Our 21^st century senses are often offended by the Old Testament texts we are reading. I find myself really disliking Jacob and the decisions he makes. It bothers me that he treats Leah so badly. While it is true that he loved Rachel and was tricked into marrying Leah, Jacob seems to have no trouble using Leah and her feelings of low self-worth to prosper. He has no qualms against deceiving others in order to get ahead and even when he is given the chance to make amends he takes the stance of trying to impress the other, gain the upper hand and still deceive. It is hard to believe that God would continue to bless this man who is so hard to take. And yet, it is through this flawed human that God has chosen to bring about His plan for salvation.

It should in fact be heartening that our “heroes” are presented as flawed beings. God didn’t choose perfect people to bless. He chose to “reckon” righteousness on unrighteous people. In other words, it is very clear that these people certainly would not be blessed based upon their own conduct. It is only by God’s grace that they remain the chosen people. It is God’s faithfulness even more that their faith that sees them through.

This is a message of hope to us. We, too, are flawed and make poor decisions at every turn. We certainly cannot expect God’s blessings based upon our actions. And yet, God chooses us to work out His plans even today. We may not like the people God has chosen, but we need to remember that often we are unlikeable, too, and God is still faithful.

Genesis 34 opens with what is in essence the date rape of Jacob’s only daughter Dinah by Shechem a Hivite man. Shechem says that he loves Dinah despite the fact that he forced her to have sex. Jacob decides not to do anything about this attack because his sons are away in the fields.

When Jacob’s sons return home they are furious about what has happened. Shechem’s father Hamor approaches them and offers a treaty between the two nations, suggesting that they marry the women in his land and they will be able to live there and prosper. Shechem also offers to pay a dowry in order to marry Dinah. The sons, having no intention of marrying a Hivite woman, say that the only way they could agree is if the Hivite men get circumcised just like the men of Israel. Shechem is so taken with Dinah that he convinces all the men to do this.

While the men are recuperating from this painful surgery Dinah’s brothers attack the city and kill all of the men. They kill Hamor and Shechem, and rescue Dinah from Shechem’s house. All of Jacob’s sons plunder the city and the fields by taking all of animals and people. Jacob complains to Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, that they have put his life in jeopardy to which the brothers exclaim, “Should our sister be treated like a whore?”

It seems incredible that Jacob would be more concerned with his own reputation over the life and treatment of his daughter. While the actions of the brothers are quite overboard they did care what had happened to Dinah. This all appears to be God’s way to force Jacob to move back to the land that God had given his father and grandfather.

God speaks to Jacob in Genesis 35 and tells them to go to Bethel and make an altar to God.  Jacob tells his household to get rid of their foreign gods and join him in worshiping the God who has been faithful to him everywhere he has gone. Everyone gives up their gods and they are buried near the city of Shechem. They go to Bethel to worship.

God appears to Jacob and makes permanent the pronouncement He made when He wrestled with Jacob. God changes Jacob’s name to Israel. He places upon Israel the blessing of offspring and land that He gave to Abraham and Isaac.

Rachel dies during the birth of a son Jacob names Benjamin (Son of the right hand or South). Israel now has 12 sons. He returns to his father Isaac and when his father dies Esau and Jacob bury him together.

Genesis 36 is a genealogy of the descendants of Esau who is known as Edom. It describes many of the lands that are situated around Israel’s lands.

Matthew 13 begins a series of parables or stories the Jesus tells. These parables are based upon the culture in which Jesus lives and as a story people would understand them. But Jesus’ parables contain meanings far deeper than the ones that most would hear in the simple story.

Jesus says that because the disciples are close to him they will understand the parables, but they also need special explanations. The disciples are given special insight into the deeper meaning of the parable. These insights are in the passage we read so we can know what Jesus means by the stories as well. All of the parables are about the kingdom of heaven and how we can become a part of it. They speak of nurturing the faith and being careful of distractions and evil. They also speak of the fact that the faithful are together with the unfaithful and will be sorted at the end of the age. It is important for us to bring out the treasure in everyone who hears the word.

Jesus goes to Nazareth and begins to teach. The townspeople reject him and he did not show them who he was through deeds of power. It we reject Christ’s word to us and do not believe we will be unable to see His activity in our lives. It is important for us to keep reading the word so that we may see Christ when we are out in the world.