What You See Is Not Always What You Get

My youngest daughter has her own photography business.
Her weekends are filled with taking pictures of families, children, and individuals.
I am amazed at the way she sees the world.
It is amazing how she can capture the essence of the person in front of the camera.

She has been asked to take newborn pictures for a family.
That photo shoot is coming soon.
She has also been asked to take maternity pictures.
She was asked to take the newborn photos when the baby arrives.

She has been accumulating props, fabrics, and items that will enhance the photo shoot.
One such item was a newborn posing pillow.
After much searching, one was found that was in her price range.
She was excited to receive the package.

The package came a few days ago.
A small envelope with the company’s name arrived in the mailbox.
She opened it and was so terribly disappointed.
What arrived was not what she ordered.

The pillow should have arrived in a large box, filled and ready to use.
Instead, something that did not resemble a pillow arrived in its place.
This object came in two pieces with a small piece of Velcro to attach.
The pillow that was not a pillow came without stuffing.

We looked online and read the description of what she ordered.
Some newborn pillows said, fill not included.
Not this pillow, it was large, firmly stuffed, and all in one piece.
A return was necessary.

She had to get a return authorization.
The seller had to approve the return and was instructed to contact her.
When that email arrived, there was no apology and no admitting a mistake.
Just a curt, I can send you another one, was all she received.

The authorization paperwork and shipping label were printed.
The pillow that was not a pillow will be shipped back to the seller for a refund.
In the meantime, there is no newborn posing pillow for the upcoming photo shoot.
Hopefully, she will find another one by the time the other baby arrives.

What you see is not always what you get.
Buyers beware.

Such a thing happened to Jacob.

Abraham was 100 years old when his son, Isaac was born.
Abraham wanted to make sure that Isaac took a wife from his own country.
Abraham’s servant was sent to Canaan to find a wife for Isaac.

The servant’s very specific prayer was answered and Rebekah was found.
She became Isaac’s wife and soon she was pregnant with twins.
The Lord revealed to her that two nations were in her womb.
The older twin will serve the younger.

The twins, Jacob and Esau, were born.
Esau, the oldest, was a skillful hunter and Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents.
One day, impulsively, Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentil stew.
The older did indeed serve the younger, as the Lord revealed.

As their father, Isaac, was about to die, he wanted to formally bless his sons.
Through a ruse, set up by his mother, Jacob disguised himself as Esau.
He brought his father his favorite meal, prepared by his mother.
He put animal skins on himself since his brother was hairy and he was not.

Isaac, with failing eyesight, thought by only touch and smell that Jacob was Esau.
He laid his hand on Jacob and gave him the blessing that should have gone to Esau.
The blessing could not be revoked once given.
Esau was furious and Jacob fled for his life.

Upon arriving at the home of his mother’s relatives, Jacob met beautiful Rachel.
Rachel, a shepherdess, needed help to remove the stone from the top of the well.
Jacob removed the stone for her and knew that this woman would be his wife.
Rachel was the younger daughter of Laban, who was Jacob’s uncle.

A deal was arranged between Laban and Jacob.
Jacob will work for Laban for seven years in return for his daughter, Rachel.
When his time was completed, Jacob asked Laban to give him his daughter as his wife.
All the people were brought together for the feast.

But when evening came, he (Laban) took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and Jacob lay with her. And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter as her maidservant. When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob, said to Laban, “What is this you have done? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?” Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.” And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. Laban gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant. Jacob lay with Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. An he worked for Laban another seven years. (Genesis 29:23-30)

Jacob met his match.
Jacob, who was called the deceiver, was now the one deceived.
What you see is not always what you get.
Yet God is sovereign over everything.

Jacob became the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jacob was one of the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God redeems even the worst of us for His Glory.

Often, we are disappointed.
Things are not what they seem, things are not what we hoped for.
Our plans fall through, our dreams are unfulfilled.
Our life looks very different from what we thought it would be.

Even when circumstances look hopeless, God is in control.
Even when what we see is not what we get, God works it out for good.
Even when…even if…God reigns.
God the Father truly knows best.