A Just and Merciful God. Part [12] 03/26/2025 (Morning thought)

Genesis 30:31 And he said, what shall I give thee? And Jacob said, thou shalt not give me anything: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock.

Genesis 30:32 I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire. 34 And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.

Genesis 30:35 And he {Laban}removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons. 36 And he set three days' journey between himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.

Genesis 31:1 And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory. 2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before. 3 And the Lord said unto Jacob, return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

Genesis 31:4 And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, 5 And said to them I see your father's countenance that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

A Just and Merciful God. Part [11] 03/26/2025 (Evening thought)

2nd Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

2nd Kings 6:18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said unto them, this is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. But he led them to Samaria.

Again, according to a strict rendition of the letter of the law, the right thing for Elisha to say is that I am the person you are looking for. But God was in it and again, that settles it, for Just and right is He. This brings us to our case study, in which we will see Jacob apparently up to his old tricks once again. But God is in it, and from the get go, our understanding of the events which unfolded, must be guided again by that issue of Sovereignty.

In this episode, Laban realizes that it is profitable for him to have Jacob continue working for him, for he realizes that he has become a recipient of collateral blessings, granted to Jacob. But Laban seeks to beat Jacob at his own game, for the proposal made by Jacob for just wages, will now be turned on its head by Laban, who apparently had no problem with Jacob doing hard work for free.

Genesis 30: 27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favor in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake. 28 And Labam said, appoint me your wages, and I will give it. 29 And he said unto him, you know how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.

Genesis 30:30 For it was little which thou had before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the Lord hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!