Then Jacob took some fresh branches…and peeled off strips of bark, making white streaks on them. Then he placed these peeled branches in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, for that was where they mated…. They gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted. Genesis 30:37-39 (NLT)
The following story from Genesis 29 and 30 may seem extreme, but it illustrates a very important Biblical principle. You can envision your future.
Jacob was in love with Rachel. He worked a total of 14 years for her father Laban to earn her hand in marriage. When the 14 years were up, Laban wanted him to stay, so they struck up a deal. Jacob agreed to look after all of Laban’s animals in exchange for ownership of all the spotted and speckled animals.
Something strange happened next. Jacob engraved spots onto sticks and stuck them in the mud by Laban’s watering troughs where Laban’s strong animals mated. When sick or weakly animals mated, he pulled the sticks up. Although physically impossible, all the strong, solid coloured animals began to have spotted and speckled offspring, which Jacob took as his own. This made Jacob very prosperous as his flocks increased.
What Jacob envisioned happened. What are you envisioning in your life? When you read Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, do you envision it? (Luke 6:38, NKJV) Can you picture what Romans 8:11 (NLT) promises? The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you… He will give life to your mortal bodies.
Envision the future God wants you to have when you read His promises!