Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 24


BEYOND DISAPPOINTMENT

READ:
PALM 37:34
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Hope in the LORD
and keep his way.
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Perhaps you've seen the video of the little boy who learns he's getting another sister. In the middle of his meltdown he laments, "It's always girls, girls, girls, girls!"

It is an amusing glimpse into human expectations, but there's nothing funny about disappointment. It saturates our world. One story from the Bible is steeped in disappointment. Jacob agreed to work 7 years for the right to marry his boss's daughter Rachel. But after fulfilling his contract, Jacob got a wedding night surprise. In the morning he discovered not Rachel but her sister Leah.

We focus on Jacob's disappointment, but imagine how Leah must have felt! What hopes and dreams of hers began to die that day as she was forced to marry a man who did not love or want her?

Psalm 37:4 tells us , "Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Are we to believe that God-fearing people are never disappointed? No, the psalm clearly shows that the writer sees injustice all around him. But he takes the long view: "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him" (v.7). His conclusion: "The meek will inherit the land" (v.11).

In the end, it was Leah whom Jacob honored and buried in the family grave plot with Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah (GEN.49:31). And it was through the lineage of Leah__who in life thought she was unloved_that God blessed the world with our savior. Jesus brings justice, restores hope, and gives us an inheritance beyond our wildest dreams.

___Tim Gustafson

**Jesus is the only friend who never disappoints.

***********************Today's Bible Reading __ Genesis 29:14-23***************************
14...After Jacob had stayed with [Laban] for a whole
month, 15 Laban said to him, Just because you are a
relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing?
Tell me what your wages should be."

16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was
Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah had
weak eyes, but Rachael had a lovely figure and was beautiful.

18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "I'll work for you
seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel."

19 Laban said, "It's better that I give her to you than to some
other man. stay here with me." 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.

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife. My time is
completed, and I want to make love to her."

22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place
and gave a feast. 23 But when evening came, he took his
daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love
to her. 24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter
as her attendant.

25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob made love
to her. 24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter
as her attendant.

26 Laban replied, "It is not our custom here to give the
younger daughter in marriage before the older one.

27 Finish this daughter's bridal week; then we will give you the younger
one also, in return for another seven years of work."

28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and
then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.

Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her
attendant. 30 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for
Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for
Laban another seven years.