Refuse to be Deceived! Genesis 35-36; Matthew 13

May the mumbling commence!

For Jacob, Rachel was his unquestioned beloved… first among his wives in his heart.  Yet Jacob realized that the Lord had other ideas.  The Lord loved Jacob’s first wife Leah.  But, of his wives, who would be buried at the cave of Machpelah?  Not Rachel!  Read from Genesis chapter thirty-five:

Leaving Bethel, they traveled on toward Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). But Rachel's pains of childbirth began while they were still some distance away.  After a very hard delivery, the midwife finally exclaimed, "Don't be afraid-- you have another son!"  Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named him Ben-oni; the baby's father, however, called him Benjamin.  So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).  Jacob set up a stone monument over her grave, and it can be seen there to this day. (Verses 16-20)

Rachel was buried on the way.  She did not get the prime burial spot in the cave of Machpelah.  Which of Jacob’s wives got that distinction?  Leah did (Genesis 49:31).

So, how can we best give our favorites away for the favorite of God?  And how can we recognize the movement of God when it is under our noses?  It is way too easy to miss the call of the Lord on someone’s life when we have grown up with them or watched them grow from infancy.  Read from Matthew chapter thirteen:

When Jesus had finished telling these stories, he left that part of the country.  He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was astonished and said, "Where does he get his wisdom and his miracles?  He's just a carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers – James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas.  All his sisters live right here among us. What makes him so great?"  And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.

Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family."  And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief. (Verses 53-58)

Are we so easily offended by success?  Many times we are.  I know you.  Who are you to think that you can do such things in the name of the Lord?  Therein lays the green-eyed monster… at times.  Jealousy rears its ugly head.  And we take offense.

We refuse to believe.  Matthew calls it unbelief… perhaps to soften the blow.  But it is refusal to believe… refusal to accept the signs before our eyes.  It is a shameful thing!

Let’s seek to celebrate the working of God within our own communities.  When we find those gifted for service in God’s kingdom, let’s call them forth to serve.  Their service doesn’t lessen ours.  Our service together enriches each one of us and the blessings will overflow to people around us.

Refuse to be deceived!

Praise God!  Send that green-eyed monster packing!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out