The coat of many colors

In today's reading Day 14. We read of Jacob making Joseph his favorite son a coat of many colors. This makes Joseph's brothers jealous of him and they contemplate killing him but decide to sell him to some travelers instead. They tore Joseph's coat and killed a baby goat to smear the blood of it onto the coat to take back to their father. Joseph ends up a servant and his master's wife wants to sleep with him. He tells her this is wrong and she tears his garment so his master takes him to prison. The Lord is looking over Joseph and provides him with good care and trust from the guard while he is in prison.
It is interesting that he is in prison. I definately had no idea of this. It is reassuring that he seems honest and trustworthy thus far in the reading. I'm hoping he won't become like Jacob or any of his brothers.

Wrestling with God

Wednesday's reading required more thought and contemplation. My reading was Genesis 32:1-35:27. While this reading interesting with regard to the reuniting of Jacob and Esau. It also spoke of the rape of Jacob's daughter Dinah and the subsequent murder of all the males in the city of Schechem including Hamor and Shechem. Shechem who raped Dinah and Hamor his father. They then return to Jacob where he tells them of his concern that others will attempt to kill him (Jacob) in retaliation. He does not mention the concern that his two sons just killed several other people many of whom were innocent. This makes me question Jacob.
Jacob buries Isaac who dies at 180 years of age. Again, I'm confused because I thought God said he was limiting lives to 120 years.
Is everyone else living to 120 but those he chooses live longer.
hmmm

The really confusing part that required more thought was Genesis 32:22 which discusses Jacob wrestling with God. I was very confused by this passage and needed to seek the advice and reflections of others that are more familiar with the bible. I spoke with a few of my facebook friends as well as the chaplain of my hospital where I'm a nurse. She believes this to me a spiritual battle almost a vision or dreamlike battle testing Jacob's faith. I spoke with a co-worker who views it literally as God can take any form he would like and believes he presented himself literally and wrestled with Jacob.

Interesting either way you view it.

Do you have any thoughts?

my missed day

I'm sorry to my blog readers...whomever you are. I did not post yesterday. I didn't read either! I could tell too. I missed it and felt it hanging over my head that I needed to read. Today I am catching up. Today's reading was Genesis 30:25 - 31:55. This reading was about Jacob leaving where he has lived for the past 20 years with his wives Leah and Rachel. Joseph was born to Rachel. Jacob requested to leave and Laban (Rachel and Leah's father) wanted him to stay. Rachel steals from her father his household idols and Jacob and his wives and children all leave to return to Jacob's homeland. It is amazing to me that Rachel steals from her father. Laban chases Jacob down after 7 days but was told by God "Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad." It is interesting that Rachel steals these household idols and that Laban is so insistent on finding them. According to an ancient tablet found in the 2nd millennium BC these household idols or gods were used as evidence of family leadership. This would explain why Rachel stole those items to give to Jacob so he has leadership. There are pictures of these Teraphim (household idols) online that are quite interesting looking. All the pictures I looked up were copyrighted and I don't want to get into trouble!
Happy Reading to all!