“THE MEASURE OF A LIFE”
(Genesis 45:16 – 47:31)
One of the high points of the musical Rent is the song ”Seasons of Love,” where the lyrics ask:
Five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year? . . . How about love?
All of us at some point will have to ask ourselves not only how to measure a year, but also how to measure a life. In today’s reading, Jacob is asked how old he is, but can’t help but give a summary assessment of his life:
Genesis 47:9 – And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.”
Jacob not only told Pharaoh his age, but then gave a candid summary of his entire life. Jacob’s years are “few and evil” and have not measured up to the years of his fathers. Not only has Jacob failed to live as long as his ancestors, he has also failed to live as well as his ancestors. Why would Jacob summarize his life in such a dreary fashion when he has achieved everything he aspired to do? Think back over his life. He got the birthright and the blessing of the firstborn, married the good-looking Rachel, had numerous children, and acquired great wealth. But “although he gets everything he wanted, it is not in the way he would have wanted, and the consequence is far more pain than contentment.”
Let’s consider the outcomes of some of Jacob’s accomplishments:
- Acquires Esau’s birthright, but afterward wanders in exile and never sees his mother again
- Gets Rachel but also has to take her sister Leah as his wife, resulting in rival wives
- Has 12 sons but there is enmity among them
- Spends 22 years grieving over his favorite son Joseph, whom he believes to be dead
Jacob’s many accomplishments are also tainted by deceit, both Jacob’s own deceits and the deceits done to him. What are you willing to do to achieve your goals? In the end, it seems Jacob regretted much about his achievements. We will have regrets too if we use deceit to get our way.
Let’s Pray…
Father, I thank you for this new year you have given me. I pray that I would make wise decisions, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in all my endeavors. I ask for your blessing on me and my family throughout the year and our future.
About our Author
Chris Rainey is a learning technologies manager, bi-vocational Christian minister, writer/poet, corporate trainer, and curriculum developer. Chris is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and is a graduate of the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary with an M.Div in Christian Education and a BA in Bible from Evangel University. He is originally from Southern Illinois, but has now lived in Northern New Jersey for over 30 years. He enjoys reading, hiking, biking, swimming, watching Survivor, and the New York Mets. He resides with Marcia, his wife of over 40 years, and has three daughters and a grandson.
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