Sacrifice: A Bridge over Obstacles

When Jacob arrived at his uncle's home, he immediately began a relationship with his cousin Rachel that would change his life. Genesis 29:18 confirms he agreed to work seven years for Rachel. The culture of the day permitted fathers to choose husbands for their daughters. Laban told Jacob he would rather give her to him than someone else.

Rachel was possibly a teenager at the time of this agreement. Jacob was in his early forties. Yet he was so smitten with Rachel, seven years would pass quickly. He could see her every day, so anticipation for a joyful marriage had time to blossom and grow.  

Rachel’s father would prove be an obstacle for Jacob’s happiness. Instead of permitting this obstacle to dominate his chances for happiness, he agreed to the underhanded dealings of his uncle. Rachel’s love was worth any sacrifice. Isn't that how Jesus felt when he sacrificed himself for us? Have you accepted God’s sacrificial love for you? Think about it.  

Loving Demands Sacrifice

When Esau traded his birthright for a bowl of soup, Genesis 25:34 tells us he then despised his birthright and looked at it with contempt, believing it was worthless. His attitude was a defense for acting impulsively to satisfy his immediate hunger. We’ve all been guilty of acting impulsively, then dealing with consequences that tend to linger on indefinitely.

A young man told of an incident where he met a colleague in a bar and after several drinks, took her home and spent the night. Later he began to loathe and despise the young woman. Looking at his own weakness was too difficult to manage. Esau’s attitude should have been loaded with shame and guilt for having been so careless.

Jacob could have acted toward his brother with love by giving him the soup. Esau might have responded by expressing his gratitude and appreciation for such a loving act. When you love, you give something of yourself, of what you possess, and you show what it means to be effective as a human being whom God has blessed. God commanded that we love one another.