Sat.’s Devo - Jacob’s Trials

Read: Genesis 28:1-29:35; Matthew 9:18-38; Psalm 11:1-7; Proverbs 3:11-12 Isaac called in Jacob and blessed him again and sent him to Pandan Aram to take a wife from his family Laban. Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away and didn’t like his wives so Esau took a wife from the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham’s other son. Her name was Mahalath which means “making sick.” I wonder how that turned out? *** Jacob traveled and stopped for the night. He laid his head upon a stone and had a dream. He saw a ladder that reached to heaven. Angels were ascending and descending on it. The Lord stood above the ladder and told him that He was giving him the land he was lying in and his descendants would be like the dust of the earth. They would spread in all directions. Through them all the earth would be blessed. *** When Jacob woke up he took the stone that he had used as a pillow and poured oil on it. He named the place Bethel saying it must be the house of God and the gate to heaven. He vowed to God that if he would provide for him, he would return and God would be his God. This stone will be God’s house and of everything God gives to him he will give a tenth. *** Jacob came to the land of the East and stopped at a well. Shepherds were gathering to lift the stone and water their sheep. They waited till they all got there and the shepherds could lift the stone. Jacob asked if anyone knew his uncle Laban and they told him that Laban was doing well and his daughter was just arriving. Jacob lifted the stone by himself and watered all of Rachael’s sheep. He then kissed her and told her who he was. She ran home and told her father and Laban ran to meed him. He brought Jacob home to meet his family. *** Jacob worked for Laban for a month and Laban called him in and asked him what he wanted for wages. Jacob said he wanted Rachel for his wife. Laban said if he worked for him for 7 years, he could have her. He did but when the marriage feast ended in their consummation, Leah was given to him. It was dark and Jacob didn’t know until the morning light that he had been given Leah instead of Rachel. He was very upset, but Laban explained that in their culture, they couldn’t give the youngest daughter before the oldest. If he would continue his wedding week, he would be given Rachel. He would have to work another 7 years without pay. He agreed. Leah was very fertile and quickly bore four sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. With each son she had hoped to gain her husband’s affection but with the last son, she praised the Lord. Then she stopped bearing. *** In Matthew, Jesus got called to come to the home of a 12 year old girl who was dying. On the way he was stopped by a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. Jesus healed the woman and woke the girl up from death. *** Then he heals two blind men and a mute man who was also demon-possessed. The Pharisees said Jesus had a demon. *** Jacob had stolen the birthright and the blessing and now he had to reap his actions from someone who was more trickier than him, Laban. God has a way of smoothing out all our rough spots and making us usable for his purposes. Jacob was still the one God was going to use which should be encouraging to us. God sees our hearts and whose hearts can be turned. Jacob’s heart could be and was turned toward him. *** Lord, may we learn from our trials to draw near to You and let You guide our lives and choose our path.