In our Weakness He is Strong

Scripture: And my honesty will testify for me in the future, whenever you check on the wages you have paid me. Any goat in my possession that is not speckled or spotted, or any lamb that is not dark-colored, will be considered stolen. Genesis 30:33

Observation: The rest of Genesis 30 goes on to describe how Jacob tricked Laban by using deceptive breeding practices to ensure all future 'strong' animals were speckled, and weak ones were pure in color.

I never know what to make of Jacob. This is a man who tricked his brother twice out of all his inheritance, deceived his father into giving him his blessing against his father's will, somehow "accidentally" slept with the wrong woman on his wedding night, tricked his uncle out of his flocks ... he just doesn't seem like an honest or faithful person.

Application: God finds a way to use people for his purposes despite their weaknesses. Maybe even because of their weaknesses. Through Jacob's weakness, he ultimately fathered more than a dozen children - enough to truly start a nation - and laid in motion the animosity between the various other nations of that region that would ultimately ensure God's ability to demonstrate his power and miracles.

Am I willing to see how God is using those people around me to advance his purposes ... not despite their weaknesses, but through their weaknesses? Do I know how God could use my weaknesses and shortcomings? Do I have enough faith to let him do so?

Prayer: Lord, please use me, and please use me in a way that is unexpected and even uncomfortable to me. I am here for you and your purposes.