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Jacob's Story

                           

He was an old man.  Though he had lived a full life, he had his regrets and sorrows too. He had seen things and done things, had lived a rich and full life, but the sorrow of burying his beloved wife would never entirely leave him. 

She had died young, dearly beloved, during childbirth. But at least the child had survived, and he loved the child fiercely, together with the first child his wife gave birth to. But the older son too was dead. He had been killed by a wild animal and all that was left of him was a blood stained coat he himself had made for the boy.

The future looked bleak now. There was a drought and a severe famine.  No rain, no food. Just dust, and thirst and heat. What use was gold in such a time when there was no food to buy with the gold and they couldn't eat the gold too?

But he had heard reports that there was food in Egypt. So he sent his other sons, ten of them and they had come back with plenty corn. But they returned without their brother Simeon, and they brought bad news.  The ruler in charge of food in Egypt had accused them of being spies and demanded that they bring Benjamin their youngest brother. Of course he vehemently refused.  He would rather die of hunger than die of another heartbreak.  What if Benjamin also died?

He lay awake in the nights and wondered. Where was God? Why was he suffering so much pain and anguish? He had been married to two women, because he had been tricked into marrying Rachel's sister. These two sisters had bickered and fought, giving him no peace.  Then Rachael died.  His daughter Dinah was raped, his sons had stupidly killed all the men of the town where she was raped. Joseph had been killed and now there was a famine and the only way to get food was to send Benjamin.  Where was God?

      But God was where He was, making all things work for good

By some unimaginable, unexplainable miracle, his son Joseph wasn't dead after all. He was the ruler who had demanded for Benjamin.  And so everything changed for Jacob.  One moment he was grieving the loss of his wife and son, thinking he would die of hunger.  The next, he had relocated to Egypt to live with his son and there was more than enough food.


Selah: How hopeless is your story? God is able to make it work for your good

                    -Amesiamina
              (Written on 08/09/2016)

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