Today’s Reading:
Gen. 29:14-30 (Ps. 37:34)
"Wait on the Lord, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it." (Ps. 37:34 NKJV)
Jacob's joyful prospect of marriage to his lovely cousin, Rachel became an occasion for Laban's shrewdness and Jacob's discipline. Jacob and his mother had deceived his father and brother to steal his blessing. Now his mother's brother, Laban deceived and disappointed him. Paying him back in his own coin. He received a dose of his own duplicity through twenty years of labour, affliction, frustration, deception and disappointment in Laban's service (31:38).
In God's justice, people harvest what they sew (Gal. 6:7). Laban's deception could have been designed to make Jacob to be aware of his own craftiness. God sometimes make certain things happen in our lives to serve as lessons and discipline. But Jacob was tenacious, and God also use this to blessed him with a large family and many possessions (30:26-43) during the period of his service under Laban.
Again, when we take a look into our human expectation, disappointment is not funny at all. It is frustrating and this saturate our world. Jacob agreed with Laban to labour for seven years in order to marry Rachel whom he loved. But the morning after the wedding night, he got a rude shock of his life to discover that it was Leah, Rachel’s senior sister whom he did not love that was given to him.
Not focusing only on Jacob's disappointment, but also let us imagine how Leah too would feel. Since that day certainly, her hope and dreams too would die, having been forced on a man who did not love or desire her in marriage.
Psalm 37:4 says that "the Lord will give you the desire of your heart." That is, when we live according to the covenant of God, He will bring joy into our lives. This does not mean that a believer cannot be upset because his righteous deed is not being noticed or that he is being treated unjustly. But wisdom is saying that at the right time he will be vindicated.
Our present situation may contradict the word and teaching of Christ, but if we patiently wait for the Lord to act, He will do so (37:34). And so, it is the meek that would inherit the land.
In the end, it was Leah whom Jacob honoured and buried in the family grave plot with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah (Gen. 49:31). And through the lineage of Leah, who thought she was unloved, that God blessed the world with our Saviour. Jesus Christ brings justice, love especially, to the unloved, restores hope, and gives us an inheritance beyond our wildest imagination and dreams. He is the only friend whom many do not love, he will never disappoint.
Olufunmilayo Titilola Adekusibe
Prayer:
Father, waiting patiently with you for good things can be dull and burdensome, but it is worthwhile. Forgive me where I had compared myself with others, complained about what I do not have, or taken laws into my hands. Reveal Yourself to me in a new way, teach me and empower me to wait patiently for your good time, in Jesus name.
Father terminate every satanic diversion, satanic exchange and satanic transfer of my virtues, in Jesus name.
Any power or evil covenant of my father's/mother's house, that wants to rubbish my life and destiny, die in Jesus name.
Every satanic programme designed to cover the glory of God in my life, scatter, in Jesus name.
Every arrow of error and mistakes fired into my body, come out of me and die, in Jesus name.
Father, uproot everything you have not planted in your church, revive your Pentecostal power and fire and reposition your church to suit your purpose, in Jesus name.
Father, thank you for sustaining the nation with your mighty presence. Bulldoze and destroy strongholds of wickedness and revive your work. Let there be love, peace, harmony of purpose and progress in Jesus name. Amen.
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