Genesis 30: A Verse That Saved My Ministry

Welcome to chapter by chapter four year journey through the greatest book given to the human race, the Word of God, the Bible, and we get to go through it chapter by chapter. Seven minutes a day and seven days a week. Join us each day and share it with others so they can join this journey that will be life changing. We'll stop at unexpected places on the journey and be challenged. Some verses will create awe and wonder. We'll have chapters that will be instructive and others will find joy and comfort. We will occasionally be convicted and want to change but all in all the journey will be worth it. Once in a while we may take a detour on the journey and hear from some of God's servants on their favorite passages from a chapter of scripture and let them give you their insight. Every journey needs an occasional detour. Welcome to chapter by chapter and today's chapter is Genesis 30. Don't give up on a Bible chapter because you don't understand it or it seems too difficult. God will speak through his word to you. That's what happened to me at a critical moment of my life and ministry. When you start to read Genesis 30 your head will start to spin. It seems like a fertility war has emerged. Rachel and Lee are fighting over Jacob's affections by seeing who can give him the most children. Rachel is at a disadvantage because she is barren. Rachel has to use her maid as a stand in to bear children. On paper, Lee is winning the battle. Eight children in total were born in this odd and head scratching event in scriptures. Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issaqar, Zebulan, Dina, and even Joseph were all born from two women's insecurity and desire to be loved more than the other. But just as I wanted to get out of this chapter quick, God put a spotlight on a phrase. He took me from those eight children and put my eyes on eight words that became a lifeline to me. Maybe you too can use these words as your lifeline. It seems Jacob has been working for his uncle for 14 years. What he was told was that it would be a few days away from home but in truth it ended up being two decades. He is about to embark on another six-year deal with his deceptive uncle. Jacob wants to head home but Laban realizes the blessing on his household has come from the blessing on Jacob's life. So he wants to keep him there as long as he can. The final work project will be that Jacob will get all the speckled and spotted cattle. All of the missfits of Laban's herds will be given to Jacob. In turn, Jacob would watch over Laban's good cattle and raise his missfits for six more years. The story goes like this in verse 27. But Laban said to him, "Now it pleases you, stay with me. I have divine that the Lord has blessed me on your account." He continued, "Name me your wages and I will give it to you." But he said to him, "You yourself know I have served you and how I your cattle have fared well with me. For you had little before I came and it is increased to a multitude. And the Lord has blessed you wherever I turned." But now, when shall I provide for my own household? So he said, "What shall I give you?" And Jacob said, "You shall not give me anything. But if you will just do this one thing for me, I will again pasture and keep your flock." Let me pasture your entire flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted sheep, every black one among the lambs and the spotted and speckled among the goats. And that shall be my wages. And so my honesty will answer for me later when you come concerning my wages. Jacob knew that God would bless him and that the blessing would be so extraordinary and that the extraordinary blessing would be questioned. It would be so supernatural that people would think Jacob did something illegal or underhandedly. That's why those eight words are important. Those eight words were uttered to Laban and I have uttered them to myself and to others. Here it is. So my honesty will answer for me later. Those words saved my ministry. God did bless Jacob. Jacob was attacked because his outliers prospered more than Laban's good stuff. And Jacob's honesty did answer for him later because God stepped in and rescued him. Here's what we must know. When you're dealing with injustice, lies, slander, gossip, when people are falsifying information and skewing the truth about you or about a situation, it's these words that must rise to the top. Once you have confronted them and tried to reconcile and set the record straight, now you leave it in God's hands and you whisper and say these words. This is not a catchphrase for tough times. This is a foundational principle that will be a lighthouse in rough waters. It keeps you from hitting the rocks. There's one word that I hate in that protective phrase. I hate the word later. Now honesty will answer for me later. Later takes too long. I want my side told sooner. I want to be right now, this instant. But I must tell you that I'm living proof that later does come. And honesty really does eventually speak. God doesn't always exonerate and set the record straight immediately. In fact, God does not exonerate himself until judgment day. And on that day everyone will know the truth. You're getting a little taste of how God is misunderstood by the masses. My advice to you who want to post your side to your social media friends and sell your story to make a buck in the end. Your nounness will not help your character. The later in this verse digs deep into the soul and character. It teaches self control and patience. It matures trust in God and is timing over my impatience. There will be times that you can win your case now, but lose the work that God would do if you waited for later. There will come moments in your life that people will misinterpret blessing as betrayal. The blessing on you will be greater than the blessing on them. insecurity will foster accusation and you are left with your Jacob moment. Will you defend yourself? I pray that Genesis 30-33 becomes for you when it became for me a life jacket. The words are powerful. The principle is true. The only problem is that you will float and chop your waters for a while, but later comes and you'll get to shore. Your honesty will answer for you later. Thanks for joining chapter by chapter. Every chapter from the greatest book, the Bible, the Word of God. Seven minutes a day, seven days a week. We'll see you tomorrow.