Weird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis - Day Twenty-Seven
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”
Jacob finally came to terms with his father-in-law, Laban. They made a covenant, setting up stones into a pillar. Laban said, “this heap is a witness between you and me today…may the Lord watch between you and me when we are away from each other.” The place was called in the Hebrew, “Mizpah” which means “watchtower.” I’ve actually seen jewelry made from this saying, with one half of a medallion on a necklace being worn by one person, and the other half being worn by their significant other. Awww…how sweet! Too bad it totally misses the point that Laban and Jacob were promising not to cross this watchtower to harm each other.
So, Jacob and his wives and children and servants and livestock are not on the move back to Canaan land. Everything is great, right? Except that Jacob still is going to have to face his brother, Esau. When Jacob left home, Esau was hell bent on killing Jacob!
Jacob had scouts that were traveling out in front of their group, and a messenger came back and told Jacob, “Your brother, Esau, is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” (Gen. 32: 6) Yikes! What was Jacob going to do? He did several things:
Why did God (or the angel) ask Jacob for his name? Because God wanted to change Jacob’s name. God did the same to Abraham, to Sarah…and Peter. The struggle changes a person.
Reflection: Have you ever wrestled with God? With yourself?
Action: Do some research into your name. What does your name mean?
Weird – “of strange or extraordinary character.”
Normal – “conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern”
- Merriam Webster
Jacob finally came to terms with his father-in-law, Laban. They made a covenant, setting up stones into a pillar. Laban said, “this heap is a witness between you and me today…may the Lord watch between you and me when we are away from each other.” The place was called in the Hebrew, “Mizpah” which means “watchtower.” I’ve actually seen jewelry made from this saying, with one half of a medallion on a necklace being worn by one person, and the other half being worn by their significant other. Awww…how sweet! Too bad it totally misses the point that Laban and Jacob were promising not to cross this watchtower to harm each other.
So, Jacob and his wives and children and servants and livestock are not on the move back to Canaan land. Everything is great, right? Except that Jacob still is going to have to face his brother, Esau. When Jacob left home, Esau was hell bent on killing Jacob!
Jacob had scouts that were traveling out in front of their group, and a messenger came back and told Jacob, “Your brother, Esau, is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” (Gen. 32: 6) Yikes! What was Jacob going to do? He did several things:
- He divided his family and flocks and servants into two groups, thinking if one group got attacked, the other could maybe escape.
- He PRAYED! He humbled himself and prayed…asked God to save him…reminded God of God’s covenant promise he had made to Jacob. (Gen. 32: 9-12)
- He sent three waves of gifts ahead (goats, lambs, cows, donkeys, etc…), thinking that each round of gifts would soften up Esau’s heart toward him.
- Then he went off by himself, and spent the night…just turning to God. He actually wrestled with God.
Why did God (or the angel) ask Jacob for his name? Because God wanted to change Jacob’s name. God did the same to Abraham, to Sarah…and Peter. The struggle changes a person.
Reflection: Have you ever wrestled with God? With yourself?
Action: Do some research into your name. What does your name mean?
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Lenten DevotionalsWeird is the New Normal: Day OneWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in GenesisWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in GenesisWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in GenesisDay 5: Weird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in GenesisWeird is the New Normal: Day SixWeird is the New Normal: Day SevenWeird is the New Normal: Day EightWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis Day NineWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis: Day TenWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis, Day ElevenWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis, Day Twelve
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Weird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis - Day 13Weird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day FourteenWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis-Day FifteenWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day 16Weird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day SeventeenWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis, Day EighteenWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day NineteenWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day TwentyWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day Twenty-OneWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day Twenty-TwoWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day Twenty-TwoWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis-Twenty-FourWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day Twenty-FiveWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day Twenty-SixWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis - Day Twenty-SevenWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day Twenty-EightWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis - Day Twenty-NineWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis - Day ThirtyWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day Thirty-OneWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis - Day Thirty TwoWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis - Day Thirty-ThreeWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis - Day Thirty-FourWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day Thirty-FiveWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day Thirty-SixWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day Thirty-SevenWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day Thirty EightWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day Thirty-NineWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis - Day Forty
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