We've all heard the expression "What goes around comes around," right? Well, is that true? For a Christian, a better question might be, "If it's true, what does that say about our Father in Heaven." And likewise, "If that's NOT true, what does that say about Him?" We're going to attempt to look at those questions here, and see what this says about the nature of the One whom we worship.

The principle of Sowing and Reaping has been in play since the very beginning. At the Creation of the world, our Father made the Heavens and the earth, but though it was complete in its perfection, it was not yet complete in its potential. By this I mean both these things were true: "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day." (Gen 1:31) And: "So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Gen 1:27-28)

Do you see what happens here? He makes a perfect creation, a world of sinless beings, but then He doesn't freeze it in time, He tells us to DO something. He has planted a seed, and we were to carry out His purpose. Were all things to have continued, who knows where we would be now? But it would have been a wonderful harvest, of that we can be sure!

So it is that this is an eternal principle: "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till He come and rain righteousness upon you." (Hosea 10:12) And by the same token: "Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same." (Job 4:8)

Sow righteousness, and you will obtain mercy - plant wicked seeds, and you are in for a bitter harvest! But that doesn't seem like the full picture, does it? For righteousness is not by works, but by faith, isn't it? The Word is explicit on this, for it says: "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." (Gal 5:5) And again: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph 2:8-9)

That's very plain, yet even in our Christian hymns, we sing of this principle. Have any of you heard this song? The chorus goes something like this:

We spoke of the Creation above, so let's take another example out of Genesis. Following very much the pattern of the first brothers on earth, Cain and Abel, we have also these two: "And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them." (Gen 25:21, 24-26)

Now it says that Esau became a cunning hunter, but we find that Jacob was quite cunning in his own right! We see Jacob tricking his brother out of his inheritance as the firstborn here: "And Esau said to Jacob, 'Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint:' therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, 'Sell me this day thy birthright.' And Esau said, 'Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?' And Jacob said, 'Swear to me this day;' and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob." (Gen 25:30-33)

And in the Old Testament families, the "birthright" of the firstborn was this: two thirds of the physical inheritance (lands, goods, animals) and also the priesthood. This was transferred by a "laying on of hands" much like the apostles granting authority to believers as recorded here: "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." (1 Tim 4:14)

It is to his credit, perhaps, that Jacob seemed more interested in the priesthood (at the urgings of his mother) than the physical gains, but the methods he used to procure it were... questionable at best: "And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, 'My son:' and he said unto him, 'Behold, here am I.' And he said, 'Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.'" (Gen 27:1-4)

Isaac, knowing his death was near, makes ready to give Esau the blessing of the family priesthood, and asks his firstborn some to go hunting for him, an occasion they must have joyfully shared together when the old man was able as it is recorded: "And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob." (Gen 25:28)

Continuing, we find the plot thickens: "And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. " (Gen 27:5) Knowing, perhaps in her own spirit, that the blessing should by all rights fall upon Jacob, especially since he had bought it from Esau, she says to him: "Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death." (Gen 27:8-10)

There was an immediate problem with this, of course, especially since the blessing involved a "laying on of hands," and Jacob points this out: "And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, 'Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.'" ( Gen 27:11-12) But his mother tells him not to worry about this annoying detail, and so Jacob goes on to prepare the meal as he is bidden.

When the time comes for the blessing, we are told: "And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck." (Gen 27:15-16) Well, the plot works, and Jacob obtains the family priesthood and two thirds of the worldly estate. And what a blessing it was! Would that all fathers should speak such words of faith over their sons: "Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee." (Gen 27:28-27)

What follows between Esau and Isaac when the elder brother does return from the fields is an oft-misunderstood scene: "And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, 'Bless me, even me also, O my father.' And he said, 'Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.' And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, 'Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?' And Esau said unto his father, 'Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father.' And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept." (Gen 27:34-35, 37-38)

Was Isaac being legalistic and even mean with his eldest, more beloved child? No, that's not it. Even though trickery was involved, it was the word of God behind the old man's words. Jacob was now a priest, to be fed with "the dew of heaven," and the greater portion of the inheritance were his, irrevocably. As the New Testament says: "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright." (Heb 12:15-16)

That is a somber warning, for many have left the service of God for things which will not profit, trading eternal rewards for the perishable things of earth. It need never be so with the "Grown up" saints that we are called to be, but these warnings are not to be taken lightly or forgotten, and should ever be on our lips - in a loving fashion - strengthening those who flirt with temptations, or persist in known sins.

Well, not to dwell too long here, we find that after Esau comes to terms with his loss, he makes plans to slay his brother (again, much as Cain did with Abel) for vengeance's sake. Rebekah, remembering Laban her brother, sends the boy to live with his uncle until Esau's rage passed. This was not an easy apprenticeship by any means, however. " And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept." (Gen 29:10-11)

Love at first sight with the boss's daughter! Well, at first that seemed like a good thing: "And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, 'I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.' And Laban said, 'It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.'" (Gen 29:18-19) But of course we know how that turned out: "And Jacob said unto Laban, 'Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.' And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her." (Gen 29:21-23)

The details of how this switch was accomplished is not known. I've even heard it said that Rachel may have been in on it for one reason or another. But the important thing for this study is this, that Jacob got back exactly what he planted back home. A trickster himself, he finds his match in the equally cunning Laban, and instead of seven years, he has to work twice that to receive the object of his desires. Not only that, in terms of his wages, Laban again attempted to cheat Jacob of what was his in terms of cattle and other goods: "And your father [Laban] hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me." (Gen 31:7)

Now if this seems like a minor point after so long a tale, let's take a look at the climax of the Jacob story. After his two wives, and their maidservants, had borne him many sons, Jacob is inspired to return home, and make peace with Esau. Along the way, just before the feared event, Jacob sends all his possessions ahead of him, and then prays for deliverance from his brother: "And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, 'Let me go, for the day breaketh.' And he said, 'I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.'" (Gen 32:24-26)

This "man" appears and wrestles with Jacob, ultimately using divine power to overcome the human. It then becomes more interesting: "And he said unto him, 'What is thy name?' And he said, 'Jacob.' And he said, 'Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.'" (Gen 32:26-28) A blessing and a new name! Jacob is now called "Israel," or "Overcomer," literally translated Yishra-El (He who strives with El, or Elohim - God). In fact, Jacob now recognizes his Creator and later our Messiah in the "man" or angel as Hosea later describes: "He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us." (Hosea 12:3-4)

And Jacob names the place "Peniel" in verse 30, which means, "The Face of El."

What has prepared him for this event, and for the later meeting with his brother (which is a wonderful and joyful story in its own right), is the time that Jacob spent with Laban. Not only did the work itself prepare him for the priesthood that he obtained from his brother as it would later do with Moses in the 40 years before he led the people out of Egypt, but something else too.

Before Jacob even came to Peniel, he was pursued by Laban, for his wives had taken more than the agreed-upon amount from their father, and he met up with the group, and demanded to know why Jacob had snuck out in secret. Rather than try to justify his position, Jacob answers frankly: "And Jacob answered and said to Laban, 'Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.'" (Gen 31:31) Fear. Jacob admits fear, and he says exactly why, because the things he feels are his might be taken from him. The things he loves would be lost. It wasn't a tidy meeting either, for Jacob does later become angry: "And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, 'What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?'" (Gen 31:36)

But the two eventually do make peace: "And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, 'These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born? Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.' And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar." (Gen 31:43-45)

So it is that Jacob was made to feel the effects of trickery directed against himself, and perhaps during his prayers before the angel's appearance he developed some sympathy for Esau, whom he had wronged. We aren't even left to mere speculation for this, for it is declared. Upon meeting up with Esau, Jacob goes against his earlier plan, and rather than sending his wives first: "And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother." (Gen 33:3) This is quite a change of heart. Now he is not afraid, now he is humble, and calls himself Esau's servant. He asks forgiveness, by his actions and countenance, and when it is granted: "And Jacob said, 'Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.'" (Gen 33:10)

How very like the prodigal son! "And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept." (Gen 33:4) I wish we had time for a study to connect the two, but the implications should be more than clear. So now back to our original question: What does this say about God?

Did our Father punish Jacob for his scheming mindset? It might almost appear so, but look at the ends it produced! Jacob humbled himself, and admitted his faults, to himself, to Laban and to Esau. And then there was peace: again, with Laban, with Esau, and with himself! Will God punish us if we break His plan for our lives? Will He hit us with a hammer if we step out of bounds! Not at all, this seems to say. Yes, bad things will happen to us, but not because or Father causes them: "Let no man say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted of God;' for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man." (James 1:13)

A more accurate way to look at it is thus: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Cor 10:13) Notice it, God does not ALLOW more temptations than we can bear. Even when we make mistakes, He will hold back the force of what we have rightfully earned, in order that we may learn and grow, doing better next time. That way we move on from "Faith to faith." We looked at Job a while ago, seeing clearly that it is Satan who will accuse and cause disaster, and our Father will sometimes allow the disasters, in order to perfect our patience, even as Christ, through His trials, became the Example for us to follow.

But the Jacob story above illustrates like few others: if we have a flaw, there will arise circumstances to bring it out into the open - not to humiliate us, or to punish us, but so that WE can see that uncleanness in ourselves, and confess it, and lay it at the cross... destroying it forever. In this way, through the process of sanctification, we become this wonderful result: "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Eph 5:27)

This is the way we may fulfill this teaching of the Word: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Understand this, that as a Christian, the suffering you encounter, in ANY aspect of your life, is rightly to be called "Christ's sufferings," for as you submit to their influence, asking, "Now, what does this teach me about myself and my Heavenly Father," you will find that you are actually able to rejoice in what they are teaching you! In this way, we do grow up to be the spotless individuals of that "glorious church," that company of grown-up saints that will be able to endure the worst of times, should it be necessary, of which EACH individual will be able to honestly declare: "Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (2 Tim 2:10)

And remember that this works both ways, for we may sow both good AND evil, both blessings and curses. Not only will we be put in a position where our flaws are revealed, but also our strengths; and that, perhaps, will make a good study for next week, but whichever one sows, good or evil, the harvest will be greater than that which was planted, and in either case: "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." (2 Cor 9:6)

We have the opportunity as representatives of Christ to sow the seeds of faith, peace, kindness, gentleness, mercy, and most of all LOVE, which is the true object here, and will figure prominently into the next study, as truly it has in this one. Our reward will be all the greater for it, that is a promise from our Father to you. Christ has left us to go and sit at the right hand of The Almighty, and the job has passed to US to be they who sow the seeds. And so we see that even from the beginning, our Father created heaven and earth, planting a seed and expecting a wonderful harvest. And it is true what the Word says: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Gal 6:7)

This sums our study up beautifully, for though some seeds have fallen on hard ground, and some were snatched away by ravens, and others chocked by the thorns; in the end of days, we are promised that we shall both BE and PRODUCE a beautiful harvest. The road may not have been smooth, but it has been straight, and that road is our Redeemer, who gave His life to open the door back to the right path.

David.