That's Messed Up!

A New Start – Day 9

A few days ago, I wrote about Isaac and the fact that his name means laughter.  He must have had a sense of humor because his twin sons’ names can be translated “Red” and “Trickster.”  It is that trickster, Jacob, whom I noticed in my reading today.  In yesterday’s reading, Jacob tricked his brother out of his rights as the firstborn.  Today, with his mother’s help, he tricked his aged and blind father into giving him the blessings as the firstborn. 

In Genesis 29, today’s final chapter, the tables get turned on him.  He has worked for his uncle for seven years for the right to marry his cousin Rachel.  It is dark when his bride is brought to his tent and he does not realize until morning that it is Rachel’s sister Leah.  He is later given Rachel as a second wife, but has to work another seven years for her.

Suffice it to say that the situation in today’s reading is messed up!  We have this guy who deceives his brother and father and who ends up with two wives (and later, two concubines).  Finally, we have this uncle who sends in the wrong sister on the wedding night.  There’s a whole lot wrong with this situation.  Still, in the long run, despite how horribly messed up it is, God uses it.

Are you in a messed up situation?  Does it seem like no good can come of it? 

Jacob did not see until many years later some of the good from his situation.  Even then, he never saw the ultimate good that came out of it.  Jacob was later named Israel.  It was from Israel, even from the unloved substitute wife, Leah, that the Messiah came from.  Out of the midst of deception and questionable morality came He who saved the world.

God can use your situation as well.  No matter how messed up your life may be, He can make good come of it.  In fact He can make more good things than you can imagine come from it, though you may not see the results this side of heaven.  If your situation is messed up, ask God to give you a glimpse of the good that will result from it.  Watch for His answer.  You may be surprised!  Know that He will ultimately use your situation to bless.