For the love of Rachel

Reading through Genesis 28 - 30 gives me the feeling that almost says, "you have done it too."

Living in Zimbabwe is a little like the story of Jacob - after serving his uncle Laban faithfully for seven years, he does not get what he worked for. Instead, he gets Leah, who according to him was not his choice.

Laban encourages him to serve another seven years for Rachel which he did. It is in the last seven years that he managed to amass all the wealth that he eventually possessed.

In 2007, I met a lot of fellow Zimbabweans who really believed that the year 2007 was the YEAR. Many were telling themselves that if only they could survive through this year, everything was going to be fantastic. Even prophesies were declared about 2007 and seven being the perfect number of God, who would have doubted them - theb prophesies.

I am encouraged that God gave Jacob a perfect assurance of his presence in all the fourteen years. For in Genesis 28:1f, God assures Jacob that He was going to be with him. I believe that it is this encounter with God at the beginning of his experiences that gave Jacob the staying power to endure another seven years; and also of course for the Love of Rachel. Or is it for the "Love of Zimbabwe?"