Fruitfulness, God’s Increase, May come in unexpected ways.
14 “Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Genesis 28
As Jacob fled Esau and the land of Canaan, the Lord met him in a dream at Bethel and gave him this powerful promise. He must have wondered what the future held for him. He left alone with only his staff in his hand, but God met him and gave him this word concerning his future.
How did God’s word come to pass for Jacob?
20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.
25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, ‘What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?’ Genesis 29
Jacob, the deceiver, was tricked by his uncle and ended up with the older sister Leah. Then he worked another seven years for Rachel, the younger daughter. Fourteen years of his life in Aram, but he had two wives. However, Rachel couldn’t conceive and decided to give her maid, Bilhah, to Jacob, to raise a family through her. Leah had stopped having children and she also gave her maid, Zilpah, to Jacob. So Jacob ended up with four wives and all of them bore him children. God brought His plan for Jacob’s life to pass in a way that Jacob would never have dreamt.
Jacob now had a large family to provide for, but he was only a hired hand, attending his uncle’s sheep. However, he made an agreement with Laban that all the speckled and spotted animals would be his and he became exceedingly wealthy. After twenty years he left Laban and the land of Aram to return to his father in Canaan. God had fulfilled the promise He made Jacob when he left with only his staff in his hand.
10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. Genesis 32:10
God’s ways are not our ways, but He is faithful to His word and though He never explained His plan to Jacob everything He said happened. He’s the same today, He keeps all His promises, but we have to walk them out trusting His love towards us.
May our faithful God bless and keep you today.