But God, In the Family
Genesis 31:42
If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, indeed, now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night.
Who is in control?
What a life Jacob had! In this small picture, we see the effects of being betrayed by his father-in-law – again. We see the frustration and pain. We see, and what do we do? How do we relate to this story?
Jacob decides to leave without his knowledge and takes the sheep. This is a risk that could end in disaster. As we look at the story, we see a chess game of sin. Who lied, who used power and control, who threatened, who hid and lied? We see later in the story Laban chasing and then confronting. We see Rachel lie and hide. We see Jacob get angry and accuse. Finally, we see a covenant being made.
God’s Grace
How did all of this happen? But God or Then God showed up and intervened in a dream to touch Jacob. God’s grace was displayed not only to deal with his mess of the situation. It also affected a whole line of God’s servants, even the line of Jesus.
God is gracious in His purpose for our good. Do you ever wonder why you are still around or have blessings despite your sin? Have you ever seen a mess in your life and experienced the entanglement of family issues? How does God look at these? How should we?
Jacob reacts out of justice. He used to obey in response to the law. Which one is right? Are we ever in these situations?
Remember: But, God
Genesis 50:20 (ESV)
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
by Troy Snyder MS, NCC, LPC, CCSAS, CPCS
Roswell and Woodstock Locations
troy@restorationcounselingatl.com, ext. 113
Troy specializes in three distinct areas: sexual addiction, anger, and adolescent issues. In these specialties, he works with adult males, adolescent males, and couples. He takes a holistic approach to help his clients by working closely with the parents, spouse, family members, and friends to help his clients create a better foundation for success. Troy also provides counseling for all issues relating to men and adolescent boys.