Category: Bethlehem

Bethlehem: The Burial Place of Rachel

Advent{ures}: Let’s Go to Bethlehem

Before heading off to a new destination, it can be interesting  and inspiring to pour over the guide books. To check out the attractions offered, to find out any historical significance about the place and to look at a map to survey the layout of the town, all this information can help prepare the way before your arrival.

Each day this week, let’s look at some information about the little town of Bethlehem.
 
 

Bethlehem still exists today, situated southwest of Jerusalem about five miles. It is known for being a fertile area that produces corn, figs, and olives, as well as  boasting fruitful vineyards.
It is first mentioned in Scripture at a crossroads in Jacob’s life. He and his family are returning to his homeland. On the way he encounters God at Bethel, where God reminds him that He plans to bless Jacob with the land and inherited promise of his forefathers, Abraham and Isaac. The promise reaffirms that Jacob’s descendants would increase and from his lineage would come kings. (Genesis 35:11-15)

On the way back home, his wife Rachel  gives birth to Benjamin:

Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for you have another son.” As she breathed her last — for she was dying — she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin. 

So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel’s tomb.  (Genesis 35: 16-20 NIV)

A death and a birth introduce this little town. And later a birth darkened by the death of “Rachel’s children” will accompany the introduction of our Savior. This little town will be marked by both tragedy and majesty.
Rachel prophetically names her son, Ben-Oni, “son of my sorrow,” foreshadowing the Man of Sorrows. Jacob renames him, Benjamin, “son of my right hand,” which also prefigures a role of Christ, as the triumphant Son of God, who now sits at His right hand.

This tragic association appears to offer little hope. Yet Benjamin will be a solace to Jacob in the days ahead, just as Jesus’ presence comforts us in our broken worlds.

Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
for the help of His presence.
(Psalm 42:5 NASB)
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Hope: To Cherish a Desire with Anticipation

Advent{ures}: Let’s Go to Bethlehem

Welcome to the Advent{ure}! We are on our way to Bethlehem, the house of bread, the little town where our Savior was born. Each week as we draw closer to our destination, I want to highlight the word of the week associated with Advent. This week we will feast on HOPE.
 
 
Here is a Scripture morsel to get us started. Yours to savor.



We wait in hope for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
In Him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in His holy name.
May Your unfailing love rest upon us,
O Lord,
even as we put our hope in You.
Psalm 33:20-21 NIV
 
 
 


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New Year’s Eve

Advent{ures}: Let’s Go to Bethlehem

Yes, according to the church calendar it is New Year’s Eve. The eve of the new liturgical year. Tomorrow marks the First Sunday of Advent. As we enter the season, I have been grateful for this extra week of preparation.

After cleaning up from last week’s company, I have time today to decorate the house for Christmas. With our children away from home, I ran into some unexpected emotion last night. But it is not an unfamiliar meltdown, you could almost say that this reaction is a tradition.

The Christmas tree and I have a love/hate relationship. Here’s a vintage post from the archives…that tells you about my heart and God’s persistent grace.



 
 

“This is the LORD’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”
(Psalm 118:23)
 
 

It was my designated time to clean the family room, and then decorate the tree, and put up other decorations. I really was hoping to not hear myself complain this year, as I went about this task. I started out well, but cleaning always takes longer than I expect. I had a bit of headache. And I just wasn’t feeling the Christmas mood, even with the carols wafting through the air. I even heard myself ask, “Whose idea was it to decorate Christmas trees anyway…grrr…?”

My oldest son, who was sitting in the other room tried to encourage me by reminding me that four years ago, we all decided that I only had to decorate as much as I wanted. His comment helped me relax, and enjoy myself. And I put a few things back in their boxes, and decided once again I didn’t have to put all the ornaments on the tree.

It’s kind of strange that I had already forgotten the inspiring answer I gave to my mother earlier in the week, when she asked a similar question:
 
“Why do we rearrange our whole house for this holiday?”
 
I immediately answered, “We’re making room for Jesus.”
 
We both were stunned for a moment at the simply profound answer that came out of my mouth. But I had spoken it to myself in years past.

This time I noticed an even more amazing parallel thought. Jesus rearranged his whole life to enter our world. He took on flesh. He humbled himself to be born in a manger. He humbled himself to die on the cross. He humbly followed and devoted himself to the Father’s plan.

Maybe the music of Christmas and the mood I long for, and the joy that eludes me are not resonating with me because I have neglected to acknowledge, that this is God’s doing.
 
Christmas is his way of reaching out to me, to all mankind. And it is indeed marvelous when I really take the time to contemplate all that it means to honor Christ in all aspects of life.

How will you decorate your life this season? What ways can we celebrate Christ in our homes and our hearts this Christmas?

Mom’s Christmas Tree 2010
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Wonder: To Be Curious or In Doubt About

Advent{ures}: Let’s Go to Bethlehem

I wonder as I wander. I wander as I wonder. My mind wanders to how I should spend my time, my money and my gifts this season. I wonder what I should give to others. What I want for myself. I wonder how much my wandering thoughts take me away from the One who inspires awe. Will I wander to Bethlehem or will I walk with intent?

How does one wander and wonder without doubt? How can this wonderful season cause so much tension in me? One minute I marvel and witness the miracle of birth. The next I wander into doubt and fear, wondering if I will ever be still and know. Will I ever trust completely? Or will I meander off into self-pity or selfish pride? Will I pretend that everything is wonderful, when in reality the world rubs off and keeps me wandering into fields where there is no Shepherd?

A sheep lost without a Shepherd is my deepest fear. Yet, I marvel that He finds me every time. He leaves the flock and I am found once again.
 

 

 
 
We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost.
We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong,
on him, on him.
(Isaiah 53:6 The Message)
 

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Setting the Table

Advent{ures}: Let’s Go to Bethlehem
 
 
Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there is to remain on it.
(Numbers 4:7 NIV)
 
 “Active waiting means to be present fully to the moment, in the conviction that something is happening where you are and that you want to be present to it.”  (Henri Nouwen)
 
 
When making bread, you must wait. After combining the ingredients and kneading the dough, (with a food processor or a bread machine or even with your hands) you wait. You wait for the yeast to do its work, growing the dough into a loaf. Then more minutes pass as the oven does its work to finish the bread. Finally, you place the warm bread on the counter savoring the aroma, rummaging for a knife, some butter and jam. The promise of slicing into it and devouring its goodness is realized as it melts into your mouth.

This whole idea of heading to Bethlehem holds promise. I have journeyed there before in my imagination, but for some reason this year, I hope to discover something new. What does this “house of bread” have in store for us? All the familiar allusions to Jesus as the Bread of Life and Our Daily Bread come to mind. And the Old Testament practice of placing bread before God as an offering, what does that mean? Soon we will know, as we continue the journey, more will be placed before us, nourishing our souls.
 
 

As the season of Advent approaches, I sense God setting the table. I imagine Him spreading fresh faith over our hearts, placing plates, dishes, bowls and jugs of delicious fare centered on the best bread ever, the bread of His Presence.
 
Let’s go to Bethlehem to taste and see the Goodness of God.

 

 
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