tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135976221947795779.post7789545650622938362..comments2023-10-30T07:17:09.078-05:00Comments on A String of Pearls: Gen 35:3 and Matt 20:32 "Days of Distress" January 31Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135976221947795779.post-21769112371686099832012-01-31T10:42:08.535-06:002012-01-31T10:42:08.535-06:00A Messed Up Family
So much is going on in these c...A Messed Up Family<br /><br />So much is going on in these chapters! Esau and Jacob do this dance of “reconciliation” yet neither trusts the other. Jacob returns to his first Love at Bethel, God reminds Jacob of his chosen lineage, Benjamin is born, Rachel dies, Reuben, the firstborn son, sleeps with his father’s concubine, Isaac dies, and of course, the tragic story of Dinah’s rape. We have no account, no voice at all from her. We can only imagine her devastation, shame, lost hope for a future husband. Was she glad her brothers came with such vengeance and violence to “save her” or didn't they throw her to the wolves again before they poured out more violence? What a mess.<br /><br />Because of their sins, Reuben, Simeon, and Levi disqualified themselves from Abraham’s blessing. It was through the fourth son, Judah, that the Messiah was born. Not because this family was a pillar of character obviously, but because of God’s faithful Grace alone that the lineage of Jesus would be through Jacob.<br /><br /><i>“Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 3They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” </i> This is our prayer this day, too, Lord. Open our eyes like you did the blind men and Jacob’s, and purge injustices, flaws in my character, idols in our lives. Give us new garments of praise to worship you, a revival in our hearts, and return to that place where we first met you, our very own Bethel, to serve you again in purity and entirety. In the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.annettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12993065518117027383noreply@blogger.com