Ugly Favor

Happy Monday!

My apologies for missing out on Happy Sunday!  Hope this e-mail finds you well.

Bishop David C. Cooper from New Hope Full Gospel Baptist Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico was our guest speaker for Men's Day.
He preached, "Ugly Favor", using Genesis 29:1-35 as his scripture reference.

I'm sure you remember the story of Leah and Rachel.  The Bible says, Leah was tender-eyed, but Rachel was beautiful and well favored. (vs. 16)  Jacob loved Rachel and hated Leah.  When God saw that Leah was hated, he "opened her womb". (vs. 31)

It's important to understand the culture of the time.  Child-bearing was expected, required, and considered a womans' contribution to society.

Think about Sarah, Hannah, and The Shunammite Woman.  Even though they were loved, respected, and provided for they lacked that one thing...a child.

Leah was the older sister.  She was expected to marry first.  Her father must have felt that her disability would keep her from ever marrying, so he devised a plan to trick Jacob.  Now, don't start feeling sorry for Jacob!  Remember he and his mother plotted to get his brother's birthright.  Galatians 6:7 says, "Don't be misled; No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest". (Message Translation)  If you know anything about planting and harvesting, you know that you can plant a few seeds and get giant plant with thousands of seeds.  Let's remember to plant good seeds!

So poor Leah is unloved, and disrespected.  But GOD!  God saw that she was hated!  God sees everything.  He sees you on the job, he knows that promotion was really yours.  He sees you at home, he knows that you need more money or less month.  He sees your dreams, desires, and unspoken requests!  He sees the "Haters", plotting, and planning.  He knows, and he can be trusted!  Psalm 37:4 says, "Be happy with the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart!" (God's Word Translation)  So God favored Leah and blessed her with children.  In our modern day thinking, it would be like getting your education for free, the best job you could ever imagine, and that perfect significant other all in one day!
"God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart."  (1 Samuel 16:7)

So what can we take from this? Glad you asked. "Your disadvantage never hinders your destination." - Bishop David C. Cooper.  Even if you are being mistreated, overlooked, and neglected...hang on in there!  Galatians 6:9 says, "So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit".   God is faithful.  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take". Proverbs 3:5-6 (New Living Translation)

Have an awesome week!  Love and prayers, Cynthia