Messiness

 

At seminary this morning we read Genesis 28-30.

That's quite the story.

Jacob leaves (which is good because his brother wants to kill him) and heads to his uncle's place to find someone to marry.

He falls in love with Rachel and agrees to work for her father, Laban, for seven years in exchange for her hand in marriage.

But on their wedding night Laban sends in Leah in Rachael's place, the marriage is consummated and Leah is now his wife. 

Only he still loves Rachel.  

So Laban says he can have Rachel too, for another seven years of work.  He is allowed to wed her after only the seven day wedding week is over with Leah.

Only now there are serious issues between the sisters.  Leah knows she was the preferred wife.  

But Leah has children and Rachel is barren.  

So Rachel gives her handmaid to Jacob to bear children for her.

So Leah gives her handmaid to Jacob to bear children for her. 

And Leah's son finds some mandrakes, the fruit believed to increase fertility.  But she won't share them with Rachel.  

Rachel even calls out to Jacob at one point, "Give me children or else I die!"

But eventually it is not the mandrakes but God  who blesses Rachel with the gift of fertility. 

And what comes of  this whole big mess of human imperfection, drama, deceit, and nearly every possible human emotion?

The twelve tribes of Israel.  

Eventually the Lord's promises were kept and he brought greatness out of all their human messiness.  There is something so comforting in that to me.

We have our own imperfection and drama going on in our lives and it is intensely reassuring that His promises will be fulfilled and he can make greatness out of what we have.  

Elder Spencer J Condie said it this way.  

"When heaven’s promises sometimes seem afar off, I pray that each of us will embrace these exceeding great and precious promises and never let go. And just as God remembered Rachel, God will remember you."