February 24th | God Works Through Our Messiness. Your Mess Doesn't Cancel His Promise.

Whew! This is no Hallmark movie—it's more like a Jerry Springer Show with high stakes. Jealousy, bargaining, surrogacy drama, and a whole lot of "keeping score." Yet through every messy moment, God is quietly fulfilling His promise to Abraham: descendants as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5; 22:17).

---

Imagine this: Jacob finally marries the woman of his dreams—Rachel—after seven years of hard work for her dad, Laban. But plot twist! Laban swaps in big sister Leah on the wedding night (talk about the ultimate bait-and-switch). Jacob ends up married to both sisters, working another seven years for Rachel. Talk about complicated family dynamics!

Jacob clearly prefers Rachel—she's the one he loves deeply. But Leah? She's the "unwanted" one in his eyes. Yet God sees her pain. The Bible says, "When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive" (Genesis 29:31). Boom—Leah starts having sons left and right: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah. (Fun fact: Judah's line leads straight to King David... and ultimately to Jesus!)

Meanwhile, Rachel is heartbroken and barren. She's desperate, even tells Jacob, "Give me children, or I'll die!" (Genesis 30:1). In the heat of sister-rivalry, she gives her servant Bilhah to Jacob—Bilhah has Dan and Naphtali, credited to Rachel.

Leah, not one to back down (and thinking her baby days might be over), counters by giving her servant Zilpah to Jacob—enter Gad and Asher.

Then comes the famous mandrake incident. Little Reuben finds some mandrakes in the field (ancient people thought these funky-looking plants were a fertility booster). Rachel begs for some, Leah snaps back with, "You've already taken my husband—now my son's mandrakes too?" They strike a deal: mandrakes for a night with Jacob. Leah conceives again—Issachar, Zebulun, and daughter Dinah.

Finally—after all the competition, servants, trades, and tears—God "remembers" Rachel. She conceives on her own and gives birth to Joseph (the future savior-of-Egypt guy).

Whew! This is no Hallmark movie—it's more like a Jerry Springer Show with high stakes. Jealousy, bargaining, surrogacy drama, and a whole lot of "keeping score." Yet through every messy moment, God is quietly fulfilling His promise to Abraham: descendants as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5; 22:17). He builds the twelve tribes of Israel out of this very messy chaos.

The big reminder? God's love and promises aren't earned by our perfect behavior. He pours out grace right in the middle of our self-made messes. Leah wasn't loved by her husband, but she was deeply seen and valued by God. Rachel's longing was met—not by mandrakes or schemes—but by God's perfect timing.

Now flip to the New Testament for the game-changer: Colossians 3:1-3 (NIV):

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

Paul is saying: Hey, believer—you've been raised to new life with Jesus! Your old self (the one tangled in rivalry, jealousy, score-keeping, and earthly drama) has died. Your true identity is now safely hidden in Christ. So stop dragging the old baggage around like it's still who you are. Fix your eyes upward—on Jesus, on eternal things, on the secure love God has for you.

Just like God turned Jacob's messy family into the foundation of His people, He can take your chaos—your regrets, rivalries, unmet longings—and weave something beautiful. You're not defined by the drama; you're defined by being raised with Christ.

- Where are you still "competing" for love, attention, or worth—like Leah and Rachel?

- What "old self" habits are you dragging around instead of leaving them buried with Christ?

- Thank God that His love isn't based on your performance—it's a gift, even in the mess.