students of jesus

Part of Genesis’ beauty and power is its narrative. Genesis tells a grand story—indeed, it actually tells only the first chapter in the grandest story ever told. It’s a narrative, inspired by the Holy Spirit, true in the truest possible way.

Sometimes one or two passages invite us to stop and reflect on what we’ve read. These verses are like Selah in the Psalms: pause, and think about that. Here are two refrains from Genesis worthy of our reflection:

Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people. Then his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah . . . (Genesis 25:8-9)

And:

Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years. Isaac breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, an old man of ripe age; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him . . . (Genesis 35:28-29)

Can you think of two more unlikely combinations of men drawn together by the task of burial? The first combination, Isaac and Ishmael, shared one father and became regarded as patriarchs of the Jews and Muslims. The second combination, Jacob and Esau, were twins who each became fathers of nations: Israel and Edom.

What a vast distance between both pairs of men! Their stories couldn’t have differed more. As a child Ishmael was sent into the wilderness in order to make room for the younger half-brother Isaac. (Still, God himself promised to look over Ishmael all his days). Esau was tricked out of his birthright and inheritance by his quick-witted brother. He wanted to kill Jacob! Jacob, the trickster, lived in fear of his older twin, but somehow eventually came to see the face of God in the very man he had feared for so long (Genesis 33:10). Later they were reconciled, but both went their separate ways again.

Both sets of brothers came together one last time to bury their fathers. Whatever past they shared was well behind them—or was it?

Today’s post has no answers, only reflections. We have an opportunity to see these men anew: opportunities to ask ourselves questions, the answers to which we may not face for decades. These are Selah moments, calling for deep reflection. The sacred word invites us beyond learning. It offers us the chance to imagine our deep roots and vast future. Why do you think the Holy Spirit included the details of who buried Abraham and Isaac? Sometimes the scripture teaches not by precept, but by poignancy.

Come: imagine along with me, and ask these questions:

• Can you visualize the task of burying someone in the ancient world?
• Can you imagine these brothers, separated by miles and years, coming together over their fathers’ deaths?
• Did Isaac, Ishmael, Esau, and Jacob still carry within them any effect from their past relationships?
• After each set of brothers finished did they stay together for a night? A week? A month?
• What would their conversation be after so much separation and so much time?

And another set of questions, perhaps a little closer to home:

• From whom am I separated? How long has it been? And why?
• Whose death will pull me back into long-neglected relationships?
• Do I still carry any effects from my past?
• What will the Holy Spirit choose to highlight to my descendants when He tells my story?

 Grace and peace to you as (together) we ask, “Who will help bury our dead?”