Genesis 35:16-29
Reflect
Yesterday’s Scripture passage was nice. God blesses Jacob, even changes his name to Israel. That’s pleasant. Today’s passage is woven together with pain and lament, and then baptized in tears.
Verses 18-19 are short and are read swiftly, but they linger to even this day. In her deep grief, the mother dies during delivery of her precious son. Rachel’s weeping echoes.
Fast forward 600ish years and we find Rachel’s “children” terrorized. The leaders have been removed, and the invading army does to the women and children what evil people do. It’s so horrible that Jeremiah refers back to a grieving woman (see Jeremiah 31:15).
Fast forward another 600 years. Different merciless, insecure leader. Same result to the children and women. Matthew must find a way to describe the mismatch between strong, brutal male and the mother with child. (see Matthew 2:18). The children of Rachel are those that have been left at risk and abused.
The sounds of mother Rachel are not left in ancient Middle East, but today in Ukraine, Sudan, and yes, in Edmonton. “Rachel” is Indigenous, African-American, and “white trash”.
God calls us protect the “Rachels”. Do we hear His call? Do we listen to the cries? How will you represent our King today? I’d love to listen to your heart.
Pastor Dan
Pray
- Pray for our Prime Minister and Premier, Mayor Sohi, your MP, your MLA, and any other government officials God brings to your mind.
- Pray for all our small group leaders.
- Pray for our Missions Ministry Assistant, Oleksandr Lushchyk.