The deceiver is deceived.
Non-Christians would chalk this up to karma. There is certainly a resemblance in this
story to the trickery used by Jacob and Rebekah to steal the blessing. Apparently this family was quite adept at
using trickery and deceit. It is
certainly interesting that Laban thwarted this attempt by Jacob to bypass the
normal order of things so that the younger would be favored. Laban’s response concerning the younger not
being given prior to the older would surely have stung Jacob if he had an ounce
of introspection. The irony is certainly
heavy in this story. Rachel was loved
and Leah was hated by Jacob. It would
likely have been difficult for Jacob to love Leah after the deception she and
her father perpetrated on him but the Lord was showing favor to her with
children, and in particular, boys.
It seems the disciples thought much like we do today, that
wealth was a sign of God’s favor in a person’s life and Jesus here attacks that
notion. The disciples’ reaction is
stunned surprise, Mark tells us first they were “amazed” and then, as Jesus
continued to speak on the matter, they were “exceedingly astonished.” Those are some strong adjectives. Jesus says something that His mother must
have said to Him many times, nothing is impossible with God. The work of entering the kingdom is God’s
work and it is not measured by what we have in this life. There is hope for the poor in these words of
Jesus. There is great comfort in hearing
that the last will be first. This is
perfectly aligned with the Beatitudes.
Leah would certainly appreciate this teaching. The teaching is not that God favors poor
people and that wealth is an absolute barrier to the kingdom, but that it is a
barrier because of our tendency to allow it to become primary.
“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be
rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word
of God and prayer.” Those are important
words for us concerning all things.
Everything created by God is good and that puts things in their proper
order. Wouldn’t the God who created all
things be in every way superior to the things He created? Wouldn’t He be more desirable than anything
He created? If we receive all things
with true thanksgiving we can better know how to appreciate all things, thanks
to the giver is primary. Nothing is to
be rejected, not even a Leah in our lives, something we don’t want and don’t ask
for. God may have a lesson and a blessing
in such things if we receive them properly with humility and thanksgiving in
all things.
Shout for joy to God, all
the earth;
sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
All the earth worships you
and sings praises to you;
they sing praises to your name.”
sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
All the earth worships you
and sings praises to you;
they sing praises to your name.”
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