Here, as Jacob is traveling, filled with lonliness and uncertainty, en route to Laban, sleeping on rocks, in the cold desert night, Jacob has a dream about a stairway between heaven and Earth with the angels of heaven ascending and descending upon it. What a dream! A direct link to heaven through Joseph, the way to heaven. What an image of Jesus.
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"
John 14:6 NIV
Jacob is reverent and somber when he reflects that the Lord is in this place and he did not realize it. In reverent response to that revelation, Jacob sets up a house for God and goes on to promise God a tenth upon his safe return.
Jacob travels on to meet Laban, Rebekah's brother and at Laban's home he meets Rachel (means ewe), kisses her, tells her of the relationship between them. Laban welcomes Jacob,"his own flesh and blood," and offers to pay Jacob for his work. Reading the rest of this chapter, the reader is left with no doubt that Jacob and Laban are related to Rebekah, learns about deception of Jacob on the part of Laban, learns about deception of Laban on the part of Jacob. (Consider: Rebekah means "cow" and Jacob uses cows to deceive Laban, hmmm...) Despite this deception we do see a dim reflection of Jesus' love for us in the love of Jacob for Rachel.
Think about training up a child and discipline as well. Consider Hebrews 12 1-3
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud os witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the authour and perfecter of our faith, who for the jow set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." -NIV
What is our response when we meet hardship, see God's hand at work, are treated "unfairly?"
In such situations, are we Spirit led, do we reflect the Spirit's leading or reflect something else?
Do we make vows to God out of reverence, as Joseph did, or as a method to negotiate with God in an attempt to get our way?
When God responds to our prayer, do we respond with praise and thanksgiving no matter what God's response is, or is our response a conditional response based upon our wants being fufilled?
How do you treat your "own flesh and blood?"
Pray that the Spirit allows you to see God's hand at work in your life on a moment by moment basis, for his hand is at work on a moment by moment basis.
In Christ.
David P
No comments:
Post a Comment