Freewill and Public Policy

Then Jacob took up his journey and came to the land of the sons of the east. And he looked, and behold, a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for from that well they gave water to the flocks to drink. Now the stone on the mouth of the well was large. And all the flocks would be gathered there, and they would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and give water to the sheep to drink and return the stone back to its place on the mouth of the well. And Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Haran.” Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.” And he said to them, “Is it well with him?” And they said, “It is well, and here is Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep.” And he said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Give water to the sheep to drink, and go, pasture them.” But they said, “We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered, and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well; then we give water to the sheep to drink.” While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. Now it happened, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and gave water to the flock of Laban his mother’s brother to drink. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and lifted his voice and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father. So it happened that when Laban heard the report of Jacob his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and he embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Then he recounted to Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him one month. Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. And Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and beautiful in appearance. Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than to give her to another man; stay with me.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they were in his sight but a few days because of his love for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.” And Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast. Now it happened in the evening that he took his daughter Leah and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her. Laban also gave his servant-woman Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a servant-woman. Now it happened in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?” But Laban said, “It is not the practice in our place to give the younger before the firstborn. “Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years.” And Jacob did so and fulfilled her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. Laban also gave his servant-woman Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her servant-woman. So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years.

Warning of Deceit

Even though Jacob is a “new” man, he still has to deal with his past. The decisions he made by sowing deceit with his brother Esau and his father Isaac have led him to no other options but to continue on.

Abraham’s servant prays before meeting Rebekah, and a very pleasant conversation occurs, with Rebekah providing water to the servant’s flocks

There is no prayer with Jacob. The conversation that occurs between Jacob and the locals is one of hostility and division.

Jacob waters the flocks of Laban, he is trying to impress both Rachael and Laban

Experience and age

The warning of disillusionment

Jacob has an unrealistic viewpoint of his situation and circumstance; he does not realize that Laban has been “playing the game of deceit” a lot longer than Jacob has been.

Jacob’s positive thinking brings him to a point of vulnerability by which Laban is going to take advantage of him. These decisions will impact Jacob for the rest of his life. However, this disillusion, God will carry on His plan of salvation through the children of Leah.

Although Jacob is hoodwinked, his character is revealed by not blaming his situation, circumstance, or even praying that God would remove these from his life. Jacob continues with a positive attitude, accepts the consequences, and will continue abiding in the promise of God

The Providence of Destiny

It is the Will of God, not the will of mankind. The Will of God is about God, by God, and through God. Being grateful is the Will of God for His creation. It is the lesson that Jacob, and many of us today are still trying to learn.

It is God who controls birth, death, and salvation. God controls the rise and fall of nations. He is unfair, according to man’s presumptions and assumptions, but it is not about man, it is about God.

Conclusion

Every decision has a consequence. We are truly reaping what has been sown in times past. This should cause some pause for all of us when choosing our spouses, leaders, and policies thereof. Where is the prayer, where is the acceptance of God’s Providence, and where is the abiding in the Blessed hope? These are the true questions when answered strengthen our faith.

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