God Is In The Details!

Reading:  Genesis 30, 31
My Verse:  "I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me.  Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred" (31:13).

This is a fascinating conversation You have with Jacob, LORD God.  You remind him not only of the vow he made but the exact place he made it and what he did to mark that vow.  You were so very specific!  You are not a vague entity out there in space somewhere as so many would have You.  No, You know every detail of our lives and You use those details to bring us to You. 

Jacob actually recognizes that it is because of You that he is doing so well despite the abuses of his father-in-law, Laban.  "But the God of my father has been with me" (31:5).  His recognition of this helps him to respond positively to Your reminder of his vow and Your command to him to return to the land of his father, Isaac.

Another interesting detail here is the fact that Jacob talks to his wives, Leah and Rachel about this.  He doesn't just tell them to pack up because they were leaving.  He considers their opinion.   So often the women are left without any say in important matters - particularly in these eastern cultures. Yet here, Leah and Rachel are allowed to weigh in.  Their response is; "Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father's house?  Are we not regarded by him as foreigners?  For he has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money.  All the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children.  Now then, whatever God has said to you, do" (31:14-16).  And these are not sisters that got along!  They were very bitter to each other and yet in this case they agreed as to what Jacob should do.  You certainly had to have a hand in this little detail!

And then the matter of the spotted, striped and black lambs!  Way too much detail for me to deal with.  I can't even begin to understand what that is all about - only that You, LORD God worked in a most spectacular way to thwart Laban's deceptive ways and enrich Jacob.  It had to be so obvious to Jacob that all this was of You, and You alone.

Lord, You do as much for us.  So often You use the small stuff to reveal Your blessed Hand in our affairs - to show Your love for us - Your compassion and grace.

"For you formed my inward parts;
   you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
   Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
   My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
   intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them" (Psalm 139:13-16).

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever" (Psalm 23: 5-6).

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!