Old and Full of years

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

OLD AND FULL OF YEARS

Gen 35:21-29

21 Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder. 22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father's concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it. Jacob had twelve sons: 23 The sons of Leah: Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Rachel's maidservant Bilhah: Dan and Naphtali. 26 The sons of Leah's maidservant Zilpah: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram. 27 Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. 28 Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years. 29 Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

NIV

We have come to the end of the life of Isaac, the father of Esau and Jacob. Once again there is a story related to the actions of Reuben, but to focus on a sin, if indeed that was a sin because Bilhah was a handmaiden, although the idea of a concubine has been introduced to us. We needed to explore Hebrew to find this concubine, which is also used as a paramour or an illicit partner of a married person. The English word paramour is similar to lover, significant other, mistress, kept woman, beloved, and others. Even though Jacob heard of it, we are not told he was upset, angry, filled with rage, or any emotion whatsoever, so why then were we told of this act of Reuben is unclear. However, the story to focus on is the testimony of the life of Isaac. Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years, old and full of years. The Hebrew is clearer as it reads, Isacc lived satisfied abounding days. What this means to us is that Isaac had no regrets, he lived his life to the fullest with all he had within him. His days, or years were satisfying and full, and then he just breathed his last. Whether he lay on a death bed old without the strength to stand, we do not know. From the time of the blessing of Jacob and Esau, we were told that Isaac was in bed, nearly blind, and wanted to give his blessing before he died. Yet Jacob spent twenty years in the service of Laban and had time to have twelve sons, bury his beloved Rachel, and reconcile with Esau while coming home. Yet twenty-plus years ago, it looked to us that Isaac was near death. However, he must not have been, for he was full of years, and lived satisfied days. That is where our story intersects with this narrative. We too will live full of years, the reason being that we are in Christ, and we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within. All our days are fully satisfied no matter our condition or situation because we live for Jesus, we are the sheep of his pasture, he leads us, guides us, protects us, provides for us, heals us, and most of all saves us from our sins because His name is Jesus. When the angel visited Joseph in a dream and told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, for the baby in her was conceived by the Holy Spirit and that he was to be named Jesus and he would save his people of their sins. How can our days, or years not be satisfied, full of life till we breathe our last and be gathered to our Lord? This is our story, our life’s testimony, and we hope and pray our epitaph will read; He was a faithful servant of the Lord, old and full of years.