The story from Genesis 30:25-43 is a story about this very thing. The Lord is the provider. But the Lord gave Jacob wisdom, expertise, and resourcefulness to breed his flocks. We find this throughout the Bible. David’s building projects, Solomon’s Temple build, weapons of warfare that God’s people invented, and governmental laws were all given by God and done by the people of God. One of the hallmarks of Christianity is the freedom of thought, invention, and resourcefulness that it brings.
The study of Genesis has been good for my soul and the soul of our church. One of the areas that’s been good has been the warnings about jealousy and selfish ambition. It’s very interesting how often these issues arise in the Old Testament: In Genesis alone, we see Cain and Abel, Sarai and Hagar, Jacob and Esau, Rachel and Leah, and Joseph and his brothers. In other parts of the Old Testament history, you’ll see Miriam and Aaron being jealous of Moses and the sons of Korah doing the same. You’ll read of King Saul’s jealousy about David and David’s son, Absalom, selfishly taking the throne.
Over the course of the last 8-10 years, anything from sexual ethics to abortion politics has become a war zone. To enter these worlds, you must be prepared to speak courageously, as I mentioned above. But Galatians 5:15 reveals to us a truth that will help us as we engage in public with the truth: those who bite and devour will consume themselves.