Power

There is so much going on in today's reading; so many lessons we can learn from!

One thing that has caught my attention as we've been reading in Genesis is the power that we, as wives, have to sway and influence the men in our lives.

Sarah grows impatient waiting for God to give them the son He promised so she tells Abraham to sleep with Hagar - and relational messes are created from that poor use of her power to influence (which the nation of Israel is still experiencing today).

Rebekah wants her favorite son to receive Isaac's blessing so she persuades Jacob to scheme with her and deceive his father...a very poor use of her power to influence.

In today's reading, Rachel envies Leah because of Leah's ability to have children, while Rachel remains barren. So she, too, poorly uses her power to influence Jacob and gives him Bilhah as a wife. (I've got to wonder why he agreed. Did he learn nothing from the relational messes that were created when his grandfather - Abraham - did that very same thing?)

Genesis 31: 14-16 records a positive example of our power to influence when Rachel and Leah agree with Jacob that it is time to leave Laban and return to Jacob's home.

Through all these examples, positive, as well as negative, we need to be aware of how great is our power to influence our husbands, sons, etc. The old - and not very flattering - saying, "When Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" sums up our ability to turn the mood of our whole home. I have noticed over the years that how I start my day determines the course for my whole family. If I start my day in a good mood, focused on God, so will my whole family. If I start crabby and snapping at everyone, well, let's just say it would be better if I would just go back to bed and try again later!!

We have great power and we need to make sure that we are continually yielding to God's will so that our power of influence is always under His control and influence. We need to make certain that we are walking with the Lord, following His ways (not our preferences), and listening closely to His Voice, so that our power is merely an extension of God's Great Power in our lives.