An Act of Faith

Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches. 38 Then he placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs, so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat and came to drink, 39 they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted. 
- Genesis 30:37-39

Have you ever made a senseless, illogical choice, but with full confidence that everything will work out? 

There's no scientific proof that showing peeled branches to the mating flock actually produces speckled or spotted young. Today, at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, Pastor Sharon mentioned this is a miracle of God that was manifested as a result of Jacob's act of faith. Jacob simply believed that if he peeled the bark of trees and showed them to the mating flock, the females would have speckled or spotted young. More importantly, Jacob believed that God would act justly and pay him proper wages that he deserved from Laban. Think about it. If Jacob only got to keep speckled or spotted livestock, how many years would it taken for him to have enough to move out of the house? It would have taken years, maybe another decade. Jacob would never have received all the payment he deserved in due time. Jacob's story reminds us that if our hearts are right with God, we don't even need to say, "Lord, please make it right! Show justice!" He already knows the injustice that has been dealt with us. If we have the intimate relationship that Jacob, Isaac and Abraham all shared with the Lord, we can simply act on our faith and trust that God will be our redeemer and friend. That act of faith can be as crazy and senseless as showing peeled branches to the mating flock, and totally expecting they would give birth to speckled or spotted young.