Jacob lost two of his loved ones in today’s short reading. And, we see that Jacob’s oldest son, Reuben sinned against him by sleeping with Jacob’s concubine, the mother to two of his brothers. Interesting family dynamic to be sure. Not a lot of emphasis was placed on this act, but be watching for consequences down the road.
This is a good reminder to us that our sinful behavior has consequences. We may not see them at the time and feel like we have “gotten away” with something. It’s better to seek forgiveness for our sins. The problem is sometimes we are oblivious to our sinfulness. We are in denial of our own wrongdoings.
The text doesn’t specify here how devastated Jacob must have been at the loss of his beloved wife, Rachel. He was preoccupied with a huge household, a move, and a disobedient son. The arrival at his father’s home was also a non-event. You would think there would have been a party or a feast of some kind. I suppose we don’t need to hear about every detail.
Saying goodbye can be hard. Whether it’s a spouse, a parent, or a child, there are stages of grief we must all pass through. Just knowing there are stages is not a safety net for avoiding them. I had a conversation with a friend recently. She had worked with others and was well aware of the grief stages. So when she experienced a loss in her own life, she was surprised she was not immune. She was fighting through the anger and denial just like the next guy.
It’s normal. It’s expected. We shouldn’t fight it. I’ve heard over and over again that being a believer makes the process of life and death so much easier. Knowing into whose arms we are welcomed, and that all pain and sorrow cease, is such a relief. But for us left behind, there is an empty spot in our lives.
Jacob didn’t have the same knowledge we do about our eternity. Yet, he went on to have a much longer life that we will be hearing about in the days ahead. For us, we know that it’s not saying “goodbye,” it’s saying “see ya later.”
Nobody knows how eternal life works exactly. People have died and been resuscitated. Those accounts are fascinating. I’m no expert on that, but from what I do know, it’s not a cookie cutter event. Everyone’s experience is different. We have the words of Jesus to rely on, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) We don’t need to know the details.
We have all been given a number of days to live in the world God created. How we spend those days is up to us. I don’t know about you, but I want to be the best follower of Jesus I can be. I want to become the woman God intended for me. I want to be a beacon of light in this dark world. What are your dreams and goals?
Let’s pray. Father God, I come to you on my knees. There are times of sadness ahead when I will lose those close to me. Help me in dealing with my own grief and the emotions surrounding death. I pray that you are watching over those who are sick and close to death, as well as the caregivers and family members who are already mourning. Give them peace and assurance of eternity. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
