The next years would be marked by deep losses.  Through time I found that accepting death did not get any easier.  Because of this, parts of me changed.

I found it difficult to form relationships with people in general.  In many ways I still grieved the loss of Noah, Shem, Japeth, and Ham.  Abraham was also like a brother to me.  Loss does not get any easier.

Deep relationships meant that I would one day have to grieve that person.  I really did not want to face that.  There was too much I was already coping with in this life.

Rachel Dies At Bethlehem

I had been anticipating the passing of Isaac.  I knew it would be soon.  What I did not anticipate was Rachel passing.  Child labor was something perilous in these times.  It would remain so until the modern age where surgery could fix many things.

What made this more eerie was the fact that Deborah, who was Rebecca’s nurse, had recently passed away.  They were close friends.  She was really like a member of the family.

Granted, Deborah was very aged.  Her presence with us was fulfilling a promise which was made many years ago to Rebecca.  Her purpose was helping Leah and Rachel with the children as Jacob made his way back home.  Deborah was like a second grandmother to us all.

Deborah was buried beneath an oak tree in Bethel at a location Jacob called Allonbachuth.  After this God had appeared to Jacob and told Israel to once again journey.  So, we did.

We were in passage to a place locally named Ephrath.  Here Rachel would go into labor.  It was an exceptionally painful labor.  While I was unsure of what the exact complications were, I do know she lived up until the moment Benjamin was born.

Rachel called her son Benoni.  The name she called him held a duality.  It meant son of my sorrow and of my strength.  Jacob though called him by a different name, Benjamin.

The name Benjamin meant son of my right hand.  I believe Jacob did not want Benjamin to live under the shadow of his birth.  Also, Jacob loved Joseph and Benjamin with greater affection for they were born of Rachel.  The name Benjamin reflected this affection he held for her as Rachel was herself like Jacob’s right hand.

At Rachel’s grave Jacob built a pillar.  Bethlehem would forever be marked in this family’s mind. This was a horrible loss at such a young age of forty-five.  It is too young to be taken away, especially with young children.

Here I was once again standing at another grave.  Flashes within my mind kept coming back.  It was the eyes of Death as he stared at me that I kept seeing.  I lay there on the ground unable to move, unable to breathe.

The Reunion Of Isaac, Jacob, And Esau

Tragedies of various kinds would keep coming, whether by death, or of a moral and personal nature by insults.  As things continued to unfold, I could not help but think of Noah’s words to me.

I remembered him speaking of how he saw within his grandsons that their hearts were turning to evil and violence.  I remember him telling me that the world would change and that I would need to be prepared.

After walking with Abraham and witnessing the rift between Isaac and Ishmael, then Jacob and Esau, now it was Reuben who created a rift in the family.

While we were in Edar, Reuben slept with Jacob’s concubine Bilhah.  Naturally Jacob was furious.  As Reuben was the firstborn he held a right to great inheritance.  Due to what happened Jacob revoked that inheritance.

A short time later word was received that Isaac was not doing well.  We then traveled to the city of Arbah in Hebron to be with Isaac.  This would be the first time since Jacob fled that Isaac, Jacob, and Esau were all together.

After Jacob and Esau rebuilt their relationship, Esau had made his presence known in Hebron.  It was in part a return home, but also to help his father.  Esau did maintain his lands and status in Edom, but he spent most of his time in Isaac’s lands until his father passed.

It was unfortunate that both boys had missed the passing of their mother Rebecca.  She had passed while Jacob was working for Laban.  Rumors had spread that her passing was due to a broken heart over the events that transpired.  At least the boys had now come to be unified and could see their father.

The day we rode into our old home I knew this was the last time the family would be together.  It was an emotional moment for me.  I wished that I could somehow stop time.  Things were good again.  I didn’t want to lose another friend.

My Last Conversation With Isaac

Late that evening after the people had settled in, Jacob, myself, Jared and Nathan rode over to Isaac’s home.  As we approached, I could see Esau outside.  We dismounted and approached Esau.

“My brother Jacob!” Esau smiled and bear hugged Jacob.
“Also Clay.” Esau punched me in my shoulder then hugged me.
“How is dad?” Jacob asked.
“Not good.  He asked to see us together when you got here.” Esau replied.

Jared, Nathan and I sat outside by the fire as the boys saw their dad.  They would spend some hours there.  Later that evening we would return home to allow Isaac to rest.

A few days later I received an invitation to see Isaac.  As I rode up to his house at mid-day he was sitting outside getting some fresh air.  He looked tired.

“Hello Clay.” Isaac said while I walked over and sat beside him.
“Hey Isaac.  It’s been a while.”
“Yes it has.  You succeeded in what I asked you to do.” He said.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“The boys are back together.”
“You know that was God, not me.” I pointed out.

“True.  It was God.  Yet you were with them along the path.” He looked into my eyes.
“Troubled times are still coming Clay.  I know God’s promises will hold true.  I simply do not think how we get there will be a straight line.” Isaac stated.

“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I have been thinking about the time dad took me to Moriah and I laid on that alter.  I was willing to die.  Yet, I was spared.  I have come to believe that the purpose of all of this has nothing to do with my family.”

“God promised your dad that you all would become a great nation.  This is that beginning.” I pointed out.
“True, Jacob’s sons are the beginning.  Yet that was not the real purpose.  I believe there will be one who comes from one of his sons that one day will be that sacrifice.”  Isaac stated.

“A sacrifice for what?” I was still confused.
“Someone needs to be a sacrifice for sin.  They will need to be the perfect sacrifice.  They will need to be Messiah.” Isaac’s words rang in my mind.

He was talking about Jesus without knowing who Jesus was. I personally knew Judah.  Right now he was a young man, yet he was the bloodline.  This I remembered, the tribe of Judah.

“Clay, thank you for being with us through these years.” Isaac said.
“I love your family, Isaac.  You are like family to me.”
“You have traveled a long way.  I hope you can go home soon.  I know you are tired too.” He said.
“Maybe soon brother, maybe soon.” I put my arm around Isaac.

The Death Of Isaac

After eating together, I parted ways to head back home.  Later that week Isaac would pass away.  His death marked the end of an era in my mind.  I came to think of him as a link to the older world which led into something new.

I say something new because of events which would follow.  Just like Noah’s death caused my world to change, so would Isaac’s.  For example, due to the size of both Jacob and Esau’s families and wealth of herds, they decided to split paths.

Esau would return to Edom after Isaac was buried.  Jacob would remain in Canaan.  Another change would come soon that removed Jacob’s families from this land.  While I did not yet realize what that event was, it was one of my greatest fears.

Years ago, I knew this family would at some point go into Egypt.  Although Isaac had passed, and Jacob seemed to have great success, I felt soon that terrible change would come.  So much would be lost.

The really emotional part hit me as Jacob and Esau took their fathers body to bury him.  The tomb was at Machpelah.  The first time I was here, Abraham buried Sarah.  After that, Isaac and Ishmael buried Abraham.  Now it was Isaac.

I was tired of death.  Isaac was right.  I am tired.  No, I am exhausted. 

Looking Forward In Time

Liza sat beside Clay as he laid in the hospital bed.  The episode was over.  They managed to revive Clay, and his heart was working once again.  Watching the heart monitor, every pulse on the screen was a gift.

The girls had settled in.  Mom was on the way to pick them up.  After seeing what took place, they needed a break.  It might be best if they were not here at all.

Liza’s attention turned to look at the girls.  Both Noelle and Kate were clearly trying to hide something as they kept whispering back and forth.

“Girls, just tell me please.  What’s going on?” Liza asked.
“Noelle saw more things.” Kate said.
“What things did you see Noelle?” Liza didn’t know how much to believe.
“Daddy is starting to look for God.” Noelle said.

“What do you mean?” Liza asked.
“He was sitting on a hill looking at the stars.  It was at a place called… umm… Shalem.  I think daddy is trying now.” Noelle stated.

Liza was genuinely worried about the girls.  The problem was she didn’t know if what Noelle said was true.  How is it that she knew details about Abraham and Isaac that most people never know?

“I’ve never heard of a place called Shalem.” Liza was testing.
“Daddy was there, and bad things happened.  Then he went to Bethel with Jacob, then he went to Bethlehem, and then he went to see Isaac before he died.” Noelle rolled out the locations in rapid fire.

Liza left the issue alone for the moment.  The stress of the evening was too much as it was.  A short while later mom came and collected the girls to take them to her house.  They needed that rest.

Sitting there next to Clay she watched the heart monitor and kept thinking, what if?  She picked up the phone and looked at the time.  It was late.  The thing was, she couldn’t help but to call Pastor Carl.

“Hello Liza, how are things?”
“Not good Pastor…” Liza relayed the recent events.
“I can come by tomorrow morning to visit you guys.” He said.

“Well, there is one thing I would like to ask now if that’s okay?” Liza needed to know.
“Sure, go ahead.”
“Have you ever heard of a place called Shalem in the Bible?” Liza asked.
“Uh, I am not sure about that one.  Hold on let me Google it quick.” Carl took a moment in silence.

“Oh yes, the city name is only briefly mentioned but the events surrounding it concern Jacob’s daughter Dinah.  Why do you ask?” Pastor Carl was now curious.

“Well, apparently Jacob went from there to Bethel, and then to Bethlehem, and after that he went to see Isaac before his father died.  Is that correct?” Liza asked.
“That sounds accurate.  It’s been a while since I traced Jacob’s whole journey, but I don’t think you missed anything.  Have you been reading the Bible?” Pastor Carl kept wondering what was going on.

“Um… no.  It was Noelle again.  She told me that Clay was sitting on a hill trying to find God.  Then she told me he was with Jacob and went to those places in that order.” Liza said, afraid Carl would think she had lost her mind.

At first there was nothing but silence on the phone.  Liza’s anxiety increased becoming worried that maybe the stress was just too much for everyone.  She was afraid that Noelle herself was experiencing some kind of nervous breakdown.  Pastor Carl’s voice would break the silence.

“Liza, I don’t know how Noelle could have known the detail of a city named Shalem.  I even had to Google it.  Few people would recognize the order of locations Jacob visited.”
“I know Pastor.  That is part of what is scaring me.  I don’t know what to think or do.” Liza was crying.
“Is it okay if I come talk to her tomorrow?” Pastor Carl asked.
“Yes, please do.  I think we are all hanging on by a thread over here.” Liza was pleading.

“Okay, I will be there in the morning around 10am.”
“Alright, thank you.  I will see you then.” Liza hung up the phone.

She looked back over at Clay.  He looked as if he was at peace for the moment.  In the silence every question had no answer.  “Clay, what is happening?” She asked.