She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children. (Genesis 29:35)
You met your match.
You imagine using that phrase when you see what Jacob endures when he meets Laban. The trickster comes across a master trickster and finds himself in a tricky predicament.
The tragic thing to see is how both tricksters involve the lives of two women – and not just them – but before long offspring become the pawns in a game to win the attentions of the trickster in the middle.
What I love about this tragic scenario is that there is the kernel of hope. It’s worth noting that the hope comes in when the focus is no longer on the desires of a man, but when it’s focused on God who gives life. When that focus is there it can lead to the birth of something that will have heavy eternal consequences as we note who would come from the loins of the baby born as an expression of praise to God.
When we’re unloved, there is a God who cares – we give Him praise. When we’re neglected and treated poorly, there is a God who remembers us – we give Him praise. When others seem to have an advantage over us, there is a God of justice – we give Him praise. When we’re called ugly and undesirable, there is a God who has made us beautiful in His sight – we give Him praise.
He has not forgotten you in your low estate. It doesn’t matter which trickster looks to get at you and it doesn’t matter how tricky the situation is – there is a loving, heavenly Father who through His Son and by His Spirit lets us know we don’t have to be barren. We can be fruitful by Him, through Him and for Him.
That’s good news worth sharing in the midst of whatever tricky situation you find yourself in.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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