To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Tag: Reap what you sow

Deceiver deceived

Genesis 29:21-30 records the narrative of two marriages in two weeks – the marriages of Jacob to Laban’s daughters, first to Leah the firstborn and then to Rachel the secondborn. Jacob had agreed to work for Laban for a period of seven years to wed Rachel, but after the seven years of labor was over, Jacob was deceived by Laban. Laban gave to Jacob, Leah instead of Rachel as it was allegedly customary to have the firstborn wed before the secondborn. Laban then agreed to allow Jacob marry Rachel after one week of being wedded to Leah, provided he gave Laban another seven years of service.

Jacob felt that he was beguiled and questioned Laban of the deception (Genesis 29:25), failing to realize that just as he was deceived by having had one sister switched for another, he himself had switched places with his brother, Esau, deceiving his father and robbing Esau of his firstborn blessings. In retrospect, one would find that the deceiver himself was deceived by his relatives.

Points to ponder:
This account is very well illustrative of the scripture “You sow what you reap; for God cannot be mocked – let us not be deceived” (Galatians 6:7). Jacob deceived Esau his brother and was deceived. He sowed deception and reaped deception. Additionally, deception by whom we call our own and love (our relatives) while hurtful is relatively lesser when compared to the deception one suffers when they deceive themselves (our own self). When we who believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are adopted into God’s family (John 1:12). When we do not do what Jesus (our brother in God’s family) wants us to do but merely hear him, we are deceived for we deceive ourselves (James 1:22). Let us be doers of God’s word and not mere listeners. Let us not be deceived deceivers.

Genesis 29:21-30 (KJV)
21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

Marked by God or Bearing God’s mark

When Cain was cursed for his willful disobedience, Cain complained to God that his punishment was greater than what he could bear and worried that anyone who saw him would slay him (Genesis 4:15-16). First it in interesting to recognize that at this point in time, other than his parents, there is no mention of any other human beings alive, in the Bible, and so one cannot be sure as to whom Cain is afraid of. Second it is interesting to note that Cain is worried about the same sin that he willfully committed against his brother. A murderer is now worried about being murdered. He was worried about reaping what he had sown. So the Lord said to Cain, that whoever slays Cain, on him would vengeance be taken sevenfold times. And God set a mark upon Cain so that any one who found Cain would not kill him. It is futile to speculate as to what this mark is, as it is not explicitly stated in the Bible, and in fact the identity of the mark is inconsequential. However, what is of utmost importance is that despite Cain’s sin, God in his mercy, sets his divine protection over Cain, so that Cain, who was spiritually dead (for he went out from the presence of the Lord – Genesis 4:16) would not also die physically, before his appointed time.

Points to ponder:
Cain was a marked man – a man who was divinely protected so he would not die physically in the hands of man. A time will come, when all who swear allegiance to the the antichrist (the beast) would be marked as well, but this time God’s divine protection would not be on them, for every one who receives the mark of the beast would die both physically and spiritually, away from the presence of the Lord (Revelation 13:16-18). Let us not be willfully sinful to be marked by God as Cain was and let us not be apostate to bear the mark or number of the antichrist, but let us be like Apostle Paul, dying daily to our selfish desires and sin (1 Corinthians 15:31), and bearing God’s mark – the marks of the Lord Jesus (Galatians 6:17), being crucified daily with him (Galatians 2:20).

Genesis 4:15-16 (KJV)
15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

Galatians 6:16-18 (KJV)
16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

1 Corinthians 15:31 (KJV)
31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Revelation 13:16-18 (KJV)
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

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