Losing Battle

Nov. 4

Read: Genesis 30:25-33

Losing Battle

You can never “cheat” God. There is no future in opposing the Lord OR his people. To be one of God’s people DOES NOT mean that you will never suffer disappointment or loss. (Look at Jacob and the way he was duped with Leah.) What it does mean is that in the end, God will make it right. Jacob may suffer loss and disappointment at times but in the end the Lord “restores the wasted years”. (cf. Joel 2:25) He does the same for us!

We may not like the idea of it, but the truth is that there are plenty of things that war against the Lord and his work in our lives. Our first inclination may be that we need to fight for ourselves… take our revenge… go to war with the person who is working against us. We see this played out in Jacob’s Father in-law, Laban. Jacob had been faithful in tending his flock and Laban has prospered because of it. (v.26-29) Laban understands through divination that it is actually GOD who is bringing the blessing. (v.27) This is always the case. There is an earthly veil that hides the truth that it is the Lord who is truly at the root of blessing and loss. You would think Laban would take this to heart… but he does not.

After striking a deal with Jacob where Jacob receives the spotted and marked animals as his wage - in an effort to not pay Jacob and short him wages - Laban deceptively removes these animals from the flock and tries to send them away and hide them. (v.35) You may be able to short fellow man (like Jacob), but you can never short God! In the end, the benefit to Laban is short lived. God supernaturally directs the offspring of the animals in Jacob’s favor. (v.37-43) Jacob peels sticks and places them in front of the strongest animals when they are breeding and the offspring are born speckled, marked, and ones that would be given to him as his own. These marked animals would have been seen as less desirable in Jacob’s time, but after the Lord is done with the process, they end up becoming the stronger of the breeds and more desirable.

The lesson is clear. The Lord is looking out for his people. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that he is a “rewarder of those who seek him”. People on this earth may plot and scheme against us, but God has our back. This doesn’t mean that life will always be “easy” or that we won’t suffer setbacks or disappointments. Jacob knew what it was like to spend a tired night sleeping on a rock. Jacob knew what it was like to be deceived and taken advantage of. Nevertheless, Laban’s attempts to manipulate the situation were overcome by God’s supernatural intervention. Jacob did have a part to play. He did have to pay attention to what was happening around him, noticing which livestock were strongest, and he also had to prepare the “striped” sticks. (v.37,41-43) It was God directing the new life coming from these animals, but Jacob was playing his role. God loves to involve his children in the work HE is doing.

Opposing God is a losing battle. I don’t know which side of the equation you find yourself in today? Maybe you are actually acting more like Laban? Stop. It will not end well. Repent. Your efforts to manipulate others for your own gain will be frustrated by the Lord. Maybe you feel like Jacob - having worked hard and now you’re ready to finally start to see some “fruit from your labors”. You are asking, “when do I get paid?” Be patient, God is working. Maybe you feel like the people around you are trying to stack the deck against you… take advantage of you… and rob you of your “wages”. Listen…God has your back! He will ensure that you are not cheated. Any losses are short lived for the people of God. We will all have our days with the “rock pillow”… we will all suffer deception… we will all work hard at times and receive no “wages”, but in the end - God will restore to his people anything that is lost. Jesus says to his disciples: “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Luke 18:29,20)

God uses what would at first seem less desirable - liked “black sheep” and “speckled goats” - and he turns those things into actual strengths and makes them a blessing for us. No matter what Laban tried to do to Jacob, God brought about Jacob’s growth. And do you want to know what is so wild!?! Jacob was a blessing to the very man who was trying to trick him! This is the final idea I want us to consider; God not only looks out for us, but he uses his people to bless those around them… even the those very same people surrounding us may be trying to trick us or take advantage of us! The Lord goes before us and he has our best interest at heart. He will bring multiply our “speckled goats” and “black sheep”… and bring strength and growth no matter what schemes fellow man hatches against us. So here’s to “black sheep”! Love you guys. - JDP