The Funerals You Can’t Afford to Miss Aren’t Always for People.

On A Personal Note

I’ve been to a lot of funerals. Some of the most needful were not for people.

Some of my most significant “goodbyes” were not just for people. They were for the shattered dreams, dashed hopes, broken relationships, lost trust, and whatever shaped my identity apart from Jesus.

The Text Message

In Genesis 35, Jacob’s life is a mess. But, to get where God wanted him, he must bury some loved ones and cherished things. Funerals and burials aren’t easy, but they are necessary.

This chapter has three funerals and four burials and all of them have significant purpose in getting him to the next place. Maybe God has some things for you to bury before you can move on too.

Funerals are appointed by God and fought by us. We don’t like them, but God knows we need them. They force us to face realities, grieve losses, and accept what happened even when it hurts.

Jacob buried “a friend from the past” (Deborah was his childhood nurse); the “love of his life” (Rachel, his favorite); and his old identity (his father). But he also had to bury the idols (v. 8-29).

Maybe it’s that dream that got shattered, opportunity lost, some idol you’ve been holding, or the “love of your life”, a memory… It’s what keeps you stuck until you finally accept and bury it.

Funerals can help us move to the next place God has for us (John 12:24, Phil. 3:7-14). But as we accept, grieve and leave off the old, God’s promises are renewed, and Jesus is with us every step.

Let’s Take the Message Home

What “love of your life”, memory, loss, idol, dream, or favorite must be buried before you can go to where Jesus wants you next? It may not be easy but do it for your future. I’m praying for you.

Take whatever or whoever it is to God in prayer, and if necessary, do something symbolic and have a funeral or simple ceremony and bury it where you can never go back to find it again.

You don’t have to agree with or like what happened. You simply need to be honest, accept that it happened, grieve the loss, and give it all to God. You’ll also find new life after the “burial”.

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