Jan.10 - Genesis 28 - 30

Someone once said, "To understand the Middle East Crisis you must first understand its past!" It's true! And, the book of Genesis gives us an insight as to how the crisis first began!

Out of all the nations, why did God choose the nation of Israel?
One of the most intriguing questions associated with Genesis and the establishment of Israel is how God could bless and use such a person as Isaac and Jacob. While Abraham feared being killed over the the beauty of his wife Sarah and felt forced to commit a half-lie, it's interesting to note that out of all the things Isaac did during his lifetime, the Bible chooses only to tell the one most embarrassing moment of his cowardice - that of a bold-faced lie he made about his wife in order to protect him from men who might want to kill him for his wife.
- Isaac's son, Jacob, was worse! Jacob (later named Israel) was a schemer, a liar, a deceiver, crafty, covetous, self-centered, and lived up to the reputation of the meaning of his own name - which means "supplanter." And, above all, a "momma's boy!"
- First, God (in His Great Sovereignty) simply chose one nation in which to share His glory with the world, and that nation happened to be Israel. Isaiah 43:3,4,10 says, ""I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God."
- Secondly, God sovereignly choose to select the 10 generation grandchild of Noah (Abraham) to be the ancestrial father of a nation who would declare Him to the world. God made a promise to Abraham that if He trusted Him, He would bless him to become a father of many nations! It's interesting to note that Noah lived 350 years AFTER the flood. This would have allowed Abraham's father to have personally known Noah and heard the first-hand account of the flood!

Jacob, who will soon be named "Israel", begins to build his family - but in a very unusual way! By American standards, the development of this family seems awfully strange.
- Jacob works 7 years for Rachel (his cousin). Who marries their cousin? It was common in those days. Besides, who works or "pays" for his wife? I know that's a loaded question!!!!
- Jacob, the deceiver, is deceived by his own uncle Laban! Late at night, on their wedding night, Laban sneaks Leah into Jacob's bed instead of Rachel. In the morning, Jacob is shocked!!! In an agreement, Jacob works 7 more years for Rachel - and is able to marry her one week after the "so-called" marriage to Leah.
- Jacob's wives are at continual war with each other!!! It's all about being able to bear children. Rachel felt "left-out" and "below-standards" with Jacob since Leah was able to bear children and Rachel wasn't. Rachel admits this struggle by saying (Genesis30:8) - "I have had an intense struggle with my sister, and I am winning!"
- Jacob has 5 children by Leah. But, after Leah stopped having children, Leah gives her servant to Jacob to bear more children in her name!?!
- Jacob has 2 children by Rachel. Rachel does the same thing. She gives her servant girl to Jacob to have children in her name as well. What a fight it was!
- Jacob has 5 chidren by the servant girls that were given to him by his wives. 12 children in all.

Jacob uses his ingenuity and leverage to build his wealth! Having worked the sheep for so long, he knew what it took to build a strong flock. After working out a deal with Laban (also a deceiver), Jacob manipulates the reproduction of the sheep in his favor. He leverages Laban's sheep to produce sheep for himself.

If there's anything you can blatantly get out of this story is that God can use anyone for His glory and purpose!