On Grace: This is NOT FAIR!
AM Psalm 87, 90 • PM Psalm 136
Gen. 47:27-48:7 • 1 Cor. 10: 1-13 • Mark 7:1-23
The story of Jacob from Genesis is a long one—I did my last reflection in February on how he is a trickster character. This month, I’m still pondering on Jacob/Israel, who we find on his deathbed in this reading. His life has been full of advantage that he didn’t earn: his sacrifices seem better to God than his brother Esau’s for unclear reasons, he is given his brother’s birthright unfairly, he is able to expand his livestock holdings from Laban’s flock by either magic or luck, and the list goes on. Now as he is nearing death, Jacob continues perpetuating this unearned advantage by giving his 11th son Joseph and his grandsons Ephraim and Manassah the best blessing that is usually reserved for the eldest son.
This is an excellent example of the grace of God in action. Does God’s blessing need to be justified by us to be valid? Must God follow our rules? Must everything God does seem fair? Or, put in another way: Do we only deserve God's love after we understand God?
Of course, the answer to all of these is “no.” In the apophatic or negative theological tradition, mystics find out a lot about God just by pointing out what God is not: God is not fair by human standards. God does not always appeal to our sense of cause and effect. God, by definition, is beyond our understanding. This can make me upset by Biblical readings, such as by the story of Jacob. It can make me angry or frustrated or confused. But this doesn't bar me access to the same sort of grace that Jacob experienced.
Written by Haley Hixson
This year, I'm taking Peter Rollins’ course Atheism for Lent. I love how atheism and theism strengthen each other through exposing the gaps in each side’s understanding. It has given me a new (a)theological lens through which to read the Bible. More importantly, it has reminded me to thank God for the ability to learn from those who hold different sincere opinions from my own. I hope you're having a blessed lenten practice of your own!