OVERWHELMED BY GRACE

Tears of Joy

The Lord led Jacob to the right place, the right time, and the right people.

See Genesis 28:13-15...

Jacob was overwhelmed by the Lord’s kindness and grace given to him.

Genesis 32:10 “I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps.”

See 1 Timothy 1:12-15...

Psalm 51:3 “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.”

Reaping What You Sow

Though Jacob had received grace, mercy, and forgiveness, he must still face the earthly consequences for his actions.

Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”

Look how differently things play out in Isaac and Jacob getting a wife. Abraham sought a wife for his son. He had his servant bring many gifts and presents for the bride price. The family agrees and Rebekah is brought to Isaac. But because of Jacob’s sin, he must go by himself with only his staff to his name. He agrees to work for 7 years for Rachel, but ends up working for 14 years. Oh how much grief we bring on ourselves because of our own sin!

Numbers 32:23 “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.”

Laban’s deceptive plot is a mirror of Jacob’s plot to steal his brother’s blessing. As Isaac couldn’t see Jacob’s deception, so Jacob is now unable to see Laban’s scheme.

This is such a horrible situation, the Lord later explicitly forbids this when He gives the Law.

Leviticus 18:18 “And you shall not take a woman as a rival wife to her sister, uncovering her nakedness while her sister is still alive.”

God’s Grace For the Despised

Leah may be unloved by Jacob, but she is loved by the Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31...

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

Again, this is such a sad situation that the Lord addresses it when He gives the Law.

See Deuteronomy 21:15-17...

Leah deserves love, honor, and respect from her husband. Since Jacob doesn’t give it to her, the Lord pours out favor on her. He blesses her with many children, and it is through her children that the promised Messiah will come. You can almost feel her emotions as she experiences rejection by her husband on the one hand, and her thankfulness for the Lord’s kindness on the other. We see both at play in what she names her children.

Reuben means “Look, a son!” (verse 32). Simeon means “to hear” (verse 33). Levi means “to join or attach” (verse 34). Judah means “praise” (verse 35).

As we will see later, she did not become barren after Judah’s birth. Jacob most likely ceased having relations with her.

Let us take heart when we feel abandoned, unloved, or rejected. The Lord has not forgotten us and will never leave or forsake His people.

The people who should love us most may forsake us, but the Lord never will.

Isaiah 49:15–16 ““Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”