Jacob's life is associated with "comparison". His comparison can be divided into three stages: initial stage, middle stage and late stage.
. In the early days, it targeted his brother Saul (25: 19- 27: 46), located in the land of Canaan. In the medium term, Laban was the target, and the location was from Bethel to Bataan Alam (XXVIII1-XXXI16); Later opponents were God and Esau, and the locations were Jaber Ferry and Bethel (3 1 17- 35 29).
? Genesis 28-30 is the middle period of Jacob's struggle, focusing on making a wish to God in Bethel, meeting Laban in Bataaram and serving him, and marrying Leah and Rachel. The scripture describes the struggle of the two sisters. Jacob's experience changed his whole life and personality, making him feel that the God of Bethel is his personal God.
Thinking and application:
First of all, God tests people through the environment.
Today's three chapters tell us that God tests his children in various environments. Of course, God's test is good. Just like Jacob, God changed him and left his native land to live elsewhere. As we all know, Jacob used to be a liar in his own house, but now he is a liar in Laban's house. It turned out that he bullied his brother in his own house, and now he is bullied in Bataan Aram. Originally, the mother doted on her son in her own home, but she was just a cheap employee in someone else's home. Dear brothers and sisters, God used this experience to shape Jacob, so that he could experience the experience of a stranger, jump out of the self-centered state and be able to pity others. Similarly, today God will use the environment to change our character, life direction, work and so on. Therefore, sometimes it is not a bad thing to be forced to "leave" or experience difficulties, but it is time to realize God's good will.
Second, God loves the weak.
In addition, from the comparison between Rachel and Leah, we can see that God loves the weak. When God saw that Leah was hated, he gave birth to her, but Rachel was barren (Gen. 29: 3 1). When Leah gave birth to six sons, God remembered Rachel and allowed her to have children (30: 22). Brothers and sisters, people will be partial to others, and people will be partial to the goodness in their own eyes, just as Jacob loves Rachel; Of course, sometimes God is partial to people, but God is partial to the weak, unloved and regarded as unattractive and bad. Brothers and sisters, when we are weak, we know that God will remember us, and when we are strong, God will remember other weak people. So, today, will we learn the word of God and treat the disadvantaged groups with compassion?