Bethlehem Today: Rachel and Jacob 16 th December: Ruth and Boaz 23 rd December: Micah 25 th December: Joseph and Mary

Jerusalem Bethel (Nr Ramallah) Bethlehem (Ephrath) Hebron (Isaac was living here) Struggle with God (not people) – listen and respond Sorrow, Strength and Reconciliation

Names: Jacob – Supplanter Israel – God contented Ben-oni - Son of my sorrow Benjamin - Son of my strength Bethlehem – House of bread Bethel – House of God Remember: Jacob stealing Esau’s birthright Jacob wrestled all night with an Angel * Rachel and Leah * Benjamin and Joseph in Egypt Herod: Slaughter of the Innocents Simeon and Mary: A sword will piece your heart Jesus “My God, Why have you forsaken me?” Struggle with God (not people) – listen and respond Sorrow, Strength and Reconciliation

Rachel, Leah and Jacob Genesis 29&30 29:30 Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. 31 When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 Leah gave birth to Reuben, she said, "It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now." 33 She gave birth to Simeon "Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too." 34 She gave birth Levi, "Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.“ 35 She gave birth to Judah, "This time I will praise the LORD.“ 30:1 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I'll die!" 22 Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and she gave birth to Joseph and said, "God has taken away my disgrace." Struggle with God (not people) – listen and respond Sorrow, Strength and Reconciliation

Benjamin in Egypt 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. 37:4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. 37:28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. 42:19 If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. 42:20 But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die." This they proceeded to do. 42:36 Their father Jacob said to them, "You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!“ 42:37 Then Reuben said to his father, "You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back.“ 43:30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there. 44:33 Judah said "Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord's slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. 44:34 How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father." Struggle with God (not people) – listen and respond Sorrow, Strength and Reconciliation

Genesis 35 9 After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him. 10 God said to him, "Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel." So he named him Israel. 11 And God said to him, "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body. 12 The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you." 13 Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him. 14 Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. 15 Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel. Struggle with God (not people) – listen and respond Sorrow, Strength and Reconciliation

16 Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. 17 And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, "Don't be afraid, for you have another son." 18 As she breathed her last-- for she was dying– she named her son Ben-oni. But his father named him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel's tomb. Thank God for his Word to us Struggle with God (not people) – listen and respond Bethlehem: place of Sorrow, Strength and Reconciliation

Struggle with God Listen and respond Sorrow, Strength and Reconciliation