Our word for today is often found next to our word from yesterday. בָּכָה weep, weep for, cry freely and profusely, bemoan, make lamentation. It is used 114 times in the Old Testament. It is most often used when someone is experiencing a very intense emotion. Like when a loved one has died, is dying or in life and death situations. Genesis 21:6 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to בָּכָהsob. We see the word used to describe Jacob’s reaction of extreme joy when meeting his future wife. Genesis 29:11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to בָּכָה weep aloud. It is also used when someone is experiencing a painful loss Genesis 27:38 Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” Then Esau בָּכָה wept aloud.
A good example of how this word can be used for both a negative and positive situation is in describing how Jacob and Joseph expressed their emotions about each other. Joseph’s brothers lied to their dad and told him Joseph had died. Genesis 37:35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father בָּכָה wept for him. Then when Joseph is able to meet with his dad Jacob for the first time after all the years of thinking he was dead. Genesis 46:29 Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and בָּכָה wept for a long time.
What I find interesting about this word is how it is used to identify how Joseph was able to handle the painful emotional struggle of seeing his brothers again who almost killed him and sold him into slavery. Genesis 43:26-29 When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house...He asked them how they were, and then he said, “How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still living?” They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.”...As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin...Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to בָּכָהweep. He went into his private room and בָּכָה wept there. His struggle was they betrayed him and harmed him but he also loved them and wanted to be reconnected to them. And he was able to forgive as he shared with his brothers. Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. And how was Joseph able to do this? Well being able to express his pain through emotion is a big part of it.
This is what Jesus was going through in the garden of gethsemane when faced with the struggle of the pain of being separated from his father and taking on my sin and yours on the cross. What helped Jesus face this challenge and be able to finish his life saving work on the cross? The expression of this emotion. Matthew 26:36-39 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” It is a beautiful thing to see love expressed in weeping because it shows the willingness of going through pain for the people you love and those who love you. This is where we see Abraham in our chapter today. Genesis 23:2 Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to בָּכָה weep over her.
