“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” ~ Kahlil Gibran
GENESIS 29, 30
Jacob arrives in Haran and meets Rachel. Laban her father agrees to allow him to marry her in exchange for 7 years of work. Upon completion he tricks him on his wedding night and gives him Leah instead. Jacob confronts him upon discovering the ruse and Laban agrees to give him Rachel for another 7 years work.
Jealousy dominates the household and Leah and Rachel barter and manipulate for time with Jacob and compete in order to have children. They use their servants and any means possible to one up the other. As a result Jacob's household grows significantly.
Jacob and Laban agree to begin separating the herds by speckled or white. Jacob uses this technique in order to selectively breed and thereby giving himself an advantage.
MATTHEW 10:1-23
Jesus sends out the twelve disciples with the authority to drive out demons and heal the sick. In giving them instruction he warned them of the future of those that follow him and their future after his death.
...I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you do not worry about what to say or how to say it. at that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you...All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (17-22)
JOURNAL
The strife and controversy never seem to end. The bickering and problems of one family seem to just repeat to the next. Then as Jesus is sending out his disciples he lets them know that it will all be pretty much a contentious existence. They will be hated, they will be imprisoned and beaten.
Definitely not the greatest sales pitch. Promises of heartache, strife, pain and suffering. Yet crowds continued to follow him and his disciples never left. It is here that the evidence of who Jesus is begins to come through. He never promises them gold or riches or anything that typically sells. He promises the opposite.
If Jesus was just a man, the disciples would have abandoned him at this point. Yet they are willing to endure and be part of something that will ultimately destroy them physically. They will not be rewarded with earthly power and possessions...they will lose it all. Yet they will gain something far greater.
Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:12)
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