~Meddling~

Oh how we love to meddle. We may call it by other names, of course. Motherly concern. Friendly advice. A word to the wise. But when we boil it down and take a good look at what's left in the bottom of the pot, it's really just plain, old-fashioned meddling. 

Rebekah thought she had good reason to meddle. (But then, don't we always think we have a good reason?) During her pregnancy, her twin baby boys had wrestled in her womb for position. That's when God told her that Esau, her older son, would serve Jacob, the younger. Now her husband was preparing to give the blessing and all of its benefits to Esau. She had to do something-fast! So she meddled. 

You know, a funny thing happens when we meddle. We usually succeed: sometimes changes. But succeeding can come with a high price tag-much higher than we ever expected to pay. The price Rebekah paid for meddling was painfully high. She turned her sons against one another. She sent Jacob away to escape Esau's wrath, never to see him again. She alienated herself from her husband and her firstborn son. But worst of all, she deprived herself of seeing how God would have fulfilled his promise to her. 

If you search your Bible, you won't find any verses telling you to trust in your own way or to interfere in other people's business because God can't handle it. You won't find God telling you to meddle so that his perfect will can be done. God doesn't encourage his people to scheme or to plan or to quick, come up with something-anything! If you are frantically trying to figure out what to do, it's a good clue that you need to slow down, take a deep breath and take a giant step back. 

Instead of wasting your energy meddling, try pouring your energy into meditating. Meditate on God's goodness, his faithfulness, his character traits and his promises. When you begin turning your eyes to the Lord rather than sticking your nose into other people's business, you'll seen discover that he is always busy intervening on behalf of his people-including you and the people you love. 

-Women's Devotional Bible

{Genesis 27:13-15}

13 But his mother replied, “Then let the curse fall on me, my son! Just do what I tell you. Go out and get the goats for me!”

14 So Jacob went out and got the young goats for his mother. Rebekah took them and prepared a delicious meal, just the way Isaac liked it.  
15 Then she took Esau’s favorite clothes, which were there in the house, and gave them to her younger son, Jacob. 

{Psalm 27:14}
Wait patiently for the Lord.

Be brave and courageous.

Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

{Psalm 77:10-14}

10 And I said, “This is my fate;

the Most High has turned his hand against me.”

11 But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;

I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.

12 They are constantly in my thoughts.

I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.

13 O God, your ways are holy.

Is there any god as mighty as you?

14 You are the God of great wonders!

You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.

{Proverbs 19:2}

Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good;

haste makes mistakes.