Skip to main content

Jacob's Story

                           

He was an old man.  Though he had lived a full life, he had his regrets and sorrows too. He had seen things and done things, had lived a rich and full life, but the sorrow of burying his beloved wife would never entirely leave him. 

She had died young, dearly beloved, during childbirth. But at least the child had survived, and he loved the child fiercely, together with the first child his wife gave birth to. But the older son too was dead. He had been killed by a wild animal and all that was left of him was a blood stained coat he himself had made for the boy.

The future looked bleak now. There was a drought and a severe famine.  No rain, no food. Just dust, and thirst and heat. What use was gold in such a time when there was no food to buy with the gold and they couldn't eat the gold too?

But he had heard reports that there was food in Egypt. So he sent his other sons, ten of them and they had come back with plenty corn. But they returned without their brother Simeon, and they brought bad news.  The ruler in charge of food in Egypt had accused them of being spies and demanded that they bring Benjamin their youngest brother. Of course he vehemently refused.  He would rather die of hunger than die of another heartbreak.  What if Benjamin also died?

He lay awake in the nights and wondered. Where was God? Why was he suffering so much pain and anguish? He had been married to two women, because he had been tricked into marrying Rachel's sister. These two sisters had bickered and fought, giving him no peace.  Then Rachael died.  His daughter Dinah was raped, his sons had stupidly killed all the men of the town where she was raped. Joseph had been killed and now there was a famine and the only way to get food was to send Benjamin.  Where was God?

      But God was where He was, making all things work for good

By some unimaginable, unexplainable miracle, his son Joseph wasn't dead after all. He was the ruler who had demanded for Benjamin.  And so everything changed for Jacob.  One moment he was grieving the loss of his wife and son, thinking he would die of hunger.  The next, he had relocated to Egypt to live with his son and there was more than enough food.


Selah: How hopeless is your story? God is able to make it work for your good

                    -Amesiamina
              (Written on 08/09/2016)

╚════                                ════╝

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Stalker God?

One Sunday during a church Bible study on salvation, the Bible study leader spoke about the coming judgement and told us that God keeps a record of the things we do and we will be judged according to our works. Someone asked why God follows us recording everything we do to judge us on the last day when He Himself had said we're saved when we believe in Christ. The leader asked the congregation if any of us had an answer and I shared my opinion. I gave quite a lengthy explanation on the difference between the judgment of Christians and the judgment of the world, the various crowns and rewards that will be given on the last day, and the fact that our lives are an eternal record of the glory of God and an example to the world. Everyone seemed to like what I said and I was applauded. After church, one of the junior pastors told me that he liked my answer during the Bible study class and I left, feeling a warm glow inside. As I thought about it, my mind was opened and I underst...

That Dirty Rag

Would you pick your one cedi note if it fell into a gutter? Probably not.  Even if it was your last cedi? Most likely, you’d look at the gutter and the things floating in it, wrinkle your nose in disgust at the smell and let it go…even of it means you have to walk home. After all, even if you remove it, there’s nothing you can do to make it better. Surely, you might reconsider if it was your phone, purse or wallet, but not that that dirty rag. That dirty rag which was once a clean white handkerchief. That dirty rag which in its lifetime had been used to wipe sweat, water, dirt, blood, your shoes and other things until it could no longer be recognized as a handkerchief. That once-white handkerchief which had turned some unidentifiable colour which you kept at the side of your bag for wiping your shoes. Who would bend down to pick that not-too-valuable rag that had fallen into the disgusting, smelly gutter? Only Jesus would. Only Jesus would do something that people ...

Let In The Light

Imagine a room. A dark room. A cold dark room where the windows and door are tightly shut. Where you have to grope about to find your way cause your eyes can't get used to this darkness. You need light but the windows are barred shut. Maybe your life is as dark as this room and you're groping and stumbling, trying to find your way. Perhaps you're confused and you don't know what to do. You need clear, specific direction on what to do and where to go. So what do you do? Turn to the door. And open it. And let the light flood in. Let it bring freshness and warmth and clarity of vision. Let in the light of God's word to guide you and live a fulfilling life.  Psalm 119: 130  Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines. They give insight to the untrained