In the second half of this chapter we read some sad things, but we continue to see God's kindness in action. His kindness to Rachel despite the sadness. One day we will be able to fully see just how kind God has been to us. We see how we need to shelter under Jesus' blood because he sees all that we do and there will be a day of justice. We see his kindness to Isaac who had stuttered and stumbled, but God kept him and enabled him to finish the race, bearing fruit. May we know the God of Bethel, Jesus, Immanuel with us giving us our daily bread.

In the first part of this chapter one word comes to mind and that is 'grace'. The kindness which God lavishes upon us which we do not deserve. We see it given to Jacob. God will do what he always planned to in Jesus Christ - to fill his good earth will people who will trust him, follow him and enjoy him forever.

In the second part of this dark chapter we see people doing bad things in God's name and not acting like the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus shed his own blood to bring forgiveness and his resurrection on the third day he brings life. Simeon and Levi were right to be angry and for there desire for justice, but they needed to do in God's way. Thank God that he builds his church relentlessly even in the midst of such messy darkness and evil.

There is such sadness in the broken world in which we live. We have a compassionate God who through his Son Jesus transformed godless, wicked societies to bring equaility and concern for the weak - things we take for granted. We have a God who is concerned for the widow, orphan and oppressed.

God does what he says. Jacob is brought safely back to the promised land of Canaan where he finds shelter and builds an altar. Like Jacob, we can shelter in Jesus and his life and death and resurrection for us, knowing he will bring us safely to the new creation.

Don't trouble your troubles in your mind - bring them to the LORD in prayer. God is so kind to us and we can come boldly before him in the name of Jesus.

We need to learn to wrestle in prayer like Jacob and like Jesus. We need more than being active and well planned. Sometimes we only learn to really pray when we're given some kind of limp or scar. How remarkable that the One who wrestled with Jacob, one day wrestled in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before he laid down his life for us! This is our God - may we trust him.

Beware about fearing the worst and troubling our own thoughts. It's good to plan, prepare and do what we can in a situation - that's spiritual - but it's never enough. We need the LORD's help and Jacob gives us a great example of what prayer looks like - taking hold of God's promises and bringing our fears to him.

Laban teaches us that one day every knee will bow before Jesus and confess that he is Lord. It's so encouraging that the LORD can draw a straight line with a crooked stick, so we mustn't despair even when we mess up. Following Jesus, we will never be empty handed and nothing can separate us from God's love.

When it seems like God is nowhere to be seen, we can be certain that he is watching over us just as he said he would. Jesus was crushed for our sins and has totally defeated Satan so we can be absolutely confident in him.