Daily Devotions – A Bad Start

Daily Devotions – A Bad Start

 

Photo by Khoa Nguyen on Unsplash

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

 

Genesis 29:15-23  (NIV)
15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.” 16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. 21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.” 22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. 23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her.

 

Jacob’s name means “heal grabber” or more symbolically, “deceiver.” He lived up to this name throughout his life, but he met his match in his uncle, Laban. Laban tricked Jacob on his wedding night and gave him a wife that he was not expecting. It is from this trickery and deceptive family tree that the people of God come. Jacob’s sons will become the tribes of Israel. The good news is that God does not abandon deceivers like you and me. When we demand our way, develop plots and make plans to gain the advantage and get ahead, God is still at work. A bad start will never stop God from working out His plan for salvation and new life. Have you had a bad start to your day? Your week? Month? Maybe the bad start was a long-time ago. God is faithful and God is with you.