Do cheaters ever prosper?

Do cheaters ever prosper?

For the second Sunday in July the lectionary selection of readings recommended to the Church include the stories about Jacob and Esau's birth, and the first incident of Jacob taking advantage of his older twin brother Esau -- by 'purchasing'  Esau's inheritance with 'something he was just cooking'  at the time that his famished hunter-brother returned home!

Some of us know the whole series of stories -- that include their mother Rebekah duping their aged and blind father to think Jacob is Esau -- and so having the father bless the wrong son; the trickery of Jacob's uncle Laban to keep Jacob from getting the promised bride Rachel, for whom he had worked 7 years --  AND most importantly perhaps, the several incidents when God intervened in Jacob's life -- showing Jacob who is really in charge of his future destiny: the story of Jacob's vision at Bethel with angels descending and ascending out of and into heaven; God's intervention against Laban when Jacob fled; and perhaps the most famous -- the Angel of the Lord wrestling with Jacob before he crossed back into his home territory after years away  [humbling this normally aggressive and calculating man sufficiently that God could 'get a word in'  which Jacob would listen to]! 

* These stories about a calculating family of cheaters and swindlers show that cheaters lose big time! Rebekah lost her son who had to flee the wrath of his brother Esau! Laban lost two daughters -- and a wealth of flocks -- despite his caniving!   Jacob paid for his 'sins' by being in exile for years & having to  live among antagonistic cheaters like himself!

But -- Jacob did become the first great leader in the history of ancient Israel! His sons' descendants became the '12 Tribes of Israel' -- and Israel becomes Jacob's new name -- representing his new relationship with God! * Jacob means 'God strives' or 'He who strives with God'.  In that sense -- Rebekah did contribute & 'gain' something -- and in another sense -- we've all been blessed by Jacob!

How come?  -- That's the topic of great debate! Regardless of your point of view  -- God has something to do with it all! God can use even the lowest, wiliest, crookedest scoundrel to serve his purposes.

* If you haven't thought of turning your life around, why not consider it NOW? Sooner or later you're bound to see how God has been using you to God's advantage.  Metanoia (turn around) now, and give your life to God.  

God knows us through and through!   Why not be straight with God?    Amen