After reading the text for today, I find myself wondering how all the "mother-in-law" jokes got their start. How or when did the women get to be the brunt of this family humor? It seems to this writer, as early as the book of Genesis, a father-in-law was the culprit or antagonist within family dynamics. All kidding aside, this is a fascinating read.
There is always a lot of 'stuff' buried in each family history; good and not so good. Often there comes a time when members must choose to go their own way. Sometimes the distraction of arguments and conflict detract from life and a decision to move on is best.
Healthy partings are often marked with boundary setting and sometimes even agreeing to disagree as we find in Genesis 31:52-53. “This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap and pillar to my side to harm me. May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us." So Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac.”
This story has a happy ending, as the two families shared a meal and then spent their last night together. In the morning, Jacob's father-in-law kissed his daughters and grandchildren goodbye and went home.
To read the entire text for today see Biblegateway and Genesis
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