I think if you would have asked the patriarch Jacob, he would have wished that his life would have been easier. One mishap after another seemed to propel him into place and situations that he would rather not be. He was chased out of town by his brother, Esau, whom he tricked out of both his birthright and blessing. He went to live with his Uncle Laban, who tricked him into marrying the daughter he didn't want, and to working many more years to marry the woman he desired. He eventually left Laban's only to be pursued and accused of stealing the family God. He thought his brother Esau was going to kill him once they were reunited. Which brings us to Jacob's experience today, where he wrestled for a blessing with a divine being.
What is interesting though, is Jacob needed all of these experiences to help make him into the leader of Israel, the one who brought forth the 12 sons of the 12 tribes. If one was missing, his life may have went very differently.
How true is this of us as well? How many of us prefer, if not even pray for, smooth lives, but the truth is if they went as smoothly as we desired we may just be missing out on a blessing from God? God's vision for us, both as individuals and as a church, is not always easy, yet it does bear fruit for the Kingdom of God, if we trust and follow. The question is if we will seek the smooth way or God's way, starting this very day.
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