Where Is It Written That Life Is Fair?

Where Is It Written That Life Is Fair?

Observations of the Bible

By:  Doris Beckmann

Copyright © 2019  DORIS BECKMANN.

All rights reserved.

Published by DORIS BECKMANN

Observations of the Bible:

Authorized King James Version

The Good New Bible Edition

Dedication: To the two who believed in me: God and my mother.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CIP DATA ON FILE.

CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION FOR THIS BOOK

IS AVAILABLE FROM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

COPYRIGHT NUMBER TXu2-168-048

ISBN 978-1-79483-442-2

Forward:

Young Daughter:  I have noticed that life is not fair.

Me: Yes honey, life seems not fair.

Young Daughter: But it is supposed to be fair.

Me: Show me where it is written that life is fair.

Daughter: It must be in the Bible.

Me: OK, show me.

After a time, Daughter comes to me and hands me her Bible.  On the flyleaf she had written, Life is Fair.

We laughed and then I began to think.  Then I read the Bible.  This book contains the observations from the Bible.

Genesis

Genesis -1

First there is light and dark, but the sun and moon are not created until the fourth day. So, this light and dark can’t be our natural 24 hr. day we think about as a day.  The sequence of forming of things can then span a very long time for the universe to be created. The order of this progression seems to replicate the order of our historical records such as water, land, vegetation, birds, fish, animals, and finally humans in that order.  So, God created everything, but it took many millions of years so science and religion can both be right. Since a day in this sense can be any portion of time as we currently measure it. It also seems to say that man was given control of the things of the earth which I take to mean nature. So, God made all the stuff and the laws of nature under which living things live.  What we do with these laws of nature is up to us.  We seem to be screwing it up and not understanding   the laws of nature and how they work.  Maybe the light that existed in the beginning was the light of God, love.

Genesis -2

I like the part about God being happy and resting on the seventh day.  It makes him seem more human and accessible for me to understand.  I get tired and like to hang out and do only what makes me happy and since even God rested and was happy, it makes me feel I don’t have to feel guilty when I  read or watch tv instead of cleaning or cooking or being busy doing what others think is right.  The part about God making man from the earth makes sense to me since we are products of this earth, subject to the laws of nature of the earth.  I find it interesting that man started being a live being when the breath of life was breathed into man.  This is when I believe life starts, at the time of our birth when we breathe on our own.  And then our death occurs when we no longer breathe on our own.  Therefore, I believe that life starts at our birth, whenever that occurs such that we can live and breathe.  IN nature not all seeds that fall, or eggs hatch, or animals that conceive get born or grow.   Another part I like is the idea that man needed one of his own species to mate with and procreate.  This makes me believe that while there is mutation within species over time and adaptation to environment   there is not a change of species.  I don’t believe that man was once a fish or animal, not because that offends me, who cares, but because I don’t see different species mating with each other and producing new species.  Yes, it takes a long time to change, but cats are still cats, dogs are dogs, they have many breeds and sizes, but they are the same DNA.  I think that the Garden of Eden part is like God placing man in a hospitable environment for life. I notice there are two trees, one of life, and one of knowledge of good and evil.  Since man already had life, the thing God wanted to protect him from was evil for man’s own sake of his soul. But human nature has in it the need to survive, because we are under the laws of nature.  Just like a parent doesn’t want their child to be in contact with danger or harm, we want to shelter and protect children when they are young and not able to protect themselves.  We wish them to be happy and good for the sake of their souls.  God must have wanted that for us too.

Genesis -3

I know some people believe in the Bible literally, but to me there are many insights and truths that can be revealed in a variety of ways, one of which is a parable such as Jesus used to make a point.  Maybe the snake in this story is an interior voice we hear that when we think of something, we would like to do we are able to convince ourselves that it would be a good idea.  Here comes the human part I get a kick out of.  The pass the blame game.  No one wants to be wrong, but if you are caught in the act, then the other method of getting out of it is to blame someone or something else.  Human nature popping   up again.  Then God tells man, well there are consequences for your actions.  If you know what is right and wrong, then you can be held responsible and expect to pay the consequences.  Yes, that is a big problem, which is why I guess people like to be childlike, so they don’t have to worry or care about problems.  Then god says that he doesn’t want the human to have endless life so that he would be Godlike.  With the knowledge of our own eventual death we are forced to recognize that as much as we think we are God, that death is the one thing we cannot   avoid.

Genesis -4

At first, I was confused. Why did God start trouble between Cain and Abel?  Also, why reject Cain’s offering and make him feel rejected and resentful and jealous?  I thought about it awhile and maybe it is like a person who gives something without really wanting to, but just because it looks good. So, they give as little as they can and give resentfully.  Sometimes people give in order to get stuff or credit back.   Cain gave some, but it is Abel who gave the first-born calf the very best he had.  Maybe this is a lesson about giving.  God then asked Cain why he was angry, since if he gave willingly, he would have been happy.  But he was going into a path that leads to trouble with his jealously and resentment.  Cain didn’t learn and later tricked Abel in a premeditated act and killed him.  When God asked Cain where his brother was God was giving Cain a chance to confess.  Cain then said, Am I my brother’s keeper? That is an age-old question.  Yes, I think we are. I think sometimes of the Bible as a story of a person’s trip through life. In the beginning it was formless and void, like a newborn.  Then physical development takes place slowly. Then we start to learn right and wrong from the world and our family.  Then we learn to be greedy, jealous and resentful of siblings and others.  Cain did more harm to his soul by living his life without God, than he did to Abel.  I wonder if the sign or mark on Cain’s face that God put there to warn people away from Cain might have been an angry frown.

Genesis -5

I couldn’t help noticing the age of these people.  Clearly, they didn’t count years the same as we do today.  The modern calendar that we go by wasn’t even adopted until thousands of years later.  Therefore, I figure that maybe they counted seasons in some way because they lived so closely with nature and figured their time on what they saw in the heavens and the climate and growing seasons and animal procreating times.  It is interesting that God made mankind after himself, man and woman.  Also, Adam had Seth and from Seth came the line that went to Noah.  So, it appears to me that Seth was the good son.  

Genesis -6

This part about supernatural beings is a bit weird.  I guess they were angels, since angels were able to appear and communicate with people.  IT also appears that when angels and humans started to procreate this made a problem of eternal life to the half human.  Apparently, also mankind fell into evil ways and God decided to eliminate mankind and that solved the problem of the half angel.  Noah must not have been descended from this line and so he was good. Violence was noted among people that god destroyed.  Man hasn’t changed much, but at least he dies and doesn’t live forever being violent.  Also, the fact of dying certainly cut down on violence since at least there would be an ultimate price to pay.                                                                       

Genesis -7

So, the flood came.  Archeologists have found evidence of flooding all over the world.  It must have been a brave thing for Noah and his family to do.  Imagine all the world and people you know being gone.  I guess even god, who lets us start over, gave himself that chance too.  Maybe that is where he got the idea of grace from when he understood it himself.  Tomorrow is another day is a great gift.

Genesis -8

When the flood was over the first thing Noah did was give thanks to God.  So often we pray for something and when we get it, we forget to thank god.  I noticed that Noah took one of each ritually clean animal and burned them for a sacrifice.  I can only assume that the animals had procreated on the ark because otherwise Noah killed one of the pair that needed to mate.  Just thinking.  This is an example of the need not to take the Bible literally, but for the help it provides us for living.  After all, since no one was around most of the time, we can only believe the Bible’s history of the creation and history of prehistoric world as a matter of faith and take what is useful for our souls.  Which is what it is for anyway. 

Genesis -9

After the flood god made a promise that he would never destroy the earth with a flood and that a rainbow would appear in a cloudy day to remind him of his promise and reassure mankind because otherwise man might forever be fearful every time it started to rain.  Then Noah planted a grape vine and got drunk.  His son Ham saw him drunk and naked in his tent and told his brothers.  They didn’t look and covered Noah with a blanket.  Noah was angry with Ham and cursed him and his offspring to be slaves to Shem and Japheth.  This part is very weird to me.  Apparently, since Noah was such a good man it was ok for him to get drunk.  Also, why he was naked is strange.  Why he was angry with Ham for finding him could be that Ham instead of concern went and told others.  I guess that Shem and Japheth showed respect for their Father and covered him was pleasing to Noah. What is the message: that even good people make mistakes. That being a tattletale and gossip is unkind.  That showing respect for parents and others is a blessing.  Since Ham was the Father of the Canaanites who were enemies of the Israelites there appears that enmity was to exist.   And we are still enemies with one another to this day.  Strikes me as idiotic. Of course, the Old Testament was written for the Israelites and so it would be reasonable to believe that Ham’s children might have some other beliefs and might not think that they should be cursed for something they did not do.  And since we know slavery is wrong it can appear that maybe people just look to justify the things, they wanted to do by saying God said so.  Of course, Jesus has redeemed us from these beliefs, for which I thank God.  We need the Old Testament and the teachings to descend to us today so we can understand the history and back round of how God revealed himself as time proceeded.  Knowledge passes down and things change over time.  Maybe we just must except things in the context of the time and understanding of the stage of the people.  Maybe we think of ourselves so enlightened today and yet in the future we will be just as misguided.  Truth and knowledge apparently get revealed at the time we can understand.  I guess we can only do the best we can with what we have. I know how to type on this computer, but I have no ability to build it or even to understand how it works.  All I can do is use what I have been given by the skill and knowledge and work of others.  I understand none of it, I just think I do because I can use it, so I think I know the good, but I don’t.  The more I know the more I know I don’t know.

Genesis -10

The three sons of Noah created all the decedents of the then known world.  Apparently, Japheth’s line consists of the line now known to be Spanish and white.  Ham apparently created the line now considered the Arabs, and descendants in Africa.  Shem, who was the oldest brother. created the line of the Hebrews.   In the old Testament it was important to be the oldest brother who was the first in line and the leader.

Genesis -11

The descendants of Noah were living in what is now Iraq and built a tower and city.  They became so impressed with themselves that God decided to divide them, and they spoke various languages.  Shem had various descendants which finally led to Abram who was the man chosen by God to find the Jewish religion.

Genesis -12

OK, this is weird.  God tells Abram that he will be the father of a great nation and God will bless him.  He tells him to go to Canaan and take his wife and Lot his nephew.  But it seems that this land was already settled.  Then there was a drought, so Abram went south to Egypt.  Abram was concerned that the Egyptians would kill him to take his wife, so he told his wife to pretend she was his sister.  The King took her as his wife and gave Abram lots of stuff.  But God put a plague on the King, and it was discovered that it was because the King was with the wife.  The King, who was innocent in this, threw Abram and his tribe out of Egypt.  My problem is that since God told Abram he blessed him, and his descendants why didn’t Abram just believe what God said?  There would be no reason to hide that Sarai was his wife.  Also, what kind of thing is that to do, give your wife away and take stuff for her, and fool an innocent party?  I am left to believe that Abram must have thought that the only way to fulfill God’s plan was to keep alive any way he could.  In this period of history people had multiple wives and the boundaries of countries were whatever tribe or clan could control the land area.  The flux of nomadic people depended on their strength and numbers for survival.  Abram may have been operating under the plan of survival of the time in order to fulfill God’s plan.  Abram could only understand the world as he knew it and not God’s eventual plan for the Israelite people to come.  Here is a case of Abram depending on himself rather than having faith in God.  We do that today; by doing what we think is right at the time but superseding our plans for Gods. 

Genesis -13

Abram and his family and Lot his nephew and his family traveled together out of Egypt.  After a while the land became too small for their needs, so Abram suggested that they divide and live peacefully.  Lot went toward the settled land in which there were cities, and Abram went to the unsettled land.  Abram made an alter to the Lord and asked God to bless his land.  Lot, on the other hand integrated into the city and lived among people who held different beliefs and ways of living.  Our families today are spread out and travel more than in the past. It is good sometimes for families to strike out for themselves and develop their own homesteads and traditions, while remaining   supportive and loving.

Genesis -14

There were many small Kingdoms in the region that had wars with each other.  Lot and his family lived in the town of Sodom when it was conquered.  Lot sent a message to Abram that his family had been taken in this war.  Abram got together his tribe and friendly neighbors to rescue Lot, his tribe and possessions.  They were successful in freeing Lot and the residents of Sodom who were also taken.  The King of Sodom offered Abram all the plunder as thanks for rescuing his people, but Abram refused to keep anything that did not belong to Lot’s tribe.  Abram recognized the right of the neighbors who helped him to gain value for their help, but Abram felt that he only wanted what belonged to his families so that in the future there would not be a belief that he fought for gain, but only for the rights of his tribe.  Although many nations and different sides in battles have claimed that God was on their side, it would appear, since God cannot be on both sides that God is on the side of the right in God’s eyes. Although both sides believe they are right, it is in God’s eyes what is truly right.

Genesis -15

God said to Abram in a dream that he would have as many descendants as the stars and eventually these descendants would inhibit the land God designated to them.  Abram questioned god because he had no son, but God said to just have faith and believe.  Unknown to Abram it turned out that he fathered the nation of Israel, who now live in their nation.

Genesis -16

When Abram had no children with his wife Sarai, in order to fulfill God’s plan, Sarai figured that since she couldn’t have children maybe her Egyptian slave Hagar could give Abram the child God had promised.  She told Abram her plan and he agreed, and Hagar became pregnant.  Hagar then scorned Sarai for her barrenness which made Sarai treat Hagar cruelly.  Hagar ran away.  God sent an angel who told Hagar to return and she would have a son who shall be named Ishmael. So, Hagar returned and bore Abram a son named Ishmael which means God hears.  The descendants of Ishmael became a great nation of Arabs who are at enmity with the Israeli’s to this day.  What Abram and Sarai didn’t know was God’s plan that Sarai would have Abram’s son.  They tried to make things come true by the actions of their own will rather than God’s.  So, when we say God’s will be done it is a reminder not to supersede our own will   but rather to let God’s will guide us.  It is a classic example of the wish to play God, even if the motive appears to be good at the time to our understanding.

Genesis -17

God told Abram to change his name to Abraham which means Father of many nations and call his wife Sarah since she would have a son and be the Mother of many descendants.  God directed Abraham to circumcise males to show they belonged to God.  This would serve to remind us that we are his children.  It also may be a measure to physically maintain the reproductive health of people by keeping the foreskin clean.

Genesis -18

The Lord and two Angels came to Abraham’s tent.  He welcomed them with the best he had.  They told him that in nine months they would visit again, and Sarah would have a son.  Sarah laughed because she believed she was too old to have children.  All things are possible with god.  Two of the angels went to the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah to see if they were full of sin.  Abraham asked the Lord if he found innocent people in the towns would he save the town for their sakes?  The Lord said yes, if he found ten people who were good, he would save the town.  So, by this it appears that people can control their own fate by their actions. It seems that at least in the beginning Abraham saw only three men, not aware that they were God and his Angels.  He treated these strangers as honored guests even though he had no idea who they were.  Abraham didn’t judge, he accepted these men for who they were.  Maybe, by this it would be that what looks like ordinary people to us may be someone sent by design from God, and we just don’t recognize them. A kindness, or unkindness, may be our response to an unrecognized design of God’s. It makes me think of the possibility that anyone can be the instrument of god’s plan, even in the present day.

Genesis -19

The two angels went to the town of Sodom where Lot met them at the city gates.  It was the custom of the time to give refuge to travelers and treat them well because then there were not hotels and cities to lodge in.  If travelers did not get refuge they would starve or die in the desert, so it was of great importance to sustain their very lives.  Many people were nomadic at this time, so they relied on one another for this custom.  Lot took the Angels to his house and gave them the best of his food and home.  Lot had no idea at first that these were not just ordinary men.  That night the male residents of Sodom came to molest the strangers.  Lot pleaded with them to protect the visitors, but they refused and threatened Lot and his family.  Then the Angels revealed themselves to be messengers from God and caused the towns men to be blinded.  These men were certainly blind metaphorically; blindness of the soul is certainly true blindness.  Lot was told to take his wife and daughters and run away before the destruction of the city.  His wife was reluctant to go and while they were going, she looked back and was frozen like a pillar of salt.  At that time the topography had natural features which local people believed resembled people.  When we are said to look backward and not want to change, we do not wish to give up our ways of behavior.  This is the case of Lot’s wife, who did not choose to change her ways.  It matters not what the towns people’s intent was, what mattered that they wished to harm innocent men who were at their mercy for their lives.  Sodom’s lack of mercy and charity and empathy were the sins that condemned them in God’s eyes.  Lot and his daughters went to live in caves when they saw the destruction of the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah.  The daughters were young and supposed that the whole world was destroyed so in order to continue their race they got Lot drunk and had sons from him.  From these sons came descendants. We sometimes make errors of judgment based on our available facts which are incorrect but not done deliberately wrong.  As we wish to be forgiven for our shortcomings, we can extend charity to Lot, his wife and daughters.  God intended this race to continue, so he saved them.

Genesis -20

As Abraham and his family wandered around in foreign countries who were not familiar with God, he needed to keep his family safe.  It was at that time the custom of Kings to take pretty women for their harem.  God prevented King Ablmelech   from taking Sarah because God knew the King was innocent and thought Sarah was Abraham’s sister.  Sarah was Abraham’s half-sister from a different Mother.  God protected Abraham’s family because they would be the light that would shine God’s love unto the world.  It is important to remember the customs and beliefs at the time in order to understand the ways in which God attained his aims while still allowing the laws of nature under which man was created and the free will afforded to mankind. The will of God in this case was achieved while still in accordance with nature, survival, and freewill.

Genesis -21

Abraham and Sarah had a son they named Isaac, which means laughter, because he will bring joy to the world.  Sarah was jealous of Ishmael, the son of Abraham and the servant girl Hagar.  She requested Abraham to send them away.  Abraham was sad because Ishmael was also his son, but God told Abraham it would be OK and Ishmael would be cared for by God, his descendants would be mighty nations who are todays Arabs from Ishmael’s wife who was an Egyptian.  Abraham made peace treaties with local leaders and they lived in peace.  The Allah that Muslim’s believe in is the same God that the Jews believe in, and the Arabs and Jews are brothers.  There is one God. 

Genesis -22

Just as Abraham was willing the sacrifice the son most loved by him, so God also was willing to give the world his beloved son Jesus.  Abraham put his trust and faith in god, rather than his own needs, just so do we sometimes have to put other needs before our own.  God will provide a way.  This isn’t just a story from long ago, this is the way mankind needs to deal with justice for others beyond ourselves. What may seem like a loss for our personal self may, in the end, be a gain for all which is also a gain for each.

Genesis -23

Sarah died. Abraham mourned for her.   They were living in a foreign land and Abraham wanted a place to bury Sarah.  He bought a field and cave to make a place that belonged to him so that there could be a permanent place for Sarah to rest in.  It is difficult to have no place of your own, to feel you belong, and to hold as a place to return to and hold in your memory.  When people pass from us in life it is important to remember them, if not in a place on earth, then give them a place in your heart, mind and soul.

Genesis -24

Abraham was getting old and wanted to make sure Isaac would have a good wife and family.  So, he sent a servant   to where his family lived to find a wife from his people.  God led the servant who found Rebecca.  Isaac and Rebecca loved each other.  It is still very common for parents to wish their children to have a good spouse and family.  We don’t choose a partner for our children, but in many subtle ways we influence their choices.  Parents often send messages to their children about acceptable norms and behavior expected from them.  In this way the sons and daughters include these life concepts into their choices. Spiritual inner concepts are often transmitted this way.

Genesis -25

Abraham married other wives and had other children.  Before he died and was buried, he gave gifts to the other children, but he gave all his belongings to Isaac at his death.  Isaac and Rebecca had twin sons Esau and Jacob.  In that culture the first-born son inherited all the fathers’ property.  In this case Esau was said to sell his birthright to his brother.  Esau at that time believed he was dying; therefore, his birthright would have gone to Jacob anyway.  As it happened, he didn’t die, but he was not aware of his possible recovery.  Sibling rivalry is common, and it appears that it was Gods will that the sons should live varying lives. The rule of primogenitor seems to be more man’s rule than God’s since many times in the Bible it is not the firstborn son who God chooses.  We see that God works his will in many men and women regardless of their position in the world. 

Genesis -26

As far as I can see it seems that there continued to be fights over land and water and resources.  Isaac and his family moved around and never lost faith that god would fill his promise and protect him and his family.  Esau married two foreign girls which made Isaac and Rebecca unhappy.  To this current day there is enmity and struggle for land and power in the mid-east region.  I guess that is human nature, to have our own descendants and our beliefs to live on. Sometimes there are fights, and sometimes there are treaties.

Genesis -27

Isaac was old and dying so he called his oldest son Esau to give him his blessing and make him his heir.  The Mother Rebecca told Jacob to fool his Father and get the blessing.  Because Isaac was blind, he was able to be deceived.  When Esau found out Jacob had cheated him out of his birthright, he became angry and threatened to kill Jacob, so Rebecca told Jacob to run away until Esau was calmer.  This shows how unfortunate it is when parents choose favorites among their children.  It causes enmity in the family and distorts the natural love relatives have for each other.  Love multiplies, not divides. 

Genesis -28

It is important who you marry because the spouse brings their beliefs and background   to the union and affects the children of the marriage.  Isaac and Rebecca were not happy with Esau’s foreign wives because they were not of their beliefs. They encouraged Jacob to go to the land of their Father’s and choose a wife from their own tribe so they can become future owners of the land God promised them.  Jacob went on his journey and while sleeping he saw a stairway going up to the clouds with angels going up and down.  God appeared to Jacob and promised to be with him and protect him and make his family prosper and populate and own the land.  Jacob realized he was blessed and proceeded on his way with the knowledge of God’s blessings and optimism.  In this way, if we feel we are doing the right thing and have direction, we can go forward with hope in our hearts and the encouragement of our loved ones.

Genesis -29

Jacob went to his uncle Laban’s land and when he saw his daughter Rachel, he fell in love with her.  Jacob made an agreement to work for Laban for seven years to earn the hand of Rachel.  At the end of the time Laban tricked Jacob and sent Leah into the dark tent and Jacob was married to her.  When Jacob discovered the trick, Laban explained that it was the way of his tribe to marry the oldest daughter first.  Jacob agreed to work another seven years for Rachel.  Leah bore Jacob four sons in the hope that he would love her.  I don’t understand why Laban wasn’t honest with Jacob and I also don’t understand why Jacob agreed to work another seven years after he couldn’t believe the word of Laban.  All I can think is that Jacob realized that he didn’t have the power to make Laban give him Rachel and therefore he was willing to do a labor of love.  Here again is a case of man creating problems by insisting on his own will.  Being duplicitous, creating jealousies, having favorite children, all these issues arise out of man’s will to have his own way and lead to additional problems which man fails to understand that he himself perpetuates and then blames on God.   

Genesis -30

Wow, how weird is this chapter.  Jacob’s wives and their servants all compete for his love and attention by having children.  This may be a way of producing offspring, but it makes for strife and jealousy.  Meanwhile, Jacob and Laban try to trick each other to try and get the most livestock and riches.  Talk about family dysfunction.  Rachel, who is Jacobs’s favorite wife, finally has a son Joseph, who of course will become the favorite son.  I realize that God wishes to increase the population of his chosen people, but I doubt he wants to sew these seeds.  This is an example of the misguided will of man thinking that they are doing God’s work, but really, they are furthering their own interests.  Well, God did give these children to Jacob, so I am left to conclude that it was, in part at least, God’s will also.  I noticed that in the Bible adoption and surrogate parents were accepted practice.

Genesis -31

Jacob had a dream in which God told him to return home with his family and goods. So, he and Laban made a pact to part in peace and Jacob left.                                                                      

Genesis -32

Jacob met an angel who told him to return home to his family.  He sent ahead to his brother Esau that he was returning hoping to be forgiven.  He didn’t know if Esau would still be angry so he sent some servants ahead with livestock and gifts to see how he would be received.  While waiting for an answer he had a vision and struggled with an angel.  The angel told him that he had struggled with man and God and won, so he would be called Israel. In this we can see that there is contrition and understanding on Jacobs part and a wish to be forgiven and make things right.  God sees and understands our actions and is ready to forgive and bless when mankind faces and understands his past.

Genesis -33

Esau and Jacob met, and their reunion was happy.  It is a blessing when family can love each other and forgive the past, remembering the good and the bonds that bind them together.  Both men held only good will toward each other with no envy of material goods.  This is the wish of God, for mankind to abandon envy and resentments to let love live in their hearts.

Genesis -34

Jacob and Leah had a daughter named Dinah.  While Dinah was visiting in Canaan she was raped by the son of the powerful leader of the land.  She should have been safe and protected under the social laws, but not only was the daughter violated, but also the social contract of affording safety to wayfarers.  The son fell in love with Dinah, so the leader Shechem offered to let the Israelis live and intermarry with the Canaanites.  In this way he figured to absorb them into his tribe and take their positions.  Jacob pretended to agree if the males of the town would be circumcised. When the Canaanites were disabled by the procedure Simeon and Levi, who were Dinah’s brothers, rescued Dinah and slew the offenders.  It was vital to the existence of the Israelite’s to keep their religion separate from the Gods and idols of other tribes. 

Notes: Occasionally thoughts come to me and they don’t fit in with the Bible narrative.  Not knowing what to do, I decided to make notes.  I thought that when God made Adam and Eve in the beginning, we assumed that he didn’t make any other people at that time.  But the Bible doesn’t say Then God stopped and didn’t make any more people.  So maybe God made more people after Adam and Eve.  Why not?  After all, if God was pleased with man then why not make more?  If you knitted an afghan and it gave warmth, then you could make as many as you wanted.  In the same way, after God went through the trouble of making man, he must have had a purpose for him.  God doesn’t create something for no purpose and just throw it away.

Genesis -35

God directed Jacob to take his family and move away from the people who were surrounding him and introducing false God’s.  Rachel died giving birth to a son Benjamin, which in Hebrew means Son who will be fortunate.  Jacob had a total of twelve sons.  Isaac died and both his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.  God called Jacob Israel, and his sons’ descendants are the twelve tribes of Israel.                                                                    

Genesis -36

Esau had married many foreign wives and had many descendants who established local tribes.  When they became too numerous Esau and his family moved.  Jacob stayed in Canaan the land God gave to his ancestors. In this way Esau’s descendants mixed with other foreign gods and failed to follow the religion founded by Abraham and Isaac.  The Arab nations of today are descendants of Esau.

Genesis -37

Jacob and his family lived in Canaan.  Joseph was gifted by God with the ability to interpret dreams.  His brothers were jealous of him because he was a favorite of his Father and had dreams which he interpreted as his family bowing down before him.  This made his brothers even more angry with him.  One day, while out taking care of the herds, the brothers decided to get rid of Joseph.  At first, they decided to throw him down a well, but when they saw a caravan going to Egypt, so they sold Joseph to them as a slave.  The brothers then dipped Joseph’s coat in blood and told Jacob that Joseph must have been killed by a wild animal.  As we see, sibling rivalry is universal and ageless.  It should be said that Joseph does not appear to tell these dreams to be annoying, but he was only attempting to relate a dream he had received from God.  Had the brothers thought about this they may have able to make good use of the message instead of being resentful. 

Genesis -38

Judah, one of Jacob’s sons left the family and went to another country.