Genesis 29-32
Chapter 29
# Jacob, inspired to action and chivalry by a pretty girl (vs 10). Hehehe.
# I don't get it. Laban is a sneaky old cow- he was the one who suggested paying Jacob something- he could have just said no, or 'We don't do things like that around here!' or something to that effect. Maybe it's a principle of you sow what you reap...(Jacob's journey started out with deceit, and so it's a bit of a continuing theme until his encounter with God).
# "...So Jacob served 7 years to get Rachel, but they only seemed like a few days to him because of his love for her..." (vs 20). All together now: awwwwww! =) Just goes to show that when we do things because we believe in the end result and are committed to it, time flies. Actually, that seems kind of idealistic in a way compared to the reality of life (I mean...I'm sure church leaders definitely believe in what they are doing and in their cause, but it doesn't prevent them from getting burnt out. Hmmm.)
# I wonder why Jacob didn't notice that he was sleeping with the wrong girl at the time. I mean, you're kind of in close proximity...
# There's also a theme of favourite playing through this family (vs 30).
# I think this verse (31) reflects God's character. He is merciful and compassionate...He cares about our individual situations. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 30
# And here they go again, having kids through their maids.
# I don't think this playing favourites theme ever ends happily...the sisters are locked in this tussle over their husband...and Jacob gets treated like a commodity (vs 16- "I have hired you...") (dunno if he'd mind though!).
# As an aside, there's so much human drama here...where is God? He seems to be giving out kids and answering prayers- definitely in the situation- not just watching from afar.
# Jacob's spotty flock breeding scheme...do you think this is him being shrewed or unethical!? Well, I supposed Laban wasn't exactly ethical when dealing with Jacob, and it shows the cycle of deception just keeps on turning...
Chapter 31
# God doesn't just sit back when injustice occurs (vs 12)...he sees everything that goes on and watches out for us. I guess this verse demonstrates that vengance really is the Lord's...
# I don't understand why Rachel steals the household gods. Really don't. Bible doesn't explain either.
# And here's another recurring theme in Jacob's life....running away (vs 20) and deceiving people.
# Verse 42 (and again in vs 53) is interesting...Jacob calls God the "Fear of Isaac"...wonder why! Something to do with Isaac fearing God?
Chapter 32
# After God assuring Jacob that He'd be with Him etc etc, Jacob still freaks out and organises his own contingency plan of buttering up Esau with heaps of presents before he meets him. Ack! Humans are just like that I suppose...even after the most awesome revelation of God we still have this disbelieving, faithless part of us that is saying "Really!? Nah....can't be...".
# Jacob also organised his contingency then remembered to commit the situation to the Lord...let's get our order of steps right!
# Ahh, my favourite bit of this passage. Jacob wrestling with God...it's ok to wrestle with God. I don't think God minds at all. I don't think God wants us to be mindless drones. In his wrestling, Jacob was tenacious and persistent- and the reward for his tenacity and persistence was that his life and destiny were changed...he was no longer Jacob, the person with a legacy of deception and running away, but Israel, and overcommer. I pray for myself (and for whoever reads this), that we would also be blessed, and our lives changed after struggling with God...and that God would allow us, and give us opportunities to struggle with Him. (Hope that made sense!)
# Jacob, inspired to action and chivalry by a pretty girl (vs 10). Hehehe.
# I don't get it. Laban is a sneaky old cow- he was the one who suggested paying Jacob something- he could have just said no, or 'We don't do things like that around here!' or something to that effect. Maybe it's a principle of you sow what you reap...(Jacob's journey started out with deceit, and so it's a bit of a continuing theme until his encounter with God).
# "...So Jacob served 7 years to get Rachel, but they only seemed like a few days to him because of his love for her..." (vs 20). All together now: awwwwww! =) Just goes to show that when we do things because we believe in the end result and are committed to it, time flies. Actually, that seems kind of idealistic in a way compared to the reality of life (I mean...I'm sure church leaders definitely believe in what they are doing and in their cause, but it doesn't prevent them from getting burnt out. Hmmm.)
# I wonder why Jacob didn't notice that he was sleeping with the wrong girl at the time. I mean, you're kind of in close proximity...
# There's also a theme of favourite playing through this family (vs 30).
# I think this verse (31) reflects God's character. He is merciful and compassionate...He cares about our individual situations. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 30
# And here they go again, having kids through their maids.
# I don't think this playing favourites theme ever ends happily...the sisters are locked in this tussle over their husband...and Jacob gets treated like a commodity (vs 16- "I have hired you...") (dunno if he'd mind though!).
# As an aside, there's so much human drama here...where is God? He seems to be giving out kids and answering prayers- definitely in the situation- not just watching from afar.
# Jacob's spotty flock breeding scheme...do you think this is him being shrewed or unethical!? Well, I supposed Laban wasn't exactly ethical when dealing with Jacob, and it shows the cycle of deception just keeps on turning...
Chapter 31
# God doesn't just sit back when injustice occurs (vs 12)...he sees everything that goes on and watches out for us. I guess this verse demonstrates that vengance really is the Lord's...
# I don't understand why Rachel steals the household gods. Really don't. Bible doesn't explain either.
# And here's another recurring theme in Jacob's life....running away (vs 20) and deceiving people.
# Verse 42 (and again in vs 53) is interesting...Jacob calls God the "Fear of Isaac"...wonder why! Something to do with Isaac fearing God?
Chapter 32
# After God assuring Jacob that He'd be with Him etc etc, Jacob still freaks out and organises his own contingency plan of buttering up Esau with heaps of presents before he meets him. Ack! Humans are just like that I suppose...even after the most awesome revelation of God we still have this disbelieving, faithless part of us that is saying "Really!? Nah....can't be...".
# Jacob also organised his contingency then remembered to commit the situation to the Lord...let's get our order of steps right!
# Ahh, my favourite bit of this passage. Jacob wrestling with God...it's ok to wrestle with God. I don't think God minds at all. I don't think God wants us to be mindless drones. In his wrestling, Jacob was tenacious and persistent- and the reward for his tenacity and persistence was that his life and destiny were changed...he was no longer Jacob, the person with a legacy of deception and running away, but Israel, and overcommer. I pray for myself (and for whoever reads this), that we would also be blessed, and our lives changed after struggling with God...and that God would allow us, and give us opportunities to struggle with Him. (Hope that made sense!)
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