Wise as serpents harmless as doves (Genesis 30:25-43)

After Jacob's fourteen years service for Rachel and Leah were accomplished, and  wanting to provide for his family he makes a deal with Laban. His wages will be all the newborn speckled or spotted sheep and goats, and  every dark coloured lamb. Laban agrees, but promptly took all the goats and lambs with these characteristics,  and placed them with his son three days journey away. Jacob had a plan however,  based on selective breeding and what seems to be the belief at the time that displaying striped rods at breeding time would cause the desired colouring of the animals. In any case he was successful, but actually the Lord had intervened  (31:9-12).

Laban's flock had increased greatly under the fourteen years of Jacob's labour. Certainly Laban's actions are greed and selfishly based, but what are we to make of Jacob's actions?  Again the Bible is scrupulously honest about the actions and motives of its heroes, but I am reminded of the curious parable of Jesus that ends with “So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light” (Luke 16:8).  The point Jesus is making is not that underhanded things (as those of the steward in the parable) are okay, but rather that foresight, innovation, strategy and proactivity should not be restricted to the dreams,  goals and desires of those outside the Kingdom.

It is interesting to me that the word translated 'shrewd' above,  is usually translated as 'wise' in the command to be as wise as serpents and and as harmless as doves.  In the parable of the unjust steward, the steward understood something of the psychology of relationships.  This is hitting home with me at the moment, because I am coming to the realization that I can be overpowering with my words. And since in the Kingdom the ministry of reconciliation is paramount, I have come to realize that there are times when I really need to hold back. In particular being right and/or persuading the other person that they are wrong may not be the most important thing to communicate. There is a tyranny in needing to be right!  If I have the answer to every argument but have not love I am nothing better than a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1).

The other thing that comes to mind, and it also has to do with the ministry of reconciliation, is this tendency we have in the Church to be uninvolved in the World. Some would even go so far as to say that you can't be a Christian and a politician.  But how can we be salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:14),  if we are not in the word at some level?  Where are the innovators that will be involved in the media, business, education, family (social services), government, military, arts and entertainment etc.? No we are not to be of the world, but the command is to be in the world not of the world (1 Corinthians 5:10).  When we remain isolated form the world we finish up being of the world, but not in it! This is not being as shrewd as serpents and as wise as doves!

Father, we ask You this morning to help us to see our part in the ministry of reconciliation. Also Lord please send out labourers into the harvest of the word, bring us our of our isolation and raise up innovators for Your Kingdom in Jesus Name Amen