Genesis 36-37

36 is awful.  I'm sure there's something about Esau's lineage that is important, but I'm not smart enought to know what it is.

Here's my favoriet line from Chapter 37
¹⁹ “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other.
I can't imagine the reaction of the brothers, when Joseph explains his dreams.  It must have seemed very self indulgent.  If I were sitting there listening to the story of the dream....I can tell you I'd react the same way they did.  I would never guess this was a true sign from God.  Why wouldn't God send the dream to all the brothers except for Joseph?  That would make more sense to me, and would be more in-line with how the God in my mind works.  Just the fact that Jacob is sending Joseph out to check on his brothers, which indicates that he had unique responsibilities to his brothers, must have enraged them.  God's plan for Joseph is predicated on him being sold into slavery, so perhaps this was God's way of making it all happen.  It just seems a little bit like Joseph is being used as bait for the bad behaviour of his brothers, which is exactly how every human would react to the situation.
This is one story where the movie in my mind is munch more elaborate than the actual story being told.  It states that they pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to the travelers.  In my mind, he's kicking and screaming at them, and asking them why they are doing this to their own brother.  There is a lot of scuffling, and shouting.  The poor midianites can't figure out why there is so much commotion.  Why is this slave being so boisterous and shouting at the other like they are family......strange scene. 

Genesis 35

22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it.

At lunch the other day my friend was telling me about a conversation he had with his son about girls and just doing stupid stuff as a teenager and how he wanted his son to be honest with him and know that he would always find out what he had been up too, so make smart choices.  he illustrated for him how he learned something about one of his son's friends through a guy in another town and he wasn't even trying it just came up in conversation--it surprised his son that Dave would know this detail about his friend that he probably thought only other kids knew.

this littler verse tucked in there reminded me of that, Israel learns about his son and the concubine probably through the grapevine even though he is miles away and his cell phone was probably dead.

why would I ever do anything displeasing to God, he doesn't even have to wait to hear it through the grapevine he just watches it happen.  how stupid am i?

knut


p.s.  heading out to India today back next Saturday.  don't know if I will be posting or not while I'm out.

Genesis 34

I'm not sure I've read this story before.  Its pretty funny.  Their approach to weaken all the men is brilliant acutally.

"Hit 'em where it hurts!" so to speak.

Not sure what to take from it, but enjoyed the read.

Genesis 33

4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.


Good lesson here to let the past be in the past.  Genuinely forgive and forget, do not harbor past issues in your mind.  Esau could certainly have been mad at Jacob for the fake out done to get his birthright but it appears he has long since let that one go completely.  He is just happy to see his brother.  

My first reaction would be that I don't harbor to much but then as I reflect I can see I do to certain things.  Usually nothing big but its not like I completely forget the times when someone has said something that rubbed me wrong.  If Esau can do it with something big, I should be able to do the same in my life as I've never been severely wronged by anyone.

knut

Genesis 32

28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,[f] because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

I read the message given by a pastor (link below) on this chapter following a tough week in a community with the loss of 2 high school students.

He talked about the times that are tough in your life are when you struggle with God and may come out with scars that help you remember what you learned.  Not sure I would have gotten that out of this chapter on my own but there does seem to be some truth to it.  

Three points he made from this passage are 1-struggles produce faith, 2-our hearts not our circumstances are our greatest problem in life and 3-Even though we resist God, he pursues us.

have a good day!  knut

http://www.unionchurch.com/archive/100399.html

Genesis 31

So, after reading this chapter, it looks to me like I wasn't reading chapter 30 close enough.  It appeas that all of the cheating was being done by Laban, and not by Jacob.
Here's my favorite line for this chapter.
³⁵ Rachel said to her father, “Don’t be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence; I’m having my period.”

In the famous words of Forest Gump......"that's all I have to say about that"

Genesis 30

This is downright CRAZY!!!
this reads like a complete soap opera.  Who is sleeping with who.........what I noticed is that all of the stories are told from the perspective of Leah, and Rebeccah.  It really makes Jacob look like he isn't in control of anything.  He just inpregnates whomever is laid in front of him.....hahahaha.

The second part is even more confusing to me.  It really reads like Jacob is coniving his way into having a strong heard of sheep and goats, and at the same time purposely weakening Laban's herd.  This seems like a pretty clear cut picture of someone not trusting God to take care of him, in the animal split.  He is definitely stacking the deck in his own favor.

What do ya make of all of that?...............this one is a head scratcher.