Bibledoorajar Salutes Fathers In the Struggle to Provide

      With the score four to two and with Rachel having declared she had prevailed against her sister, Leah took action. She thrust her handmade Zilpah forward to Jacob and encouraged him to bring another child into the world with the maid. Jacob complied and soon Gad arrived. Gad was Jacob's seventh son and at his birth Leah observed, "a troop cometh " and she called him Gad which means "in fortune".
     On yesterday, I was privileged to share a meal with four fathers. As we sat and ate and visited together there was much laughter and joy. Big children and little children were everywhere. But as I sat there and looked at each father, I realized that I knew a lot about the oppositions and struggles each man had faced in the life time of his children. One had endured the "troops coming" against him and his children and had reached older age having six children who had given him grandchildren who were now giving him great grands. I had personal knowledge of some of the agonies that he had had to endure. Though not a perfect man, he had certainly been patient in the face of adverse times within his family. He had not left; he endured. Another had faced life's difficulties and had considered ending his difficulty through death. However, he overcame those thoughts and continued his struggle finding joy in his progeny and their children. Next was a young father, virile and capable. A hard worker, he sees a bright future and is yet to see the many "troops coming".  The last was a man I do not know too well, but I know the "troops" came and he lost his children to be raised by others. Now he lives alone, seeking to find happiness through the children and family of another man.
     The Bible declares that in this world we will have tribulation. The spirit of God moved through Leah to declare this with the birth of Jacob's seventh child. With things coming at them from all directions, people have to find that last direction, the one where from deep within ourselves we look up and find good fortune in believing that God will sustain us and shape us. He will bring us to a place of peace and joy if we let Him prevail in our lives. Remember, God sees the end of our lives and He knows the plans He has for us. Center down and endure the storms with Him at the helm.

 "The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will,
Peace, be still!
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Or demons or men, or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean, and earth, and skies;
They all shall sweetly obey Thy will,
Peace, be still! Peace, be still!
They all shall sweetly obey Thy will,
Peace, peace, be still!"
                                           Mary Baker

Bibledoorajar looks at God's Wisdom and the Motives of People

                              "... in my dream, I seemed to see a woman
                                both young and fair; along a plain she gathered
                                flowers, and even as she sang, she said:
                               Whoever asks my name, know that I'm Leah,
                                and I apply my lovely hands to fashion
                                a garland of the flowers I have gathered."

                                                         Purgatorio by Dante

Jacob had set as his goal to live for God. God had set as His goal for Jacob to father a great nation. Jacob had declared that if God would bless Him, he would follow Him. He had found the girl of his dreams and was ready to move forward. But his uncle disappointed him by giving him Leah in marriage instead. But Laban calmly says that it is the custom for the elder to marry first and that Jacob could also have Rachel in exchange for another seven years of labor. Some would call this unfair persecution, but Jacob immediately agreed to the seven years in order to gain the one he dearly loved. It sets the scene for much human conflict. Two women and one man and a price to be paid for both.

It seems that in God's realm there is often a price to be paid in following Him and accomplishing what He desires. People disappoint yet through these experiences God's will moves forward. Isn't it wonderful that God's will can be accomplished in spite of questionable motives and hard situations?
Jacob was willing to do whatever was necessary to get Rachel. Are you willing to take steps no matter how costly or hurtful to achieve something for God? Can you endure the ways of a fellow Christian in order to accomplish a ministry goal? Leah was needed by God and, though she became a thorn in the flesh of Rachel, she produced six of Jacob's sons. Remember no price we pay for accomplishments in God's realm can ever outweigh the price He paid when He gave us Jesus. Faith calls for endurance.

Bibledoorajar is impressed with how Mordecai takes victory over Haman in prayer

     "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery

trials which is to try you, as though some strange

thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you

partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory

is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

If you are reproached for the name of Christ; blessed

are you, for the Spirit of God rests upon you."

                                                                                   1 Pet. 4:12-14

     Mordecai has chosen his method for overcoming Haman. He will go to God about the disorder and tribulation that Haman wishes to bring forth. As he sits humbly in sackcloth and ashes, Mordecai can remember the past, the present and the future. He can remember and remind God of His faithfulness to His children in the past; "God, you are a good God, ever protecting your people". He can describe the present tribulation and impending disorder to God. Not that God does not already know, but Mordecai can give his perspective on how terrible this reproach would be on the glory of His Name and His people. Lastly, he can place his hope for future rescue squarely upon God and His mighty power. His appeal will be that, somehow, someway, God will disrupt Haman's plans before the eleventh month arrives. Perhaps the rescue may not come until the eleventh hour of the eleventh month. Will Mordecai persevere? Will he "cave" and bow to man? 

     The scripture says that Mordecai did not cave. He rent his clothes and cried out to God because His people were suffering due to God and His values. Such persecution seems to come in this world system for those who proclaim their allegiance to the kingdom of God. Christ actually tells us to be of good cheer under these circumstances:

"In the world you will have tribulation;

but be of good cheer, I have overcome

the world."

John 16:33

By faith, we are to believe that however, and whenever, Christ will overcome. This challenge is to believe this even though our overcoming may take our earthly lives. The goal is to learn to share in the battle against evil at this level.

"Dear Maria, I think that we're going to have an

exceptionally good Christmas...I used to be fond of 

thinking up and giving presents, but now that we

have nothing to give, the gift that God gave us in the

birth of Christ will seem all the more glorious: the emptier

our hands, the better we understand...The poorer our quarters,

the more clearly we perceive that our work should be

Christs' here on earth."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer to his fiance' in

Love Letters From Cell 92.

Bibledoorajar prays that whatever your circumstances this Christmas season, you may rejoice with exceeding joy. "Oh come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant. Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Bethlehem. Come, and behold Him, born the King of angels. Oh, come let us adore Him. Oh, come let us adore Him. Oh, come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord."