Day 22 of 365...
Genesis 30-31
Key Passages/Thoughts:
Gen 30:1-2, 22 - "When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she envied her sister. 'Give me sons, or I will die!'" she said to Jacob. Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, 'Am I in God's place, who has withheld children from you?'…'Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb.'"
God's timing is always perfect, and His ways are always right. While I realize that may sound a bit cliche, the truth behind those words is infallible. Rachel wanted so much to bear children for Jacob, but God's timing wasn't matching up to what Rachel wanted the timing to be. I have to admit that I am just like Rachel. There are times when I want something so bad that I force the issue. I become so impatient waiting on God that I begin making poor decisions and suffer because of them. Rachel did the same thing. She decided to give Jacob her slave, Bilhah. She wanted to build her family through her slave! It's amazing what kind of decisions people make when they are desperate. I certainly fall in to that category. There's even a saying for it, "desperate times call for desperate measures." The more that I encounter these situations, the more I realize the fallacy in those words. When times become desperate, the worst decision I can make is to take desperate measures. I am beginning to realize that I should always be desperate! I should be so reliant on God that I desperately need Him on a daily basis. In those situations, though, I should rest and be patient and not rush into any decision without listening to what God wants me to do. Now, that's an intimidating proposition, but, consider the alternative. If I don't live my life in desperate need of God's intervention, then I live an empty, superficial existence. I would walk around worrying about what mask I should put on for each situation I encounter. I would have my white picket fence around my perfectly manicured yard, beautiful wife (which I do have-wohoo!!), 2.1 kids, 401k and family sedan while wearing my fake smile with my barbecue apron that reads, "Grill Master." Inside, though, I would be tired, confused, worried...I'd be dying! Instead, I get to experience the adventure that God sets out for me. I get to draw nearer and nearer to the heart of the One who Created the universe and listen to Him guide me through life. I don't have to worry about my appearance to others...I focus on purifying myself in the blood Jesus shed. I'd rather live a life of adventure as opposed to living a life worried about what others thought of me. I wish that I could say that I've got this nailed down, that I'm living exactly that way. I'm not, but that's the goal!
What's the payoff? Well, verse 22 says that, "God remembered Rachel." I don't think that means that God forgot. It means that God decided that now was the time for Rachel to bear children. God knows my desires, my wants and my needs. However, not all of those things are good for me or fit into His plan or His timing. The payoff for me is that God begins to show me how my desires, wants, needs, talents, etc. match up with His plan. Then, I get to use those things to join Him in what He's doing! It is then that I see what a great adventure this life is. That is a payoff worth working towards.
God, continue to purge me of the things that are not from You. Help me to care only about what You think about me and not others.
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