Household gods.

Rachel the wife of Jacob was a favored woman, loved and desired and she was worth the whole world to her husband who was willing to go to the end of the world to secure her hand in marriage. Deception was not strong enough to discourage or make Jacob changed his mind about his heartthrob, Rachel. Jacob who later became Israel after his encounter with the God of Bethel did not brood or sit down to whine about being conned by Laban his uncle to marry Leah. His mind was made up, he was willing to give it whatever it takes to marry Rachel, the very impressive lady who had captured his heart.

Jacob must have introduced his God to both Leah and Rachel as well as their maids through whom Jacob had raised sons as well. As beautiful, loved and favored as Rachel was, she was the one who had a need to take along or better put, steal her father's household gods....Why you may wonder just as I do? That was what she was familiar with, known all her life, comfortable with. Rachel had to wait till her sister and rival Leah was done child bearing before God opened her womb. Even though she had associated the birth of Joseph to God's goodness to her, she still reverted to her household gods when she needed comfort for little things like journey mercies to an unknown land...

Rachel lacked true worship hence, her need to steal her father's God. Rachel called her first son Joseph, because she believed it was the Lord God who took away her reproach by giving her a son. She prophesied that the Lord was yet going to add to her another son. It is always very comforting, exciting and faith invoking when we get our prayer requests speedily. We make up songs, we prophesy and are quick to tell the whole world about this great God. However, after winning a victory, there will always be another one to be won and that is where rubber meets the road for a lot of us. Rachel who had experienced the blessing of the Lord, answer to her prayers, whose reproach had been taken away and expectantly awaiting the next big move of God had to take some sort of security, an assurance, guarantee or backup as she departed from her father's house. When you apply for a decent job, mega buck-paying, destiny transforming job, is there always a need to bring along your household gods of lies, embellishment or exaggeration? Will you unceremoniously dismiss your mother by telling her she can visit wherever she wants to visit to ask for a child on your behalf but you are going to church to pray,  indirectly giving her approval to solicit other gods on your behalf?

She needed something to keep her grounded and the big God will be too big to serve that purpose, it had to be her father's household gods that are used to charm or cast a spell on victims that will grant her journey mercies... Is God too big for certain issues in your life and you have to help yourself by seeking your household gods? Rachel successfully got away with it but not for long, her prophesy was about to be fulfilled because God had given her another son. Her deceit and idolatry ruined her chance of seeing her prophesy come to pass. Instead of rejoicing at her blessings, her expectation became truncated as she could only see sorrow in the place where God has given her joy and fulfilled expectation.

When we cling to the familiar and household gods of 'back up', "hidden agenda", human help and devices in whatever form, then we run the risk of polluting ourselves, our faith and therefore risking our expectation being cut short. If God has promised you something, you can be sure He will bring you to it or bring it to you. Household gods insult our big God. When you hold on in faith, God will order your steps and cause you to succeed in the seemingly big issues of life.

Get rid of every household god, look up for in God alone lies solution to every challenge.

When walking with God it is important to move away from the familiar, what you are used to and then hold on to the Invisible God that is Faith!

Blessings.