MEDDLING Genesis 27:1-40

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 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 pregancy, 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.

We know a funny thing happens when we meddle. We usually succeed: something 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 we search our Bible, we won't find any verses telling us to trust in our own ways or to interfere in other people's business because God can't handle it. We won't find God telling us 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....anythng if we are frantically trying to figure out what to do, it's a good clue that we need to slow down, take a deep breath and take a giant step back.

Instead of wasting our energy meddling, try pouring our energy into meditating. Meditate on God's goodness, His faithfulness, His character traits and His promises. When we begin turning our eyes to the Lord rather than sticking our nose into other people's business, we'll soon discover that He is always busy intervening on behalf of His people...including us and the people we love.