a boil and Jacob spills it all out. The last straw was Laban’s accusation that someone in Jacob’s camp had stolen Laban’s household gods. After a thorough search, (not quite thorough enough, because Rachel had hidden them away under her saddle) Laban found nothing.  But this was the last straw for Jacob and he let Laban have it with both barrels. Speaking the truth in anger, he rebuked Laban in front of everyone!  (Makes me wonder if Rachel ever told him about her theft, or if he found them after Rachel passed away.)

It doesn’t matter, because even in his righteous anger, Jacob points out a beautiful truth for all of us to remember. If it weren’t for God watching out for Jacob, he would be empty-handed.

Have you ever been shafted or short-changed by anyone else? God has seen your affliction just as sure as He saw Jacob’s and He will take care of it! Keep walking with the Lord and He will see that you are not left empty-handed.

Something of interest here is HOW Jacob refers to God, and it’s worth noting. He refers to “the God of his father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac.”  Well his father IS Isaac. Why not just say, “The God of my father Isaac, and the God of Abraham,” Why add “the Fear of Isaac?”

The gist of the statement is that Isaac is still alive and still in the “Fear of God” mode of his life. The idea of biblical fear in worship of God is that of trust. Isaac is still trusting God. God is the Fear of Isaac, the One in whom he trusts.

It was this trust in the “Fear of Isaac” this God, that carried Jacob through his 20 years with Laban, and Laban needed to know it!

It’s kinda like he was telling Laban, “your household gods aren’t worth diddly bop anyway!”

I wonder if this can be said about me and my relationship with God. Could my children say this about me? “The God of Isaac, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of my Dad?” Could your children say it about you?

# 289 Beware of “the Nevers”

The Book of Genesis

Day 289

Ge 31:30 "And now you have surely gone because you greatly long for your father's house, but why did you steal my gods?"  31 Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, "Because I was afraid, for I said, 'Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.'  32 "With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live. In the presence of our brethren, identify what I have of yours and take it with you." For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.  33 And Laban went into Jacob's tent, into Leah's tent, and into the two maids' tents, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah's tent and entered Rachel's tent.  34 Now Rachel had taken the household idols, put them in the camel's saddle, and sat on them. And Laban searched all about the tent but did not find them.  35 And she said to her father, "Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is with me." And he searched but did not find the household idols.

Laban understands why Jacob longed to go home, but he wants to know why someone in Jacob’s party thought it was necessary to steal his household gods. Jacob says that he stole away without telling Laban because he was afraid Laban would use force to bring his daughters back.

As for the gods, or anything else for that matters, if he finds them amongst his party, let the person who stole them be put to death! Wow! That’s brash! Jacob was that  certain of the integrity of those in his party! Little did he know that the thief was his treasured Rachel! Let that be a lesson for all of us. Never say never! It may come back to bite you.

Remember Peter?  His use of the word “never” should serve as a reminder to all of us. Mt 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'  32 "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."  33 Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble."  34 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."  35 Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And so said all the disciples.”

“I will never be made to stumble.” …..famous last words!

The Holy Spirit, speaking through the Apostle Paul reminds us in 1Co 10:12, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

I remember my own struggles in this arena. In the past I have struggled with my temper. I would lose it on occasion and after an incident of “embarrassingly blowing my cool,” I would say things like, “I’m never going to do that again!” That statement almost always turned out to be a lie. I have learned to avoid such statements like the plague, because they typically come back to haunt me. Now, I’d rather say, “by the grace of God my temper has been held in check,” But I know I must be on guard against it, and if it ever rears it’s ugly head again in my life. I know how to handle it. I handle it by bringing it to Jesus, confessing my sin, receiving His forgiveness, making amends if necessary, and moving on carefully, always mindful of how powerful my flesh can be in governing my spirit. 

If Jacob would’ve been asked point blank, “Would Rachel steal her brother’s household gods?” He likely would’ve replied, “Oh she would NEVER do that.” Use the word “never” sparingly my friend. Highly respected people (including you and I) can be blindsided by our flesh at any time! Jer 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?”

If you want to use the word “never,” use it in conjunction with God, who has said, “I will never leave or forsake you.” He is there for you and I for those times when our “nevers” come back to haunt us.

# 288 Besetting Sins

The Book of Genesis

Day 288

Ge 31:25 So Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountains, and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mountains of Gilead.  26 And Laban said to Jacob: "What have you done, that you have stolen away unknown to me, and carried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword?  27 "Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp?  28 "And you did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters. Now you have done foolishly in so doing.  29 "It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, 'Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.'

Have you ever been overtaken by a besetting sin? You know, those habitual wrongdoings that you just can’t seem to shake? I think this relationship between Laban and Jacob paints a picture of our own struggles with temptation and besetting sins.

Laban, representing the besetting sin, and Jacob representing the one enslaved by that sin. Jacob has been a slave to Laban for 20 years! Rather than argue with the devil about his slavery, Jacob takes off, making a clean break and heading back to his homeland! Good advice in the matter of the devil and besetting sins! Resist! Jas 4:7 says, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

But the besetting sin and the devil catch up with Jacob, (those sins aren’t called besetting for nothing!) Temptation will come again even as we seek to resist and flee! “C’mon Jacob,” says the besetting sin, “I wasn’t all that bad was I? We could’ve had a real nice send off with joy and songs!”

Jacob was in a sense, powerless for those 20 years for he was under contract with Laban, but now something new has been added to the mix, and that someTHING is really SomeONE! God has intervened and pulled Jacob away from the besetting sin and tells him to return to his homeland. He does this in a dream to Laban and warned him to keep his hands off Jacob. God, in effect, was demonstrating His love toward Jacob saying, “I love you Jacob! I love you too much to see you go back to bondage!”

Listen, if you are struggling with besetting sins. God the Father wants you to know the fullness of joy in Christ! He wants to set us free from the bondage of besetting sins! He has given us all we need to be set free In His Son Jesus Christ.  Flee from sin and run to Jesus! For if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

# 287 The Keeper

The Book of Genesis

Day 287

Ge 31:20 And Jacob stole away, unknown to Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee. 21 So he fled with all that he had. He arose and crossed the river, and headed toward the mountains of Gilead.  22 And Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled.  23 Then he took his brethren with him and pursued him for seven days' journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead.  24 But God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, "Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad."

Let’s put ourselves in Laban’s shoes here. He has steadily watched his income dwindle in spite of doing everything in his power to exploit Jacob. Whenever he changed the rules, God stayed ahead of him and kept blessing Jacob. We have seen that as a result of this turn of events, Laban’s attitude toward Jacob has become hostile. To put it bluntly, Jacob was costing him money and he was now expendable in Laban’s eyes.

Then word comes to Laban that Jacob had taken Laban’s daughters and fled! So Laban hurries back to the homestead and sure enough Jacob had taken all that he had and fled the coop. (Laban even notices that the household gods were missing as well! (v30) Imagine how furious Laban is at this sudden turn of events! So he takes off in hot pursuit!

Now look at Jacob’s plight’ He’s running toward Esau who at last report had sworn to kill him, and Laban is on his heels with pretty much the same intent. Thankfully, Jacob had the promise of God to cling to that was spoken to him at Bethel in Gen 28:15, “I will keep you wherever you go.” The word “keep” means to guard, to put a hedge around something because it is valuable to you. Jacob is valuable to God, and God has promised to protect him!

And HE does! He appears to Laban in a dream using the same Hebrew word for “keep” in His warning to Laban. In effect God says, “Put a hedge around your intent toward Jacob!” “Put a lid on it and keep your hands off of him and his property!”

Laban got the drift! God means business here and so Laban backed off from his threatening’s.

Aren’t you glad we have a promise keeping God. He says I will keep and He does! He puts a hedge of protection around Jacob and as long as he stays within that hedge, he is safe.

It’s just like Jesus said in Joh 10:28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

And as the Holy Spirit reminds us in Jude 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,  25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

God kept Jacob, He will keep you!

# 286 Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods

The Book of Genesis

Day 286

Ge 31:17 Then Jacob rose and set his sons and his wives on camels.  18 And he carried away all his livestock and all his possessions which he had gained, his acquired livestock which he had gained in Padan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.  19 Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the household idols that were her father's.

Rachel. Beautiful Rachel! The love of Jacob’s life! Well, what do we have here? This beautiful lady is a thief and an idolater! You don’t steal household idols to be used as knick knacks. She took them with her because she planned on using them. She obviously had been using them as more than paperweights and was planning on continuing to use them in some sort of ritualistic worship in her new home.  This was in direct violation of what God later codified in His commandments: Ex 20:4,5 says, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;  5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Rachel, probably under the influence of the household in which she grew up, still did not have a handle on the one true God! She had been brought up in a culture of multiple gods and graven images and maybe she thought by bringing them along with her she could “stack the deck” of life  in her favor. We shouldn’t be too hard on her though because many times we do the same thing. We often rely on other things to bring us peace, safety, and prosperity, We too hedge our bets with the things and the philosophies of the world. Or we try to secure our place in heaven with our own perceived good works.

“Oh there’s a God out there all right, but why not include these other gods too? What can it hurt?”

  And God reminds us in Ex 34:14 '(for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),

We must all learn to rely on God and I can think of no better example than George Mueller. He was a man who lived in England. He was a believer who took seriously God’s simple command to take care of the fatherless, so he opened an orphanage. In his lifetime, he took in thousands of street kids and loved them and provided a home for them, never making an appeal for funds. He just prayed and relied on God trusting Him to provide.  And God always did.

Sometimes when food was low, George would pray and subsequently a basket of food would show up on the doorstep. In his life it is estimated  that hundreds of thousands of dollars passed through his hands, yet when he died he had around a thousand dollars to his name. .

George Mueller simply took what God had provided for him and funneled it all back into the ministry. He used it solely to provide for God’s children. No idols in George’s life. No hedging of bets. Just all in with Jesus because he believed God was sufficient.

When God calls us to obedience, He will supply what we need AS we need it, all for His glory!

# 285 Pray Together

The Book of Genesis

Day 285

Ge 31:14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, "Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?  15 "Are we not considered strangers by him? For he has sold us, and also completely consumed our money.  16 "For all these riches which God has taken from our father are really ours and our children's; now then, whatever God has said to you, do it."

Family meeting time! Jacob has made a decision to obey God. God has called him to return to his homeland. He calls his wives together and points out his very legitimate reasons for leaving! With every reason Jacob puts before them, he points out the hand of God in all of it.

First of all the covetousness of their father (Laban) has awakened a warring spirit in him, (Laban)  and things are getting a little dangerous for Jacob. And Jacob says, “But the God of my father has been with me.” (v5)

Then he reminds them of how many times their father had cheated him, and again says, “But God did not permit him to harm me.” (v7)

Then he reminded them that even as Laban changed the rules as they went along, God saw to it that Jacob prospered anyway: “God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.”  (v9)

Did you notice how Jacob kept bringing God into the equation? In doing so, he rightly gives God glory! Maybe we could learn from that in our own lives!

At any rate, the girls should know now by now that God is with Jacob and the clincher is this same God had appeared to Jacob and told him to return home, promising to be with him!

Even as Jacob has solid reasons for leaving,  the girls now add their own. Laban had pretty much regarded the girls as property.  They were simply an opportunity for a handsome dowry. The money that he made off of Jacob for his 20 years of labor was already spent. There was no financial security for the girls if they stayed behind. So they tell Jacob to do whatever God has told him to do. In other words, they are on board with the move.

Their motive for leaving may not be as pure as Jacob’s but at least they are on board.

There’s a lesson here for us about communication within families. Spouse, clue your mate in on what God has been speaking to you. Don’t go racing off on your own obedience trips without including your other half! Especially if the obedience will have such a huge effect on them! Remember, husbands and wives are one! Act that way!  If God is in it, He will get you all on the same page. Trust Him to do that! And be sure to set aside some time for mutual prayer when these kind of decisions pop up…..and they will!

These are not “bless mommy and daddy and the children kind of prayers, “they are the “what will You have us to do Lord” kind of prayers, and are invaluable as you seek peace in your major decisions.!

# 284 Spiritual Warfare

The Book of Genesis

Day 284

Ge 31:13 'I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.'" 

Jacob continues to relate to Rachel and Leah his recent encounter with God. It strikes me as odd that God would describe Himself as the God of Bethel It sounds so limiting. Yet we know that God is not limited by time or distance. He is omnipresent, omniscient, and all powerful!  He was simply reminding Jacob that He was the God that had appeared to Him at Bethel in that magnificent dream we call Jacob’s Ladder. In that dream He reminded Jacob that He was not restricted to Bethel, that He in fact would be with Jacob wherever he went. (Gen 28:15)

Why did Jacob need this ID from God? Well, think about it. He had been living in a land where the worship of other gods was quite common. The culture of the day had gods for fertility, gods for harvest, gods for this, and gods for that, and they very often were localized, as if they had assigned territories., …..and they do! And I think we need to be more aware of this than we typically are.

These “gods” are like henchmen of the devil who serve him and seek to wreak havoc on the crown of God’s creation…..man. As tools of the devil, they have power to do many things. (just read Job) but they can only go as far as Almighty God allows (Again, read Job)  They set up shop wherever they are welcomed and their calling cards are lies, hate, and murder.  The gullible are taken in and engage in and buy into Satan’s agenda. In so doing they engage in worship of other gods disobeying God’s command to not have other gods before Him.

These gods are an extension of demonic activity, and why the Apostle Paul reminds us in  Eph 6:12 about who we are doing battle with! “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

In other words, the enemy is spread out in principalities. (geographical locations) He is powerful. He is organized with unholy rulers. And these rulers have foot soldiers of wickedness (demons) at their disposal.

Further illustration of these powerful geographical entities is found in the Book of Daniel: Da 10:12 “Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.  13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.”

I mention these things, hoping that you and I will have a better idea of what we are up against. You may think the god Molech no longer exists. (He’s the one that required the sacrifice of children for worship) but he has shown up in the world through legalized abortion. These unseen spiritual battles still rage in our world today: Thankfully the same God who appeared to Jacob at Bethel is still with us, promising to never leave us, He reminds us that He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world, and he daily encourages us to put on the armor that He has supplied!

Eph 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;  18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Jacob, living in a world that had bowed the knee to many of these gods needed to be reminded that there is just one true God, and only one God powerful enough to defeat these enemies.  In a world full of murder and lying, maybe we need to be reminded as well. We are in a spiritual battle of epic proportions, and it’s going to get a whole lot worse as we draw near to Judgment Day. Re 12:12b says, “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."

Be ready for it! Be in prayer! Be in the Word ever ready to wield it!

# 283 Pray For Those Who Have Wronged You

The Book of Genesis

Day 283

Ge 31:12 "And He said, 'Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.

Jacob is relating his encounter with the Angel of the Lord to his two wives, Rachel and Leah. The Angel made it clear to him that God was responsible for the abundance of livestock that now belonged to him, in spite of the underhanded dealings of Laban, “For I have seen what Laban is doing to you.”

God had been observing all along the changing of the rules, the covetousness, and any and all other attempts to take advantage of Jacob, and you know what? God took care of it.

And you know what else? He will take care of those who have wronged you, past, present, and future. Ro 12:19-21, says, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.  20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."  21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

I know of fewer lessons in all of Scripture that are harder to learn than this one! Perhaps the best way to learn it, is to put yourself in the shoes of the person who wronged you. If they have wronged you in God’s eyes, if “He has seen all that the person has done to you,” unless they repent, they are in big time  trouble.

Heb 10:30, the “vengeance is mine,” scripture is quoted again and followed with this sobering truth in Heb 10:31,  “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

By the way, the first time this “vengeance is mine” quote shows up in Scripture is found in De 32:35, give it a listen!

“Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.'”

Have you been wronged? Don’t worry about it! God has seen it, and the people who wronged you have some things “hastening” upon them that you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. Therefore love them while you can! Reach out to them while you can! Pray for them while you can! Perhaps they will repent and turn to God and be spared His ultimate wrath! In loving them now, you may heap coals of fire on their heads, but better to have hot coals on your forehead now, than walking amongst them for eternity!

# 282 The Response That Gets You To the Hall of Fame of Faith

The Book of Genesis

Day 282

Ge 31:4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock,  5 and said to them, "I see your father's countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me.  6 "And you know that with all my might I have served your father.  7 "Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me.  8 "If he said thus: 'The speckled shall be your wages,' then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: 'The streaked shall be your wages,' then all the flocks bore streaked. 9 "So God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.  10 "And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted.  11 "Then the Angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, 'Jacob.' And I said, 'Here I am.'

 There is no delay here. God told Jacob to return, so he immediately called Rachael and Leah and told them of his plan to leave and his reasons for leaving. He includes the divine assurances he had received so they would realize that God was in this sudden move.

He begins by pointing out the obvious. Laban is not happy with him anymore. Then Jacob reminds them that God has been with him all the way in his dealings with Laban and will continue to walk them through this, so they need not fear.

He points out, how, against all odds his herd has grown while Laban’s has been depleted. Evidently Laban changed the rules regarding the livestock that he would take from Jacob on 10 different occasions!

When Laban would say, “How about you just keep the speckled? Then only speckled would be born. Or, if he changed his mind and said, “How about you just keeping the streaked,” only the streaked would be born.  God’s hand was clearly in this!  And to make it even more clear, Jacob relates a dream where God showed him the hidden genetics of the rams. Even though the rams appeared to be one color on the outside, God showed Jacob their true genetic makeup. What a miracle, as Jacob gets a first hand look at the omniscience of God!  This kind of peek at the omniscience of God is equivalent to the New Testament spiritual gift of knowledge, mentioned in 1 Cor 12:8, “for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,” This insight given to Jacob was further proof that God was with him!

Sometime after the supernatural glimpse into genetics, the Angel of God spoke to him saying, “ Jacob.” And notice the response of faith said by so many ordinary men of the Bible with whom God wants to do something extraordinary. Jacob replies with the Faith Hall of Fame response, “Here I Am.”  “I am willing God, what is it that you would have me do!”

You see my brothers and sisters, faith isn’t as tricky as we make it out to be. Faith is hearing God’s voice (in His Word) responding to His call to act on the as yet unseen, with a simple, “Here I am.!” It’s a matter of being willing, then staying tuned in for further instructions if necessary…..If it is of God……the instructions will come.

# 281 I Will Be With You

The Book of Genesis

Day 281

Ge 30:37 Now Jacob took for himself rods of green poplar and of the almond and chestnut trees, peeled white strips in them, and exposed the white which was in the rods.  38 And the rods which he had peeled, he set before the flocks in the gutters, in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, so that they should conceive when they came to drink.  39 So the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted.  40 Then Jacob separated the lambs, and made the flocks face toward the streaked and all the brown in the flock of Laban; but he put his own flocks by themselves and did not put them with Laban's flock.  41 And it came to pass, whenever the stronger livestock conceived, that Jacob placed the rods before the eyes of the livestock in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.  42 But when the flocks were feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban's and the stronger Jacob's.  43 Thus the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.  31:1 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, "Jacob has taken away all that was our father's, and from what was our father's he has acquired all this wealth."  2 And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before.  3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you."

Jacob uses an elaborate procedure in order to bring about conception of speckled and off-colored animals. I have no clue as to the scientific validity of such a process. I do know that Jacob was aware of certain genetic probabilities. For instance, he knew enough to keep the feebler of the animals from reproducing, and if they did, he put them in Laban’s flocks. (These guys were both stinkers when it came to wheeling and dealing!)

In a matter of six years, by using this technique, Jacob became exceedingly prosperous. That’s when the grumbling starts. Laban’s sons aren’t stupid. They see what’s happening. Their bottom line is being greatly affected! Jacob is getting richer by the moment and they are getting poorer!

Laban’s countenance changes for the worse and Jacob notices it, and one can almost sense the danger that he is in as the Laban clan begins to brood about their losses. It’s just like it says in Jas 4:1-3, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?  2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.  3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

In the midst of this turmoil and uncertainty, God speaks to Jacob. “Return to the land of your fathers and your kindred, and I will be with you.” There we go again, another simple one word command from God, “Return.” Along with the command God throws in his assurance, “I will be with you.” This is the equivalent of “fear not.” So often, we read of God calling His people to an act of obedience and inevitably, He whispers these words of comfort, “Fear not, for I will be with you.”

God knows of our great enemy “doubt.” Doubt almost always comes along with fear, and where there is doubt, faith is lacking. So God assures us, “Fear not.”

We ought to be encouraging each other with these words often! Isa 35:3,4 says, “ Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees.  4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear!“

Is God calling you to exercise a measure of faith in His Word today? Make sure you are hearing from God, by checking with His Word and then act!  Fear not beloved! God is with you!

# 280 Be Honest and Be Cheerfully Generous

The Book of Genesis

Day 280

Ge 30:25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, "Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my country.  26 "Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service which I have done for you."  27 And Laban said to him, "Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake."  28 Then he said, "Name me your wages, and I will give it."  29 So Jacob said to him, "You know how I have served you and how your livestock has been with me.  30 "For what you had before I came was little, and it has increased to a great amount; the LORD has blessed you since my coming. And now, when shall I also provide for my own house?"  31 So he said, "What shall I give you?" And Jacob said, "You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep your flocks:  32 "Let me pass through all your flock today, removing from there all the speckled and spotted sheep, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and these shall be my wages.  33 "So my righteousness will answer for me in time to come, when the subject of my wages comes before you: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the lambs, will be considered stolen, if it is with me."  34 And Laban said, "Oh, that it were according to your word!"  35 So he removed that day the male goats that were speckled and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had some white in it, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and gave them into the hand of his sons.  36 Then he put three days' journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.

Jacob has completed his 14 years of service to Laban, (the price he agreed to pay for Rachel) and he wants to go back home. But Laban pleads with him to stay a little longer because he has experienced great financial gain, as the Lord apparently has blessed Jacob’s work under Laban. He makes a generous offer to Jacob,,,,”name your wages.”

Jacob, who obviously was very gifted in animal husbandry, had turned Laban’s meager flocks into a great money making enterprise. So now in order to eventually return home with enough provision to start a new life for his large family, Jacob makes the unusual request of taking only the speckled and spotted sheep, only the brown lambs, and only the speckled and spotted goats. In short Jacob would take the less than perfect livestock, and leave all the good ones for Laban. Even those perfect ones that would come out of his imperfect flock would be given back to Laban.

Why would Jacob want to raise imperfectly colored livestock? Well, he was returning to Canaan and the markets for livestock amongst the Canaanites didn’t care about speckled, spotted, or pure.

Laban can’t contain his excitement over such a deal. You can almost picture him, rubbing his greedy hands together as he brazenly removes all the imperfect ones and gives them to his sons, basically leaving Jacob with nothing.  Then he removes them from Jacob by a full three days journey lest the imperfect pollute the perfect left in Jacob’s hands.

What a louse! How in the world is Jacob suppose to breed spotted livestock out of the unspotted? Stay tuned as we shall see God provide for Jacob even in these conditions that seem impossible in which to thrive.

In the meantime, beware of the Laban in all of us for God’s Word says: Jer 22:13 "Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness And his chambers by injustice, Who uses his neighbor's service without wages And gives him nothing for his work,

And in Jas 5:1-6 we read, “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!  2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.  4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

If you are an employer. pay a fair wage for your laborers and for services rendered! (And even if you are not an employer, that includes tipping where it is customary.)  I think all of our wage paying and gratuities would sweeten up bit if we realized the truth of these passages. God watches what we do with our money more carefully than we do, and we all know that He loves a cheerful giver!

# 279 No Room For Reproach

The Book of Genesis

Day 279

Ge 30:23 And she conceived and bore a son, and said, "God has taken away my reproach."  24 So she called his name Joseph, and said, "The LORD shall add to me another son."

Finally! Rachel bears a son, and she thanks God for taking away her reproach. The word reproach means “shame, disgrace.” Rachel was the target of much scorn, contempt, and taunting from the fertile Leah because of her barrenness. Now, with a son given to her by God, this stigma would be removed.

You know, we need to fight this tendency to point the finger at the barren woman as if to say something must be wrong with her because God has not opened her womb. We also need to fight the scorn and contempt often aimed at those on the other end of the spectrum….those with large families! We often point the finger at them as if to say that something is wrong with parents who willingly bring that many children into the world.

Do you see where the reproach comes from in these matters? It comes from men, not from God. It wasn’t God who was reproaching Rachel for her lack of children, and God certainly doesn’t reproach the Leah’s of this world for the sake of their large families. How could He? If He reproaches them for their fertility or lack thereof, He reproaches Himself, because He is the one who has the power to open or close the womb.

If there is any reproach from God in the matter of child bearing, it would be when we decide to take matters into our own hands. When we decide who will live and who will die. De 32:39 says,  'Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.”

There is no room for finger pointing and reproach against our fellow men when the truth of that statement hits home. There is only room for humble acknowledgment. “Yes God, have Your way with me. For there is no other God, but You.

# 278 Persistent In Prayer

The Book of Genesis

Day 278

Ge 30:17 And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son.  18 Leah said, "God has given me my wages, because I have given my maid to my husband." So she called his name Issachar.  19 Then Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son.  20 And Leah said, "God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons." So she called his name Zebulun.  21 Afterward she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah.  22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.

The King James says God “harkened” to Leah, and in verse 22 He “harkened” to Rachel. In short He was attentive to their prayers to the point of answering them affirmatively. Why was He seemingly so quick to answer Leah’s prayers and so slow to answer Rachel’s prayers?  That’s an easy question! He is God! Father knows best, end of argument.  But there certainly is a lesson for all of us as it regards persistent prayer.

Rachel was persistent in her prayer life. She didn’t give up! Let us be persistent as well. I am going to make a suggestion here as you pray persistently. Instead of throwing your specific wishes and demands incessantly at God, back up a bit and ask Him instead for a good dose of the Holy Spirit for starters. Let me explain:

Remember the story Jesus told of the neighbor in need of some bread to put before a house guest? The neighbor initially said “No!” He eventually gave in however due to the neighbor’s persistence.  Jesus followed that story with a reminder that we, (who are imperfect fathers) still strive to give the best to our children. How much more then does our perfect heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?

What then is the best thing the Father can give us? (outside of our salvation of course) The answer is the Holy Spirit! God desires to give us His very best! That may or may not include the gift of children or any of the other thousands of things we ask for and yearn for.

But as we ponder this promised Gift of the Holy Spirit as a starting point, and consider the attributes he brings with Him such as teacher, comforter, intercessor, advocate,  etc,  we can say, “Yes God! Send us more of Thy Spirit! For with the Helper by my side and in me, I can cope! With Him I can receive a level of understanding, and with Him I know I am praying aright and within the will of God!

Ro 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Holy Spirit. Help me in my prayer life today, for in my flesh I pray weakly and often amiss.   Amen

# 277 At What Cost!

The Book of Genesis

Day 277

Ge 30:14 Now Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."  15 But she said to her, "Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son's mandrakes also?" And Rachel said, "Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son's mandrakes."  16 When Jacob came out of the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, "You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son's mandrakes." And he lay with her that night.

 The Bible goes into incredible detail here as we continue to read of the struggles involved in birthing the twelve tribes of Israel (Jacob). These twelve tribes (the Old Testament church,) have their beginnings rooted in jealousy, pride, enmity…..you name it.

Here, we read of Reuben bringing mandrakes to his mother Leah. The root of this plant was believed to have powers to aid in conception. It shouldn’t surprise us then, that Rachael, the desperate barren woman, would exchange a night with her husband for the mandrakes, just so she might increase her chances of conceiving. 

Well, we’ve come a long way from mandrakes, haven’t we? The modern day barren woman no longer has to rely on folklore medicine to aid in her conception. Fertility clinics are popping up everywhere.

Through science, we have learned much about reproduction, however, with that knowledge has come the temptation to go beyond guidelines found in the Word of God.  Human life is created in laboratory dishes under unnatural conditions. Fertility drugs are used to bring about multiple conceptions which are then implanted in wombs. Multiple lives are brought forth, with the weaker ones being selectively aborted, or placed in a freezer to be implanted later if necessary. 

Here’s the thing, no one knows exactly how many embryos are out there, in liquid nitrogen. The low end estimate is hundreds of thousands in the United States alone. (Some say as many as a million!) According to the Centers For Genetics and Society, 1.7 million of these frozen embryos have already been discarded.

Discarded is actually a mild term for what can happen to embryonic remains. In an  article dated April 21, 2014, the Canadian Publication B.C. Catholic published a story reporting that biomedical waste from health facilities in the Canadian province of British Columbia, (waste that included the remains of miscarried children and aborted fetuses)  was being shipped to a power plant in the state of Oregon for incineration. Think about that the next time you turn on a light switch, and maybe the light will go off in our heads and we’ll finally start to get what we are doing to unborn children! Maybe, we’ll start to see the monsters we have become.

The miracles of modern science often bring with them a myriad of moral dilemmas. Be prepared for them! Lutherans For Life and other Christian Right To Life organizations have some great materials to help you sort these things out in accordance with the Word of God! Know what God has to say about the origins of life. Then pray for the strength and courage to resist any action on your part that is contrary to His will. Quite frankly tossing thousands of aborted embryo’s into a furnace for the sake of fertility and a good reading light doesn’t seem like God’s style.

Finally, remember, even as we stray from God’s Word and commit these sins, there is no sin that we commit that Jesus hasn’t paid for. He offers forgiveness to all as we receive Him as our Lord and Savior. 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

# 276 Baby Wars!

The Book of Genesis

Day 276

Ge 30:4 Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her.  5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.  6 Then Rachel said, "God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son." Therefore she called his name Dan.  7 And Rachel's maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son.  8 Then Rachel said, "With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed." So she called his name Naphtali.  9 When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as wife.  10 And Leah's maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son.  11 Then Leah said, "A troop comes!" So she called his name Gad.  12 And Leah's maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son.  13 Then Leah said, "I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed." So she called his name Asher.

This sibling rivalry for the heart of Jacob is getting ridiculous! Leah’s attitude of superiority over Rachel because of her fertility and Rachel’s air of superiority over Leah because Jacob clearly loved her more continues to fuel the feud.

Just listen to the names of the children who are born out of this turmoil: Rachel’s first surrogate child born to Bilhah is named Dan. Dan means “justice.” Rachel took this birth as a sign that  God had intervened for her and “justly” granted her a child from Bilhah.

Then Bilhah conceives again, and this son is named Naphtali or “wrestling.” Why? Because Rachel is proclaiming, “I have wrestled with my sister and won!” Suddenly this business of childbearing has turned into a contest and it looks like the last one who bears is the winner!

So Leah decides to play at the surrogate game too. She gives her maid, Zilpah to Jacob, and she bears a son whose name is Gad, or “troop.” The inference being, “Hey Rachel, you may have two boys, but I have a troop!” 

In case you’re keeping track, the score is now Leah 5 and Rachel 2.

Then Zilpah bears another child, and Leah named him “Asher,” or “Happy,” because  now all daughters will call her blessed. She will be better than Rachel in the eyes of others.

Ladies! STOP! Stop using children as pawns in your own little battles! (Hmmm, that sounds like good advice no matter what the situation might be!)  

Maybe Leah and all of us for that matter need to look again at Ps 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

The fruit of the womb is HIS reward, not our reward! Do you see the difference? How different we might  treat and look at children if we viewed them as God’s way of rewarding Himself! Instead of becoming “our property,” they remain His!

This property thing is what was happening here in Jacob’s family. Leah and Rachel are counting their children as property. And don’t think the boys didn’t catch on! I mean look what happened later on to their younger brother Joseph! He was tossed into a pit and sold into slavery like a ………piece of property!

Human beings are not property! When will we ever get that straight?

# 275 More On the Barren Woman

The Book of Genesis

Day 275

Ge 30:1 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die!"  2 And Jacob's anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?"  3 So she said, "Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her."  4 Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her.  5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.

Last time we talked about some of the emotions of the barren woman. Perhaps just acknowledging her struggles will help us all in dealing with her situation.  Envy, irrationality, a sense of despair and all that accompany such emotions, will often crop up in the life of a barren woman.

Here, out of desperation, Rachel gives Jacob her maid Bilhah, hoping to become a mother through the practice of surrogate parenting. Remember Sarah? She did the same thing with Hagar out of her wellspring of desperation. 

Today, the barren woman often attempts to attain motherhood through other means. Surrogate parenting, fertility drugs, and adoption are some of the options available to the barren woman today. The problem with these alternatives is they are often misguided and in many cases sinful.

I don’t want to sound overly harsh, but surrogate parenting , for lack of a better term, is clinical adultery, It’s a moral minefield to say the least!  It’s not in accordance with the will of God for producing a family. Speaking of marriage in Mal 2:15, we read, “ But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.”

Fertility drugs often end up with multiple conceptions, many of which end up being aborted for the sake of bringing one or two of the more desirable embryos to term. Invitro fertilization often succeeds at bringing life into the world, but at what price?  

Adoption is clearly the best option, but even then, that inner craving of the barren woman is not fully satisfied.   

So what is the barren woman to do? I don’t want to sound overly simplistic, but she is to trust God. God has a reason for her plight at the present time. He is not mad at you. He is not punishing you! He has a reason, that we cannot see at this time. He loves you! Never forget that! He loves you and for whatever reason, He has chosen to close your womb. Keep trusting Him. In trusting, He is glorified. Seek to understand the reality of the depth of your emotions in this matter and ask Him to help you cope in a way that will bring glory to Him!

# 274 The Barren Woman

The Book of Genesis

Day 274

Ge 30:1 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die!"  2 And Jacob's anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?"

I want to talk about the “barren woman” today, and let me preface it by saying, I have not walked in your shoes, so I really can’t say “I know how you feel.” My  prayer in sharing this devotion is that it will help others understand the depth of your own feelings.

The barren woman. She is an emotional stick of dynamite! Who can understand a barren woman? Perhaps only another barren woman. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to understand. It’s just that it is very difficult unless you have been in her shoes.

The barren woman is often slowly eaten alive by envy. She sees the Leah’s around her who appear to be nothing but baby factories and thoughts of jealousy, bitterness, and sometimes even hatred and rage consume her.

Sometimes she will go out of her way to avoid contact with the Leah’s in her life because they remind her of the deep pain she is experiencing. Women’s Bible studies become unbearable due to the interaction of young mothers whose conversations inevitably lead to talk of their babies, and with every new mention, more salt is poured onto their wound. 

Sometimes, the barren woman is not easy to be around. She can make life rather miserable for those close to her. She doesn’t set out to be that way, but her longing for a child is so strong that many times she lashes out at those near her with irrational outbursts such as the one we read about here today where Rachel demands of Jacob, “Give me children or else I die!”

Jacob of course was powerless to bring children into the world. He was only a pro-creative instrument in the hands of God! He knew that God had the final say in this matter, and in anger he reminded Rachel of that fact.

I’m sure many of the barren reading this today can attest to similar outbursts and emotions. Rachel captures the heart of the barren woman when she says, “or else I die.” That is not a flippant remark, only a summary of the depth of the very real emotions she is experiencing.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us ponder this scripture today to help us minister, to help us understand, to help us love on the Rachels in our midst.