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The Way to Transform Sorrow Into Joy (Genesis 35:16-29)
작성자 미션퍼블릭 등록일 2018-06-18
Genesis 35:16-29
16. Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. 17. And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, “Don’t despair, for you have another son.” 18. As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin. 19. So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20. Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel’s tomb. 21. Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder. 22. While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it. Jacob had twelve sons: 23. The sons of Leah: Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. 24. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25. The sons of Rachel’s servant Bilhah: Dan and Naphtali. 26. The sons of Leah’s servant Zilpah: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram. 27. Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. 28. Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years. 29. Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
The Way to Transform Sorrow into Joy (Genesis 35:16-29)
 1. Do not Fear
 
  After Jacob went through many twists and turns and eventually moved to Bethel, he was placed in a situation of losing his beloved wife Rachel. While she was having a great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, “Don’t despair, for you have another son” (v.17). As Jacob gained the last twelfth son, the twelve tribes of Israel—symbolizing the ‘total blessing’—are formed. Thus, there is often difficulty of childbirth before greatest blessing. Difficulty often becomes the path or bridge leading to glory.
 
  When Jesus says, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” in John 12:23, his disciples might misunderstand, “Now the Lord will rise to power! I’ll be able to get a good position, too!” However, the glory that Jesus would have was to bear the cross. Do not misunderstand glory and blessing. Without cross, there is no glory and blessing. You can live through death and can be blessed through devotion.
 
  Someone throws a doubt, “Although I’ve died once, why my problems only have been more difficult?” As situation and relationship are getting difficult, one resolves to die expecting the dramatic reversal. But if the situation does not get better after he died, he revives himself and quibbles to God, “Lord! Why have my problems not been solved despite my death?’ He also quibbles to another man, “I have tolerated you so long and how could you do that to me?” In this sense, he did not die; he only pretended to die. Death bears many fruits but pretension bears no fruit.
 
  During the election, the candidates bow low and act as if they were dead. However, as soon as it’s over, they straighten up and hold their heads erect. Don’t be like a politico who pretends to be dead without any actual devotion. Just like a student expects a good grade without studying or a sports player expects victory without practice, it is wrong that a believer expects blessing without cross. If your church is in need, you should say, “Lord! Thank you for letting me know of this need. I will take charge of it,” and bear the cross. This is the blessed life.
 
  One pastor helps missionaries putting aside the need of his own church and funding them even when he is not paid. The world would think he is foolish but God would be pleased by him. Humans act according to what they see, so those who are taught by such pastors would serve the needs of the church as a result. It is a chain reaction: the needs of the missionaries, the church, and the pastor would be all satisfied. The churchgoers are not far from the pastor. How blissful church is it? If one evades his cross, the blessing also evades him; if he willingly carries the cross, God will willingly bless him.
   
  2. Speak in Faith
 
  Rachel called his son Ben-Oni as she was dying. Ben-Oni means ‘son of my sorrow.’ It is understandable that she grieved, ‘Ben-Oni,’ under such heart-breaking circumstance that she had to leave her little son. However, Jacob changed his name into Benjamin which means ‘son of my right hand’ (v.18). This shows Jacob’s will that he won’t lose joy in such extreme condition. Speaking the word of joy in sorrow is a blessed faith.
 
  Have faith that transforms ‘moan of difficulty’ into ‘sound of victory’. Especially, say the positive word of faith. How can one be a joyful son if he is called a ‘sorrowful son?’ If you say, “I am miserable,” you are overwhelmed by a miserable situation, but if you say, “I am happy,” then you are overwhelmed by a happy life. Like a silkworm coils itself with the silk it spits out, one’s house of life is built depending on the word he spits out. The word a big influence on one’s thought, personality, and life, so blessed word is more important any others.
 
  One soccer team was on the way to a soccer game. When a hearse blocked the way, one of the players said, “It is unlucky day.” Other players were discouraged by what he said. At that moment, the coach said, “Why so? When I was a player, I won every time I saw the hearse.” And they were greatly encouraged by his word. He is greater prophet than any other prophets.
 
  When their kid gets afraid of a nightmare, some parents says, “Sweetie, sometimes I also have bad dreams. Each time, good things happened,” Such word gives him the strength to overcome his horror and fear. Such parents are greater prophets than any other prophets. Don’t be distracted when heretics say something that raises fear and disguise their word as mysteries. Speak like a great prophet in family, church, and society: “Don’t worry. The problem is the opportunity of blessing.”
 
  Pascal said a human being is a thinking reed. A human is week but he can control the world through thinking good. What you think determines the content and quality of your life. Change your word and thought into positives. Problems aren’t something bad. If you walk along with pleasure, there is nothing you can get but only lose wisdom and health. Whereas if you walk along with problems, you will get lots of truths of life. Think and speak in faith under the sorrowful situation, and blessed event will happen.
   
  3. Start Afresh
 
  After Rachel had died, Jacob buried her on the way to Bethlehem (v.19). Originally, his family’s burial site was in Hebron where Abraham and Isaac lived (v.27). But he could not carry the corpse to there in hot weather so he buried her near where she died, and he placed a pillar on her tomb. It had been called ‘Rachel’s tomb’ till the time of Moses—the time when the book of Genesis was written (v.20). The reference that Jacob set up the pillar suggests his great love for her. He probably didn’t want to leave the tomb of his beloved wife but he had to set forth.
 
  No matter how big one’s love was, he has to leave dead person to God and move forward to his new day. It’s necessary to let the sad past go and start afresh for ‘Israel’s life’—which is a sublimated life—beyond ‘Jacob’s life.’ In order to show the contrast of these two lives, the chronicler of the Genesis used ‘Jacob’ in verse 20 in which Jacob placed the pillar, and ‘Israel’ in verse 21 in which he hit the road again.
 
  Bury wound and sorrow of the past and have a new start. There is death where life is. However, if you are in God, the eternal life awaits you after death. Similarly, there is parting where meeting is. Overcoming parting with faith is resulted in a better meeting. When a child is grown up, he should leave his parents. If he leaves well, he will be more matured. If he persists to stay in parents’ arms, he would be mentally weak and be slow in growth.
 
  Sometimes a subscriber, who has supported a large amount of money, stops support because of certain conditions. As long as I do not give up on gratitude, I often meet greater support a while later. It is poignant that I also sometimes have to stop support for missionaries on particular reason and purpose after deliberation and prayers. Since funds are limited, it is hard to support only one missionary for the entire life. It is good to support a missionary for one term of three years and decide whether to continue to support him next term after seeing how he has done. The limited funds should go to those who work hard in difficult mission fields.
 
  Considering such situation pitifully too much might be referred to be arrogant because it is based on the thought: “I will take care of him.” If you have faith and get over the farewell, God will allow you to have a better friend. Discard the inclination to rely on the man, or to take a perfect responsibility for man. Even if you encounter painful or sad events, bury your pain and sadness, and start afresh with faith. You will grow, be more mature, and eventually your path will lead to a better future.
 
  4. Wait in silence 
 
  Israel kept going forward through Migdal Eder which was located near the south of Bethlehem and camped. At that time, an immorality incident was there. Reuben slept with his father’s concubine; this is a tremendous immoral crime. Look at the son who committed immorality even though his father lived by faith. Likewise, the great Promised Family may fall at any time. Furthermore, sexual crime might be done instantaneously and impulsively, so we should always humbly pray to God to protect us with His grace.
 
  Reuben committed a terrible immorality but in regard to this, verse 22 simply says, “Israel heard of it.” Israel neither harshly reproached the eldest son nor drove him out of his family. Why didn’t Israel do anything? Perhaps he wanted to bury that issue due to an extreme humiliation and sense of loss, and there was no better idea. It is a great patience, but he did not forget completely what his son had done.
 
  Jacob kept his silence nearly forty years, and right before he passed away, he left a will that Reuben would no longer excel (Genesis 49:4). Because of his crime, Reuben had lost his birthright (1 Chronicles 5:1). As a matter of fact, the tribes of Reuben never produced judges, prophets, or kings. This is the punishment he received in return for his sin. Therefore, believe in God’s justice. Whenever rage raises in you, wait silently until His perfect time rather than try to solve the problem impatiently on your own.
 
  ‘Waiting silently’ means ‘be patient.’ If you keep your patience to the end, despair transforms into hope and sorrow transforms into joy. On the other hand, if you despair, you would encounter more desperate situation. The important thing is your mind. Despair is which the weak always conclude with, but believers should always conclude with hope. Believe that hope is bigger than despair. If there’s hope, the possibility of corruption and resentment grows less.
   
  5. Take Care of the Weak
 
  Look at verse 27: “Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed.” Why did he go to Hebron where Isaac lived? It is assumed that he moved his residence in order to take care of his old and weakened father. Since Hebron is where his family originated in, he probably became sentimental. Isaac died at the age of one-hundred-eighty, and Esau and Jacob buried him there (v.29).
 
  Jacob, who moved closer to his aged father and stood by him till his death, shows that taking care of the weak and respect for parents are important. If you give care and attention to the weak people, God takes care of you when you are weak. Strong man becomes weak someday. In order to prepare that time, it is necessary to sow the good seed by taking care of the weak right now. God never forgets the helping hand for weak people and gives rewards.
 
  Jacob was not free from faults but he also had many things to deserve blessing. The best thing was that he had a ‘gift of caring.’ He used to take care of the flock of stocks, but he particularly took care of his aged and weakened parent very well. It is assumed that he took care of Isaac about for twelve years. More he served his parent more Isaac was getting weak. He could be a blessed being because his caring mind resembles God’s. Likewise, such mind enables one to win God’s heart.
 
  Once you win His heart, the best is given to you; the best is given even when you are in a difficult situation because blessing follows after difficulty. Do not be afraid of difficulty. Twists and turns of youth are invaluable. Do not be afraid but willingly bear your cross. You may be more mature and stronger through difficulty. Those who are strong and live longer are those who live in the cold areas, not equatorial regions. A warm environment is not always good. If there’s a problem, just accept it, be thankful and devote more than before. The problem is given not to be discouraged worse but to be discovered better.
 
  Look back upon the time. Every year you had problems. Every year politic was unstable, society was a chaos, and the economy was tough. There have been lots of problems, and we have overcome these problems and are well off. How can we not be thankful? We should be thankful for ‘keeping the faith despite problems,’ not for ‘having no problems.’ As long as you are grateful, there are many things you can thank for. Having strange and unordinary gift or religious practice does not mean the true faith. The true faith means living with humility, joy, and gratitude.
   
ⓒ Pastor Lee Hangyu http://www.john316.or.kr
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