In This Way: Overcoming Obstacles

"So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her." ~ Gen 29:20

Observations:

• Jacob overcame obstacles by keeping the main thing, the main thing: Rachel
• Rachel was the tipping point.  Because of her, Jacob:
• upended local traditions by watering the sheep (29:10)
• wept aloud after kissing her (29:11)
• used his labor as a bride price (29:18)
• endured his father-in-law's trickery (29:22-29a)
• already had ten children but waited to leave Laban until Rachel conceived
• Love sustained Jacob in difficulty

Application:

• My marriage is more important than anything else.  
• I want her just as excited holding my hand when we finish an assignment as she was when we started.
• My love for her is trumped only by my love for God
• Keeping the main thing the main thing affects everything else
• In marriages, there are tipping points
• Remembering "why" gets me through whatever may come

Prayer: As Jacob kept his eye on Rachel, with so many people swirling, help me to keep my eye on my wife and family with so many other things swirling.