Exhausted, a deciever returns to God.

Genesis 35 is a long chronology of life-events in a short period of time.  It is almost tiring just reading it all.

On the run from his neighbors after the calamities with his daughter Dinah:

• Jacob’s mother’s nurse dies with much weeping
• Rachel, Jacob’s favored wife, dies in agonizing childbirth
• Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn son, cuckolds his father with his mother’s sister’s handmaiden
• Isaac, Jacob’s father, dies

Surrounding these events is Jacob’s renewed interaction with God and in the center of the chapter, God renews the covenant made with Abraham and Isaac and re-asserts Jacob’s new identity as “wrestles with God”.

As is so often true of most of us, we return to God, when we need him most.  In our despair, and troubles, and grief, God is there for us.  We remember God’s promises to us, not just the prosperity offered to the patriarchs but an ever-lasting reconnection with our Creator.  Like, Jacob, part of our returning is a renewal of proper worship and another part is the renunciation of false worship.  For Jacob, this meant burying the idols and pagan symbols under a tree.

For me this means making the trek to church, even when I’m liking doing nothing.  More importantly, this also means living and defending my faith.

Despite all of our struggles, the conclusion is not in doubt.  God is going to win.  So we continue to fight Him or we can figure out what is required to align with holiness earlier than later.  Certainly, waiting often leads to a more interesting story for the entertainment of others, but, for me the less exciting and calamitous option has been preferable.

Whatever happened twenty years ago is over

Genesis 33 is the story Jacob reuniting with his brother Esau.  In his  last encounter with his brother, Jacob had cheated Esau and ran away in fear.  So, he could understandably be facing some trepidation about the reunion.  Especially when his brother has an army of 400 men with him;  similar to the amount that Abraham had when he saved Lot from foreign kings.

Jacob goes to some extremes in preparing for his reunion with his brother.  And these extremes reveal much of Jacob’s selfishness.  First he sends everyone else over the night before and remains by himself on the safe side of the river.  (God kicking his butt and making him limp might have been a good clue at that point.)  Next, he lines up his children to meet their uncle in what could be charitably suggested as oldest to youngest, but more likely is least favored to most favored.  Finally, he is very apologetic as he approaches his brother.  Obsequious.  Sincere but smarmy.

For his twin brother, though it has been twenty years since he saw his brother.  Esau hugs him and accepts the gift as a sign of repentance and forgiveness.  It’s over; Jacob can come home.

Instead, Jacob goes somewhere else.  Sure, there wasn’t room for him and Esau together on the same land.  He could still have gone over for dinner.  Maybe see his dad.  On the other hand, where he goes is not that far away either.  (Jeru)Salem is pretty close to Bethel and all are in the Hebron valley.

It is easy to read of Jacob from afar though and wonder how he could be so close to reconciliation and not reach out and have it.  It’s like watching a movie and the entire audience knows from the beginning which characters will end up together if only they could work it out.  And then they do, yay!  But like in the movies, as the characters deny their relationships, there is something very true about Jacob not being willing to trust his brother further.  We believe our own talk and self-deception, especially when we are practiced like Jacob at deceiving others.

Our sin nature doesn’t have a mechanism for extending trust.  Even with the imago dei of our creation, we still need the model of a savior.  I recently commented on a friend’s posting about game theory teaching us tit-for-tat and that being a trap of rationalism that never produces forgiveness.  We become trapped in perpetual mistrust.

Jacob is so close.  He even builds an altar to worship God at his new home.  With only a bit more trust in God and his brother he could have been truly part of life abundant.  But he doesn’t.  He comes home and then stays away and lives on his own and buys a new family from Shechem instead of living with his brother in harmony.

Pray that we can do better.  We can offer trust more.  Perhaps then we might encounter the abundant life that is part of the reign of God.

Consequences of the Fall: Sisters get along like brothers

Gen 29:29 – Gen 30:24

In the story of the reproductive activities of Jacob, we see that the sisters Leah and Rachel cohabit just as well as Esau and Jacob.

The Chinese notion of trouble being linguistically represented by two women under one roof is probably oversold at this point, but that doesn’t take away from its classic truth.

The problem, however, is not primarily that sisters won’t get along, it is that the consequences of our separation from God cause a misalignment with our perceived value and worth.  All humanity is valuable as a creation embodying the spirit of God.  The distortions are that men are valuable based upon their ability to provide and women are valuable based upon their husbands desire and their ability to produce (male) progeny.

The story of Leah and Rachel adds a new element to the stories of Sarah and Rebecca.  Sarah, Rebecca and Rachel were all beautiful women loved by their husbands for their beauty (and potentially for their close family relationship being all sister/cousins to their respective husbands).  These beautiful women all share the misfortune of barrenness for much of their marriage until they eventually each give birth to a son.  Leah, however, is not praised for her beauty, but is abundantly fertile.

Even once beauty and fertility combine there is still strife between wives.  Once Sarah gives birth to Isaac, she drives out Hagar.  Even after Rachel gives birth to Joseph, the enmity with Leah remains.

This is just part of the problem with production based valuation.  As a result of broken relationship, it turn can only produce more separation.  Jealousy and strife.

This has nothing to do with how God values us.   In fact the very notion of value is something more akin to objects than persons.  Yes , being created like God we can also create and part of our worship of God is create art and beauty and technology and to procreate.  But that is not the source of God’s value for us.  God created the universe without our help.

An essential part of a restored relationship with our creator and each other is to reclaim our value as adopted children not as producers.

Now, just in case I’m insufficiently clear on this.

Women (and men) are not objects or property.

Men (and women) are not expendable items.

Women (and men) are not worthless if they are single and/or childless.

Men (and women) are not worthless if they are not provident and productive.

All humanity is precious in the sight of God.