Genesis 29 & 30: Will God Remember You?
Verse of the Day: (30:22) And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.
1. Rachel (29:1-35)
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. (29:20)
When we are deeply in love, time flies very fast! This was what happened to Jacob and Rachel as he served for 7 years for Laban, his future father-in-law, so that he could marry his beautiful Rachel, and 7 years to him seemed like a few days! However, Jacob waited for 14 years instead of 7 years before he married Rachel, as Laban deceived him, and brought Leah, his elder daughter, to him during his wedding night. This was a painful reminder to Jacob that he too once deceived Isaac, his father, when he pretended to be Esau, his elder brother, so as to get his father’s rich blessings from God. God is not mocked, for indeed we shall reap what we sow. Let us be righteous and honest in all our dealings so that God shall bless and keep us in His perfect peace and will. (Galatians 6:7)
2. Remember (30:1-24)
And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: (30:23)
In the days of Jacob and Rachel or the Old Testament era, the community despised the wives who were barren as they believed that God had shamed them. Though Jacob deeply loved Rachel, yet she had no child, while Jacob’s first wife, Leah (Rachel’s elder sister) had 6 sons – Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah (the Lord Jesus was from Judah), Issachar and Zebulun. However, God remembered Rachel and heard her prayers, and subsequently gave her 2 sons – Joseph and Benjamin. Indeed, God remembers His people, and answers our prayers, and shall provide for all our needs when we trust and obey Him!
3. Righteousness (30:25-43)
So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me. (30:33)
Jacob declared his righteousness before Laban as both agreed that Laban would reward Jacob with all the speckled and spotted flocks for his labour with him, before Jacob and his family members would return to his own country. God remembered and blessed Jacob, as when Jacob put the stronger flocks to drink before the peeled rods, they miraculously conceived the stronger speckled and spotted off-springs. Jacob then left Laban with his family members and the great number of stronger speckled and spotted flocks. Indeed, we may be imperfect, but God remembers and blesses us, when we trust and obey Him.
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please remember and bless me as I keep trusting and obeying You.
