Weird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day Twenty-Five

Weird is the New Normal:  A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis
 
Weird – “of strange or extraordinary character.”
Normal – “conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern”
  • Merriam Webster
Day Twenty-Five – “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take away my son’s mandrakes too?”  - Leah (Gen. 30: 15)
Rachel and Jacob are having an argument. With much drama, Rachel has just demanded that Jacob give her children, or she’s just going to DIE. “What? Do you think I’m God?” Jacob replied.  What happens next? Rachel gave her servant Bilhah to Jacob as a surrogate mother. (Sounds familiar) Bilhah got pregnant and had a son, and they named him Dan. Dan means, “He has vindicated.”
Bilhah had another son, and Rachel said, “I have had a struggle with my sister, and I have won.” So the baby’s name was Naphtali, which means “my struggle.” Is this weird enough for you yet? Meanwhile, Leah has stopped having children, and she feels like she is “losing” to her sister Rachel, so she gives Jacob her servant Zilpah, and Zilpah has a son with Jacob, and Leah names him Gad, which means “good fortune.” Zilpah bears another son with Jacob, and Leah names him Asher, which means “happy.” By now you should need a scorecard, because this feels more and more like a weird game.  It gets even weirder.
One day Reuben (Leah and Jacob’s firstborn) is out in the fields and finds some mandrake plants.  Mandrakes? Mandrakes were forked roots that resembled the lower part of the human body. It was believed (superstitiously) that if a woman ate the exotic root, that she would be able to get pregnant.  Reuben, being a good son, brought the mandrakes to his mom, Leah.  Rachel saw it, and she said to her sister, “Give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”  Then Leah asks our question for today. Here we get a glimpse not only into the sibling rivalry, but into the mind of Leah.  In her mind, Rachel came and stole her husband.  So, what’s the solution? Remember…weird is the new normal.
Rachel says, “Very well, Jacob can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.” (Gen. 30: 15b) Rachel is “pimping out” Jacob for some exotic herbs! And Jacob goes along with it!  And Leah gets pregnant and has her fifth son, naming him Issachar, which means “reward.” And the “competition” goes on… But why does everything have to be a competition?
At my ordination service in 1990, Dr. James Laney preached a sermon entitled, “Don’t Keep Score; Keep the Faith.” He told all us young preachers that we could easily get caught up in “keeping score” with each other.  “He/she got appointed to the church I wanted.” Dr. Laney reminded us: “Keep the faith…just keep the faith.” I’ve always tried to remember that.
Reflection: Have you ever felt like you were in an unhealthy competition with someone?
Action: Write in your journal about what it means to “keep the faith.”

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