Are you in the bible? (Part 2)

Previously I asked, “Are you in the bible?” Right, most holy men and women suffered a lot as written in the bible. Since I mentioned those names, let me finish what were happened to those holy men and women.

Patriarch Joseph finally became an important man in Egypt, trusted by Pharaoh. During the great famine, he saved his own family and kinsmen.

David who wholeheartedly worked for Saul, but Saul wanted to murder him, at the later days, David became the king of Israel. Though he was persecuted by own son. But later years he died peacefully and his kingdom was succeeded by King Solomon.

Job, though all his children died suddenly, all his properties were taken in one night, at the end, he was blessed with more children and properties.

Samson was blinded and put imprisoned. But at the end, his power was recovered and killed his enemies and saved the Israelites.

Mordecai, though he and his kinsmen were threatened, at the end, all of them were saved by the help of Queen Esther, his adopted daughter.

Susanna though was accused, the Prophet Daniel was inspired and saved her from the hands of the elders. And justice was shown to them.
Tobit finally gained his sight by the help of the angel Raphael.

Here I don’t mention about the prophets, because most of them died like the Martyrs.

We can see that, though sufferings and sorrows were happened, there was something behind, which will bear the fruits when the time is coming.

Are you in the bible?

Whoever read the bible will find that there are a lot of sorrowfulness within the bible stories. Yes, bible is for those who are poor, oppressed, sicks, and sinners. Because the world is full of injustice, through the Gospel (I mean good news), we found our faith and hope. The worldly people judge with outlook, pursue authorities and richness. That is why, the poor become poorer, the oppressed become more oppressed, the sicks are abandoned.

Are you in the bible? Patriarch Joseph was betrayed and sold by his own brothers, he was also thrown into jail though he was innocent. David, even he served King Saul wholeheartedly, yet Saul still wanted to murder him. At the later year, King David was even persecuted by his own son, Absalom. The prophets like Jeremiah were not accepted by their own people. Samson was betrayed by the woman he loved. Job was not understood by his own friends, his friends kept asking him to confess his sin, even his wife asked him to curse God in order to die. Mordecai was hated by Haman without any good reason, and Haman planned to kill Mordecai and all his kinsmen. Susanna was accused by the elders. A justice man like Tobit was blinded at his old age. Even Jesus was betrayed by His own disciple, Judas. These are justice men and women, but all of them faced a lot of oppressions and persecutions in their life. We can see that, these sorrowfulness are come from kinsmen, superiors, children, loved one, colleagues, and the life itself.

This is why, when we listen to the Gospel (good news), we found our consolation. Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the meek, blessed are those who are hunger and thirst for righteousness, blessed are those who are persecuted. God’s mercy is shown to those who fear Him; God disperses the arrogant men, throws down the rulers from their thrown and lifts the lowly; the hungry will be filled with good thing, the rich will be sent away empty. The good news are brought to the poor, the captives will get their liberty, the blind will see again, the oppressed will also be freed. The sins will be forgiven. These are what we thirst for.

Jacob’s story

Once there was a man, Jacob. He fell in love with a girl, Rachel. And this Rachel had an elder sister, Leah, and her father, Laban. Jacob wanted to take Rachel as wife. So, Laban asked Jacob to serve him for seven years in order to take her as wife. Then, seven years passed, and Jacob took a wife. Yet, the wife was Leah, because Laban cheated Jacob. Then, Jacob still wanted to take Rachel as wife. So, Laban required Jacob to serve him seven more years.

After serving Jacob seven more years for taking Rachel as his wife, Jacob wanted to leave Laban with his own family. And Laban wanted Jacob to stay, because Laban knew that he was blessed by God for the sake of Jacob. So, Laban told Jacob to point out his (Jacob) wages, so that Laban will give him. Jacob answered him, Laban’s flock was so few before he (Jacob) came, and now they increased so many, and when could he have his own properties for his own house?

Jacob asked Laban to choose those speckled and spotted cattle as his wages, and all the speckled and spotted cattle will be his properties. Laban agreed.

Jacob served Laban with all his power. But Laban, his father in law, deceived him, changed his wages ten times, but God protected Jacob. When Laban said all the speckled cattle would be Jacob’s wages, then all the cattle were born with speckled; if Laban said all the ringstraked would be Jacob’s wages, then all were born with ringstraked.

Laban then jealous of Jacob’s richness. Finally, Jacob left Laban and go to his own country with his properties.