Give You All I’ve Got for a Little

Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan. Genesis 37:1 NASB

Sojourned – Did you think Jacob’s emotional trauma was resolved at Jabbok? Do you believe that crossing over into conscious self-identity means finding peace? Perhaps you need to reconsider.

The Joseph story begins on an ominous note which tends to be lost in translation: ‘Jacob dwelt (vayeshev) in the land in which his fathers sojourned (megurei aviv)’ (Gen. 37:1). The contrast between the two verbs, ‘to dwell’ and ‘to sojourn,’ to live securely and insecurely, suggests that Jacob wanted what Abraham and Isaac did not have: tranquility. Having fled twice, once from his brother Esau, a second time from his father-in-law Laban, he longs for a quiet life. He will not achieve it.[1]

So what about you? Do you long for a tranquil life? Are you seeking a place of peace? Are you “sojourning” now, waiting for “dwelling” later? Of course, there’s a sense in which we are all sojourning. The Messiah will come and when he does we will dwell in His promised kingdom. Eschatologically we understand we are not home yet. But there is another sense to this contrast that affects us while we wait. It is the sense that something about how we live isn’t full, isn’t what it is supposed to be. Maybe it’s just emotional projection or deep myth, but it feels like we aren’t really at home. Jacob dwelt in the land but his life was filled with trial, heartache and tragedy. He died in a place that was not home. Perhaps he only found his sense of real tranquility when his bones were finally interred in Canaan. It is my sincere hope that I won’t have to die in order to be at peace, but sometimes it certainly seems as if that is the only option.

When Jacob crossed Jabbok he made some sort of peace with himself. All those years of being someone others wanted him to be, of playing roles assigned by a name, a parent, a brother or a relative, ended up in the intense conflict of the crossing. As a result of that struggle, Jacob was given a new vision of himself—a man released from his previous assignments in order to enter consciously into the true identity of God’s purposes. But even then life was not peaceful. Life was never pure. It was always a mixture of Ya’akov and Yisra’el, the man he made of himself and the man he was called to be.

There is a very deep lesson here. Self-identity is not clean-slate do-over, “I’m saved” existence. Self-identity is discovering who you are in the midst of what you have done. What you have done is the only context you have for determining who you are. But it is only the context. It does not define you. It only offers you the canvas for the next painting you will produce. You can’t undo what you have made of yourself. Jacob can’t go back and erase all the things he would now wish in hindsight to eliminate. Hindsight is simply that: after the fact. Whoever we are will have to be discovered, uncovered and recovered from what we have done. It’s not compromise. It’s recognize.

I long to dwell, but simply attaching myself to roots will not deliver the tranquility of dwelling. Dwelling must come from being peacefully me. And that seems to take an enormous amount of work.

Topical Index: dwell, sojourn, vayeshev, megurei aviv, self-identity, peace, Genesis 37:1

[1] Jonathan Sacks, Not In God’s Name, p. 146

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Michael C

“And that seems to take an enormous amount of work.”

Indeed. For me, simply getting ready and prepared in anticipation of entering in to YHVH’s invitation to rest on Shabbat requires a massive amount of work. I’m easily entertained so, in a way, I see a little YHVH humor in our common endeavor of moving in to ‘rest.’

laurita hayes

Michael, nice entwining of “rest” and “dwell”. Thank you. That gives me something to chew on today. The working hard I can really relate to. I wonder if the work is hard in proportion to how far we are from the rest we were designed to STAY in? Rest is only possible in Him. How far I can stray! Sojourn is where I am not a part of the world’s reality, but still have not committed to being the complete stranger to that world that it takes to stay with Him. Sitting on the fence in a thousand ways: not exactly a feather bed to lay my head. Must get off the fence and commit to being that complete stranger to the world. Then I can rest and not be moved.

Dana

Jeremiah 31, I’ve been stuck on it for days in the CJB, “‘You disciplined me, and I took your discipline
like a young ox not used to a yoke.
Let me return, and I will return,
for you are Adonai, my God.
Yes, I turned away;
but later I repented.
When I had been made to understand,
I struck my thigh in shame and remorse,
bearing the weight of the disgrace
acquired when I was young.’

CR2

Aint it the truth.

Helen

Dana, thank you. I really needed to read those words from Jeremiah.

Rich Pease

Eyes wide open, our spiritual eyes that is.
“that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us
a measure of revival in our bondage.” Ezra 9:8

This is God’s grace, enlightening us to His light and His ways.

He cautions us: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He shall direct your paths.”

Everyday my eyes are drawn to what is seen. And everyday He tells me to
“look at the things that are not seen.”

I’m gaining on it. With His love and presence, I’m gaining on it.
Perseverance…

carl roberts

“What you have done is the only context you have for determining who you are.” Uh, —no. Not at all. My “identity” is to be found in what Christ has done – for me. Not in what I have done (or not done) for myself. I will (also) glory (only) in the cross of the Crucified one.
I am “any man.” (??) And, if “any man” (any man such as I) be ‘in Christ!” – he (or she) is a new creation. I am that “new creation,” for I am “in Christ.” Yes, it is true.. “location-location-location!”
Now, what (on earth) does it mean for “any man” to be “in Christ?” Well worth our consideration!!

carl roberts

Yes, absolutely- amen! And it is a “daily” choice! “Choose you [Carl, or Skip], this day Who you will serve..”

We have looked at this (very key) word “serve/abad” before (thank you Skip!); we most certainly have “something to do!”

“Love” is an action word! If I love God.. (No, “since” I love God), my behavior will betray my beliefs. James, the half-brother of our LORD, must’ve had Missouri in mind when he said, “Show me your faith!” and as Paul writes, ”

(let all things be done decently and in order), we are saved by grace – through faith.. unto “good works!” which God has before ordained that we should walk (another action verb!) in them. Our Savior Himself, “went about doing good!” ” Therefore, let us do good unto all men, especially those who are of the household of faith!”

And again, (as the Scriptures enjoin us), we are to “serve one another in love!!” If only we would — “let this mind be in you which also was in the Messiah Jesus..” Oh wait!… – “we have the mind of Christ!!”

So, “Beloved, let us love one another!! for everyone that loves is born of God!!

And? “by their fruits you shall know them..” And? “By this [one thing] shall all men know you are my disciples..”
And what is this “one (simple?) thing?” “If you have love, one to another!”

Seeker

Carl, Luarita phrased it on an earlier blog… function rather than location. Which is what in Christ is. The deeds God has established since the beginning of mans dwelling on earth. How often do we , I for one, err to think it’s about my soul… When it is about God’s desired deeds or good works…

Ester

“Whoever we are will have to be discovered, uncovered and recovered from what we have done. It’s not compromise. It’s recognize.”
We discover who we are, through the many trials, lessons and errors we have made / learned /unlearned,
We uncover who we are, through our many faults against each other, and our transgressions against YHWH,
We recover when we turn around back to His ways, facing and accepting the consequences of our past / future choices and decisions.
It is recognizing all of the above.