Why God Allows Difficult People in our Lives

Why God Allows Difficult People in our Lives Genesis 31: 38– 42 Tension in the Tank

Why God Allows Difficult People in our Lives Genesis 31: 38– 42 Jacob’s Catfish

Today, let’s begin our focus with Genesis 31: 38– 42 Here, Jacob replies to Laban and summarizes his feelings about this relationship that deteriorated during a twenty-year period. These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock. 39 That which was

torn by beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. You required it from my hand, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40 There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes. 41 Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. 42 Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely

now you would have sent me away emptyhanded. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night. ”

EIGHT CHARACTERISTICS of a CATFISH 1) Catfish are the first to accuse others of the sins they themselves commit. (31: 26) And Laban said to Jacob: “What have you done, that you have stolen away unknown to me, and carried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword?

EIGHT CHARACTERISTICS of a CATFISH 2) Catfish often start out as supporters. (29: 13) Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things.

EIGHT CHARACTERISTICS of a CATFISH 3) Catfish are often members of your own family.

EIGHT CHARACTERISTICS of a CATFISH 4) Catfish cause fear. (31: 31) Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force

EIGHT CHARACTERISTICS of a CATFISH 5) Catfish misrepresent the truth - and believe it! (31: 43) And Laban answered and said to Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne?

EIGHT CHARACTERISTICS of a CATFISH 6) Catfish are selfish. “All you see is mine” (31: 43) 7) Catfish steal the credit for the things that you have done. 8) Catfish accuse in the most important and treasured areas of your life.

You need God’s protection to survive a catfish attack! 31: 24 But God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad. Catfish will not just go away - and God uses them in your life!

How to Swim When there’s Tension in the Tank • Consider God’s PURPOSES • Catfish keep us swimming when we’d rather be • • • resting! Catfish keep us praying when we’d otherwise forget! Catfish keep us humble when were tempted to be self-sufficient Catfish keep us careful when we’d otherwise be unguarded Catfish keep us trusting in God rather than relying on our natural abilities, efforts and resources Catfish help us to grow when we’d otherwise be content to rest.

1) WHAT DOES GOD WANT FOR YOU? Consider God’s Blessing • Jacob encountered God! (Gen 32: 22) • Jacob gained a family - Rachel and Leah finally come together! • Jacob gained wealth. He arrived EMPTY and left FULL • Jacob grew as a shepherd • Jacob grew as a MAN of GOD - He mellowed!

WHAT DOES GOD WANT FOR CATFISH? God wants to turn the CATFISH into a CHRISTIAN God wants to turn the DRAGON into a DISCIPLE

1) Lord, make me soft and tender, not hard and bitter. 2. Lord, use me to show your love to the Labans in my life. 3) Lord, teach me the lessons I need to learn. 4) Lord, help me to focus on the AUDIENCE and not the ANTAGONIST