Genesis 29:31-35 English Standard Version

Jacob’s Children

³¹ When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. ³² And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” ³³ She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. ³⁴ Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. ³⁵ And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.

The Hebrew word for Judah sounds like praise. Just because it sounds like praise does not mean it is praise.

That is the lesson for today. What is praise?

Leah was hated by Jacob. Rachel was his first love and he was tricked into marrying Leah. Leah wanted Jacob to love her and it was her belief that giving Jacob sons would change his heart towards her.  By the time Levi came along, she had three sons by Jacob and still she felt no love from her husband. Levi sounds like the Hebrew word attached. Once again, sounds like doesn’t mean he is attached.

Finally with Judah’s birth she says she will praise the Lord. But did she praise God or did it just sound like it?

Interestingly Genesis 29:35 is the first time the word praise is used in the bible. The Hebrew word is yada. What is it we say when we think we know what someone else is going to say? Yada, yada, yada.

The bible usage for the word yada is to throw, shoot or cast.

That is strange because that doesn’t sound like praise at all.

Luke 6:31 English Standard Version (ESV) And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Luke 6:31 Modern English Version (MEV) Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

The Modern English Version is the one we quote but it is not the one we learned.

What is at the core of the golden rule?

If it took you a moment to ponder that question, then I have succeeded in offering up my version of the golden rule core. “I wish people wouldn’t do that.”

At the core of the golden rule are the feelings we encounter because someone has treated us in a manner which is upsetting to us. I called this posting golden rules because there are multitude of behaviors which annoy us.

Which one bothers us at any particular moment is a matter of personal experience. As a writer I can only address the one at this moment that bothers me the most.

The reason I said I have succeeded with my version if you had to ponder my question is because recently I encountered another writer who asked a question and never came back to address any of the possible answers. It like being given a test and receiving a failing grade without being given the right answer.

“I wish people wouldn’t do that.” That is my answer and no one else’s. I don’t get to choose how others think or feel. We might have common experiences like being cut off in traffic, but that does not mean our response to the event are the same. The responses of that one event range from a non-verbal grunts to road rage and death on the highway.

This is my point for these golden rules. Wishing doesn’t make it so. We can only example right behavior and in doing that no one else will ever know why.

The Lord knows and He is the only one that really matters.