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Genesis 30:25-31:55<\/strong><\/span> Today\u2019s Genesis chapter 30 readings bring us the account of several of Jacob\u2019s sons and a daughter being born to Leah, Bilhah, Zilpah, and Rachel.\u00a0 We also read about Jacob gaining wealth and wanting to leave his father-in-law Laban\u2019s house to go back home in Genesis chapter 30. In verse 37 we read: \u201cNow Jacob took fresh shoots from poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled off strips of the bark to make white streaks on them.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>It seems in this verse and the ones that follow that Jacob is getting a bit superstitious \u2013 and not really asking God for help.\u00a0 Later Jacob does admit that God did do the work of increasing his wealth, and that he didn\u2019t do it on his own with his superstitions, as we see in Chapter 31 verse 9 when Jacob is speaking to his wives Rachel & Leah: \u201cIn this way, God has made me wealthy at your father\u2019s expense.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I think it\u2019s great to see that Jacob starts to realize more and more that God is in control.\u00a0 I wonder for us, today, do we sometimes act like Jacob with the sticks \u2013 and rely on superstition or our own power, when we should be relying solely on God?\u00a0 Are there maybe areas in our work life or personal life where we think we are running the show?\u00a0 Are we really?\u00a0 Or is God?\u00a0 Will we let our superstitions go, and embrace the reality that God is in control?\u00a0 \u00a0And \u2013 who better is there to be in control, really?\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Actually \u2013 I\u2019ll share with you a quote someone shared with me once when I was really trying to micromanage a situation \u2013 and was worrying and fretting way too much about the situation.\u00a0 The quote is simply this: \u201cLet go and Let God.\u201d Let us let go of what we are hanging on so tightly to if it is not of God \u2013 and let us instead let God run the show.\u00a0 Are there areas in your life where you need to \u201cLet go and let God\u201d?\u00a0 Below is a painting by Spanish painter Jusepe de Ribera from the year 1632 of \u201cJacob and Laban\u2019s Flock\u201d:<\/span><\/p>\n Today\u2019s Genesis chapter 31 readings take us through Laban\u2019s pursuit of Jacob and his family and Laban & Jacob\u2019s treaty.\u00a0 In this chapter we read about Rachel taking Laban\u2019s \u201chousehold gods\u201d, which were worthless idols \u2013 and yet both Laban and Rachel were very attached to idols, which was common in pagan religions of that time.\u00a0 Idols were often family heirlooms that were passed down from generation to generation and could sometimes signify that someone would receive their family\u2019s estate if they received the idols.\u00a0 People believed idols could bring blessings \u2013 and Laban obviously wanted them back.\u00a0 Though, I think he wanted more than just his idols back \u2013 I think he also wanted control over Jacob and his family back.\u00a0 In verses 33 & 34 we read: \u201cFinally, Laban went into Rachel\u2019s tent. Rachel had taken the household gods and had stuffed them into her camel saddle, and now she was sitting on them. So although Laban searched all the tents, he couldn\u2019t find them.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Rachel was cunning like her husband Jacob!\u00a0 Below is a fresco painting from 1729 by the Venetian artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo titled \u201cRachel Hiding the Idols\u201d:<\/span> Verse 42 stood out to me in today\u2019s readings as Jacob spoke to Laban: \u201cIn fact, except for the grace of God\u2013the God of my grandfather Abraham, the awe-inspiring God of my father, Isaac\u2013you would have sent me off without a penny to my name.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0I like seeing that Jacob is realizing that the grace of God has blessed him!\u00a0 I wonder if sometimes in our lives the grace of God is blessing us, and we don\u2019t realize it?\u00a0 Do you ever have those moments when you look back on a day, or a week, or even a year and realize that God\u2019s grace was so there \u2013 and yet\u2026 you didn\u2019t realize it at the time?\u00a0 Will you try to live more like Jacob in this verse \u2013 and recognize awe-inspiring God\u2019s grace more and more frequently in your life?\u00a0 And can you give praise to God for this ever-present ever-dependable gift of grace that is available to you?<\/span> Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in Genesis chapter 30 titled \u201cThe Battle of the Brides\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and commentary on chapter 31 titled \u201cJacob gets Laban\u2019s Goat\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong>\u00a0 Today\u2019s readings in Genesis reminded me of the Switchfoot song \u201cRestless:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
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