Scripture Reading: Gen 35:18
And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

Reflections: Rachel was in great labor pains and struggled to give birth to her son. Unfortunately she died just after the baby was born. However just before she died, she named the baby Benoni. But her husband Jacob was quick to change the name to Benjamin. In examining the meaning of the two names, Jacob becomes justified for the action he took. Benoni means ‘son of my sorrow” while Benjamin means ‘son of my right hand’. Clearly Jacob didn’t want his son to be associated with sorrow in the future but rather with a position of authority. Unlike Rachel, Jacob is thus positioned as someone who informs the action he takes by assessing future consequences. This is an important life principle to emulate. Like Jacob, safeguard your future by taking decisions that are not driven by impulse but informed by critical future analysis.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to take decisions that are well informed by the needs of the future.

Confession. I safeguard my future by taking decisions informed by future needs and not driven by impulse.