Such a Mess
I love the smile on this one's face when he messed up a trick on his wakeboard!
I've been working my way through the mess Laban created by tricking Jacob into marrying his oldest daughter when Jacob was in love with the younger daughter, Rachel. Laban ended up allowing Jacob to marry both sisters. Such a mess! This father was thinking about no one except himself and having these girls married off.
Beyond the lifetime of strife that occurred between these sisters was the devastation and jealousy, resulting in some life threatening plotting between the eleven sons of these two women against the youngest son, Joseph. The schemes of these brothers landed Joseph in a "pit" of despair.
Recalling the story, it was the love of the earthly father for Joseph and possibly this young man's arrogant telling of his dreams from his heavenly Father that were a perfect breeding ground for jealousy and hatred towards Joseph. Whew! Jealousy is a breeding ground for bad actions.
There is a part of this story that has challenged me. I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone zone in on it through. It's the role of the oldest brother, Reuben, who attempted to come up with a way to save his youngest brother from being murdered.
"'Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.' But when Reuben heard it, he rescued them out of their hands, saying, 'Let us not take his life.' And Reuben said to them, 'Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him'-that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father." Genesis 37:20-22
Life can be such a mess and so hurtful, but God is totally aware and the best one at turning evil plans for harm into awesome results.
Years ago my husband was employed by a private school in which the Head of School was contemplating bringing in a national spokes person for the LGBT movement. My husband stood alone during an administrative meeting and produced some of the speeches this person had given and posed the question: "Is this really who we want our school identifying with?" The Head of School listened and the man was not contracted to come.
I can think of other times we and our children have made choices to stand alone, not go with the crowd. We are never alone though are we?
Let's ask God to search our hearts as to where He may be calling us to stand alone with Him?
