Today’s Readings: Genesis 47-50; Mark 7:24-37
I finished Genesis today. I have to say that I really enjoyed reading it (I think enjoyed is the word I want). Whoever wrote it is quite the storyteller. I know that I’ve read it before, but I found it more engaging this time than I ever did previously.
At the end, Jacob dies and leaves his sons with a blessing. For some, it is quite the blessing:
[16] Dan shall judge his people
as one of the tribes of Israel.
[17] Dan shall be a serpent in the way,
a viper by the path,
that bites the horse’s heels
so that his rider falls backward.
[18] I wait for thy salvation, O LORD.
[19] Raiders shall raid Gad,
but he shall raid at their heels.
[20] Asher’s food shall be rich,
and he shall yield royal dainties.
[21] Naph’tali is a hind let loose,
that bears comely fawns.
Jacob then goes on to praise Joseph (which he probably deserves to some extent). If I were these brothers, though, and these were my father’s dying words, I’d be more than a little pissed. Yes, they screwed up in any number of ways, but the man is dying for crying out loud. He could be a little nicer on his way out. Additionally, If I were Gad, Asher or Naph’tali, I’d want more than a passing phrase.
But I’m being overly critical of a dying man. Tomorrow is another day and we being Exodus. “Let my people goooooo.”
