All kinds of love, actually

Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today it’s Bern Leckie:

What did I like about today's reading?

I'm amazed at the character of these people God has chosen to bless. Jacob couldn't tell the difference between the woman he loved and her sister on his wedding night, but he's clever enough to work out how to get revenge through selective animal husbandry. But there are bigger forces at work. Jacob's children come from all kinds of love mixed with various degrees of frustration, bitterness and dysfunction.

It's twisted, but love is the theme and maybe it's a distorted echo of God's love. It all begins with Jacob working seven years for love, like the seven days of creation - seven is a Godly number. They seemed like only a few days to Jacob, as a thousand years seem like a day to God (Psalm 90 verse 4), and just like God in his love for people, Jacob gets frustration instead of the relationship he wanted.

What I like most is that God still loves his people and will redeem a nation through the firstborn son from Jacob's true love.

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

It reminds me of the importance of love, defining God's character and everything he wants for us, and makes me think of 1 Peter 4 verse 8, "Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins."

What am I going to do differently as a result?

Worry less. Focus more on God's amazing love and the good things which can come from sharing it.

Who am I going to share this with?

I know a few people who think their lives are not something God would like or be interested in. Sometimes we talk about weird family backgrounds. This seems a pretty good story to share with them!