Day 50 - Genesis : Chapter 50

Today is the 4th Sunday after Denaha - "All departed priests" day. Today's Gospel reading is about the faithful servant and the evil servant - Matthew 24:42-51 

Genesis 50 : Burial of Jacob

Jacob dies and everyone mourns including the Egyptians. They embalm his body and with the king's permission, Joseph and family go back to Canaan. They bury Joseph in the same cave that he wanted to be buried in, the cave that Abraham had bought.

After their father's death, the brothers are reluctant to go with Joseph fearing that he might take revenge. Joseph comes to know of this and assures his brothers that he has no ill feeling towards them and that everything happened as per God's wish. They go back to Egypt and live there.

After many years, When Joseph is about to die, he asks his sons to take his body to Canaan when God leads them there in the future. Joseph dies at the age of 110.

Day 49 - Genesis : Chapter 49

Catcher in the Rye author J D Salinger died yesterday.  He did create a deep impact in the minds of many with his book. A quote from the book..

"What really knocks me out is a book, when you're all done reading it, you wished the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it."

Genesis 49 : Jacob's last words to his sons

Jacob knows that he is about to die. He calls all of his sons and speaks to them.
Rueben is the first born, the proudest and strongest. But he will not be the most important since he slept with his father's concubine.
Simeon and Levi are very fierce. Their anger is their undoing. In their anger they had massacred men in Shechem. For this reason, they will be scattered all over.
Judah is of good character. His brothers will praise him and he will be the king.
Zebulun will live beside the sea.
Issachar will live like a donkey and work like a slave.
Dan will be a ruler of his people but will be like a snake by the side of the road that strikes horses down.
Gad will be attacked by robbers but he will fight back.
Asher's land will produce rich food.
Naphtali is like a deer that runs free.
Joseph is like a wild donkey in the spring. His enemies will attack and pursue him. But he will be protected by the God of Israel.
Benjamin is like vicious wolf who kills in the morning an evening.

Having said all this, he requests that he be buried in Canaan in the same cave as his father and grand father.
Jacob lies back and dies.

Day 48 - Genesis : Chapter 48

Day of the move and nothing .. almost nothing.. is done yet. We need to get rushing now.

Genesis 48 : Jacob blesses Joseph's sons

Joseph hears that his father is ill and goes to him. Jacob says that God has blessed him and he would like to give the blessings to Joseph's sons.

Joseph brings his sons Manasseh and Ephraim to Jacob. Jacob crosses his hands, puts his right hand on Ephraim the younger and left on Manasseh the elder. Joseph tries to change thinking that his father is mistaken. But Jacob says Ephraim, even though he is younger will have a greater nation than Manasseh.

Jacob also gives the land of Shechem to Joseph.

Day 47 - Genesis : Chapter 47

Saw a terrifying episode of Medium yesterday. "What are you willing to give ?"  keeps ringing in my ears.

Genesis 47 : Joseph uses the famine to make king rich

Joseph takes his brother and father to the king. The king gives them the land of Goshen.

The famine intensifies and people have exhausted all their money in buying food. They come to Joseph and beg for food. They say they don't have money but have cattle. Joseph trades cattle for food. Next year, people are out of cattle and they sell their land to get food. This way, the king of Egypt becomes the owner of all the land in Egypt. Joseph also tells people that they have to give 1/5th of their produce to the king when they start harvesting. People agree because they are dying of hunger. By this, Joseph ensures revenue for the king in the future also.

Jacob is about to die and he calls Joseph and makes him promise that he will be buried in Canaan and not in Egypt. Joseph accepts.

Day 46 - Genesis : Chapter 46

Read a couple of articles on 3 day lent
- Fast of Nineveh
- 3 day lent

Genesis 46 : Jacob and family go to Egypt

Jacob is very glad to know that Joseph is alive and gets ready with his family to go to Egypt. At Beersheeba, the Lord appears to him in a dream and tells him that it is good to go to Egypt.

Jacob , his sons, sons' wives, their children and grand children, cattle and all the livestock set out to Egypt. The chapter gives an account of all of Jacob's sons and their sons. Total number of direct descendants of Jacob is 70, excluding all the women.

Jacob and family reach Goshen and is received by Joseph. Joseph is very glad to see his father and rest of family. He tells the king about his family and the king gives them land near Goshen.

Day 45 - Genesis : Chapter 45

Today is the commemoration of our previous Bava thirumeni, Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II. From the time I became aware of Orthodox Church, he was the Bava. He passed away a couple of years back. Angel Bava

Genesis 45 : Joseph reveals himself

Joseph is no longer able to hold his emotions. He sends his servants away, cries out loud and hugs his brothers. He tells them that he is Joseph whom they had sold to traders. They are terrified but he assures them that everything happened as per God's plan. He has been sent to Egypt by God ahead of time to be in a position to provide for his people.

In the meantime, servants hear Joseph's sobs and come to know that the Hebrews are Joseph's brothers. They inform the king. The king is very pleased to hear this. He tells Joseph that they can have the best land in Egypt and live there.

Joseph gives wagons and gifts to his brothers so that they can go back and bring their father and rest of the family to live in Egypt.

They return and tell the story to Jacob. He is very surprised and happy. He thanks God for the good fortune.

Day 44 - Genesis : Chapter 44

Today is the first day of 3 day lent. 2 years back, at this time we were in Puthupally.

Genesis 44 : Joseph's cup

Joseph gives his brothers enough corn and they set out to go. While they were getting ready to go, he goes to his chief servant and tells him to put money back into the brothers' sacs. Also tells him to place his silver cup in Benjamin's bag. Unaware of these happenings, the brothers set out on their way to Canaan.

In a short while, they see Egyptians racing towards them. They recognize the main person as Joseph's servant. They ask him why he has come. He says that they have stolen his master's silver cup. They deny it and say that it is impossible. The Egyptians search all the bags and find the silver cup in Benjamin's bag. The brothers are filled with sorrow. They return back to Egypt.

The brothers reach Joseph's house in Egypt. Joseph questions them about the cup and says that the person who stole the cup will be his slave and others can return. Then Judah says that he will take the blame. He will tell him about Jacob and how he might die of heartbreak if he hears this news.

Day 43 - Genesis : Chapter 43

Today is 3rd Sunday after Denaha. In today's reading, John 3 : 1 - 12, Nicodemus approaches Jesus and Jesus says "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"

Genesis 43 : Jacob's sons go back to Egypt with Benjamin

Since Jacob refused to send his son Benjamin back with other sons to Egypt, the brothers don't go back. Time passes by, the famine become harsh and all the corn that they got from Egypt gets over. Jacob tells his sons to go back to Egypt to get some more corn. They say the Egyptian official will not allow them if they didn't take Benjamin back. Judah says he will take the full responsibility of bringing Benjamin back to Canaan.

The brothers reach Egypt and meets Joseph. He is glad to see Benjamin and is filled with emotion. He asks his servants to prepare a feast for them. The brothers enjoy a good feast with Joseph and are very content.

Day 42 - Genesis : Chapter 42

Meltho convention is happening in Bangalore. It's been so many years since I went to one . 

We're in the 42nd chapter today. If you've read H2G2, you'd know the significance of 42. The answer to life, the universe and everything

Genesis 42 : Joseph's dream comes true

The famine spreads everywhere and doesn't spare Canaan. Jacob tells his sons that he has heard that corn is available in Egypt and they should go there and buy some so that they don't starve to death. Benjamin, the youngest son stays with Jacob and all the other 10 sons leave for Egypt.

They reach Egypt and are in the line to buy corn. Joseph is in charge of distributing food. He sees his brothers and recognizes them. But they do not recognize him since he is dressed as an Egyptian. They bow before him. He remembers that his dream came true. He speaks to them harshly and tells them that they are spies. But they tell him that they are honest. They were 12 brothers, one is dead and another is with their father. Joseph says he will believe them only if they bring back the youngest brother. He asks one to stay back and other 9 to go with the corn and get back the youngest brother. Simeon is made to stay back and the brothers go to Canaan with a heavy heart.

The brothers reach Canaan and recount the story to their father. They open their corn bags and find that the money they paid for it, is returned to them. Jacob and sons get scared. Rueben says he will take the responsibility of bringing Benjamin back. But Jacob is not willing to send his youngest son to Egypt.

Day 41 - Genesis : Chapter 41

"Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. " James 1:2-4

Genesis 41 : Turning point in Joseph's life.

God never forsakes a person who has faith in him. Joseph's longs years of suffering were about to come to an end.

It's been 2 years since the wine steward was set free from prison. The king has 2 dreams one night. In the first, he sees 7 fat cows grazing by river Nile; then 7 lean cows come over and eat the fat cows. In the second, he sees 7 ears of fat corn were growing on one stalk and 7 ears of lean corn on another stalk; the lean corn eat up the fat corn.

The king is very troubled at the dream and calls all the wise men and magicians throughout Egypt to interpret his dreams. No one is able to do it. Now, the wine steward tells the king about Joseph. The King immediately summons Joseph.

Joseph comes and interprets the king's dreams. He says that both the dreams mean the same. They mean that there will be 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine after that. He advises king to store up as much as possible during the years of plenty.

The king makes Joseph the Governor of all Egypt, and makes him incharge of storing food during the years of plenty. Joseph becomes the Governor, the most powerful man in Egypt after the king.

Seven years of plenty go by and seven years of famine arrive. People in Egypt do not have to suffer because food has been stored for them.

Day 40 - Genesis : Chapter 40

We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world.
~ Buddha

Genesis 40 : Joseph interprets dreams

While Joseph is in the prison, the King's wine steward and his chief baker offended the king and were punished and put to jail. They were in the same place as Joseph.

One day Joseph sees them both sad and asks them the reason. They had seen dreams the previous night and were not clear about its meaning. Joseph asks them the dreams.

The wine steward says - "In my dream there was a grapevine in front of me with three branches on it. The grapes ripened and I saw myself giving cup of wine to the King." Joseph says the dream meant that the wine steward would be released in 3 days and reinstated. The wine steward is pleased and thanks Joseph. Joseph asks him to remember to tell King about him.

The chief baker also recounts his dream - " I was carrying three breadbaskets on my head. In the top basket there were all kinds of baked goods for the king, and the birds were eating them." Joseph says that the dream means he will be executed in 3 days and will have his head chopped off.

In 3 days, Joseph's interpretations come true. The king reinstates the wine steward and orders execution of the chief baker.

The wine steward forgets about Joseph and doesn't mention him to the king. Joseph continues to wait in the prison with patience and steadfast faith in God.

Day 39 - Genesis : Chapter 39

"Swiftly arose and spread around me the peace and knowledge that pass all the argument of the earth,
And I know that the hand of God is the promise of my own,
And I know that the spirit of God is the brother of my own .."
~ Walt Whitman

Genesis 39 : Joseph & Potiphar's wife

Joseph has been sold to Potiphar, who is one of the king's officers and was the captain of the palace guard. He works the sincerely and please Potiphar. With time, Potiphar makes him in charge of everything he owns. God is with Joseph and Potiphar is blessed abundandtly.

Potiphar's wife desires for Joseph since he is handsome and well built. But Joseph doesn't heed to her advances. He tells her that it is a sin. Once while the servants were away from home, Potiphar's wife caught him by his robe and told him to come to bed. Joseph left his robe and ran from there. She yelled and cried out to people saying Joseph tried to rape her and the robe is the proof. When her husband returns in the night, she tells the same. Potiphar is furious. He has Joseph put into jail.

God is with Joseph in the jail. He impresses the jailer. Jailer trusts Joseph and entrusts everything that he does to him.

Day 38 - Genesis : Chapter 38

Was trying to remember the 7 churches established by our Apostle. As a matter of fact is it 7.5 . Found the seven in wiki - St. Thomas established seven churches in Malabar at Kodungalloor, Paravur, Palayoor, Kokkamangalam, Niranam, Chayal (Nilackal) and Kollam. We have visited only Niranam so far. We need to go to other churches and also to St. Thomas Mount in Chennai.

Genesis 38 : Judah and Tamar

Judah, Jacob's 4th son, goes away to stay with a friend named Hiram of Adullam. He meets a Canaanite girl named Shua and marries her. He has 3 sons - Er, Onan and Shelah.

Er grows up and marries Tamar. After a short while, Er dies. God makes him die fast because of his evil deeds. Judah tells Onan to sleep with Tamar so that she may have a baby that could carry on Er's legacy. Looks like this was a practice during those days. Onan does as his father says, but only partially. During intercourse, he spills his semen on the ground before it goes into Tamar. This displeases the Lord and Onan also dies. Shelah is young. So Judah tells his daughter in law to go back to her home till Shelah comes of age. She goes back.

Years pass by, Shelah grows up but Judah doesn't keep his promise. Judah's wife dies. Once Judah visits Timnah, Tamar's town for business. Tamar comes to know. She changes her widows clothes to something better, goes out of sits by the road to Timnah, with her face covered. Judah sees her and thinks that she is a prostitute. He approaches her and asks her how much it would cost. She asks him to name the wages. He says he will send  a goat. She asks for a pledge till the goat is given. Judah gives his seal. He has intercourse with her.

Next day, he sends a goat to get the seal back but she is not found. They ask the townspeople and none had heard about a prostitute there.

Many months later, Judah gets news that his daughter in law is pregnant. He gets furious and orders her to be burnt. She sends the seal back to Judah saying - 'the man with the seal is the father of the child'. Judah immediately realizes that he had not kept his word about giving Shelah to Tamar. He takes Tamar to his house. Tamar gives birth to twins - Perez and Zerah.

Day 37 - Genesis : Chapter 37

Today is Martin Luther King Jr day. Am reminded of a quote from Dr.King that J used to say -

"Whatever your life’s work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better."

Genesis 37 : Joseph and his brothers

Joseph was born to Jacob when he was old. Also he was the first son of Rachel. Jacob had a special affection for him. This caused jealousy among brothers.  To add to this, Joseph used to tell his father about what his brothers did during the day. This infuriated his brothers more.

To make matters worse, Joseph has dreams about him ruling over his brothers. He tells his brothers about his dreams -
"We were all in the field tying up sheaves of wheat, when my sheaf got up and stood up straight. Yours formed a circle around mine and bowed down to it." [37:7]
"I had another dream, in which I saw the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowing down to me."[37:9]

One day, his brothers had gone to Shechem to tend the flock and Joseph was at home. Seeing that they were getting late, Jacob sends Joseph to find out where they are. Joseph goes in search of his brothers. His brothers see him from a distance and plot to kill him. But Rueben is against killing. So they decide to capture him and throw him into a well. When Joseph comes near, they do their evil deed.

After a while, while they were eating, the brothers see Ishmaelite traders going towards Egypt. Since they don't want Joseph to die, they take him out of the well and sell him to the traders. Rueben is not present when it happens. He is very sad to find that Joseph is not there in the well.

The brothers smear Joseph's robe with goat's blood and take it to their father and tell him that Joseph was killed by a beast in the forest. Jacob gets very sad and mourns for his son's death a long time.

In the meantime, Joseph is sold by the merchants to Potiphar, one of the King's officers.

Day 36 - Genesis : Chapter 36

Today is second Sunday after Denaha. Today's passage is about Jesus and Nathaniel, the man whom Jesus calls - True Israelite. St. John 1: 43 - 51

Genesis 36 - Esau's descendants

Esau's wives
1. Adah, the daughter of Elon the Hittite.
2. Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah son of Zibeon the Hivite.
3. Basemath, the daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth.

Adah bore Eliphaz;
Basemath bore Reuel;
Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

Eliphaz's sons: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, Kenaz, Amalek.
Reuel's sons: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.

Oholibamah descended from the original inhabitants of Edom.

The original inhabitants of the land of Edom were descendants of Seir, a Horite:
Seir's descendants : Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Ezer, and Dishan.

Lotan -> Hori and Heman.
Shobal -> Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
Zibeon -> Aiah and Anah.
Ezer -> Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
Dishan -> Uz and Aran.

Anah -> Dishon, who was the ancestor of the clans of Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. Anah also had a daughter named Oholibamah.

Before there were any kings in Israel, there were kings in the land of Edom. It seems like God made Esau's descendants nations before Jacob's or his descendants became so. It was Jacob's faith which carried him forward.

Day 35 - Genesis : Chapter 35

Interesting things happened in India during the Solar Eclipse yesterday - Annular Solar eclipse

Genesis 35 : Altar at Bethel

God appears to Jacob and asks him to go to Bethel. [It is the place where God had appeared first to Jacob. Remember Jacob's Ladder ?] . Jacob asks his group to get rid of all the idols and gods they have.

They go to Bethel and Jacob constructs an altar for God. God blesses him and says that Nations will be descended from him and he will be the ancestor of kings.

They go forward and while they are in Ephrath, time comes for Rachel to have a baby. She delivers a son - Benjamin. She dies during childbirth.

Sons of Jacob
Leah - Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
Rachel - Joseph and Benjamin.
Rachel's slave Bilhah - Dan and Naphtali.
Leah's slave Zilpah - Gad and Asher.

Jacob reaches Isaac at Mamre near Hebron. Isaac is very happy to see his son. He dies at the age of 180.

Day 34 - Genesis : Chapter 34

Haiti was supposed to be a top notch vacation spot and yet, as the events of the earthquake unfold, we come to know that it is one of the poorest countries in the world ! 

Genesis 34 : Slaughter of Shechem

One day Dinah goes out to meet some Canaanite women. Shechem sees her, takes her to his place and rapes her. He finds her so attractive that he cannot forget her. He asks his father to speak to Jacob.

Shechem's father Hamor goes to Jacob to talk to him about giving Dinah in marriage to Shechem and also to form a pact of intermarriage. Jacob's sons are furious when they hear that their sister was disgraced. But since they are living in the land of Shechem and are smaller in number, they don't do anything immediately.  They scheme a plan in their minds.

Jacob's sons tell Hamor that unless they are circumcised,  they will not be able to intermarry. Hamor , his son Shechem and all the townsmen agree to this and get circumcised.

While all the men are sore from circumcision, Rueben and Levi, go into their tents stealthily and kill all the men. They also loot the town and take possession of cattle and all the valuables. They also captured women and children.

Jacob heard this and was alarmed. He was afraid that the neighboring towns may attack them because of this. Rueben and Levi answered that it was justified since Shechem had disgraced their sister.

Day 33 - Genesis : Chapter 33

It is so tragic to see events at Haiti unfolding. Lord, give us intelligence to invent a technology that can predict earthquakes more accurately.

Genesis 33 : Jacob meets Esau

Jacob sees Esau coming and gets frightened. He puts the concubines and their children first, then Leah and her children, and finally Rachel and Joseph at the rear.He goes forward and bows before his brother. But Esau runs to meet him, throws his arms around him, and kisses him. He is very happy to see his brother and has apparently forgotten all the previous things that happened between them. He is very pleased to see Jacob's wives and children. He doesn't take Jacob's gifts but Jacob insists on it.

Esau goes ahead to Edom and Jacob and group continue slowly behind him. Jacob reaches the city of Shechem in Canaan and sets up his camp in a field near the city. He buys land from descendants of Hamor father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of silver.

Day 32 - Genesis : Chapter 32

He is stuck in a hole that he cannot come out of. It gets deeper by the day. He can barely move his right hand or turn his neck. Anyone would ask why he has to work so late in the night everyday. Lord, you are the only one who could help him.

Genesis 32 : Jacob prepares to meet Esau

Jacob is on his way to Canaan where his father lives. He knows that Esau might still be harboring hatred against him. So he sends messengers ahead of him saying that he is wealthy now and hopes to gain Esau's favor. The messengers come back saying Esau is already on his way to see Jacob with 400 men. Jacob gets frightened. He divides his group into 2, thinking that if Esau attacks one group, the other can escape. He decides on gifts of lot of cattle and sheep to Esau to please him. He divides the cattle and sheep into herds and puts a servant in charge of each. He asks one to go behind another. He instructs the first servant to tell Esau that these cattle are gifts from Jacob and Jacob is just behind him. He instructs the second, third, fourth and all the servants behind to do the same. He stays in the back.

That night he makes everyone cross the Jabokk river and stays back alone. Then a man came to him and wrestled with him the whole night. When he found that he could not beat Jacob, he struck him in the hip. The man tries to get away from Jacob but Jacob says he wont let him go until he blesses him. He asks his because he realizes that the man is God. God blesses him and says his name will henceforth be not Jacob but Israel.
Jacob said, "I have seen God face-to-face, and I am still alive"; so he named the place Peniel [32:30]

Day 31 - Genesis : Chapter 31

Heavily constrained by time. Need to leave here by 8.45. Lord, may everything go well today.

Genesis 31 : Jacob flees from Laban

Jacob hears Laban's son saying that Jacob cheated Laban off all his property and became rich. He also feels that the hatred between him and Laban is growing. So he decides to flee when Laban is not at home. He takes his wives, children and flock and goes away.

Laban pursues him for 7 days, finds him and asks him why he did that. Jacob says he worked for 20 years to earn what he has and never cheated anyone. Laban searches the whole of Jacob's camp to find if he had stolen something but doesn't find.

Both of them make a vow to not harm each other and part their ways.

Day 30 - Genesis : Chapter 30

Yesterday was the first sunday after Denaha. The Gospel is the first preaching of Jesus - "Repent the kingdom of heaven is at hand" - Matthew 4: 12 - 22

Genesis 30 : Jacob's sons

Rachel is very upset that she doesnt have any children. She complains to Jacob but he says God is the one who gives children. So she gives her slave Bilhah to Jacob. Jacob has two sons through Bilhah - Dan and Naphtali. Leah gives her slave - Zilpah to Jacob. Jacob has 2 sons through Zilpah - Gad and Asher.

During the wheat harvest Reuben went into the fields and found mandrakes, which he brings to his mother Leah. Rachel likes mandrakes and asks Leah for it. Leah says "You have already taken my husband, now you're also trying to take my son's mandrakes.". Rachel says "If you give me the mandrakes, you can have Jacob for tonight.". So Leah gets to be with Jacob. She is blessed by God and becomes pregnant again. She bears 3 more children, sons - Issachar, Zebulun and a daughter - Dinah. In the meantime, God blesses Rachel also. She gives birth to a son and names him - Joseph.

Day 29 - Genesis : Chapter 29

I'm trying to visualize the place where we would stay in next and things don't quite fit in. I had a dream. Thought I was sure of what I had to do. But in the morning, I couldn't remember the dream.

Genesis 29 - Jacob works for Laban

Jacob reaches close to Haran and sees a well. He asks a few shepherds about their whereabouts and when he finds out that they're from Haran, he asks about Laban. They say they know him and he is well. Just then Laban's daughter Rachel comes that way. Jacob is very happy, he hugs her and tells her that he is her cousin. She runs back home to tell her father. Laban comes immediately, hugs Jacob and takes him to his house. Thus Jacob begins his stay at Laban's place.

After a month, Laban tells Jacob that he shouldn't be working for free. Asks him to name a wage. Jacob says he will work for 7 years if Laban gives his daughter Rachel in marriage. Laban agrees. For Jacob, seven years would be like days since he loved Rachel.

Seven years pass and Jacob reminds Laban of his promise. Laban gives a wedding feast but in the night, instead of sending Rachel, he sends his elder daughter Leah to Jacob. In the morning, Jacob discovers the deceit and asks Laban. He says as per custom, he has to marry off his elder daughter first. Laban says if Jacob could work for another 7 years, he would give him Rachel also. Jacob agrees. The next week, Jacob marries Rachel.

Of his 2 wives, Jacob loves Rachel. Leah feels sad that she obeyed her father and married a man who did not love her and prays to God. The Lord sees that Leah is unloved for no reason of hers. The Lord blesses Leah and she bears children - Rueben, Simeon, Levi and Judah but Rachel does not bear any child.

Day 28 - Genesis : Chapter 28

Yesterday I felt an earthquake. Was sitting in the office and the building shook. It was only for a second. Before anyone could react, it was over !

Genesis 28 : Jacob goes to Laban's place

Isaac calls Jacob and tells him not to marry a Canaanite woman, instead go to Mesopotamia and marry one of his relatives. Jacob listens to his father and goes towards Haran.

Esau comes to know of this and realizes that Isaac doesn't approve of his Canaanite wives. So he marries Ishmael's daughter Mahalath.

In the meantime, Jacob is on his journey and one day at sunset, while he is taking rest at  a place, he sees a dream - he sees a ladder reaching from earth to heaven and angels going up and down the ladder. He sees the Lord standing beside him. The Lord says - "I am the LORD, the God of Abraham and Isaac, I will give to you and to your descendants this land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be numerous and I will bless them and bless the whole world through them."

Jacob wakes up in a fright and realizes that God was with him. He thanks God. The next morning, he takes the stone under his head and sets it up as a memorial, pours oil on it and dedicates it to God. He names the place Bethel. Jacob makes a vow to God "If you protect me on my journey on the way to Haran and back to my father house, if you bless me as you have promised me, I will give you a tenth of everything you give me."

Day 27 - Genesis : Chapter 27

Jan 8th. Today is the feast of St. Stephen. Acts 7 : 51 - 8 : 2

Genesis 27 : Jacob is blessed

Isaac is very old. He is also blind due to age and cannot see anything. He wants to pass on the blessings he received from the Lord to his son. Since he likes Esau and since Esau is the first born, he wants to give him all the blessings. So he calls Esau and asks him to bring the tasty meat that he generally cooks. Esau agrees and goes out to hunt.

Rebecca hears this and gets alarmed. She likes Jacob and wants him to get the blessings. Also the Lord had promised her that her younger one will rule the elder. She calls Jacob, tells him about Isaac's plan and tells him that there is a way to get his father's blessings. She asks him to pick a couple of fat goats from the flock and bring it to her. Jacob obeys his mother. She cooks delicious food exactly like what Isaac likes. She makes Jacob wear Esau's clothes, puts goat's skin on Jacob's arms and neck since Esau is a hairy person.

Jacob does as his mother tells him and gets the blessings. Esau comes after sometime and find out that he has been deceived. He begs his father to give him some blessing. Isaac says that everything has gone to Jacob.  He says that Esau and descendants shall live by the sword.

Esau is filled with hatred for Jacob and plans to kill him after Isaac dies. Rebecca knows this and tells Jacob to go away to her brother Laban's place in Haran.

Day 26 - Genesis : Chapter 26

Jan 7th. Today we remember the beheading of St. John the Baptist. St. Matthew 14 : 1 - 12

Genesis 26 : Isaac and Abimelech

There is another famine in the land and the Lord tells Isaac not to go to Egypt but to some other place in the same country. Lord says that he will honor the promise made to Abraham that he will make his descendants the owners of this place. 

So Isaac goes and lives at Gerar. He tells everyone that Rebecca is his sister since he is scared that men might kill him to take his beautiful wife. Abraham had done the same when he was in Abimelech's country. This Abimelech and that may not be the same. More than 100 years have passed between that incident and this. As Barnes says in the commentary, Abimelech might be the title of the king rather than the name. May be the name is passed on.

One day Abimelech discovers that Rebecca is Isaac's wife and not sister. He calls Isaac and asks him why he did such a thing to bring misfortune to this land. He cautions his men against doing anything wrong with Isaac and family. Isaac lives there for many years and becomes prosperous. Abimelech's men become jealous and close his wells. Due to the quarrels, Abimelech asks Isaac to go out of Gerar.

Isaac goes away, digs a couple of wells and the third one produces water. So he calls it 'Freedom'. After sometime, Abimelech visits him and asks him to make a vow that Isaac or his men will not harm Abimlech's men. He asks this because he knows that God has blessed Isaac. Isaac and Abimelech make a vow.

Esau marries foreign women - Judith  and Basemath who make life tough for Isaac and Rebecca, may  be because of cultural differences.

Day 25 - Genesis : Chapter 25

Today is 6th. Day of Denaha perunal (Epiphany) - today we remember Jesus's baptism.

Genesis 25 : Abraham's death ; Isaac's sons

The previous chapter had given indication that Abraham was dead since he wasn't around when Rebecca came to Isaac. Here we see that Abraham marries again - to a woman named Keturah. He has many sons out of her. Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac; but while he was still alive, he gave presents to the sons his other wives had borne him. He dies and is buried by Isaac and Ishmael in the same cave as Sarah (Macphelah cave that Abraham bought from a Hittite).

Isaac prays to God and Rebecca becomes pregnant. She has pains in her stomach. The Lord comforts her by saying that there are 2 nations in her womb. She gives birth to twins - Esau and Jacob.

Esau likes hunting and generally staying outdoors. Jacob prefers a quiet life at home. Isaac likes Esau because he liked eating the animals that Esau brought him. Rebecca likes Jacob.

Once Esau comes back from hunting is very hungry. He sees Jacob cooking some beans and asks him. Jacob knows that Esau is very hungry and would do anything to get food. He tells Esau that if he relinquished his rights as a first born, he will give him food. Esau says what is the use of the rights if he was going to die. Esau makes a vow and gives his rights to Jacob.

Day 24 - Genesis : Chapter 24

There is earthquake in the Pacific again. Solomon Islands was hit by another one today. Yesterday there was a tsunami that destroyed a village. news. Earthquakes are always scary and sudden.

Genesis 24 - Wife for Isaac

Abraham is very old and he knows that he is going to die. He calls his oldest servant, the person who is in charge of all his wealth, and asks him to make a vow. The vow would be that the servant would choose a wife for Isaac among Abraham's relatives and not among the Canaanites. The servant make a vow and sets out to Mesopotamia where Nahor, Abraham's brother and relatives lived.

The servant takes ten of his master's camels and goes to the city where Nahor and relatives live in northern Mesopotamia. He reaches the common well of the place and waits there. He prays to God and says "If a young woman comes and gives me and camels water to drink, it will be a sign that she is the one for Isaac.".

A young woman comes to fill water and the servant asks her. She lowers the jar from her shoulders and gives him water. She also goes back to the well and gets water for the camels. The servant is impressed and asks her who she is. She says she is Rebecca, daughter of Bethuel. Bethuel happens to be Abraham's nephew, his brother Nahor's son. The servant thanks God, give Rebecca a golden nose ring and bracelets and asks her to take him to her house.

They reach Rebecca's house. Her father, Bethuel and her brother Laban see the ornaments on Rebecca, greet the servant and ask him to come into their house. The servant tells them about the vow he made to Abraham. He says he needs to take Rebecca with him to fulfill the vow. They ask Rebecca and she agrees. The servant is very happy, gives ornaments to Rebecca and gifts to her family and sets back home with Rebecca.

Isaac meets the servant and Rebecca on the way. He takes Rebecca to his home as his wife.

Found this very good link to the genealogy from Adam to Abraham -> Bible Time 

Day 23 - Genesis : Chapter 23

Holidays are over ! Yesterday night, during offshore call, it didn't even seem like there was a gap. I guess it might've been because of not being fully well last week. 

Genesis 23

Sarah dies at the age of 127 at Hebron. Abraham goes to the Hittites and asks them to sell him a burial ground. He says he is a foreigner in the land and he doesn't own any burial ground. The Hittites tell him that they look upon him as a mighty leader and he could take any land that he likes. They ask him which land he would prefer. He says that he would like to buy Machpelah Cave that belong to Ephron. Ephron who is present in the group tells him that he can have it. But Abraham insists on paying money for it. Ephron quotes 400 silver coins and Abraham pays that amount and buys the field and the cave.

Day 22 - Genesis : Chapter 22

First Sunday after the New Year, Second Sunday after Christmas. Today's Gospel reading would be about Jesus and Parents going to Jerusalem for festival, Jesus staying back to be in the temple to talk to teachers in the synagogue and the parents coming back after 3 days looking for him. - Luke 2:40

Genesis 22 - God tests Abraham

Abraham faces the biggest test of his life. One day, God tells Abraham, "Abraham, go to the mountain in the land of Moriah and offer your only son Isaac as a sacrifice for me". Abraham must have been stunned by this. He had waited so long for a son and finally when he got one, God was asking him as a sacrifice. But Abraham knows that God is the giver of everything and protector of everyone. So he obeys God and takes Isaac to sacrifice. He doesn't tell anyone, even his son Isaac.

As they're walking towards the altar of sacrifice with knife and coal and other things needed, Isaac asks his father about the lamb to sacrifice. Abraham answers that God will provide. When they reach the place, Abraham ties Isaac up and lays him on the altar. As he is about to put his knife on him, the angel of the Lord speaks - "Abraham, do no kill the child. Since you have obeyed me I will make your descendants more than the stars in the sky.". Abraham looks around and sees a lamb trapped in a nearby busy. He offers that as sacrifice.

Next paragraph talks about the 8 sonsof Nahor, Abraham's brother. One of the sons is Methuel, Rebecca's father.

Day 21 - Genesis : Chapter 21

Read this quote in the wonderful book - GTD yesterday - “Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.” ~ Buddha 

Genesis 21

As the Lord had promised, a son is born to Isaac. Abraham is 100 years old at this time. Abraham and Sarah are very happy. As he had promised the Lord, he has Isaac circumcised on the 8th day. The day Isaac is weaned, Abraham gives a great feast to everyone.

Years pass. One day Sarah sees Ishmael playing with Isaac. Since Ishmael is the elder one, Sarah feels threatened that her husbands wealth might go to him. So she tell Abraham to send him away. This troubles Abraham. He prays to God and God tells him that it is ok to send Hagar and Ishmael away. God will take care of them and make a great nation out of Ishmael also.

Hagar takes Ishmael and goes away. They walk through the desert for many days. Once the supplies end, they go in search of water but don't find any. Hagar makes her child lie under near a bush, and sits down about 100 yards away without looking at her son. She says to herself that she cannot bear to see her child die and began to cry. An angel of  God appears to her and comforts her. Hagar opens her eyes and sees a well. She is very happy and thanks God. Hagar and Ishmael continue on their journey. Ishamael grows up and becomes a skillful hunter and marries an Egyptian woman.

In the meantime, Abimelech comes to Abraham and asks him to promise that Abraham or his descendants will never deceive him or his descendants. He knows that God is with Abraham always and hence fears that Abraham and descendants will take over his country later. Abraham promises him that it will not be so.
During that time, there would a conflict between Abraham's men and Abimelech's about a well and Abimelech's men had seized it. Abraham says that he built it. Abimelech agrees and gives it to Abraham.
The place where they made their vow is called Beersheeba.

Day 20 - Genesis : Chapter 20

Just when I thought I'd seen the biggest and best of adventure-fantasy type of movies (read LOTR, HP, SW and all the comic book hero movies), Avatar totally proved me wrong. Original, awe-inspiring and mind boggling. That is the power of movie. The best is always yet to come.

It's a new year. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Genesis 20

Abraham again moves from the place he lives(Hebron) to southern part of Canaan. He later moves to Gerar. While he is Gerar, exactly a similar incident happens that happened in Egypt (Chapter 12). He knows that people might kill him to take his wife (Looks like this was a practice in those times). So he tells everyone that Sarah is his sister. To the king of Gerar, Abimelech also he says the same. The king takes Sarah for himself since she is beautiful (even at the age of 90) and thinking that she is not married to anyone.  That night God appears to Abimelech in a dream telling him that he is going to die because he has taken another man's wife and that him and his country would be cursed if he touched Sarah. Abimelech gets frightened and says he is innocent and asks forgiveness from God.

Early next day, Abimelech tells this to his officials and also call Abraham and asks him why he brought such a misfortune upon them. Abraham explains. He also says that Sarah is his step-sister. Abimelech understands and gives Sarah back to Abraham and also sheep, cattle and slaves. He asks Abraham to stay wherever he wants in Gerar.

Abraham prays for Abimelech and his countrymen. Due to the incident no woman in Gerar would be able to give birth to a child but once Abraham prays, the curse is lifted.