Contemplative Bible Reading

Genesis 31:14-15 (New Living Translation)

14 Rachel and Leah responded, “That’s fine with us! We won’t inherit any of our father’s wealth anyway. 15 He has reduced our rights to those of foreign women. And after he sold us, he wasted the money you paid him for us.

Laban was the father of Rachel and Leah. Jacob worked for Laban. In return for Jacob’s labor, Laban “gave” his daughters as wives. Yes, Laban sold his daughters to a fellow who watched his livestock.

In addition, the daughters noted that their father had wasted the price paid for them. Hmmm.

What was wrong with Laban? What was wrong with Jacob? Jacob did, after all, buy his wives from Laban. What was wrong with all these folks? Why didn’t any of them stand up and say, “No. This isn’t right. This isn’t just.”

Times were different. The times were different with different laws and different customs. Still, they could have all done better.

Now we come to the part of this little essay where we look at ourselves today. We live in our times with our laws and our customs and our injustice and unrighteousness. Do we stand up and say, “No. This isn’t right. This isn’t just.” Sometimes we do. Good for us on our good days. Often we don’t say these things. Bad on us on our bad days.

Please God, help me to speak for righteousness and justice. Even when I’m having a bad day.