Reflections on a Bible Study
You never get the whole picture or the whole message from a "one-sitting" Bible study. It's a given, because I have gotten additional meaning so many times, on further reflection. That's what this page is all about ... further reflection.
Our Wednesday evening study is a trip through the book of Genesis, looking at God's relationship with his chosen people, their actions and reactions.
Last Wednesday starting in Genesis - Ch 30 - Ch 31 , we saw Jacob about to end his relationship with Laban, after nearly 20 years of shepherding Laban's flocks as an indentured servant. Jacob had worked 7 years for the privilege of taking Rachel as his wife, only to be duped on the wedding night when Laban substituted Leah, the elder sister, into Jacob's wedding bed.
Jacob fulfilled the honeymoon requirement of one week with Leah, then immediately married Rachel and relegated Leah to the status of second wife. Jacob then worked another 7 years for Laban, during which time there was an intense rivalry and jealousy between Rachel and Leah. Leah was the first to have children, which was a bitter thing for Rachel to swallow. Giving your husband sons was a great feat in this culture, and Leah bore Jacob four sons, while Rachel bore no children. Rachel's competitive drive and desperation drove her to give her handmaiden to sleep with Jacob so Rachel could have children through a surrogate mother. This maidservant bore two sons to Jacob, much to Rachel's satisfaction. She said, "God has vindicated me!"
Leah then decided to use the same tactic in this race to bear the most sons. She presented her handmaiden to Jacob and demanded children by this additional surrogate mother. This maidservant bore Jacob two sons, which put Leah ahead in the race to mother the most children. Then the sisters bargained over who would sleep with Jacob next and Leah won. She bore two more sons and a daughter. Then Jacob took his livestock, his possessions and his large family and left Laban secretly.
What's the Point?
Laban cheated Jacob. Jacob married two sisters, who were intensely jealous rivals. Their rivalry was so intense they bargained over sleeping privileges with their husband. Jacob cheated Laban and skipped the country. What a dysfunctional family! Yet God used these imperfect people to carry out his will and plan to build a nation and to establish a blood line for the Savior who would come to earth much later.
Did you ever notice how often God uses flawed and less than perfect people to do his will? Throughout the history of God's relationship with man, the man has delayed, resisted, and tried to avoid God's calling. But God always prevailed, and made heroes out of imperfect people. Look at Moses, David, Gideon and Sampson. None of them was anything special when God called them to do a task.
Conclusion:
When God appoints you to a task, when someone asks you to take on a job or responsibility in service to God, forget about listing the reasons why you can't do it. No matter how weak and imperfect you may be, that's not a valid excuse. In fact, the more imperfect you are, the better candidate you appear to God, because he is looking for someone who is so unlikely, that everyone will immediately recognize it is God working through you, and not you who have done anything.
That's something to reflect upon, isn't it?
RGC
4/9/06
