A Warning to The Highly Ambitious and Driven Person – Faithful Friday’s

 

JACOB WANTED IT ALL

THE BACK STORY….

Jacob was filled with purpose and determination. He stopped at nothing to claim the inheritance that wasn’t even rightfully his. He wore down his brother Esau to sell him his birthright, and then he deceived his father into giving him his blessing. He then worked for 7 years for his father-in- law to gain a wife, and then worked another 7 years to keep the wife he actually had asked for in the first place.

Jacob, crafty and determined, makes a deal with his father-in-law for livestock, and outwits him, gaining a large portion of the livestock. Jacob finally breaks free by fleeing in the middle of the night, from his Father-in-law. He brings with him his children, his wives, and now his fortune of speckeld livestock. He is more determined than ever to get to his destination and fulfill the promise and (stolen) blessing that he has received from his father and the Lord.

Jacob is well on his way and then one day hears that his brother is  coming to him, and Jacob freaks out!  This could mean war, this could be the loss of his fortune, and even the death of him and his family. In the night, after he has divided and hidden his family and herds, he finds himself wrestling with God over his promises. It starts with a prayer,  reminding God of His promises to make him a great nation.  

You can refresh yourself on Jacob’s story in Genesis 30, 31 &32

 Jacob is determined, he is powerful, he is driven, he is cunning, and wise, and crafty. The bible refers to his name as meaning;  supplanter, schemer, trickster, and swindler.  Jacob is what I would call to-day a ‘go getter’, and he has a lot on his mind to accomplish.

Jacob is so driven that when he wrestled with God, God’s angel says to him..And He said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob [supplanter], but Israel [contender with God]; for you have contended and have power with God and with men and have prevailed. Genesis 32: 28. 

Jacob was so determined to get to his goal, he wrestled and contended with God for it. God loves this about Jacob, and after injuring his leg (probably a subtle reminder who was in charge) , blesses him and names him Israel.

Jacob Paces Himself With The Delicate…

devotionalThis is the main devotional today. Something that jumped up at me as I was reading the word and this story this morning. Jacob is very determined, we have established that. However, one of the downfalls of a very determined person is that they tend to put their purpose and goals above their families, their friends, and even themselves. They are willing to bulldoze their way to their goal without any restraint.

Even ministry leaders, and Christians can lead this way. They are driven by their purpose and the promises of God for their ministry or church and they will stop at nothing to get there.  

So they work and strive to get there and in some cases, hurting and neglecting their families in the process.

So with myself; being a very driven, goal orientated person, with a mission from God, I can tend to put this drive above all else in my life and I have to always check myself. 

So this is what I learnt from Jacob this morning…..

 Jacob is freaking out because his brother is coming and this could be his ruin! He is determined to protect his possessions and family, because nothing is going to stop him from receiving his inheritance. To his surprise, Esau, his brother (who he stole the blessing from), comes with open, forgiving arms. Even offering to join back together as a family, which would mean more power for Jacob, more possessions, and more security to reach his destination.

And this is how Jacob Responds… 

12 Then [Esau] (his brother) said, Let us get started on our journey, and I will go before you.

13 But Jacob replied, You know, my lord, that the children are tender and delicate and need gentle care, and the flocks and herds with young are of concern to me; for if the men should overdrive them for a single day, the whole of the flocks would die.

14 Let my lord, I pray you, pass over before his servant; and I will lead on slowly, governed by [consideration for] the livestock that set the pace before me and the endurance of the children, [a]until I come to my lord in Seir.

15 Then Esau said, Let me now leave with you some of the people who are with me. But [Jacob] said, What need is there for it? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.

16 So Esau turned back that day on his way to Seir.

17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth and built himself a house and made booths or places of shelter for his livestock; so the name of the place is called Succoth [booths].

18 When Jacob came from Padan-aram, he arrived safely and in peace at the town of Shechem, in the land of Canaan, and pitched his tents before the [enclosed] town.

19 Then he bought the piece of land on which he had encamped from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money.

20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel [God, the God of Israel]. Genesis 33 : 12-20 (amp)

 
Jacob, even in all of his ambition, put what was tender and delicate, and needed gentle care, above his goal.
 
Here is the reference again..
 
13 But Jacob replied, You know, my lord, that the children are tender and delicate and need gentle care, and the flocks and herds with young are of concern to me; for if the men should overdrive them for a single day, the whole of the flocks would die. 14 Let my lord, I pray you, pass over before his servant; and I will lead on slowly, governed by [consideration for] the livestock that set the pace before me and the endurance of the children, [a]until I come to my lord in Seir. Genesis 33 : 13
 
Even in his determination and ambition, Jacob paced himself with what was delicate in his life, because he knew that reaching his destination in a hurry, with power, would mean nothing if he lost everything along the way. What was delicate to him? His wife, his children and his household.
 
To me this is a huge reminder to pace ourselves to what is delicate. Is God calling you to build a church, or to minister to the masses? Or is God calling you to a career to reach people, or build a fortune so you can bless people? Whatever it is that God is calling you to, know that God is also calling you to pace yourself to what is delicate in your life. Which means, if you have small children, then your life has to be paced with their needs, not the other way around (lest they should overdrive them for a single day, the whole of the flocks would die) I am not saying your children will die because you have over driven them, but we must be careful that we don’t neglect them on our journey. Perhaps we have failing parents, or a sick spouse who is in need right now, or a pregnant wife, or a worn out husband. Whatever the case, pace yourself to their needs and their tenderness, and God will get you to your destination in one piece.
 
This story is a great reminder that God is in charge of our purpose and destination, we just need to be obedient to care for tenderly what has been placed in our lives, and he will lead the way.  
 
Jacob reached his destination, he bought land, and he settled, and God blessed through him a great nation.
 

This Also Reminds Me That…

 
This is how God is with us, he paces himself and his ambition for his kingdom, so that He doesn’t overdrive us. God is a loving father who cares for the tender, and delicate and will never put His agenda over our wellbeing. 
 
So, pace yourself today, and enjoy your family this weekend.
 
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2 thoughts on “A Warning to The Highly Ambitious and Driven Person – Faithful Friday’s”

  1. Faith says:

    This is awesome, awesome, Sarah! I hadn’t had a chance to read it until today. This is a great reminder of what is important in our lives!!

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