The Last of the Four

This weekend we will finally reach the end of the Genesis narrative.

The last of the patriarchs - Joseph - is actually only the fourth generation of the sons of Abraham and Sarah. He is also the second youngest of Jacob's thirteen recorded children.

And like every generation that came before them, there is soooo much dysfunction in the pillars of Israel.

Just like the first siblings, these ones try to commit murder.

Someone sees sense and just downgrades the plan to plain old slavery - so much better (face-palm).

Somehow we avoid prostitution and rape - in this part of the story, at least. (Although there is that whole thing where Joseph is propositioned multiple times by a woman in authority, but I digress.)

Genesis is one messed up book.

Yet at the end of the story, we see God working in the midst of our colossal screw ups and epic failures to bring about remarkable wonders. Never leaving. Never abaondoning us. Slowly working like novocaine to ensure that somehow, in the end, there is light at the end of the tunnel that isn't just a freight train coming our way.

And, at the end, families can find one another again - that's probably the greatest fairy tale of all.

So, join us for the homeric conclusion to the first book of the Bible this Labor Day weekend!

Blessings,

Rev. Janie