Today’s devotion comes from Genesis Chapter 29 which covers Jacob arriving at the land of his relatives, meeting his future wives Rachel and Leah, and the deception and hard bargain of Laban. Here is a link to it – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+29&version=NASB
I will quote the following verses from this chapter.
“15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” 16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 And Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful of form and face. 18 Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than to give her to another man; stay with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may go in to her.” 22 Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her. 24 Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. 25 So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?” 26 But Laban said, “It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years.” 28 Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 29 Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid. 30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years.
31 Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 Leah conceived and bore a son and named him Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.” 33 Then she conceived again and bore a son and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon. 34 She conceived again and bore a son and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore he was named Levi. 35 And she conceived again and bore a son and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.” Genesis 29:15-35.
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If we don’t remember the context and the content of this Scripture, we may be inclined to be unduly dismayed and disturbed. We may think: “How unfair of Laban to require 7 years of labor from Jacob, and even more, deceive Jacob and drive an even harder bargain of another 7 years of labor!!”
We may forget the context of the Genesis Chapter 27 in which Jacob deceived his father Isaac and stole the blessing away from his brother Esau. “Turn around is fair play”?
We may forget the content of this Scripture which shows the grace given to Jacob to endure the years of labor and the deception and hard bargain.
We may forget the grace shown to Jacob in verse 20. “So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.”
We may forget the grace shown to Jacob in verses 27 and 28 that although Jacob had to serve another 7 years, Jacob received Rachel after only the first week of that 7 years.
We may forget the grace shown to Jacob in verses 31 to 35 that Leah bore four sons for Jacob from whom one-third of the tribes of Israel would descend and be named.
In our own lives, we may forget the context of the hardships that we experienced. We may think we are totally innocent. But, we are not totally innocent.
“10 as it is written,
“There is none righteous, not even one;
11 There is none who understands,
There is none who seeks for God;
12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless;
There is none who does good,
There is not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave,
With their tongues they keep deceiving,”
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”;
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood,
16 Destruction and misery are in their paths,
17 And the path of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:10-18.
In our own lives, we may also forget the content of all that we experienced. God gives us grace to endure hardships even when we are responsible for the hardships that we experience.
“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9.
“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10.
In briefest summary, putting these two points together, it helps us to be understanding and patient and even thankful when we realize: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 