Have you ever noticed the critical importance of context?  I was pondering this while reading Jeremiah 29... In that chapter there is an oft-quoted verse.  That verse is number 11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."(ESV)

You see, many times I will watch people as I quote or preach that verse and see the "yeah but" expression go across their face... The "yeah but" expression is the one where they then report back.... you don't know my situation... how could good come out of my childhood... I haven't seen that in my life... God couldn't possibly be bringing good out of x... The concept that I see people thinking is that their situation isjust somehow harder than what must have been going on for God to say that.

Jacob is in a tight spot. For the last twenty years his past has threatened him like an August thunder storm rumbling on the horizon. He’s been making it pretty good working for Laban in Paddan-Aram, even though the guy is a cheat. Funny how every time Laban tried to cheat him, Laban ended up on the short end of the stick. What was all that about? And now, this voice speaks to him and says, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.” (Genesis 31:3) This was good because the old cheater, Laban and his sons were beginning to turn against Jacob and were eyeing his money. But it was bad because the “relatives” Jacob was to return to meant he had to see Esau.

Christian conservative Republicans everywhere are waking up to disappointment and despair this morning.  Christian leaders are doing conciliatory speeches and blog posts everywhere saying, “Let’s pray for our new president-elect” through clenched teeth. It’s like that annoying part at the end of High School football games when the winning team and the loosing team have to go through a line to shake hands when seconds before they were trying to do bodily harm to each other.  The winners are glad they won and the losers would still love to pummel the winners but no one is allowed to act like it.