Genesis 27:36-38
Why is it that blessings work the way they do in the Old Testament? Why can only one person receive them? Why can't they be changed or added to? Isaac finds out that Jacob has tricked him, so why can't he cancel out the blessing and give it to Esau?
Genesis 28:15-16
Leah gives Rachel her sons mandrakes, thought to increase fertility, and Rachel says that Leah can sleep with Jacob that night. This I sort of understand, a bargain and understanding between the women. But then Leah goes and tells Jacob that she has HIRED him for the night with the mandrakes. HIRED???!!!!!!! Like he's a stud horse or a prostitute or something. And Jacob doesn't think anything of it, cause he gets to have sex. What???!!!!!!
Genesis 31:1-2
Jacob sees that Laban doesn't like him as much as he used to. Well, it's not surprising, considering that Jacob uses information regarding the flocks that only he knew in order to acquire better flocks from Laban. Similar to when he tricked Esau out of his birthright and Isaac out of the blessing. I'm sensing a pattern in Jacobs behavior.
Matthew 8:10
Jesus lifts up this man, this Gentile, this Roman Centurion, and says that he has more ad greater faith than anyone in Israel. Pretty awesome. Bending the rules already.
Matthew 8:33-34
Why would the people of the town beg Jesus to leave? Did they care more about the swine than about the two men who were healed of their demon possession? Did Jesus jut freak them out?
Matthew 9:36-38
Christ had compassion in the crowds because they were lost and wandering. They needed someone to look after them, to guide them. Jesus was that one. They were "harassed and helpless" and he was to be their help, the one who would stand up to their oppressors and challenge the way that things were.
Today's ponderings
I wonder, a lot of the time, what people would think if they read certain passages of scripture and thought about them for long periods of time, really immersing themselves in them, discussing them with other people.
Two of the passages that really grabbed me today were Jesus being driven out of town after he saved the demoniacs and the passage where Matthew points out that Jesus had compassion on the crowds because they were lost, harassed, and helpless. (I know, you thought I was going to go with Leah hiring her husband for a night of sex, but no, not today.)
Jesus heals people, he cares for them, reassures them in times of struggle and doubt, performing unprecedented miracles throughout different areas, and having compassion upon people who need compassion.
All of that is amazing, and astounding, but what really stands out to me isn't the miraculous healing, or the driving out of demons, or raising a little girl from the dead. It's that Jesus has compassion on the people. But what is important to notice is that the compassion does not include pity.
When he heals the woman with the hemorrhages, he doesn't look down on her and say, "I'm so sorry for what you're facing. I feel bad for you, let me help." He turns to her and reassures her, affirming her faith, and letting her know that it is her faith that has healed her, not the fact that Jesus pitied her situation. Jesus empowers her.
When he tells his disciples that the crowds are ready to be "harvested" he doesn't say it with pity in his voice. He says it with compassion. Yes, Christ has a message to give that these people need. It's not something that they can accomplish in their own, but Jesus doesn't say that the laborers are better than others, just that they are needed in a different way. Once people hear the message of Christ, they, in turn, become laborers as well. They are blessed, healed, and empowered to help change the world, carrying the message of Christ into all regions and peoples.
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