GOD IS JUST

• DAY 78
• Fear File: Jacob
• Scripture: Genesis 31:42

If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and [the Feared One] of Isaac, had not been with me, most certainly you would have sent me away now empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and humiliation and the [exhausting] labor of my hands, so He rendered judgment and rebuked you last night.”

Swindlers United

What I find interesting about our text today is that God is defending Jacob from Laban, like God is actually defending a deceiver from another deceiver. Okay, we all know the story of Jacob (if you don’t I’d like to encourage you to take out time to read the whole chapter, you can go back to previous chapters to get a better understanding of what is going on here). He was a very deceptive person, I mean his name literally means swindler. He cheated his brother out of his birthright and was an accomplice in an elaborate plan to swindle his father and take the blessing and inheritance of his brother. If he was alive in today’s world he’d probably be classified under ‘yahoo boy’. It was these ‘scams’ that he pulled that made him run from home, and to his uncle’s house, where he lived right and raised a family. 

On all counts, Jacob had turned from his deceitful ways, he had worked sincerely with Laban and not cheated him in any way. But this was not the case for Laban who cheated him in their marriage agreement, made him work extra years, and still changed his pay. The final straw was when he sent away all the livestock that he agreed to give Jacob.

So my righteousness will answer for me in time to come, when the subject of my wages comes before you: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the lambs, will be considered stolen, if it is with me.” And Laban said, “Oh, that it were according to your word!” So he removed that day the male goats that were speckled and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had some white in it, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and gave them into the hand of his sons. Then he put three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks. Genesis 30:36-37

Jacob was cheated in every way possible; the hunter became the hunted. I’m sure Laban felt wise and proud. He probably thought that he had finally deceived Jacob successfully, He did not account for God.

Let God Handle It

Now, I know that when things like this happen in real life, we might think it’s karma or that we’re reaping what we’ve sown. But even if this was the case, Jacob had suffered already and God doesn’t hold a grudge. He couldn’t stand to see Jacob cheated this way. So He settled Jacob himself.

Can I tell you something? Nobody can cheat you. That your boss that is cheating you, thinking they are wise by trying to take advantage of you; taking your ideas and the glory for your hard work and sweat; Like Jacob, God is going to give you your wages.

Recently, someone was telling me how he felt cheated because a debtor refused to pay what he owed. He had worked for this person and his payment was postponed indefinitely. so he wanted to know if it was okay to do anything necessary to get his money even to the extent of hurting the person. I know that being cheated can hurt. Especially in cases like this where it’s the only source of livelihood. but let God handle it. I have been owed and I have owed. I learned it wasn’t a fun experience to be disappointed and God really convicted me on the matter.

A Just God

Beloved, God is always watching and He defends the oppressed and cheated. You see, some of us try to fight for ourselves, we try to get things done our own way because we don’t want people to see us as stupid. Or we feel that if we don’t do something about it they are going to take us for granted and we will lose our rep or our street cred. Hello! You don’t have to be worried, God is just and He will balance the scales in your favor.

“The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace(Exodus 14:14)” 

He is watching all that is going on and He’s going to balance the scales in your favor. But right now He’s looking to see if you’re going to let the situation change you or make you become dishonest and disobedient to the laws of God. God is a just God.

“With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; With an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; And with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward(Psalm 18:25-26)” 

To Do

If you feel cheated, take it to God right now trusting that He will come through for you.

Shalom.