Verse of the day: Genesis
31:12 And He said, ‘Lift your eyes
now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I have seen
all that Laban is doing to you.
I
love what God says to Jacob in this verse, “…for I have seen all that Laban is
doing to you”. How many of us truly believe that God sees everything we do, and
everything others do to us? If that is so, then why do we expend energy holding
on to grudges, and figuring out ways to get even with people who persecute us
or treat us unfairly? Do we not trust that God is on our side? Do we not trust
that God will repay the injustice in His time, and in His way? Laban was treating
Jacob unfairly; yet, Jacob refused to seek vengeance against him or allow
himself to be depressed by complaining and have a pity party about how he was
treated. Instead, he chose to allow God to show Laban that the Lord was with
him. In the previous chapter (Genesis 30:33), Jacob confidently proclaimed to
Laban, “So my
righteousness will answer for me in time to come”. How beautiful it would be if
each of us as born again believers could confidently stand, based on our
righteous living, when we are wronged, or persecuted; to be able to trust God
completely in matters of vengeance. Jesus set the ultimate example for us in
that He did not revile when He was reviled (1 Peter 2:23). Romans 12 has much
to say about how we should respond to unfair treatment, or persecution. Romans
12:14 tells us to bless those who persecute us, and not curse them. Jesus told
us to love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44).
Romans 12:17-21 tells us not to repay evil for evil, and as much as depends on
us live peaceably with all men. Do not avenge ourselves, but give room for God’s
vengeance. We are to repay evil with good. Jacob trusted the Lord when Laban
treated him unfairly, and God blessed and prospered him. I have heard it said
that holding on to a grudge or refusing to forgive, and seeking vengeance, is
like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. When we choose to
trust God, and refuse to treat others in the same way they treat us when they
persecute us, or treat us unfairly, we make a choice to hold on to the peace
and joy that we can only find in Jesus. Notice that God told Jacob that He had
seen what Laban was doing AFTER Jacob had already taken the step of faith to
demonstrate that he was trusting God in this matter. We have a great advantage
over Jacob in that we have God’s Word that already tells us that God sees what
happens to us, and will repay those that mistreat us. Jacob did not have the
written Word to assure him of that; yet, he trusted that God would take care of
any injustice against him and his family. What is our excuse for not letting go
and letting God take care of our conflicts? There really is no excuse. When we
suffer here on earth, we react as if something strange and unexpected has taken
place. 1 Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the
fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you”.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of
this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us.” The bottom line is that God sees
everything that happens in our lives, and sees all our sufferings. If we truly
believe that, and if we are truly living for the Lord, then why not be like
Jacob and stand on our righteousness in Christ, knowing that God will show
Himself to be faithful in our lives by repaying those who mistreat us and
persecute us? In those moments that we are mistreated, let us hold on to Romans
8:31, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
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