God Can Turn Your Mess into a Message
My beloved child, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and don’t take matters in your own hands. (Matthew 7:12) Wait on Me! (Psalms 27:14) I have a well thought out plan and destiny for your life. (Jeremiah 29:11) When you take matters into your own hands, you become entrapped, and it takes some time to get you out of the mess you created for yourself. Can you think of a time you took matters into your own hands and made a mess of things?
Jacob is an excellent example of someone who took matters into his own hands and made a mess out of it. He stole his brother Esau’s birthright and blessing. (Genesis 25:22-23) Esau was furious! Rebecca, his Mother, overheard Esau say, ‘after his father Isaac’s death he would kill Jacob.’ Talk about drama; then, his Mother Rebecca, tells his Dad that it will be to her death if Jacob marries a Canaanite woman like his brother Esau. So, Isaac called Jacob in and told him to move to Padan Aram and marry one of his Mother’s nieces (his cousin). (Genesis 28:1-3) Jacob did as his Dad requested, and upon his arrival, he met his match in his Mother’s brother Uncle Laban. Jacob fell in love with Rachel and wanted to marry her. Uncle Laban promised Rachel to him in return for seven years of labor. Jacob did as his uncle requested, but Laban tricked him into marrying Leah instead. Jacob served another seven years in exchange for the right to marry Rachel. (Genesis 29:24-28) Jacob worked for twenty years before he left with both daughters Leah and Rachel. (Genesis 31:38-41).
Laban wasn’t fair to Jacob, he cheated him out of pay many times, but I blessed the work of Jacob’s hands – he became a rich man. (Genesis 26:13, 30:43) Jacob packed up his wives, children, and all they owned and headed back to his homeland. (Genesis 31:3) He was afraid of his brother Esau! He sent messengers ahead with gifts for his brother to tell him Jacob was coming to see him. They returned to tell him Esau was coming to see him with 400 men. (Genesis 32:3-21) He thought Esau was coming to fight, so he sent his family on to save their lives. Jacob led a life snared until he was alone and encountered Me. He wrestled with Me all night long and declared, ‘I will not let go until you bless me.’ At that moment in Jacob’s brokenness, I turned his life around and changed his name from Jacob to Israel. He named that place Peniel, which means: ‘face of God’ and Israel said, ‘I have seen God face to face, and he spared my life! (Genesis 32:24-31) Esau was happy to see him after many years. I restored everything and turned it around. (Romans 8:28) When you turn to Me – I will untangle the mess you have made, change your name and bless you!
