Genesis 49:29-33
I love the phrase, “Gathered to his/my people.” But there is something I find very curious here. There is probably some very simple explanation for this that some Bible scholar out there can explain for me, but how is one person “gathered”? If I’m going to my small group I don’t say I am going to be “gathered” to my friends. I would say, maybe, that we are going to be gathered. What does it mean for one person to be gathered to others? Never thought of this before, and like I suggest above maybe I’m making too much of it. Is it somehow an expression of our being made in God’s image as social beings? What do you think?
Prayer:
God, thank you for making us for friendship with you and one another. Thank you for questions you plant in our hearts that give us opportunity to grow in our understanding, and to grow together. Through Christ. Amen.
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Reflections from Bible readings and discussion on anything.
3 comments:
interesting. i read a number of translations, and all but one used "gathered" -- even the message. i wonder what the original word means?
maybe jacob doesn't see himself as an individual but as part of group outside of time and space; echoing the notion of god's community.
Your comments make me think of Hebrews 12:1 - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
My sense was more that here in our Earthly lives we are a jumble of chaotic parts, different roles, different directions, an imperfect combination of scattered facets. And this sort of burdensome incoherence is escaped and order is found as he dies and is gathered to his people.
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