As part of the successful return "home" and establishment of a new, God-ordained life, Joseph and his crew are called to set up at the place where it all began, where he first met the Most High. This is where they become worshippers of the Most High. ...I think it's noteworthy that, before leaving town (so to speak), Jacob has his people make a clean break with their idols and earrings, and leave that life behind them at Shechem. In what I read, the commentary on the jewelry was that particular items were symbols of or charms related to the idolatry they were leaving behind. ...After being saved and called to start a new life, it was time for a change. In their possessions, their allegiances, even their clothes and bodies, they were to clean up their lives and prepare to "ascend to the house of God (Bethel)" - jeffrey
...I think there's a connection between this event (which, like what started with Abraham in chapter 17, had a positive result) and the trouble Moses encountered on his transition from being a shepherd to the leader of the Hebrews in Exodus 4. That encounter was a little more tense, to be sure. - jeffrey
We are not told *why* Rachel died at this point, or if Jacob's (semi?) curse back in Chapter 31 played a part. And it's reasonable to conclude that Rachel, like everyone else, made a real change back in Shechem and was at this point walking in the ways of God. Sometimes people pay a price for the way they've lived and the decisions they've made, and sometimes....bad stuff just happens. I think the Messiah's perspective on life's tragedies (Luke 13) is most helpful both in this story and in our lives: always be ready to leave this world and stand before your Maker, because you never know when your life will end. Trusting in the God of the Bible as our salvation and living according to his instructions not only brings lasting peace and purpose - it also equips and prepares us to deal with whatever life (and eternity) may bring our way. - jeffrey
Chapter 36 is basically Esau's genealogy. I think these family lists are fascinating and actually helpful, and sometimes offer clues and perspective. Two bits I'd like to mention. First, in keeping his promise to both Abraham and Isaac, I believe that the Most High blessed Esau and his family line - the Edomites - with a long history and wide influence. (What they did with that blessing is another matter) Second thing - and I'll come back to this as we're reading through Exodus and Numbers: let's take note that one of Esau's grandsons - one of the chiefs of the Edomites - was Kenaz. As history marches on, his (Edomite, not Israelite) descendants will be known as Kenazzites. - jeffrey
I think one of the reasons we can know that the Bible is trustworthy is because of how real and broken the people are. We've already seen in the Patriarchs (and we're getting familiar with the sons of Israel) that failure and character flaws are there for all to see (and, with God's help, learn from). In Chapter 37 I think we can see a certain youthful arrogance from Joseph which even tweaked his doting father. His dreams (and his interpretation) of them wasn't wrong, but it's kind of easy to see that he didn't yet know how to use that in a helpful or constructive way. Probably the same with his developing leadership qualities. There are also warning signs (and outright bad character and life choices) in his brothers. ...maybe one of the reasons why the stories are present to us this way is so that by the time we get to the instructions on how to parent and train our kids in Deuteronony 6, we can see why it's important to do things a certain way, with a constant involvement in their lives. - jeffrey
One last thought on Esau and Jacob. In verse 6-7 of Gen. 36, the brothers part ways because they were so blessed/prosperous that the land couldn't support both family operations being so close together. ...this (of course) means that they were living together in community. They didn't just "hug it out" and then go their separate ways when Jacob returned from Paddan-Aram; there was a *real* reconciliation, and a healing of the bad history between them. I find that incredibly hopeful. ...the real-world implications, though, are that 1) they had to put effort in to live together in community, both personally, with their households, and professionally, and 2) they had to eventually recognize that the wise move was to separate, and also find a way to do it peacefully. Don't know about you, but that's a good thing for me to hear and apply in my life. - jeffrey
As part of the successful return "home" and establishment of a new, God-ordained life, Joseph and his crew are called to set up at the place where it all began, where he first met the Most High. This is where they become worshippers of the Most High.
ReplyDelete...I think it's noteworthy that, before leaving town (so to speak), Jacob has his people make a clean break with their idols and earrings, and leave that life behind them at Shechem. In what I read, the commentary on the jewelry was that particular items were symbols of or charms related to the idolatry they were leaving behind.
...After being saved and called to start a new life, it was time for a change. In their possessions, their allegiances, even their clothes and bodies, they were to clean up their lives and prepare to "ascend to the house of God (Bethel)"
- jeffrey
…whoops, meant to say “Jacob”, not Joseph.
Delete- jeffrey
...I think there's a connection between this event (which, like what started with Abraham in chapter 17, had a positive result) and the trouble Moses encountered on his transition from being a shepherd to the leader of the Hebrews in Exodus 4. That encounter was a little more tense, to be sure.
ReplyDelete- jeffrey
We are not told *why* Rachel died at this point, or if Jacob's (semi?) curse back in Chapter 31 played a part. And it's reasonable to conclude that Rachel, like everyone else, made a real change back in Shechem and was at this point walking in the ways of God. Sometimes people pay a price for the way they've lived and the decisions they've made, and sometimes....bad stuff just happens.
ReplyDeleteI think the Messiah's perspective on life's tragedies (Luke 13) is most helpful both in this story and in our lives: always be ready to leave this world and stand before your Maker, because you never know when your life will end. Trusting in the God of the Bible as our salvation and living according to his instructions not only brings lasting peace and purpose - it also equips and prepares us to deal with whatever life (and eternity) may bring our way.
- jeffrey
Chapter 36 is basically Esau's genealogy. I think these family lists are fascinating and actually helpful, and sometimes offer clues and perspective. Two bits I'd like to mention. First, in keeping his promise to both Abraham and Isaac, I believe that the Most High blessed Esau and his family line - the Edomites - with a long history and wide influence. (What they did with that blessing is another matter)
ReplyDeleteSecond thing - and I'll come back to this as we're reading through Exodus and Numbers: let's take note that one of Esau's grandsons - one of the chiefs of the Edomites - was Kenaz. As history marches on, his (Edomite, not Israelite) descendants will be known as Kenazzites.
- jeffrey
I think one of the reasons we can know that the Bible is trustworthy is because of how real and broken the people are. We've already seen in the Patriarchs (and we're getting familiar with the sons of Israel) that failure and character flaws are there for all to see (and, with God's help, learn from).
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 37 I think we can see a certain youthful arrogance from Joseph which even tweaked his doting father. His dreams (and his interpretation) of them wasn't wrong, but it's kind of easy to see that he didn't yet know how to use that in a helpful or constructive way. Probably the same with his developing leadership qualities. There are also warning signs (and outright bad character and life choices) in his brothers.
...maybe one of the reasons why the stories are present to us this way is so that by the time we get to the instructions on how to parent and train our kids in Deuteronony 6, we can see why it's important to do things a certain way, with a constant involvement in their lives.
- jeffrey
One last thought on Esau and Jacob. In verse 6-7 of Gen. 36, the brothers part ways because they were so blessed/prosperous that the land couldn't support both family operations being so close together.
ReplyDelete...this (of course) means that they were living together in community. They didn't just "hug it out" and then go their separate ways when Jacob returned from Paddan-Aram; there was a *real* reconciliation, and a healing of the bad history between them. I find that incredibly hopeful.
...the real-world implications, though, are that 1) they had to put effort in to live together in community, both personally, with their households, and professionally, and 2) they had to eventually recognize that the wise move was to separate, and also find a way to do it peacefully.
Don't know about you, but that's a good thing for me to hear and apply in my life.
- jeffrey