Genesis 35: 16 -29
Jacob has become a righteous man. He is walking upright with the lord. That changes some things, but not everything. Righteous men still have burdens to bear. Rachel, Jacob’s most loved has become pregnant. Pregnancy is something that happens, and doesn’t happen, in the lives of righteous and unrighteous alike. The delivery is difficult and Rachel dies. Death comes into the life of the righteous and unrighteous alike. With her dying breath Rachel names the boy Ben-Oni meaning son of my trouble. Jacob was hurting at Rachel’s death. He does not allow his pain to strain the future relationship with his new son. He changes the boy’s name to Benjamin meaning son of my right hand.

Jacob’s son Ruben slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah. Reuben tried to keep it a secret, but Jacob heard of it. Betrayal sometimes happens. It happens to the righteous and unrighteous alike. The pain, suffering and dishonor must have been almost unbearable to Jacob. Jacob did not respond wickedly. He did not brutally punish or kill Reuben. He did not exile him from the family. In Genesis 49:3-4 we do read that Jacob remove Reuben from his expected position as firstborn heir.

Jacob’s journey finally brings him home. When he left he was fleeing for his life. When he returned he was at the head of the beginnings of a great nation. He came home in time to attend his father’s funeral. His brother Esau and he buried their father. Death comes to all righteous and unrighteous alike.

Many things happen to righteous and unrighteous alike. So what difference does righteousness make? Righteousness does not change what happens to us. Good and bad still happens. Righteousness changes the way we react. Jacob was not revealed to be righteous by what happened to him. He was revealed to be righteous by the way he responded to what happened to him. Our first prayer is not “Lord, change my circumstances.” Our first prayer is “Lord, change me. No matter the circumstance, let my response be righteous.”