Genesis 30:1-24
Romans 8:18-30
What does one do when hopes are frustrated and dreams are dashed? Paul in Romans indicates that this is not an uncommon problem. Even the earth groans with the desire for redemption and restoration and for the time being is frustrated.
Our Genesis passage gives us a telling illustration of frustrated desires. Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel and asked for her hand in marriage. All went forward with anticipation until Laban, Rachel’s father, substituted the less attractive sister, Leah (whom he feared would never get married), in the marriage bed. He required Jacob to work another seven years to finally get Rachel for his wife. The deceit of Laban put into motion a whole spiral of dysfunction and hatred that lasted for generations. Rachel and Leah spent their entire lives in competition for Jacob’s attention and affection. Bearing children seemed to be the ring in which they fought. While Rachel had the affection of Jacob, it was Leah who was fertile, making Rachel burn with envy. Rachel dealt with her frustration by enlisting her maid to bear Jacob’s children in her stead. Then Leah who had aged beyond child bearing enlisted her maid to bear Jacob additional children. It got to the point where Jacob became a commodity in their competition. Leah even bartered some mandrake plants for a night with Jacob.
This story gives a common pattern for dealing with frustration. We don’t get what we want from others so we take it into our own hands. This often results in further complications wherein the sins of the fathers are visited on the children (or as in this case, the sins of the mothers.) In our story, it was Rachel who felt that Jacob was letting her down. Jacob points out perhaps not so tactfully that it is not his problem, but God who is responsible for her barrenness. Rachel’s first choice is not to ask God for help but to push ahead to make it happen for herself. After many years, Rachel finally seeking help from God, was able to bear a child of her own womb, but this was not enough for her. She died birthing a second son. The animosity between Rachel and Leah’s children continued for years. The final note of interest is that it was through Leah’s line that the Savior of the world was born; God had chosen the less desirable by human standards, to mother the line of the Messiah—out of the line of Judah, a King will come!
How we deal with frustrated desires is an indication of our spiritual maturity. Paul writes that a mature believer is able to accept frustration in the realization that God is able to bring about good even in those circumstances that thwart our desires. Mature believers know that not all fulfillment comes in this lifetime. Mature believers are able to live in hope, knowing that in God’s timing we will receive what he has promised. Paul points out that patience is a key quality of a mature believer: “But if we have hope for what we do not already have, we wait for it patiently.” Waiting patiently for God to act in His time is key. This does not mean that we do nothing while we wait. It means we do the work at hand, we take each new step as it comes, we pray for discernment and we trust that God will act. We do not set about to achieve our desires in our own power “come hell or high water.” This ability to wait patiently is a strong witness in a culture that demands immediate gratification. Are you impetuous, demanding, pushing ahead to get what you want right now? Or are you patiently following God’s leading, trusting in his timing and goodness? “Wait , I say, upon the Lord.”
Romans 8:18-30
What does one do when hopes are frustrated and dreams are dashed? Paul in Romans indicates that this is not an uncommon problem. Even the earth groans with the desire for redemption and restoration and for the time being is frustrated.
Our Genesis passage gives us a telling illustration of frustrated desires. Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel and asked for her hand in marriage. All went forward with anticipation until Laban, Rachel’s father, substituted the less attractive sister, Leah (whom he feared would never get married), in the marriage bed. He required Jacob to work another seven years to finally get Rachel for his wife. The deceit of Laban put into motion a whole spiral of dysfunction and hatred that lasted for generations. Rachel and Leah spent their entire lives in competition for Jacob’s attention and affection. Bearing children seemed to be the ring in which they fought. While Rachel had the affection of Jacob, it was Leah who was fertile, making Rachel burn with envy. Rachel dealt with her frustration by enlisting her maid to bear Jacob’s children in her stead. Then Leah who had aged beyond child bearing enlisted her maid to bear Jacob additional children. It got to the point where Jacob became a commodity in their competition. Leah even bartered some mandrake plants for a night with Jacob.
This story gives a common pattern for dealing with frustration. We don’t get what we want from others so we take it into our own hands. This often results in further complications wherein the sins of the fathers are visited on the children (or as in this case, the sins of the mothers.) In our story, it was Rachel who felt that Jacob was letting her down. Jacob points out perhaps not so tactfully that it is not his problem, but God who is responsible for her barrenness. Rachel’s first choice is not to ask God for help but to push ahead to make it happen for herself. After many years, Rachel finally seeking help from God, was able to bear a child of her own womb, but this was not enough for her. She died birthing a second son. The animosity between Rachel and Leah’s children continued for years. The final note of interest is that it was through Leah’s line that the Savior of the world was born; God had chosen the less desirable by human standards, to mother the line of the Messiah—out of the line of Judah, a King will come!
How we deal with frustrated desires is an indication of our spiritual maturity. Paul writes that a mature believer is able to accept frustration in the realization that God is able to bring about good even in those circumstances that thwart our desires. Mature believers know that not all fulfillment comes in this lifetime. Mature believers are able to live in hope, knowing that in God’s timing we will receive what he has promised. Paul points out that patience is a key quality of a mature believer: “But if we have hope for what we do not already have, we wait for it patiently.” Waiting patiently for God to act in His time is key. This does not mean that we do nothing while we wait. It means we do the work at hand, we take each new step as it comes, we pray for discernment and we trust that God will act. We do not set about to achieve our desires in our own power “come hell or high water.” This ability to wait patiently is a strong witness in a culture that demands immediate gratification. Are you impetuous, demanding, pushing ahead to get what you want right now? Or are you patiently following God’s leading, trusting in his timing and goodness? “Wait , I say, upon the Lord.”
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