Genesis 27-33

 Jacob's trials

Jacob's experiences are much like Isaac's experiences in many ways. He has many challenges to overcome despite being a seeker after the Lord's Righteousness.

These chapters are a good demonstration of how God doesn't want to shield us from trials, but instead to make us mighty to overcome all trials. Jacob first has a vision of a ladder going to heaven. As a child I thought of this as a simple dream where someone climbs to heaven. Now I understand it better as God showing Jacob the necessary levels of change one must go through to become like God. Hugh Nibley, in One Eternal Round, has a part dedicated to the Ascension Dramas that have pervaded all time and culture. His point is that these aren't randomized stories; they are a consistent pattern of God showing man the path to get back to heaven, leading them to things higher than they could have realized.

God strengthens Jacob again with his wrestle with the Angel before meeting Esau. This was some sort of a temple ceremony. In our current presentation of the temple rites and ceremonies, the wrestle is de-emphasized (it is still there if you know what to look for. Think about where and when we offer up prayers in the temple), but in other rights, it is a major part. In fact, the entire Temple ceremony is pointing us to the wrestle to get back to god. Like Jacob, we produce evidence of desire, are washed and purified, and are given the keys of of knowledge to get back to God, passing all barriers that might keep us back. In a way, Jacobs life in these chapters is a realized demonstration of the endowment leading us past all enemies and barriers.

Bad-A Bible Women

Forgive my title, but on a completely different note, Bible women are Bad-A. After reading Genesis, and other bible accounts, I not only disagree with those who say bible women are weak examples, I think they are completely wrong and haven't read the scriptures closely. These women are pretty gutsy, determined, bring-it-on-because-I'm-going-to-do-the-right-thing sort of women. Like, how could you miss the 'yeah-we are breaking out of this garden adam', 'yes, I will have another son, even after cain', 'I'm going to egypt and I'm not worried about what will happen' 'lets make a son because I'm old but the angel said it' ,'My husband better give the right birthright', 'and my dad is going to stop worshipping idols and straighten out whether he likes it or not', 'I'm sticking this spike right through that wicked man's head', "listen up Israel, Imma prophetess" "lets go rescue all the jews from babylon, yes" kind of attitude? I think those who discount women of the past should take a hard look at themselves in the present and see if there isn't some other reason they are struggling with this.

Okay, I get a little bit why there are questions, especially when you read some new testament passages, but the point is that to say that the bible demotes women to a certain subservient place is cherry picking examples to fit a narrative you want to impose on it, not actually looking at what the bible really shows and says.

On a note of levity, here is some babylon bee satire I came across this week. 



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