January 14: Will we ever learn?

by Mark Gumm 

Scripture:  Genesis 30:1-31:14

Observations:
As I began reading today in Genesis 30, it was a flashback to a few days ago when Sarah gave Abraham her maid so that she could have children.  The sins are the same – only the names have changed.  I couldn’t help but think of the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20 – the same sin problems that we have read about throughout Genesis, and have heard Jesus teach about in the sermon on the mount and through the book of Matthew, and the same sins we struggle with today.  Adultery & sexual sin, lying, murder, stealing or cheating others, pride, selfishness, jealousy & coveting/desiring what other have that we want.

 - While we are all personally responsible for our own actions and our own sin, there are certainly implications of how our sin can have consequences that affect others and sometimes may lead others into temptation to sin.  Laban’s sin of deception & lying (and stealing 7 years of Jacob’s work!) is a good example – In a way, it had an affect on Jacob (I can only imagine he reacted in  great anger) and then Jacob choosing to sin and take 2 wives, comitting adultery, which in turn spiraled out of control in the sin of Rachel and Leah and of their maids, and undoubtedly throughout all of their children and family relationships. 

 - As we read through the story of these 2 sisters, Rachel and Leah, the sin becomes consuming, greater and greater as they use their maids as surrogate mothers to compete with each other and for the love of their husband and time with him (verses 3,7,9,12).

 - God does not approve of or reward us when we sin. Polygamy (more than 1 wife) was never part of God’s plan – He designed marriage from the beginning as 1 man and 1 wife (Genesis 2:24), and obviously, like any other sin, we see the immense relational strife that comes as a result of sin and broken relationship with God and with others.

Application: 
My sin has great potential to hurt and affect not only me, but my wife, my kids, my parents, my extended family, my co-workers, my friends, my church family.

More importantly, as a follower of Christ, I should recognize that the greatest hurt my sin causes is in the heart of God, and of His son Jesus Christ, who died and suffered for our sins. 

Isaiah 53:4-6
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him (Christ) the iniquity of us all.

Prayer:
God, please forgive me for being like Laban, Jacob, Rachel and Leah – selfish, sinful, causing grief to you and pain to others.  Give me wisdom and understanding (Proverbs 3:13-15) of your desires for me as I read and learn your word.  Help me to consider every word I speak, every thought I think, every motive and action.  God make me more like Christ everyday as you refine me like silver in a furnace, taking away the imperfections in my life and replacing them with more of what you desire – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, compassion, humility, obedience, thanksgiving, praise and worship and so much more.