Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Proper 9 (14) – Year A
Information from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics: “On average, a 7-foot (2-m) tall camel weighs 1500 pounds (680 kg) and can drink up to 35 gallons (130 L) of water at one time and about 50 gallons (190 L) of water in a day.”
Rebekah’s offer to water 10 camels could have been a substantial endeavor.
While the young can be wearied, they can also keep at endeavors—just because. What might be your “young” quotient these days?
For the moment, I’m feeling like there are a hundred camels lined up to be watered. Sisyphus is alive and well.
Meanwhile, Isaac is waiting to find out with whom he will be joined in marriage. Day turns to day-after-day. He also spends time by the water.
Isaac returns from Beer-lahai-roi. This is the place where Hagar opened her eyes beyond her weariness of running away and being sent away. Here Hagar sees G*D seeing her (face to face with no death ensuing) and is able to return to servitude and to move on into G*D’s promises. It is a good place for Isaac to visit (later he settles there, 25:11).
Where is your Beer-lahai-roi when you are wearied from waiting? or weary of other conflicts?
What would happen if in the midst of the current Palestine/Israel conflict they might remember a common link through Abraham and also remember that, after Abraham’s death, Ishmael and Isaac are connected by the renewing waters of seeing G*D at Beer-lahai-roi?
What would happen if in the midst of any conflict we might lift our eyes from our weariness and see G*D’s seeing of us?
As found in Wrestling Year A: Connecting Sunday Readings with Lived Experience
After looking at several websites, I’ll use information from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, “On the average, a 7-foot (2-m) tall camel weighs 1500 pounds (680 kg) and can drink up to 35 gallons (130 L) of water at a sitting and about 50 gallons (190 L) of water in a day.”
Rebekah's offer to water 10 camels could have been a substantial endeavor.
While the young can be wearied, they can also keep at endeavors – just because. What might be your young quotient these days?
I’m feeling like there are a hundred camels lined up to be watered. Sisyphus is alive and well.
Meanwhile, Isaac is waiting to find out with whom he will be joined in marriage. Day turns to day after day. He also spends time by the water.
Isaac returns from Beer-lahai-roi. This is the place Hagar opened her eyes beyond her weariness of running away and being sent away. Here Hagar sees G*D seeing her (face to face with no death ensuing) and is able to return to servitude and to move on into G*D’s promises. It would be a good place for Isaac to visit (later he settles there, 25:11).
Where is your Beer-lahai-roi when you are wearied from waiting? or wearied by other’s conflicts.
What would happen if in the midst of the current Palestine/Israel conflict they might not simply remember a common link through Abraham, but after Abraham’s death Ishmael and Isaac are connected by the renewing waters of seeing G*D at Beer-lahai-roi?
What would happen if in the midst of any conflict we might lift our eyes from our weariness to see G*D's seeing of us?
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2002/july2002.html
A marriage broker, a midwife, a messiah. All are key transition figures from promise to reality. Folks are espoused, babies are born, wars are dismantled.
As you look around, what needs a facilitator of a desired future? That which you see is the arena of your call. Between everything that has gone before and that which is to follow, you are at the right place at the right time to see that better living occurs. Will it take your life? Well, of course. That doesn't mean that you will die on the job, teeth still gritted. It does mean that your heart and head and hands and health will be harnessed toward a better end.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/july2005.html
A first or most recent glance at a beloved calls forth action. A first or most recent whisper from a beloved calls forth action. Whether from or toward a beloved, we are called beyond sitting and theorizing/creedalizing/speculizing.
Even with the threat of messing up, of mistaking a dream of a beloved for a beloved, there is no real option (though lots of unreal ones) for following a heartbeat that resonates with one’s own. There are no guarantees where such action will lead, simply a prayer that love will find its way.
Such love is our birthright. It is G*D’s way that we re-image. It is a source of thanks that eases our journey through life.
- - - - - - -
stamp your foot
play your flute
throw your tantrumthere is no getting around
a wisdom of deeds
lived into and througheventually we all
arise and come away
to a beloved spacein such wise
prisoners are freed
from dryness unto deathin such wise
prisoners are made
of restored hope
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html
Chapter 1 – female and male created together
Chapter 2 – Eve created from side of Adam
Chapter 12 – Sari and Abram were already together
Chapter 24 – Rebekah comes from a distant well to be by Isaac's side
There is a rhythm of togetherness and separateness that keeps running through the scriptures and our lives. This seems to be part of the nature of creation stories – rhythm.
In the separateness narratives it seems the female is much more interesting as a character. She is described with a better script and is at the juncture of plot thickening and development. In light of the Gospel text, the women carry the burdens and release new possibilities as the guys muddle along. Patriarchy may be an attempted compensation for a lesser role. It certainly raises the stakes and makes the female roles all the more significant for the resistance they have to deal with.
Patriarchs are famous for saying “Dance” and “Don’t Dance” at the same time. These instructions may stand behind another categorization of females – Harlot and Virgin.
Note how little Isaac has to do with bride selection compared with decisions Rebekah faces and makes.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html
And Isaac looked up. It had probably been some time since he had been able to look up. When your father is ready to sacrifice you, something changes in the way you look at the world. We don’t hear about Isaac’s internal conversations. Presumably he knew he was responsible for his half-brother being exiled as well as how he was victimized by his father. It is hard to look up with these pulling you down from the inside.
And Rebekah looked up. A seemingly independent woman now away from the protection of family, wandering with Abraham’s servant, and with a ring on her nose. There has been enough time from leaving Nahor, even with her own servants along, to consider what a change she had committed to. Pondering in the heart makes it difficult to look up. Questions fly; responses escape.
And Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. And what of Rebekah—at first barren, then birthing babes struggling with one another, then choosing to advantage one child, then disavowed as wife out of Isaac’s fear, and then dies without it being specifically noted?
Both carry heavy loads. Both look up for at least a moment. Both proceed to continue living and growing, playing their part in an evolving story.
What word of good news would you pass on to Isaac and Rebekah at their various stages of life?
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2014/07/genesis-2434-48-42-49-58-67.html