God speaks in dreams

Today in the One Year Bible, we read from Genesis 31:17-32:12. Laban, who is Jacob's father-in-law, comes looking for him because Jacob took off in the middle of the night with his wives and children (Laban's daughters and grandchildren.) Laban is very angry, and was planning to deal with Jacob very harshly. But God spoke to Laban in a dream and told him "I'm warning you... leave Jacob alone!"

So when Laban catches up with Jacob, he tells him that he's mad, but that God told him to take it easy on him, so he does.

That brings up a story from MY life. At a store where I once worked, there was an employee who was not very good. He made excuses for not helping people, and generally had a "that's not going to work" attitude. It made me mad as his supervisor because I wanted my employees to have a better attitude. So I started finding fault with him.

One day I sensed God telling me, "Take it easy on him." It wasn't a dream or a voice that I heard. It was just a thought that popped into my head. And it was entirely different from my previous thinking on the subject, but it was kind and loving and I knew it was God.

I still don't know why. I think the guy was even an atheist, so I'm pretty sure he didn't pray and ask God to get me off his back. I think God just loved that guy, and saw that I was being kind of mean to him, and told me to take it easier on him.

Thank You, God, for looking out for us even when we don't ask You to.