Consequences Of Our Deception
Reading: Genesis 29
My Verse: "And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?" (29:25)
Deception is such a dreadful thing. Yes, You do forgive us when we knowingly sin and then ask Your forgiveness. But we cannot escape the consequences of our sinful acts, for there will be consequences. As a parent this is so important to remember. Rebecca, Jacob's mother helped him in his deception. She basically reinforced this natural tendency of Jacob's to deceive. Instead of allowing You, LORD God to carry out Your plan she intervened and took things into her own control - even though it meant deceiving her own husband. The consequences were to be felt for generations.
Laban, Rebecca's brother, does to Jacob what Jacob and his mother, Rebecca, had done to his own father - deceives him. It is interesting to note that they are brother and sister - Laban and Rebecca. They were raised in the same environment - this use of deception to accomplish their goals seemed almost like the natural thing to do. They were not raised in a home that honored You, LORD God and so were not taught Your perfect ways. They did what seemed right in their own eyes.
Jacob ends up with two wives - this is not how You meant marriage to be. Genesis 2:22-24 is very clear that You meant marriage to be between one man and one woman. This is what You ordained. And so anything else is wrong and will result in strife, unhappiness and more sin. Jacob does have many children but what a mess his household became! Turmoil, animosity between sisters and amongst the many children result from this deceptive act of Laban.
It is very hard to "wait on the LORD" as You would have us to do LORD God! We so want immediate action. Sometimes we think we see a solution to our difficulty and go with it rather than look to You for guidance. Even as Your children we do this. But You tell us "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. . . . Be still and know that I am God; . . "(Psalm 46 1-11).
Your Word is full of examples of the results of man's feeble attempts to solve problems through the use of deception. Over and over You show how this only leads to more sin, more pain, more problems. Moses, when he took the life of a man. David, when he took another man's wife.
Lyrics to a song come to mind here that speak of the greatest deceiver of all.
"The devil he wore such a fine, fine shirt
and it stayed so clean while he dragged me through the dirt."
Satan is the father of lies and the great deceiver! "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). You, LORD God plead with us to not allow ourselves to be deceived by him. "And He said, "See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am He', "The time is near.' Do not go after them" (Luke 21:8).
Dear, LORD God, help me to have a "pure heart and clean hands." Help me to meditate on Your perfect Word that revives my soul, Your trustworthy statutes that make me wise, Your right precepts that give joy to my heart, Your radiant commands that give light to my eyes, Your pure fear that endures forever and Your sure ordinances that I can rely on for they are righteous! (Psalm 19).
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Reading: Genesis 29
My Verse: "And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?" (29:25)
Deception is such a dreadful thing. Yes, You do forgive us when we knowingly sin and then ask Your forgiveness. But we cannot escape the consequences of our sinful acts, for there will be consequences. As a parent this is so important to remember. Rebecca, Jacob's mother helped him in his deception. She basically reinforced this natural tendency of Jacob's to deceive. Instead of allowing You, LORD God to carry out Your plan she intervened and took things into her own control - even though it meant deceiving her own husband. The consequences were to be felt for generations.
Laban, Rebecca's brother, does to Jacob what Jacob and his mother, Rebecca, had done to his own father - deceives him. It is interesting to note that they are brother and sister - Laban and Rebecca. They were raised in the same environment - this use of deception to accomplish their goals seemed almost like the natural thing to do. They were not raised in a home that honored You, LORD God and so were not taught Your perfect ways. They did what seemed right in their own eyes.
Jacob ends up with two wives - this is not how You meant marriage to be. Genesis 2:22-24 is very clear that You meant marriage to be between one man and one woman. This is what You ordained. And so anything else is wrong and will result in strife, unhappiness and more sin. Jacob does have many children but what a mess his household became! Turmoil, animosity between sisters and amongst the many children result from this deceptive act of Laban.
It is very hard to "wait on the LORD" as You would have us to do LORD God! We so want immediate action. Sometimes we think we see a solution to our difficulty and go with it rather than look to You for guidance. Even as Your children we do this. But You tell us "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. . . . Be still and know that I am God; . . "(Psalm 46 1-11).
Your Word is full of examples of the results of man's feeble attempts to solve problems through the use of deception. Over and over You show how this only leads to more sin, more pain, more problems. Moses, when he took the life of a man. David, when he took another man's wife.
Lyrics to a song come to mind here that speak of the greatest deceiver of all.
"The devil he wore such a fine, fine shirt
and it stayed so clean while he dragged me through the dirt."
Satan is the father of lies and the great deceiver! "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). You, LORD God plead with us to not allow ourselves to be deceived by him. "And He said, "See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am He', "The time is near.' Do not go after them" (Luke 21:8).
Dear, LORD God, help me to have a "pure heart and clean hands." Help me to meditate on Your perfect Word that revives my soul, Your trustworthy statutes that make me wise, Your right precepts that give joy to my heart, Your radiant commands that give light to my eyes, Your pure fear that endures forever and Your sure ordinances that I can rely on for they are righteous! (Psalm 19).
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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