Small Treasures; Unending Mercies

As I have been studying in Genesis, my heart would leap for joy when you knew that Isaac was just about to meet Rebecca, or Jacob would finally be able to be with his long-time love Rachel, or Joseph would finally be reunited with his brothers. Or, my heart would be in suspense, even though I know the story, but my heart would be amazed at God's mercy over Abraham when he lied about his wife being his sister (or rather told a half truth). One would expect Abraham to really get in trouble for lying, not only from the Pharaoh/king but also our Lord. Or when Sarah laughed at the thought of her 90 year old body giving birth. Wouldn't we all laugh at such a thought? But then, I thought "oh my gosh, will the Lord allow her to laugh at what He is doing?". You would have expected lightening to come down and punish her disbelief. After all, is that what we as parents tend to do to our children? Maybe not lightening bolts, but we certainly must correct lying lips, or disrespectful laughter, right? Wouldn't we be neglectful parents if we let our children get away with this stuff? And yet I marvel at what the Lord's response was so many times in the book of Genesis, from Adam and Eve to Jacob and Rachel. He was so gentle, so pure and so true to them. His outpouring of grace and mercy were lavished upon their lives.

Look at Israel's sons, filled with jealously, just like their dad was filled with his ungodly characteristic towards his brother Esau. And Esau hated what Jacob had done to him. Sold him out! And yet there is a love that brings them back together, both thinking the other does not want anything to do with them. Yet they long for each other and embrace each other. At last they are together, God's mercy was enough to heal their hurts.

Israel's son Joseph, whom he favored; both him and Benjamin were his favorites. Just like his dad Isaac favored Esau and his mother Rachel favored Jacob. But this jealousy that his ten brothers had toward him was brutal. Yet God restored and redeemed his life that had been taken away. What did not make sense to him was yet part of a vast plan to save the land of Israel. God's mercy was with the ten that sold him off and lied to their dad that he was dead. God restored that relationship at the very end of our text.

There are other stories like the marriage of Isaac and Rebecca, how difficult it must have been to have both parents choosing favorites among their children. What lack of harmony there must have been and yet the Lord pours out His grace on both sons and Isaac and Rebecca.

And finally one more story of Rachel, what did she do during those long fourteen years of waiting for Jacob. How did she deal wtih her sister's ugliness toward her. It must have been so hard for Rachel to watch this unfold before her eyes. After all she was only human. And yet God...intervened and gave Rachel to Jacob, the man she loved. But only to find she was barren. She must have had thoughts toward God that were not kind. So much that she yelled at her husband and he snapped back at her. But God was with them in His abounding mercy. He gave them two beloved boys, Joseph and Benjamin. And boy did He have plans for these guys. Joseph had a future and a hope. The hope of a wasted land was in the control of Joseph and the Lord used him to save his family.

When things don't make sense. let God's mercy be what you need to see you through. His mercies are ne wevery morning, don't take it lightly or doubt it. His grace is enough to see you through. You see, He will give you the very amount of grace that you need to see you through. If you need more, He will give it to you, but you have to ask for it. The manna was there for the Israelites, but they had to go get it. The Lord is a gentleman and will nor force anything on us. We are His special treasure.