7/31/22 - The Deceiver Gets Deceived - Genesis 29 - Pastor Jason Fritz

“What goes around, comes around.” That’s a fitting title for our text. A few chapters ago we saw Jacob deceive his father. He tricked him as his father’s eye sight was failing and in the end Jacob received a family blessing intended for his brother. Jacob lives up to his name which literally means, “heel grabber.” When the twin boys were born Esau arrived first but Jacob was grabbing his foot as if to hold him back so that he could be the first born.  As a result of Jacob’s trickery toward his older brother he must leave his home and escape the murderous anger of his sibling. At the suggestion of his mother, Jacob travels to the land of her ancestors. It’s a long journey but he is told he will find a wife in this place. In fact, this is where he will get a taste of his own medicine from his uncle Laban. The deceiver will get deceived. Jacob will see himself in the man who manipulates him. As a result Jacob will change. You probably have difficult people in your life - Laban type people. They are harsh, judgmental, deceitful, arrogant and manipulative. You cry out for relief but it just might be that through them we take a closer look at ourselves. Perhaps some of those undesirable traits are in us. Could this be God’s way of helping us see and refine what is in our own hearts? Do you see that God is working in all of life’s circumstances and relationships. He works through ALL things for our good and for this we have to trust him.