Bible Study Blog for Saturday, March 12, 2011
Genesis 29-30; Matthew 9:1-17
Jacob obviously hadn’t read Andrew Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” He deceives his father, rips-off his brother – and skips town. Then God’s sense of justice – and humor – kicks in. The swindler gets swindled. God gives Jacob a dose of his own medicine.
After 7 years’ hard work to win his bride – Rachel, his Uncle Laban liquors him up – and he wakes up from his wedding night – next to… LEAH!!!! (Rachel’s older sister). Laban out-Jacob-ed Jacob. And Jacob discovered that INJUSTICE – can make you BITTER, or it can make you BETTER. Give in to anger and frustration – and injustice makes you BITTER; humble yourself, and wait for God to vindicate you – and injustice makes you BETTER.
Meanwhile in Matthew…
Man, were they TICKED! The religious leaders couldn’t believe their ears. “Jesus said WHAT?!” Your SINS are FORGIVEN?!” Who does he think he IS – GOD?!” Jesus’ answer was BRILLIANT. “Is it easer to say “Your sins are forgiven – or to tell a paraplegic person – “Get up and walk?” Then Jesus healed the guy. Interesting how there’s no “comeback” for that. It’s hard to refute someone who forgives – AND heals…
What do YOU think? See you tomorrow!
i love knowing that someone is looking out for me. Having integrity helps me get through my day.
One of my Bible professors in college described the interaction of Jacob and Laban as “Sneaky meets super-sneaky.”
As a female, I cannot resist feeling sorry for Leah in this incident. No one asks her if she wants to be Jacob’s wife, her father just orders her to marry him and she obeys, at the same time knowing that Jacob loved Rachel, not her.
Life isn’t fair, and neither is God. God is gracious and just. There’s a big difference between “fair” and “just” that the Kosmos doesn’t understand or want to understand any more than it wants truly understand grace. God soon gives grace to Leah and makes it up to her. Our feelings come into play when we try to achieve “fair,” and although God has infinitely strong feelings, He isn’t swayed away from His Word because it makes Him feel uncomfortable about an outcome.