Genesis 35:16-29
Rachel dies giving birth to a son. Jacob changes the name that Rachel gives him. The notes to the NIV text indicate the change in meaning is from “son of my trouble” to “son of my right hand.” Another resource points out there is a little more to it than that. The name Rachel gave the baby more directly alludes to death. Rather than have him saddled with such a name for life, Jacob gives the boy a name that means (more specifically than the NIV text note would inform us), “quarter of heaven,” which would be to your right as you face east. The tribe of Benjamin would be the people of the south. Just to add a bit more, “jamin” becomes the Arab “yemen” – and the analysis suggests a historical connection between an Arab nation and an Israelite tribe.
The section concludes with a note about the death of Isaac. Most significant here may be the observation that Esau and Jacob look after the burial of their father together. They are, apparently, completely reconciled.
Meanwhile the mixture of life in the midst of death, and death in the midst of life, seems fitting as the section of Genesis belonging to the Isaac generation draws to a close. Adding to the reality of it all is the note about Reuben’s tawdry conduct, just underlining I guess that in this round of events there is both nobility and disarray. But the section ends on the reconciliation of brothers, pointing to the triumph of good, and the theme of God’s intent through it all that will figure prominently in the saga that will fill out the book of Genesis.
Prayer:
We’re all so different, Lord, and yet do we not have more in common than what makes us different? Why do we focus so much on what makes us different? Are we reluctant to see certain peoples or persons as those with whom we have a deep connection? Why? What are we afraid of? Thank you for Jesus as the new Adam. Make us want to have a new vision of one another to follow because of him. Amen.
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5 comments:
said...
i think i had your prayer in the back of my mind when i wrote the last two paragraphs in this reply to katrinas's post.
Such spinning: of the Earth we are beholden to care for; the spinning within me whipping up images and visions and thunderbolts (not yet Brother a blessing I've demanded); spinning webs of conversation across LJ blogs, Open Journal, my Blogger, gmail then threads winding through and around sermons and phone calls and fresh air walks.
These Genesis personalities spin their webs of deceipt, spin lies,criss cross countries leaving threads of altars and names, weave a history they think is of their own making but is already known to God. It's all really so simple and from Genesis on we weave frantically, trying to mask simplicity in garments of our deceipt. Then God comes as Jesus and walks the Earth and says "Walk this Way." -and it's so obvious, so simple, but before many generations pass, we weave knotted human threads around it and obscure the Truth once more.
All the while God must feel the Divine version of the frustration felt knowing the answer to the million dollar question and crooning it to your TV, sitting on your couch at home. It's so simple, it's so obvious.
One final deep breath, one thought more and I'll go - it reminds me of being in my late teens and clubbing and wielding my personal power in truly irresponsible and very unfulfilling ways: I was looking at the image of the adult I wanted to be and knew I had the ability to be - but I had no idea of HOW to get from here to there. The older, wiser folk must have been thinking - it's so simple. It's so obvious.
i'm most of the way through jeremiah. there are parts of it which are very personal -- you could almost post them like blog entries. over and over again jeremiah called for repentance, knowing full well each time the people would not repent. how hard can that be? but knowing also, that god's vision in the end would triumph.
i'm also reading hope and suffering by bishop desmond tutu, published in 1984 before the end of apartheid, and like the prophets of old, tutu calls for repentance and maintains god's greater vision.
the enduring frustration of god's people going astray continues. so do the prophets and visionaries. thank you, katrina for, in spite of all the complexities, holding fast to the simple truth, the light, the way.
"What if it was simple like the falling rain? / Love comes down and just sinks into your heart"
-- Hawksley, "Rain"
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