MESSY
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Now Laban had two daughters. The older daughter was named Leah, and the younger one was Rachel. There was no sparkle in Leah’s eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face. Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, “I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.” “Agreed!” Laban replied. “I’d rather give her to you than to anyone else. Stay and work with me.” So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days.
Genesis 29:16-20 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
God can work through messy lives! Let me set up this story. Jacob is running from his brother, Esau, because he cheated his brother out of the inheritance and blessing. He had deceived his elderly blind father into giving him the blessing that was supposed to go to Esau. He travels to the homeland of his mother and meets a beautiful girl who is his cousin. Jacob offers to work seven years for her father, Laban, to marry her. Laban agrees and Jacob works for seven years to marry Rachel. This is where the story gets really messy. On the wedding night Laban tricks Jacob and sends Leah, the older daughter who is just average, to Jacob’s bed. The one who had deceived his father and cheated his brother gets deceived himself. He doesn’t even know it is Leah—which brings up the question of why. Perhaps there was too much partying going on at the marriage celebration and Jacob was under the influence. The next morning Jacob realizes he has been deceived. He has it out with Laban. Laban then agrees to give Jacob Rachel as a second wife if he will promise to work another seven years. So, after the week of marriage celebration Rachel will become Jacob’s wife as well. He works another seven years to keep his promise to Laban. Jacob has the first sister wives. Then comes another problem. The sisters are jealous of each other. Leah is jealous because Jacob loves Rachel more. God then feels for Leah and gives her four sons for Jacob. Rachel is then jealous because she can’t get pregnant, and her sister has four sons.
This is one messy family. In the natural it would seem God would find another family to bring the Messiah into the world and fulfill His promises of a great nation. But God chooses the family of Jacob to be the seed of the nation of Israel and bring forth the Messiah. The good news of the story—God can work through messy people. Our past may be messy. Our present may be messy. But God can redeem our mess and use it for His glory.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit please show me how You want to use my life. Help me to yield to Your control and plan. Forgive me for trying to do things my own way.
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