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Genesis 50 – The Egyptians and Jacob’s Family Mourn for Jacob

07 Saturday Nov 2015

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Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him. Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him, taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days. Genesis 50:1-3

In anticipation of his death, Jacob had sent for all of his sons to gather around him. Joseph remained the entire time that his father blessed the tribes and gave orders about his funeral. After he had passed, Joseph laid his own face to the cold face and pale cheeks of his dead father. Joseph expressed his love for his father with kisses and displayed the grief of the loss of his father with tears.

In ancient Egypt the embalmers were a separate and distinct class. Since Jacob was not an Egyptian, Joseph ordered the court physicians instead of the embalmers to embalm his father. Joseph ordered his physicians to embalm his father, not merely because it was the custom of the Egyptians, but because it was necessary to preserve his father’s corpse since his father was to be interred in Canaan.

The cost of embalming could be up to a talent of silver which would be around $15,000 in today’s market. The method of preparing mummies in Ancient Egypt has been elaborately described, both by Herodotus and Diodorus Sieulus. The brain was first extracted through the nostrils by means of a crooked piece of iron, the skull being thoroughly cleansed of any remaining portions by rinsing with drugs; then, through an opening in the left side made with a sharp Ethiopian knife of agate or of flint, the viscera were removed, the abdomen being afterwards purified with palm wine and an infusion of aromatics; next, the disemboweled corpse was filled with every sort of spice except frankincense, and the opening sewed up; after that the stuffed form was steeped for seventy days in natrum or subcarbonate of soda obtained from the Libyan desert, and sometimes in wax and tanning, bitumen also being employed in later times; and finally, on the expiration of that period, which was scrupulously observed, the body was washed, wrapped about with linen bandages, smeared over with gum, decorated with amulets, sometimes with a network of porcelain bugles (tubular beads), covered with a linen shroud, and, in due course, transferred to a mummy case.

When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court, “If I have found favor in your eyes, speak to Pharaoh for me. Tell him, ‘My father made me swear an oath and said, “I am about to die; bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.” Now let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.’”

Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.” Genesis 50:4-6

Joseph may have let his hair and beard grow as a sign of mourning and could not enter the king’s presence without being both shaven and shorn. Therefore, Joseph did not directly address Pharaoh but spoke to the court officials and asked them to intercede in his behalf.

Pharaoh respected the oath that Joseph had made to his father and gave Joseph permission to bury his father in the land of Canaan.

So Joseph went up to bury his father. All Pharaoh’s officials accompanied him—the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt—besides all the members of Joseph’s household and his brothers and those belonging to his father’s household. Only their children and their flocks and herds were left in Goshen. Chariots and horsemen also went up with him. It was a very large company.

When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan, they lamented loudly and bitterly; and there Joseph observed a seven-day period of mourning for his father. When the Canaanites who lived there saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “The Egyptians are holding a solemn ceremony of mourning.” That is why that place near the Jordan is called Abel Mizraim. Genesis 50:7-11

Joseph, attended by a great company, took his father’s body out of Egypt, and at the first village across the Canaanite border held the customary funeral rites. The locality where they observed seven days of mourning was called “the threshing-floor of Atad.” The hard, level location of Atad’s threshing floor was probably a more suitable site for setting up their tents than the surrounding stony fields.

The Hebrew word, “atad” means “thorn” or “bramble.” Abel-Mitzraim, which is Hebrew for “the mourning of the Egyptians,” was located in the Northern Negev on the road coming from Egypt.

A very significant account involving a threshing floor is recorded in 2 Samuel Chapter 24.

Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”

So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.”

But Joab replied to the king, “May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”

The king’s word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel. 2 Samuel 24:1-4

King David took an unauthorized census of the number of fighting men in Israel. According to 1 Chronicles 21:1, it was Satan that moved David’s heart, to the numbering of the people. The LORD burned with anger against Israel, so God allowed Satan to tempt David. Instead of trusting in the LORD for protection and victory against the enemies of Israel, David gave into temptation and fell victim to the sin of pride by trusting in the arm of flesh.

David later realizes his sin and confesses. God, through the prophet of Gad, gives David a choice of punishments: seven years of famine, three months of being chased by enemies, or three days of plague. David chooses the plague and so the destroying angel begins to work, killing 70,000 people.

David pleads for mercy with God, stating that he should really be the one to suffer from the plague, and not the people. The angel stops at the threshing floor of Araunah, a Jebusite, located on the top of Mount Moriah, and gives a command through Gad for David to erect an altar there (1 Chronicles 21:18). David asks to purchase the site to build the altar and offer burnt offerings. Arunah offers to give David the site, and the animals for the offerings, but David states that he would not “offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.”

When Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David. 2 Chronicles 3:1

The threshing floor on the summit of Mount Moriah that David purchased was used as the location for the building of the LORD’s temple. The site where the destroying angel ceased striking down the people and God’s wrath was appeased became the location where sacrifices would be offered up to make atonement for sin.

 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Luke 3:16-17

First, cut stalks of grain were spread on the threshing floor and a threshing sledge was pulled over the stalks by oxen. A threshing sledge was made of logs and had sharp flints embedded in the under surface. When the oxen dragged the sledge over the stalks of wheat on the threshing floor, the stones ripped the husk away from the grain. Threshing the wheat could also be accomplished by having the oxen walk over the stalks or by beating the stalks of wheat with heavy sticks.

The grain is heaped and then winnowed by the farmer whose winnowing fork is in his hand. The winnowing fork is a several-pronged pitchfork and is used to toss wheat against the breeze to free it from chaff and crushed straw. Since the grain is heaviest it falls straight to the ground. The straw is blown a short distance and collects in another heap, while the chaff is completely scattered by the wind.

John the Baptist proclaimed that Jesus the Messiah would come to gather his wheat into his barn but would burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. Jesus used the term wheat as a symbol for his true followers – the elect in Christ. He also spoke of the master’s barn as a picture of heaven. The chaff burning in unquenchable fire symbolizes the unregenerate sinner who will suffer eternal torment.

So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them: They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, which Abraham had bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite. After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father. Genesis 50:12-13

Abraham needed a burying-place for Sarah. He bought the field of Machpelah for the price of four hundred silver shekels from Ephron the Hittite. The field was located near Mamre which was in Hebron. At the end of the field was a cave which served as a tomb. This cave became the family burying-place. Sarah was the first to be buried there. Later on Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob were placed there.

After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father. Genesis 50:14

Not only did all of Pharaoh’s officials return, but Joseph and his eleven brothers returned as well because they had left their children, flocks and herds in Egypt.

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. Genesis 50:15-17

Despite how well Joseph had treated his brothers after he had revealed himself to them, they were still were anticipating that once Jacob had died, that Joseph would be vengeful towards them. So they fabricate a story that their father had left instructions and send a message to Joseph that their father’s last wish was that Joseph was to forgive them.

Joseph’s brothers were well aware that they had sinned by treating him so badly. Therefore, they not only appeal to Joseph as brothers but as worshippers of the same God, the God of Jacob.

Joseph wept when he received his brothers’ message because of his deep love and attachment to his family and because he is grieved that they believe he is hard-hearted, unforgiving and vengeful.

His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. Genesis 50:18

Although Joseph’s weeping was a sign of his forgiveness and desire for reconciliation, it does nothing to alleviate his brothers’ guilt. Unable to accept Joseph’s weeping as a sign of his love, they abase themselves and cry out, “We are your slaves.”

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:19-21

One of the most uplifting, encouraging and comforting verses in all the Bible is Genesis 50:20. It speaks of the sovereignty, love and power of God.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Joseph endured through rejection, jealousy, hatred, false accusations and suffering and was finally raised to a position of power and authority. Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers eventually resulted in the saving of not only the Egyptians from starvation, but the Canaanites and the Hebrews as well.

Even what man may mean for evil, God can use to accomplish His good and sovereign purposes.

This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. Acts 2:23

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:8-11

Jesus endured through rejection, jealousy, hatred, false accusations, suffering and death and was finally exalted to the highest place and was given all authority in heaven and on earth.

Men acted wickedly by condemning Jesus, who was righteous and innocent, and put Him to death on the cross. But what men meant for evil, God used to accomplish his purpose – the saving of many souls.

Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees. Genesis 50:22-23

Except for the first seventeen years of his life, Joseph lived the rest of his one hundred and ten years in Egypt. For thirteen years Joseph lived in Potiphar’s house and in prison. When he was thirty years of age he was brought before Pharaoh. After interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph was highly honored, made governor of Egypt and lived in prosperity for the next eighty years.

Joseph lived to see Ephraim’s great grandchildren and Manasseh’s grandchildren.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”

So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt. Genesis 50:24-26

When he saw his death approaching, Joseph comforted his brothers with the assurance of their return to Canaan according to God’s promise to the patriarchs. As a testimony of his own faith, Joseph charges his brothers to keep his remains unburied till that glorious day, when the twelve tribes would be settled in the land of promise. Thus Joseph, by faith in the doctrine of the resurrection, and the promise of Canaan, had them swear an oath concerning his bones.

Joseph’s servants, the physicians, embalmed him according to the preservation method of the Egyptians as his father Jacob had been embalmed. Joseph’s funeral would be conducted with all the pomp and circumstance afforded Egyptian nobility and his mummified corpse carefully preserved until the Exodus.

Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”Genesis 17:8

God promised Abraham that his descendents would be delivered out of the land of bondage and take possession of the land of Canaan. God not only confirmed his promise to Isaac and Jacob, but stated He would give their offspring the Promised Land as an everlasting possession.

Although the descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were given the Promised Land as an everlasting possession, their continued disobedience to God would result in times of exile.

Then the Lord will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship other gods—gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your ancestors have known. Deuteronomy 28:64

The first exile was the Assyrian exile, the expulsion from the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) by Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria in 733 BC, and its completion by Sargon II with the destruction of the kingdom in 722 BC.

It continued with the exile of a portion of the population of the Kingdom of Judah in 597 BC with the Babylonian exile. The Babylonian exile ended after 70 years with Cyrus’ declaration that the exiled Jews would be allowed to return to Jerusalem and build the Second Temple.

Following the Siege of Jerusalem in 63 BC, the Hasmonean kingdom became a protectorate of Rome, and in 6 CE was organized as the Roman province of Judea. The Jews revolted against the Roman Empire in 66 AD during the period known as the First Jewish–Roman War which culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. During the siege, the Romans destroyed the Second Temple and most of Jerusalem. This event marked the beginning of the Roman exile when Jewish leaders and elite were exiled, killed or sold into slavery.

In 132 AD, the Jews under Bar Kokhba rebelled against Hadrian. In 135 AD, Hadrian’s army defeated the Jewish armies and Jewish independence was lost. As a punishment and in order to break the deep bond of the Jews to the land of Israel, Hadrian changed the name of Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina, turned it into a pagan city and banned the Jews from living there. Judea and Samaria was renamed by Hadrian to Syria Palaestina.

For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or idol. Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days Hosea 3:4-5

Hosea prophesied the Jewish diaspora. They were dispersed for over 1,900 years. After that time had elapsed they returned to their ancient possession as promised.

In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth. Isaiah 11:11-12

Israel, a nation that had not existed for over 2,500 years, was declared a new sovereign state by an act of the United Nations on May 14, 1948. The nation was born in a day.

Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. Isaiah 66:8

In the not so distant future, there is a judgment coming against all the nations that will take place in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Yehovah shall judge).

In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. Joel 3:1-2

The following is an excerpt from a statement by the Middle East Quartet (United Nations, Russian Federation, United States, and the European Union) that was issued on February 8, 2015:

The Quartet underlined the importance of the parties resuming negotiations as soon as possible, with a view to reaching a just, lasting and comprehensive peace on the basis of United Nations Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), the Madrid Principles, including land for peace, and the agreements previously reached between the parties. A sustainable peace requires the Palestinians’ aspirations for statehood and sovereignty, and those of Israelis for security to be fulfilled through negotiations based on the two-State solution.

In the 1967 war, Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria, the West Bank including East Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt. Egypt regained the Sinai as part of the Camp David Accords of 1979.

The disengagement from the Gaza included the eviction of all Israeli residents and evacuation of associated security personnel from the Gaza Strip. It was completed by September 12, 2005. The eviction and dismantlement of the four settlements in the northern West Bank was completed ten days later.

In return for a promise of peace, Israel would have to give over the Golan Heights and the West Bank including East Jerusalem. In the southern theater (because of the demilitarization of Sinai) and in the northern theater (because Israel has resisted handing over the Golan Heights), Israel has two defensible borders.

If terrorist forces were to fire rockets and mortars from the West Bank as they are now doing from Gaza, the entire Israeli home front would be exposed to this threat. The West Bank overlooks Israel’s main cities from a distance of a few miles, and rockets, mortars, and antiaircraft missiles must be kept out of this territory.

Neither the 1967 lines nor the security-fence line can serve as a defensible border for Israel, and that only full Israeli sovereignty over all of the Jordan Valley as a security zone running along the Jordan River, serving as a border, can give Israel security.

If Israel were to give up the land captured in the 1967 war, her borders would be indefensible. All the nations of the world are pressuring Israel to divide the Promised Land for a false promise of peace.

What does Trump’s peace plan mean for Israel, the Palestinians and Jerusalem?

What does Israel get?

Its sovereignty over the Jordan Valley recognized by the United States. This is the most notable part of the plan, emphasized by Netanyahu but glossed over by Trump. Israel already has military control over the valley, which it considers to have crucial security value, but it doesn’t currently categorize it as part of Israel proper. Netanyahu told Israeli reporters after the speech that he would call a Cabinet vote on Sunday to annex the Jordan Valley – though it’s unclear if the Cabinet has the legal standing to do so because Israel is being run by an interim government in the months before elections.

Recognition as a Jewish state — but only if the Palestinian Authority wants to negotiate. PA President Mahmoud Abbas calls that a non-starter, though.

Unfettered access to its settlements in the West Bank, because that part of the future state of Palestine would have lots of isolated and gerrymandered areas in order to make sure Israeli territory is contiguous.

To keep restricting Palestinians’ access to their Arab neighbors. Except for the Gaza-Egypt border crossing, the Palestinian state will be connected to its borders through a series of Israel-controlled special roads.

What do the Palestinians get?

A contiguous territory in the West Bank … technically. There will be a lot of isolated and gerrymandered areas.

Not the capital they want, which would be in Jerusalem. Trump said that under the plan, Jerusalem will remain Israel’s undivided capital, but at the same time, Palestinians would get a capital in “eastern Jerusalem.” It’s possible that by this, Trump means an Arab suburb east of Jerusalem would be called “East Jerusalem.” It’s a real estate branding technique.

A tunnel to connect the West Bank and Gaza – likely the world’s longest. And they’d get some land from Israel in the Negev Desert for towns and industry.

A four-year promise from Israel not to build new settlements in the areas that would be the future Palestinian state.

A day of the LORD is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. Zechariah 14:1-3

A day of the LORD is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. Zechariah 14:1-3

Genesis 49 – Jacob Calls for His Sons to Assemble Before Him

03 Saturday Oct 2015

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Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come. “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob;   listen to your father Israel. Genesis 49:1-2

Under a prophetic anointing by the Holy Spirit, Jacob gathers his sons together before him to foretell events that will affect them personally as well as their generations after them.

“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it. Genesis 49:3-4

Reuben was the firstborn. Instead of being steadfast, he was unstable as water. Reuben had forfeited the birthright due to gross sin. While Jacob was in mourning for his wife Rachel, who had died in childbirth, Reuben slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah who had been Rachel’s handmaiden.

“Simeon and Levi are brothers— their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council,   let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel!
I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel. Genesis 49:5-7

Jacob’s sons Simeon and Levi were indignant and very angry because Shechem had violated their sister Dinah. Because Shechem desperately wanted to marry Dinah, Simeon and Levi used the situation to deceive Shechem and the men of the city to enter into an agreement with them.

Because their sister Dinah had been defiled, Jacob’s sons replied deceitfully as they spoke to Shechem and his father Hamor. They said to them, “We can’t do such a thing; we can’t give our sister to a man who is not circumcised. That would be a disgrace to us. We will enter into an agreement with you on one condition only: that you become like us by circumcising all your males. Then we will give you our daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We’ll settle among you and become one people with you. But if you will not agree to be circumcised, we’ll take our sister and go.” Genesis 34:13-17

Three days later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, killing every male. They put Hamor and his son Shechem to the sword and took Dinah from Shechem’s house and left. Genesis 34:25-26

The consequence of their act of violence was twofold. First Simeon and Levi, who were next in line after Reuben, both forfeited the birthright. In addition their offspring, who would eventually enter into the Promised Land, would be dispersed in Israel. During the days of Joshua, the Levites did not receive an allotted territory but were scattered throughout Israel is designated cities. The Simeonites, on the other hand, received their inheritance within the territory of Judah.

“Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? Genesis 49:8-9

Judah means praise. There would be a double fulfillment of Jacob’s prediction that Jacob’s sons would praise and bow down before Judah.

In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. 2 Samuel 5:5

King David, who descended from the tribe of Judah, not only ruled over all Judah but eventually over all of Israel. King David defeated and subjugated the enemies of Israel. King David was a type of the conquering King Messiah and was the first fulfillment of Jacob’s declaration over Judah.

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. Genesis 49:10

Shiloh is a messianic title. Messiah Yeshua, the King of the Jews, would descend from the line of King David.

A scepter is a staff or baton held by a king or ruler as an emblem of his authority.

“All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” Esther 4:11

The scepter represents the power of the king to put someone to death or to spare their lives.

Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.  So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

“If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. John 18:28-31

Although the Sanhedrin had declared that Jesus was guilty of blasphemy, they did not have the right to put him to death, but brought him to Pilate with a charge of sedition. The Sanhedrin had been deprived of the power of administering the death penalty by their Roman occupiers. The scepter or power of the Jews to put someone to death had departed from Judah because Shiloh (the Messiah) had come. Genesis 49:10 is yet another messianic prophecy that was fulfilled in the first coming of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).

He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine,  his robes in the blood of grapes. Genesis 49:11

The prophetic utterances of Jacob over Judah include the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem which was also spoken of by the prophet Zechariah:

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9

Not only does Jacob predict circumstances of the first advent of Messiah but also of His second coming.

His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. Revelation 19:12-13

His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk. Genesis 49:12

Onkelos, who translated the Torah into Aramaic, paraphrased this verse concerning Judah as applying to the abundance of his territory: “His mountains shall be red with his vineyards, and his hills shall drop wine, and his valleys shall be white with corn and flocks of sheep.”

“Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon. Genesis 40:13

When the tribe of Zebulun settled in the land of Canaan, the boundaries of the territory assigned to them extended from the Sea of Galilee on the east, to the Mediterranean on the west. This was done, not at the discretion of Joshua, or at the choice of this tribe, but by lot.

When Paul was in Athens he was taken to the Areopagus where he addressed the philosophers. He told them that when he walked around and looked carefully at their objects of worship, he found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. Paul said that they were ignorant of the very thing they worshipped. Then Paul told them about the Creator of the heavens and the earth.

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. Acts 17:26

The prophetic proclamation of Jacob concerning where Zebulun would dwell and the fulfillment of this prophecy confirms that it is God who determines the appointed times of nations and the boundaries of their lands.

 “Issachar is a rawboned donkey lying down among the sheep pens. When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor. Genesis 49:14-15

Issachar was allocated territory immediately north of (the western half of) Manasseh, and south of Zebulun and Naphtali. This region included the fertile Esdraelon plain. Established in the good land of the lower Galilee, the men of Issachar were involved in sheep herding and agricultural pursuits. Encompassed about by other tribes and dwelling in a pleasant and productive land, the men of Issachar preferred to pay tribute to the surrounding tribes to secure their protection, rather than leave their ploughshares and cast aside their shepherd’s crooks to join them in warring against their enemies.

“Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Genesis 49:16

Although Dan, whose name means “judge,” was the firstborn son of Rachel’s handmaid, Bilhah, he was considered as to be one of the tribes of Israel. It was prophesied that his offspring would provide justice for his people. This was fulfilled during the days of the judges when Sampson, who was from the tribe of Dan, took revenge upon the Philistines.

Dan will be a snake by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse’s heel so that its rider tumbles backward. Genesis 49:17

Revelation 7:4-8 lists the 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel – 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes. The tribe of Dan is not listed. The Danites were disobedient to the LORD’s command to possess their allotted portion of the Promised Land (Jdg 18:27-31), and they continued in idolatry until the time of the Assyrian captivity. Jacob’s blessing over his children includes a prophetic description of Dan as a serpent and a viper that bites the horse’s heels causing the rider to tumble backwards.

So the LORD God said to the serpent, because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:14-15

Deuteronomy 33:22 contains the account of Moses’ prophetic blessing of Dan which describes Dan as a lion’s cub springing out of Bashan. Psalm 22 is a Messianic Psalm which describes the future crucifixion. Verses 12-13 is a symbolic picture of the enemies of Christ: … strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions tearing at their prey…. Dan is described as a serpent and a roaring lion seeking to devour. . Antiochus Epiphanes, a type of Antichrist, was a Selucid King (Greek ruler of Syria). The city of Dan is the northernmost city in Israel, just below the Syrian border. Idolatry marks the worship of the beast and the Danites were idol worshippers. Based on these facts concerning the tribe of Dan, It is speculated that the Antichrist may be a Danite. In any case, the tribe of Dan is excluded from the listing of those who were sealed from all the tribes of Israel.

“I look for your deliverance, Lord. Genesis 49:18

Jacob foreseeing the future idolatry of the Danites may have called out to the LORD to deliver them from their sinful ways.

“Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels. Genesis 49:19

The word Gad means good fortune, but Jacob connects it with the root gâdad, “to gather in troops.” Jacob foresees that the tribe of Gad situated on the east side of the Jordan would expose it to the incursions of its neighbors, the Moabites and Ammonites.

“Asher’s food will be rich; he will provide delicacies fit for a king. Genesis 49:20

Asher means happy or blessed. The land that this tribe would posses was exceeding fruitful in wine, oil and in the best of wheat.

“Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns. Genesis 49:21

The meaning of the prophecy seems to be that the tribe of Naphtali would be located in a fertile and peaceable territory, as a doe set free to feed on the richest pasture.

“Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. Genesis 49:22

While some of his other brothers are compared to animals: a lion, a donkey, a serpent, a deer and a wolf, only Joseph is compared to a fruitful vine. Joseph named his second born son, “Ephraim” because God made Joseph fruitful in Egypt – the land of his suffering. Ephraim means double fruitfulness. Jacob’s pronouncement of fruitfulness was both a recounting of Joseph’s blessings in Egypt as well as a prophetic declaration. Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh would each be a tribal leader with many descendants.

With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. Genesis 49:23

The phrase, “hostile archers who attacked Joseph” is symbolic and can be interpreted in light of Psalm 64:

Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the plots of evildoers. They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows. Psalm 64:2-3

The conspiracy of the wicked using cruel words described the plot Joseph’s jealous and angry brothers had devised to sell him into slavery and deceive Jacob into believing that Joseph had been devoured by a wild animal.

But his bow remained steady,   his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, because of your father’s God, who helps you,  because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the skies above,  blessings of the deep springs below,  blessings of the breast and womb. Genesis 49:24-25

Joseph’s strength is compared to a bow that remained steady. That is, his faith did not fail, but he stood his ground and emerged a conqueror.

As a slave in Potiphar’s house, his master had put Joseph in charge of his household. Potiphar knew that LORD was with him had entrusted to Joseph’s care everything he owned.

While Joseph was in prison, the LORD was with him. The LORD showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. The warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

Pharaoh recognized that the spirit of God resided in Joseph. He not only put Joseph in charge of his palace but made him the second highest official in all of Egypt.

Joseph’s faith did not fail and he stood firm during 13 years of testing because the Good Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, Messiah Yeshua was with him.

Your father’s blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains,  than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers. Genesis 49:26

Jacob’s blessings over Joseph were even greater than the material blessings than the Promised Land would provide for the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Joseph, the second youngest of twelve brothers, was declared a prince – the noblest and highest in rank among Jacob’s children.

“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.” Genesis 49:27

This prediction alludes to the warlike character of the tribe of Benjamin, which was manifested in Ehud the judge (Judges 3:15) and Saul the king of Israel who both sprang from Rachel’s younger son.

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him. Genesis 49:28

Since Joseph’s sons now comprised two tribes, when the tribes of Israel settled in Canaan there were thirteen tribes. The tribe of Levi had no allotted territory, which had been divided into twelve parts. When Jacob blessed the twelve tribes, his prophecies concerned not only his sons but their descendants who would occupy their tribal territories.

Then he gave them these instructions: “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite. There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.”Genesis 49:29-32

Jacob, having blessed each of his sons, now gives them instructions concerning his own burial. The dying command Jacob gives to his sons is for them to bury him along with Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Leah. Jacob would be buried along with Leah and not Rachel. It is ironic that Leah achieved in death, what she was unable to achieve in life, to be close to the one she loved.

Joseph had already sworn an oath to his father that he would not leave Jacob’s remains in Egypt. Jacob did not want his remains to be interred in a land of idolatry but in the land of promise. Jacob’s request was a demonstration of faith. Although his sons had settled in Goshen, Jacob believed that one day they would return to Canaan and dwell in the Promised Land.

 When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people. Genesis 49:33

Jacob must have been sitting up while he was speaking to his sons. When he had finished, he drew his feet up into the bed. Content and satisfied, he breathed his last and passed away quietly.

 

Genesis 48 – Jacob Blesses Manasseh and Ephraim, Joseph’s Sons

19 Saturday Sep 2015

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Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. Genesis 48:1

Joseph had promised his father Jacob that after Jacob died; Joseph would have his father’s remains interred in the land of promise where Abraham and Isaac had been laid to rest. It was some time after that agreement that Joseph was told that Jacob had fallen deathly ill.

More than a quarter of a century before, Joseph had interpreted Pharaoh’s two dreams. The king rewarded Joseph by honoring him with the highest ranking office in Egypt and placed him in charge of preparing for the future famine. Pharaoh also had given Joseph Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife.

The city of On was also known as Heliopolis, “The City of the Sun.” It was the center of worship of the sun god, Ra, and was located 10 miles northeast of modern Cairo. The high priest in On held the title of “Greatest of Seers.” When Joseph married into this family, he joined a social class befitting a national leader. Also implied in the marriage arrangement was Pharaoh’s confidence that Joseph, too, was a “seer,” or prophet, of the highest caliber.

The names of Joseph’s sons, born to him in the land of his exile, are significant. Asenath bore Joseph two sons. The first he named Manasseh meaning “forgetfulness.” In naming his firstborn child Manasseh, Joseph had declared that God made him forget all his toil and his father’s entire household.

The second son Joseph called Ephraim, meaning “doubly fruitful.” In naming his second son Ephraim, Joseph acknowledged that it was God who had caused him to be fruitful in the land of his affliction.

Joseph having learned of his father’s illness took Manasseh and Ephraim along with him to see their grandfather.

When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed.

Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me and said to me, ‘I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’ Genesis 48:2-4

After Jacob had deceived his father Isaac and had stolen Esau’s blessing, Jacob fled from his family’s home in Beersheba at set out for Harran. When Jacob stopped for the night, he took a stone and put it under his head and went to sleep. Jacob dreamt of a stairway that rested on the earth and reached up to heaven with God’s angels ascending and descending upon it.

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz. Genesis 28:16-19

Jacob was so spiritually and emotionally impacted that, to memorialize the occasion and the place, he blessed the stone on which his head had rested, sanctified it by anointing it with oil and gave Luz the name “Bethel” (God’s House).

Twenty years later, Jacob returned from Paddan Aram and prepared to face his brother Esau. Jacob, having learned that Esau was coming with four hundred men to meet him, was in dire fear that Esau was planning to attack and kill him. Jacob divided his family and animals into two groups in an attempt to save one group if the other was attacked.

Jacob sent his family, his servants and his possessions across the Jabbok, which is a tributary of the Jordan River, but he stayed on the other side.

So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Genesis 32:24-27

Jacob wrestled with the “Angel of the LORD,” and in spite of the excruciating pain of a dislocated hip, would not let go until he received a blessing.

Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” Genesis 32:28

Jacob whose name means, “heel-grabber” or “usurper” had deceived his father and stolen his brother’s blessing. In spite of being deceived and cheated by Laban for twenty years, Jacob remained faithful to fulfill his end of their work agreement. Jacob’s struggles served to refine his character. His name change reflected his new nature. Israel means “prince of God” or “he who struggles with God.”

Five years later, Jacob travels to Bethel where God appeared to him again and blessed him. God Almighty promised to make Jacob into a great nation. God also reiterates His promise given to Abraham and Isaac that Canaan would be the everlasting possession of their descendents. After the conquest of Canaan, the Promised Land would be known as (אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל) Eretz Yisrael – “Land of Israel.”

“Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. Genesis 48:5

Jacob proclaimed from his death bed that he was adopting Joseph’s two sons. His grandsons would be elevated to the position of sons of Israel. Joseph would now receive a double portion, which is the privilege of the firstborn. When it came time for the tribes of Israel to possess the Promised Land, Ephraim and Manasseh would each inherit their own portion of territory.

Reuben who was Jacob’s firstborn son should have been Jacob’s heir. As firstborn he was entitled to the first rank among his brothers, the leadership of the tribes, and to a double share of the inheritance. But Reuben forfeited and lost these privileges because he defiled his father’s bed.   The next two brothers in line for the birthright, Simeon and Levi also forfeited their privileges because of their violence and cruelty against the inhabitants of Shechem.

Jacob stated that just as Reuben and Simeon, who were his first and second born sons, were his sons so would Ephraim and Manasseh be his sons. Even though Manasseh was Joseph’s firstborn, Jacob lists Ephraim first.

Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers. Genesis 48:6

If Joseph were to have any other sons after Manasseh and Ephraim, these sons would be reckoned as his own. They would be considered as Jacob’s grandchildren. They would not have their own tribes or territories but would reside in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh as if they were the sons of Ephraim and Manasseh.                                                                                                                                                                             As I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem). Genesis 48:7

Of Jacob’s two wives (Rachel and Leah) and two concubines (Bilhah and Zilpah), Rachel was the only one that Jacob truly loved or wanted to marry. Jacob only married Leah because he had been deceived by his father-in-law Laban.

When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?” Genesis 29:25

Laban not only tricked Jacob into marrying Leah instead of Rachel, but extracted another seven years of labor from him in order to pay a second bridal price.

It was through Rachel and Leah’s insistence, not Jacob’s, that two concubines were included in the multi-wife family:

When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”

Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?”

Then she said, “Here is Bilhah, my servant. Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and I too can build a family through her.” Genesis 30:1-3

When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Genesis 30:9

On his death bed Jacob recounts to his son Joseph how his beloved wife Rachel died in childbirth and was buried beside the road to Bethlehem. Rachel was Joseph’s mother and the first of Jacob’s four wives to die.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Genesis 37:3-4

Joseph was the long awaited son of Rachel, the wife that Jacob loved. Joseph was the son born to Jacob in his old age. Israel loved Jacob more than any of his other sons. For this reason, Jacob adopted Joseph’s sons as his own and Jacob gave Joseph the double blessing as if he was the firstborn son.

When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?”

“They are the sons God has given me here,” Joseph said to his father.

Then Israel said, “Bring them to me so I may bless them.”

 Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.

Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too.” Genesis 48:8-11

For twenty-two years Jacob believed that Joseph was torn to death by a wild animal because Joseph’s jealous brothers had presented Joseph’s ornate robe to their father covered in blood.

So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.” Genesis 45:25-28

Jacob not only lives to see Joseph before he dies but also to see Joseph’s sons as well.

Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him. But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn. Genesis 48:12-14

Joseph bows down in respect to his father and in reverence and thankfulness to God. Joseph then places his younger son Ephraim towards Israel’s left hand and his firstborn son Manasseh towards his father’s right hand.

According to Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, the word “Hand” most frequently represents the ownership, power, or control that its possessor (either an individual or a people) exercises. This can be seen in the story of the exodus from Egypt. God’s hand, described as mighty (Exodus 3:19-20), overcomes the hand of the Egyptians (Exodus 3:8) through miraculous plagues and the parting of the Red Sea.

The hand of God, and especially the right hand, is also understood as a place of salvation, refuge, and protection. It is the favored position for the firstborn of Joseph to receive Jacob’s blessing. Israel crossed his arms so that Ephraim would receive the right hand of blessing as if he were the firstborn son of Joseph.

 Then he blessed Joseph and said,

“May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm—may he bless these boys.

May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly on the earth.” Genesis 48:15-16

Israel refers to the God of Abraham and Isaac as his shepherd and the Angel who had delivered him from all harm.

A Christophany is an appearance of the incarnate Christ in the Old Testament, or after his ascension. A Christophany is thus a special case of a theophany. The word, “Theophany” is derived from the Ancient Greek, meaning “appearance of God.” Whenever someone received a visit from “the angel of the LORD,” this was in fact the pre-incarnate Christ. The visible appearances of God in human or angelic form in the Old Testament, is actually the Son of God manifesting Himself prior to His incarnation. Old Testament theophanies that involved the manifestation of God in human form were appearances of the second person of the Trinity, and as such their purpose was not only to provide immediate revelation but also to prepare mankind for the incarnation of Christ.

When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”

But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.” Genesis 48:17-19

This was not the first time in the history of God’s people that the younger brother would become greater than the firstborn son.

The LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” Genesis 25:23

Within Rebekah’s womb were two sons from whom two nations would descend. From Esau, the first born or older son, the Edomites would arise. From Jacob, the younger son, the Israelites would emerge. In the LORD’s sovereignty and foresight, Jacob would obtain the birthright and blessing that the older son Esau would despise. By divine intervention, the usual natural order of leadership was reversed.

Israel’s act of blessing Ephraim with the right hand of blessing was an intentional act performed by divine guidance and to fulfill God’s purposes.

He blessed them that day and said,

“In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’”

So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. Genesis 48:20

It is staggering that Jacob chose his grandsons, the sons of Joseph to be bearers of the birthright. That birthright was the passing on of the promises given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob himself. This included the promise given to Jacob that his seed would become a “Nation and a Company of Nations!”

Friday night, when Jewish families gather around the table to celebrate the Sabbath festive meal, parents bless their children. To the girls they say, “May God make you like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah.” To the boys they say, “May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.” It’s easy to understand why Jewish parents choose to bless their girls to be like the great Matriarchs. But why don’t they bless their sons to be like the holy Patriarchs?

Of course one reason that Jewish boys are blessed to be like Ephraim and Manasseh is that it was the blessing that Jacob pronounced over Joseph’s sons. But there is also a lesson to be learned.

Ephraim and Manasseh accomplished something that no one else in the covenantal family had achieved. Isaac and Ishmael were brothers, but they weren’t able to live together. Ishmael was banned from Abraham’s home. Jacob and Esau were twins, and they, too, had their share of sibling rivalry. At one point, Esau wanted to kill his brother. Next came the sons of Jacob, and as we know, their jealousy of Jacob’s favorite led them to sell Joseph into slavery.

Jacob explained that he had seen in prophecy that great men will come from Ephraim, the younger brother, and so he needed the greater blessing to help those descendants. Amazingly, Manasseh doesn’t protest. He was not jealous and he was not resentful. Ephraim and Manasseh were the first brothers in the line of Abraham who loved each other unconditionally and did not fight.

This is another reason why parents bless their sons to be like Ephraim and Manasseh. Because, as great as it is to be righteous and holy like the Patriarchs, it is so critical to be able to live in harmony with our brothers. As it says in the Psalm 133:1, Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Few things make the Lord happier then when there is unity among His children.

Then Israel said to Joseph, “I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers. And to you I give one more ridge of land than to your brothers, the ridge I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.” Genesis 48:21-22

After the Exodus and forty years in the wilderness, God would bring the tribes of Israel along with the bones of Joseph back to the land of Canaan in Joshua’s time.

Israel promised that Joseph would receive one more ridge or portion of land than his brothers. The word in Hebrew translated as “ridge or portion” is “Shechem.” Not only the ridge, but the city of Shechem itself, and all the adjacent country, eventually was possessed by the tribe of Ephraim.

Genesis 35 – Jacob Builds an Altar to God Almighty at Bethel

08 Wednesday Oct 2014

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Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.” Genesis 35:1

Jacob had deceived His father Isaac and had stolen Esau’s blessing. Esau was so enraged at Jacob that he threatened to kill his brother. Their mother Rebekah was concerned that Esau was bent on killing Jacob for stealing his blessing and wanted to send Jacob afar off. Rebekah didn’t want Jacob to marry a Canaanite woman, so she convinced Isaac to send Jacob far away to her relatives. Jacob fled from Beersheba at set out for Harran.

When Jacob stopped for the night, he took a stone and put it under his head and went to sleep. Jacob dreamt of a stairway that rested on the earth and reached up to heaven with God’s angels ascending and descending upon it.

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz. Genesis 28:16-19

Jacob was so spiritually and emotionally impacted that, to memorialize the occasion and the place, he blessed the stone on which his head had rested, sanctified it by anointing it with oil and gave it the name “Bethel” (God’s House). Jacob took the stone that he used as a pillow and set it up for a pillar.

When God commanded Jacob to leave Harran and return to his homeland, Jacob returned to Canaan but settled in Shechem. After Jacob’s daughter Dinah had been raped, his sons Simeon and Levi took vengeance upon the Shechemites and slaughtered all of the men of the city.

Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me obnoxious to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land. We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.” Genesis 34:30

Jacob, fearing for his own safety, was anxious to leave the area and head out to Bethel.

So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” Genesis 35:2-3

Most probably the foreign gods in Jacob’s household were part of the plunder taken from Shechem by Simeon and Levi as well as the teraphim or household idols that Rachel had stolen from her father Laban. Rachel had hidden the teraphim it in a saddle bag and sat on them when Laban searched for them. She claimed that she could not get up because she was menstruating. From this incident we can deduce that the household idols were not too large because they were easily portable.

In 1 Samuel 19, Michal helps her husband David to escape from her father Saul. She lets him out through a window, and then tricks Saul’s men into thinking that a teraphim in her bed is actually David. This suggests the size and shape of some teraphim was like that of a man.

Archeological excavations in the Near East have uncovered teraphim in profuse numbers. They were usually small human figurines, occasionally larger, often made of wood but also of clay and precious metals. Some represented male gods, but the majority were figurines of female deities. They were used as household gods or were carried on the body as protective charms. Since most of them represent nude goddesses whose sexual features are accentuated, they were probably thought to promote fertility. This may be the reason Rachel especially cherished them.

Furthermore, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things seen in Judah and Jerusalem. This he did to fulfill the requirements of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the temple of the LORD. 2 Kings 23:24

Household gods are listed among the detestable things that Josiah disposed of in Judah and Jerusalem during his reign.

Does a statue of a Roman Catholic saint differ from a detestable teraphim? No, because they differ in name only. They both are carved images of a human likeness that a person uses in a religious ceremony by bowing before and paying homage to.

Besides getting rid of the foreign gods, Jacob’s household had to purify themselves and become ceremonially clean in preparation to offer up sacrifices to Yehovah in Bethel. The preparation included washing their bodies, changing their clothes and perhaps abstaining from marital relations. Jacob was finally ready to embrace the God of Abraham and Isaac. Jacob desired to worship the LORD God who answered him in the day of his distress when he fled from Esau and who had been with him wherever he traveled.

So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. Then they set out, and the terror of God fell on the towns all around them so that no one pursued them. Genesis 35:4-5

Earrings were given by Abraham’s servant to Rebekah. So a woman who wears gold rings in her is not defiled. We discovered from ancient artifacts that teraphim were sometimes carried on the body. Therefore, it is possible that the spoils taken from the inhabitants of Shechem may have included earrings that were formed in the image of their idols. These earrings along with the household gods were buried by Jacob.

In spite of Jacob’s fear that he had become a stench to the people living in the land and that they would join forces to attack him, God kept Jacob and his household safe and no one pursued them.

Jacob and all the people with him came to Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother. Genesis 35:6-7

Jacob built an altar to sacrifice to God as did Noah, Abraham and Isaac who were all in covenant relationship with the LORD.

Abram's sacrifice

When a person has the right heart attitude and offers up an acceptable sacrifice, an altar to the LORD becomes a conduit to heaven. As the smoke of a burnt offering ascends to heaven, so the presence of God descends from heaven to consume the sacrifice. This act of worship brings communion with God. An important principle throughout Scripture is that whenever the “altar of the LORD” was strong and established in the land, that’s when they saw the kingdom of God advancing and thriving. But whenever the altar of the LORD was weak, that’s when darkness increased and altars were erected to Baal and other demonic gods.

The following is an excerpt from “Altars That Transform Nations: An Interview with Mark Daniels.” Pastor Mark works with a ministry based out of Uganda that unites believers for family, church, and marketplace prayer by encouraging the building of “prayer altars.” Their work has made significant impact in both Uganda and Taiwan.

Q: Can you tell us the story of the Ugandan church?

A: The Christians in Uganda were ravaged by decades of brutal dictators and wars, including the reign of terror under Idi Amin and later the child-kidnapping, rape, and maiming of warlord Joseph Kony. During those dark times, the church learned to pray. Out of desperation, believers would gather in the swamps (the only remaining place of refuge available) to cry out to God. And deliverance followed.

The story of how God freed Uganda from the scourge of chaos and despair is an incredible story in itself. But the spiritual leaders started noticing a pattern through all these trials—as soon as an immediate crisis was relieved, they’d stop praying!

Then, the most deadly crisis yet erupted, literally threatening the life of the nation—AIDS. The epidemic was so severe that the World Health Organization visited Uganda and warned that within ten years it could become a failed state, because only the very young and the very old would be left. There seemed to be no answer!

So the spiritual leaders of the nation began praying. At first they were praying about alleviating the problem at hand, but God told them, “Stop praying about your problems, and pray about My purposes for the land.”

At that time, a Ugandan pastor started encouraging believers to build “prayer altars”—not physical altars, but rather hearts, homes, and even workplaces that were dedicated to God. Families started changing, reading the Bible together, and worshiping together as households. Husband/wife relationships changed, as they started praying for God’s purposes in their families. Behavior changed—instead of hurtful words, negativity, and bitterness, homes were cleansed. Children began developing hearts for God.

Churches started seeing massive growth. Believers started praying at work and inviting God to come change their businesses. It affected everything about the way the nation operated. Things really moved from darkness to light! They started seeing the kingdom of God advance on all levels, including in the public sphere.

Today in Uganda, it is common to see businesses with names like “My Redeemer Lives Drug Store” and “With God All Things Are Possible Laundromat,” or to hear government officials lead in heartfelt, intercessory prayer for the nation at gatherings or on television. And Uganda is now a model in Africa for dealing successfully with the AIDS epidemic.

Uganda has experienced true revival. If we are to see revival in America, we need to dedicate the altars of our hearts to the LORD and establish prayer altars in our homes, churches and businesses.

Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried under the oak outside Bethel. So it was named Allon Bakuth. Genesis 35:8

It is probable that Deborah had accompanied Rebekah to Canaan and stayed with her awhile before returning to Haran. She would have very useful in Jacob’s large family. Although Deborah was quite old, she must have made the trip back in the hopes of seeing Rebekah one last time before she died. Allon Bakuth means “oak of weeping.”

After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him. God said to him, “Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel.” So he named him Israel. Genesis 35:9-10

Names of people in the Bible have great importance. A person’s name may reflect their character or have prophetic significance, while others reflect their faith and gratitude to God.

Jacob whose name means, “heel-grabber” or “usurper” had deceived his father and stolen his brother’s blessing. In spite of being deceived and cheated by Laban for twenty years, Jacob remained faithful to fulfill his end of their work agreement. Jacob’s struggles served to refine his character. His name change reflected his new nature. Israel means “prince of God” or “he who struggles with God.”

And God said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants. The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.” Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him. Genesis 35:11-13

El Shaddai – אל שדי‎ is Hebrew for God Almighty. El is Hebrew for God and shaddai is Hebrew for Almighty. Shaddai It comes from the root word, shadad meaning to deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin, or destroy.

Shaddai also may be connected to shadayim, the Hebrew word for “breasts.” It may thus be connected to the notion of God’s gifts of fertility to the human race. Several instances in the Torah the name is connected with fruitfulness: “May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers…” Genesis 28:3. “By the Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts [shadayim] and of the womb [racham]” Genesis 49:25.

God Almighty is the all powerful God that can both nurture and destroy. God Almighty confirmed His covenant promises of many descendants and the possession of the Promised Land that were made with Abraham and Isaac with Jacob.

Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel. Genesis 35:14-15

Jacob had taken the stone he had used for a pillow more than 25 years ago, erected it as a pillar and poured oil on it to memorialize the place where the LORD had spoken to him in a dream concerning a stairway to heaven. During the first encounter Jacob had with the LORD, Jacob made a vow:

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” Genesis 28:20-22

After more than a quarter of a century, Jacob erects an altar to sacrifice to the LORD and again sets up a stone memorial but this time pours a drink offering on it as well as poured oil on it.

Just as prophets, priests, and kings were anointed with oil to set them aside as holy vessels to serve the LORD, anointing the stone pillar with oil served to set aside Bethel as a holy place.

Drink offerings were to be composed of “strong wine” (Numbers 28:7). The wine was to be pure, in the sense that it was not to be watered down. Wine is a symbol of joy both to God and to man according to Judges 9:13 and Psalm104:15. Jacob’s return to Bethel marked his full commitment to the God of Abraham and Isaac and brought joy to both the LORD and Jacob.

Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, “Don’t despair, for you have another son.” As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin. So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel’s tomb. Genesis 35:16-20

As she breathed her last, Rachel named her son, Ben-Oni which means “son of my sorrow.” But Jacob named his son, Binyamiyn (Benjamin) which means, “son of the right hand.” Jacob did not wish to recall the sorrowful remembrance of Rachel’s death every time he called his son by his name. Therefore he changed his name to Benjamin, the son of my right hand which is an expression for “very dear to me, set on my right hand for a blessing, the support of my old age, like the staff in my right hand.”

Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder. While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it. Genesis 35:21-22a

Migdal Eder means “tower of the flock” which is a shepherd’s watchtower near Bethlehem. It was a place of pasturage located about a mile from Bethlehem to the south. Migal Eder is supposed to be the place where the shepherds were watching their flocks, when the angel reported to them the birth of Christ.

Reuben was the firstborn son and should have been Jacob’s heir. As firstborn he was entitled to the first rank among his brothers, the leadership of the tribes, and to a double share of the inheritance. But Reuben forfeited and lost these privileges because he defiled his father’s bed.   The next two brothers in line for the birthright, Simeon and Levi also forfeited their privileges because of their violence and cruelty against the inhabitants of Shechem. Jacob’s fourth son, Judah would be blessed as the spiritual heir to be in the line of Messiah, while Joseph would be blessed as the natural heir by receiving a double portion in the Land of Israel through his sons Ephraim and Manasseh.

Jacob had twelve sons: The sons of Leah: Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun.

 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.

The sons of Rachel’s servant Bilhah: Dan and Naphtali.

The sons of Leah’s servant Zilpah: Gad and Asher.

These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram. Genesis 35:22b-26

The names of Jacob’s sons speak of his spiritual journey and his new name, Israel: Behold a son! The LORD has heard my plea and has joined me to praise and reward. I’ve been exalted and Yehovah has added to me a son of the right hand (support and blessing). He has judged my struggle and now I have good fortune and I am blessed.

After 20 years of deception and manipulation by his father-in-law Laban, by the grace and faithfulness of God, Jacob comes into covenant relationship with the LORD and is blessed with 12 sons and much wealth.

Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years. Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. Genesis 35:27-29

When Isaac was about 137 years old and he could no longer see, he called for his son Esau to prepare a last meal for him. Isaac was anticipating his death and wanted to bestow a blessing on Esau. Isaac’s physical blindness was symbolic of his spiritual blindness. In his haste to pronounce a blessing over Esau, Isaac failed to see the character flaws in his eldest son who despised his birthright and the necessity of God’s spiritual choice over the natural order of the firstborn by birth.

At the prompting of his mother Rebekah, Jacob deceives Isaac and steals Esau’s blessing. Esau was enraged and wanted to kill his brother Jacob. After 20 years of separation, Jacob and Esau reconcile at Jacob’s return and Jacob is finally reunited with his father Isaac in Mamre (outside Hebron). Meanwhile, Esau returns to Mt. Seir in the land of Edom. Jacob and Esau live apart for 33 years before coming together again to bury their father.

 

Genesis 33 – After Twenty Years, Jacob Reconciles with Esau

01 Friday Aug 2014

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Over twenty years ago, before this account in Genesis 33, Jacob had fled to Harran because Esau was determined to kill him. Isaac had became old, his eyesight failed and his health began to deteriorate. Therefore Isaac thinking that his death was near, called for his son Esau to prepare a last meal for him. After the meal, Isaac would convey a blessing on the firstborn of his fraternal twin boys. Rebekah, having overheard their conversation, provoked her son Jacob to disguise himself as Esau and deceive his father into giving him the blessing instead.

When Esau discovered that Jacob had stolen his blessing, he wept loud and bitterly. Esau blamed Jacob for taking both his birthright and his blessing and planned to kill his brother. Rebekah, fearing for her son’s life, convinced Isaac to send Jacob to Harran to get a bride. Jacob fled to his uncle’s home in Harran, which was 500 miles away, with the clothes on his back and a staff in his hand.

Whereas Rebekah and her son Jacob had conspired to deceive Isaac by disguising Jacob as his brother Esau; Laban and his daughter Leah successfully deceived Jacob by disguising Leah as her sister Rachel. After twenty years of toil, unfair treatment and manipulation by Laban, The LORD commanded Jacob to return to the land of his fathers. Although the LORD had prospered Jacob with great wealth and a large family, Jacob lived with the memory of how he cheated his brother. For twenty years he wondered whether Esau still planned to kill him. Jacob hoped to win Esau’s favor by sending three of his servants ahead of him, one at a time. Each brought a generous gift consisting of a large number of domestic animals.

Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. Genesis 33:1-3

Jacob arranged the processional by putting his concubines and their children first, Leah and her children next, and then finally Rachel, the wife he loved and his favorite child Joseph, last. If Esau and his men attacked, Rachel and Joseph would have the best chance of escaping.

Jacob went on ahead of his family, in a subservient manner. Regarding Esau as a superior, Jacob bowed with the upper part of his body brought parallel to the ground. Then he advanced a few steps and bowed again, and repeated his obeisance until, at the seventh time, he stood in the immediate presence of his brother. The members of his family did the same. This was a token of profound respect given to Esau. This was done in accordance to the custom of the East in which an elder brother is entitled to respectful treatment from his younger brother. It was also a demonstration of humility on the part of Jacob who was contrite before his brother that he had offended.

But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. Genesis 33:4

Jacob’s apprehension and fears were turned to tears of relief and joy at the embrace of Esau.

When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7

Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked.

Jacob answered, “They are the children God has graciously given your servant.”

Then the female servants and their children approached and bowed down. Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down. Genesis 33:5-7

Jacob, who fled from his brother twenty years before alone, now returns with a family consisting of his maidservants Bilhah and Zilpah, his wives Leah and Rachel, eleven sons and a daughter. God indeed had been gracious to Jacob.

Esau asked, “What’s the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?”

“To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said. Genesis 33:8

The first gift Jacob sent ahead to Esau was a total of 220 goats. Jacob’s second servant presented Esau with a gift of 220 sheep. The third gift brought to Esau was comprised of 30 camels and their calves, 50 head of cattle and 30 donkeys. In all, Jacob had presented Esau with a total of 580 animals.

The cash value of those gifts in today’s dollars would be:

200 female goats @ $163 = $32,600
20 male goats @ $177 = $3,540
200 ewes @ $340 = $68,000
20 rams @ $541 = $10,820
30 female camels with their young @ $10,000 = $450,000
40 cows @ $700 = $28,000
10 bulls @ $1700 = $17,000
20 female donkeys @ $1500 = $30,000
10 male donkeys @ $1500 = $15,000

Total: $654,960

But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.” Genesis 33:9

Esau also must have prospered a great deal during the previous twenty years. Esau turned down over $650,000 worth of gifts because he already had an abundance of wealth. By not accepting Jacob’s generous gift, Esau demonstrated that his reconciliation with Jacob was not based on being paid off by Jacob but because he truly forgave his brother.

“No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. Genesis 33:10

The previous night, Jacob had wrestled with the angel of the LORD – the pre-incarnate manifestation of Yeshua (Jesus).

So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” Genesis 32:30

When he came into Esau’s presence, Jacob experienced the same feelings of penitence as if he had been coming before God. Jacob had already seen the face of God and his life was preserved, so now he had seen the face of Esau and his life was again spared. Instead of being met with hostility, Esau greeted Jacob with love and acceptance. Therefore Jacob exclaimed to his brother, “For to see your face is like seeing the face of God.” Jacob in fear of death as the consequence of his sins had instead been graciously forgiven and received favorably.

Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it. Genesis 33:11

In the East the acceptance by a superior is a proof of friendship, and by an enemy, of reconciliation. It was on both accounts Jacob was so anxious that his brother should receive the herds and flocks that he had presented to him. Esau’s acceptance of Jacob’s generous present confirmed that they were now truly reconciled.

Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way; I’ll accompany you.”

But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die. So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the flocks and herds before me and the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.” Genesis 33:12-14

Esau proposed to accompany Jacob and his family, perhaps as a mark of friendship. But Jacob is reluctant to accept his offer. Jacob explains that Esau should move on ahead of him since his nursing animals and young children would be moving at a much slower pace than Esau would be traveling.

Esau said, “Then let me leave some of my men with you.”

“But why do that?” Jacob asked. “Just let me find favor in the eyes of my lord.”

So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir. Genesis 33:15-16

Esau offered to leave some of his men with Jacob and his family, perhaps to serve as an escort to protect them. But again, Jacob graciously refuses his brother’s offer. Esau accepts Jacob’s rejection of his offer and the brothers depart in peace.

Jacob, however, went to Sukkoth, where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Sukkoth. Genesis 33:17

Jacob had said that he would travel to Seir and meet up with his brother. The land of Seir was a mountainous region occupied by the Edomites, extending along the eastern side of the Arabah from the south-eastern extremity of the Dead Sea to near the eastern branch of the Red Sea. Jacob actually diverted himself to Sukkoth. Sukkoth lay between Peniel, near the ford of the torrent Jabbok and Shechem. While Esau returned to Seir heading south, Jacob headed in the opposite direction going north to Sukkoth. Jacob was not recorded as ever rejoining Esau in Seir. There is no account of the brothers seeing each other again until they met twenty three years later at Machpela to bury their father Isaac.

Jacob may have deceived Esau out of fear that once he and his family were in the mountains of Seir that they would be unable to return to the land that the LORD had promised to Abraham and Isaac. Perhaps Jacob avoided going to Seir because he did not want his family influenced by ungodly Esau who had defiantly married Hittite women.

After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of the city. For a hundred pieces of silver, he bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of ground where he pitched his tent. There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel. Genesis 33:19-20

Jacob desired both to own some of the land (as a token of his eventual possession of all of it) and to build an altar to his God. El Elohe Israel is a divine name meaning, “God, the God of Israel.”

After Jacob left Beersheba to escape from Esau, he reached a certain place and he stopped for the night. Jacob fell asleep with his head upon a stone. He had a dream of a stairway to heaven and there above it stood the LORD. Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel – the “House of God.”

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” Genesis 28:20-22

Did God watch over Jacob on his journey? After twenty years in Harran, by divine revelation, God commanded Jacob to return to the Promised Land. Having received the assurance that his wives were in support of this move, Jacob hastily packed up all of their goods and left for home. On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled. Taking his relatives with him, he pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead. When confronted by Laban, Jacob who had quietly endured two decades of mistreatment is incensed and outraged and said the following:

“I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks. I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night. This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes. It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times. If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.” Genesis 31:38-42

Yes indeed, God not only watched over Jacob but prospered him abundantly. Jacob had vowed that if God will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the LORD will be my God. God did provide Jacob with food to eat and clothes to wear. In fact, Jacob who fled with only the clothes on his back and the staff in his hand returns with vast wealth and a large family. Jacob not only returns with physical blessings, but God used Jacob’s harsh circumstances to humble him and transform his character. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel. The LORD (Yehovah) became Jacob’s God and Jacob erected an altar to his God, the God of Israel.

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:3-5

Many times we, like Jacob, who was a self-centered, foolish and disobedient, need to be humbled through life’s difficult circumstances in order to receive God’s gracious gift of salvation. Not only can we be forgiven because our God, who is rich in mercy, will pardon our sins; but as the spiritual seed of Abraham we partake in the covenantal promises and blessings of Israel.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it. Revelation 2:17

When we are born-again, we receive a new heart and a new spirit and the trials of life serve to purify us and transform us into the image of God’s Son. Then one day, we like Jacob, will also receive a new name.

Genesis 32 – Jacob Prepares for Esau; then Wrestles with God

12 Saturday Jul 2014

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In great fear of Esau, Jacob divided his people into two groups and then he selected gifts for his brother. Jacob spends the night wrestling with God.

Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim. Genesis 32:1-2

After 20 years of working for his uncle Laban, God commanded Jacob to return to the Promised Land. Jacob hastily packed up all of his goods and left for home without informing Laban of his departure. In spite of a three day head start, Laban caught up with Jacob but was restrained by the LORD from bringing him back by either threat or enticement. After Jacob and Laban made a covenant and shared an evening meal, the next morning Laban returned home.

Jacob also went on his way and was met by God’s angels. So Jacob named that place Mahanaim which means two armies or camps in Hebrew – signifying his own company and the heavenly host that had encamped in that location. When Jacob had left his father and mother to travel to Laban’s house 20 years before, the LORD had promise that He would be with Jacob, would watch over him and would bring back to his homeland. The angels of God appeared to Jacob, to encourage him with the assurance of God’s promised protection.

Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. He instructed them: “This is what you are to say to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.’” Genesis 32:3-5

Jacob wanted Esau to know that he had amassed some wealth while he was away living with their uncle Laban. Being self-sufficient, Jacob wanted his brother to know that he had no need to ask for anything from him.

When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him

In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well. He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape.” Genesis 32:6-8

Twenty years before, Jacob had deceived his father Isaac by pretending to be Esau. After Jacob stole Esau’s blessing, Esau was enraged and had said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” For twenty years Jacob lived with the memory of how he cheated his brother. For twenty years he wondered whether Esau still planned to kill him. For twenty years he had dreamed of going home, but each time his dream becomes a nightmare when he thinks of Esau.

Now Jacob, having learned that Esau was coming with four hundred men to meet him, was in dire fear that Esau was planning to attack and kill him. Jacob divided his family and animals into two groups in an attempt to save one group if the other was attacked.

Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children.  But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’” Genesis 32:9-12

Although Jacob had purchased the birthright from Esau and was entitled to a double-portion of his father’s inheritance, when Jacob fled from home to escape from his brother Esau, all he had were the clothes on his back and his staff in his hand. Now Jacob was returning to his homeland with great wealth and many children. The LORD indeed had been with Jacob and had been gracious to him.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16b

First of all, Jacob had been obedient and returned to his country and relatives as the LORD had commanded. Considering that Jacob feared for his own life and the safety of his family, I am sure that Jacob prayed fervently to the LORD. Jacob prayed with humility stating that he was unworthy of God’s kindness and faithfulness towards him. Jacob prayed from a thankful heart for the blessings that God had bestowed upon him. Jacob prayed in faith believing that the LORD was capable of saving him. Finally, Jacob’s prayer incorporated the very words of God and the promises the LORD made to Jacob.

Jacob’s approach to prayer is a good model for any believer to emulate. First of all, we must be obedient to God’s commands. If not, then we must first repent and ask His forgiveness. We should pray fervently, in humility, with thanksgiving, and in faith believing that God is capable and faithful to perform His Word.

 He spent the night there, and from what he had with him he selected a gift for his brother Esau:  two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty female camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. He put them in the care of his servants, each herd by itself, and said to his servants, “Go ahead of me, and keep some space between the herds.” Genesis 32:13-16

According to mathematicians, two numbers are amicable or friendly if each of them is equal to the sum of the divisors of the other number. The first pair of Friendly Numbers is 220 and 284.

The divisors of 220 namely 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 20, 22, 44, 55 and 110 add up to 284.

The divisors of 284 namely 1, 2, 4, 71 and 142 add up to 220.

The first gift selected for Esau was a total of 220 goats, while the second gift selected for Esau was a total of 220 sheep. These two gifts were comprised of amicable or friendly numbers of animals.

The third gift selected for Esau was comprised of: 30 camels + 30 calves, 50 head of cattle and 30 donkeys which totaled 140 animals.

This quantity is the smaller half of what mathematician call a “semi-friendly” pair of numbers. Two numbers are semi-amicable if each of them is equal to the sum of the divisors of the other number. But unlike friendly numbers, the number 1 is not included in the sum of their divisors.

The divisors of 140 (not including 1) are 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 20, 28, 35 and 70 add up to 195

The divisors of 195 (not including 1) are 3, 5, 13, 15, 39, and 65 add up to 140.

The third gift for Esau was comprised of a semi-friendly number of animals.

A triangular number or triangle number counts the objects that can form an equilateral triangle. The triangle number 10 is familiar to those who bowl: the ten bowling pins are arranged in a triangle. The triangle number 15 is familiar to those who shoot pool: at the break, the fifteen pool balls are arranged in a triangle.

Not only were the numbers of animals friendly and semi-friendly but they can be expressed as the sum of exactly 3 triangular numbers:

220 = 1 + 66 + 153

140 = 10 + 10 + 120

A triangle is a 3-in-1 geometric shape. Each side is co-equal in length and connects to the two other sides. With its 3 sides and 1 figure it represents the triune nature of God. Not only did Jacob send Esau three groups of animals before him, the numbers of animals that comprised each herd were friendly and semi-friendly numbers that can be expressed as the sum of 3 triangular numbers.

When the angels of God met Jacob on his way, they may have instructed Jacob on how many animals he should offer to his brother Esau.

He instructed the one in the lead: “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘Who do you belong to, and where are you going, and who owns all these animals in front of you?’ then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us.’”

He also instructed the second, the third and all the others who followed the herds: “You are to say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. And be sure to say, ‘Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.’” For he thought, “I will pacify him with these gifts I am sending on ahead; later, when I see him, perhaps he will receive me.” So Jacob’s gifts went on ahead of him, but he himself spent the night in the camp. Genesis 32:17-21

Jacob was hoping to quench the fire of Esau’s anger by sending s three waves of expensive gifts before him so that his brother would receive him without hostility.

That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. Genesis 32:22-23

The Jabbok is a stream that is a tributary of the Jordan River. It intersects the mountain range of Gilead and falls into the Jordan on the east about midway between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. Jacob sent his family, his servants and his possessions across the Jabbok but he stayed on the other side.

So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” Genesis 32:24-26

Wrestling is one of the most physically demanding activities that there is. Wrestling is personal, physically exhausting, and emotionally taxing. Although Jacob was 97 years old, he wrestled through the night. Even when he suffered excruciating pain from having his hip dislocated, he refused to let go of his opponent. With the coming of daylight, Jacob and this mysterious man might be seen by others. Since this significant encounter was to be highly personal, the man said that it was time for Jacob to let go.

But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Genesis 32:27

Jacob understood that the man he wrestled with was no ordinary man. The hip is the body’s largest ball-and-socket joint.Surrounding the hip joint are many tough ligaments that prevent the dislocation of the joint. The strong muscles of the hip region also help to hold the hip joint together and prevent dislocation. This man just touched the socket of Jacob’s hip and it was wrenched out of place. This man was not only supernaturally powerful but Jacob understood that the man also had the spiritual authority to bless him.

The man asked him, “What is your name?”

“Jacob,” he answered.

Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” Genesis 32:27-28

Names of people in the Bible have great importance. A person’s name may reflect their character or have prophetic significance, while others reflect their faith and gratitude to God.

Jacob whose name means, “heel-grabber” or “usurper” had deceived his father and stolen his brother’s blessing. In spite of being deceived and cheated by Laban for twenty years, Jacob remained faithful to fulfill his end of their work agreement. Jacob’s struggles served to refine his character. His name change reflected his new nature. Israel means “prince of God” or “he who struggles with God.”

Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”

But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. Genesis 32:29

Many years later, Manoah the father of Sampson asked the same question.

Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, “What is your name, so that when your words come to pass, we may honor you?” But the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?” Judges 13:17-18

So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” Genesis 32:30

Both Jacob and Sampson’s parents had an encounter with the “Angel of the LORD.” Though Jacob wrestled with a figure that looked like a man, Jacob declared that he saw God face-to-face. Jacob saw the second person of the Godhead – the pre-incarnate Jesus.

Yeshua is the Word of God made flesh. Believers, who are willing to wrestle with the written “Word of God” – the Bible – even if it takes all night, will receive a blessing of revelation and understanding.

 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon. Genesis 32:31-32

The problem with the notion that Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the hip is that there are no tendons attached to the hip socket. Although the hip contains ligaments (the fibrous tissues that connects bones to other bones), there are no tendons (the connective tissues which attaches muscle to bone). However, to clear up the matter, according to the rabbis this passage is actually prohibiting the consumption of the sciatic nerve which is contained in the muscles of the thigh and must be removed for the meat to be kosher.

But this passage is much more than about dietary laws. It is about relationship with God. Jacob’s walk was changed. He could no longer run away from troubling circumstances. Jacob could no longer walk ahead of the LORD as he did when he listened to his mother and deceived his father. Jacob’s name, character and walk were changed forever. Yes indeed, he was blessed.

 

Genesis 31 – Jacob Flees from Laban then Laban Pursues Jacob

09 Monday Jun 2014

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Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.” And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been.Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.” Genesis 31:1-3

Jacob had served Laban faithfully for twenty years, yet Laban’s sons were claiming that Jacob had taken what rightfully belonged to their father. Jacob didn’t take what belonged to Laban but had worked to accumulate his own wealth. Laban had deceived Jacob into marrying his oldest daughter Leah. The first seven years of Jacob’s service paid the bridal price for Leah and the next seven years paid the bridal price for Rachel. Once Rachel was bound to Jacob through their child Joseph, and his fourteen years of service were completed, Jacob was ready to return to his homeland. But Laban persuaded Jacob to stay by making him an offer to “name his wages.” Although Laban initiated an agreement with Jacob because he knew Jacob was blessed by the LORD, Laban became jealous and covetous of Jacob’s success. The LORD told Jacob to return to the Promised Land. The LORD assured Jacob that He would be with Jacob just as He promised 20 years ago at Bethel.

“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Genesis 28:15

So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were. He said to them, “I see that your father’s attitude toward me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me. Genesis 31:4-5

Jacob called for his wives Rachel and Leah who were the daughters of Laban and not for their maidservants Bilhah and Zilpah although they bore him children. He had them come out to the fields where he was tending his flocks to speak to them privately about their father.

You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength, yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me. If he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, ‘The streaked ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked young. So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me. Genesis 31:6-9

Each time that Jacob’s flocks of sheep and goats mostly produced young of a particular color, Laban switched Jacob’s wages. When the next breeding season came and Jacob’s new born lambs and kids were predominately that color, Laban switched the wages again for a total of ten times. God blessed Jacob in spite of Laban’s attempts to cheat Jacob.

“In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted. The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’ And he said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. Genesis 31:10-12

The angel of God spoke to Jacob in a dream. He reassured Jacob that He was aware of Laban’s manipulations. He encouraged Jacob to continue his shepherding and revealed that Jacob would be successful.

I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.’” Genesis 31:13

Although it was “the angel of God” who spoke to Jacob in a dream, He revealed Himself as the God of Bethel. The angel of God and the angel of the LORD are both titles of the pre-incarnate Christ. Those appearances of Jesus in the Old Testament are known as Christophanies. Jacob is commanded by God to leave Padan Aram. Padan Aram means the plain of Aram which was the name for the region around the northern-Syria city of Hara and was located at the northernmost reach of the Euphrates. Jacob is commanded by God to return to Canaan immediately.

Then Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we still have any share in the inheritance of our father’s estate? Does he not regard us as foreigners? Not only has he sold us, but he has used up what was paid for us. Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children. So do whatever God has told you.” Genesis 31:14-16

Rachel and Leah eventually protested against their father’s heartless cruelty and insatiable greed. Laban had not treated Jacob’s wives as daughters but if they were strangers and were sold as slaves. In the Mesopotamian culture, the “wife’s dowry” or “bridal price” was saved, at least in part, for the daughter. However, Laban had taken the wealth derived from fourteen years of Jacob’s servitude and totally consumed it.

Then Jacob put his children and his wives on camels, and he drove all his livestock ahead of him, along with all the goods he had accumulated in Paddan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household gods. Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was running away. So he fled with all he had, crossed the Euphrates River, and headed for the hill country of Gilead. Genesis 31:17-21

By divine revelation God commanded Jacob to return to the Promised Land. Having received the assurance that his wives were in support of this move, Jacob hastily packed up all of their goods and left for home. It does not appear to be merely coincidental that Jacob departed at a time when Laban was busily occupied in shearing his flock. Since Jacob’s flocks and Laban’s flocks were separated by a three-day journey, it would give Jacob a good head start. Jacob probably reasoned that “leaving without warning” was the way to depart without any resistance from Laban who might have refused to release Jacob’s wives or his flocks.

What Jacob did not know was that Rachel had stolen Laban’s gods just before they departed. Many speculations are made concerning Rachel’s motives, but the reason best supported by the text and by archaeology is that Rachel stole the household gods in order to establish a future claim on Laban’s family inheritance. The household gods were a token of rightful claim to the possessions and the headship of the family. Rachel must have felt justified in stealing these gods and in expecting to share in the family inheritance. After all, this is what she and Leah had just affirmed to Jacob when they said, “Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children.”

On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled. Taking his relatives with him, he pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead. Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.” Genesis 31:22-24

The LORD had promised Jacob that He would be with Jacob would watch over him and would bring Jacob back to Canaan. The LORD protected Jacob from Laban by appearing to Laban in a dream. The LORD warned Laban to be careful not to say anything good to Jacob, in an effort to persuade Jacob to return to Padam Aram, or anything bad to Jacob, in an effort to coerce Jacob to return to Mesopotamia or take away his possessions by force.

Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there too. Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You’ve deceived me, and you’ve carried off my daughters like captives in war. Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me, so I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of timbrels and harps? You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. You have done a foolish thing. Genesis 31:25-28

Although Laban bemoans the situation, claims that he was the injured party, and alleges that he would have sent Jacob away with joy, his original intentions in pursuing Jacob were most likely hostile based on his character and past actions. Laban is greedy and self-serving, his word cannot be trusted and his daughters meant little to him.

I have the power to harm you; but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’ Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father’s household. But why did you steal my gods?” Genesis 31:29-30

Although Laban had the men and weapons to overpower Jacob, he was restrained by the LORD. Laban didn’t even dare to claim that Jacob’s flocks belonged to him. Assuming that Jacob had stolen his idols, Laban asks Jacob, “Why did you steal my gods?” The idols were most probably covered with silver or gold and had monetary value in addition to their use in pagan religious practices.

Jacob answered Laban, “I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force. But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods. Genesis 31:31-32

Laban asked, “Why did you run off secretly and deceive me?” Jacob’s response was honest, and most probably true when he said, “I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.” Jacob being unaware of Rachel’s theft puts her life in jeopardy by saying that anyone who has Laban’s gods shall not live.

So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two female servants, but he found nothing. After he came out of Leah’s tent, he entered Rachel’s tent. Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them inside her camel’s saddle and was sitting on them. Laban searched through everything in the tent but found nothing.

Rachel said to her father, “Don’t be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence; I’m having my period.” So he searched but could not find the household gods. Genesis 31:33-35

Ironically, Laban who deceived Jacob concerning his marriage to Rachel is now deceived by Rachel. Laban who loved wealth more than his daughter Rachel, now loses both his wealth and his daughters.

Jacob was angry and took Laban to task. “What is my crime?” he asked Laban. “How have I wronged you that you hunt me down? Now that you have searched through all my goods, what have you found that belongs to your household? Put it here in front of your relatives and mine, and let them judge between the two of us. Genesis 31:36-37

After twenty years of manipulation and deception by Laban, this false accusation against Jacob is the straw that broke the camel’s back. Jacob who had quietly endured two decades of mistreatment is incensed and outraged.

“I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks. I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night. This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes. It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times. If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.” Genesis 31:38-42

Jacob makes the case for his faithfulness as a shepherd and honoring of his agreement with Laban and contrasts his actions with Laban’s unfaithfulness and dishonesty. Jacob recounts his hardship and toil over the course of twenty years. Jacob asserts that if it weren’t for the God of Abraham, Laban would have sent him away empty-handed.

Laban answered Jacob, “The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks. All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne? Come now, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.” Genesis 31:43-44

No matter how clearly and passionately Jacob made his case, his twenty years of toil, the devoted labor under scorching heat and freezing cold, Laban just stood unmoved. Laban in his cold-heartedness and self-centeredness declared, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, and whatever you have is mine.” Not willing to admit his own faults and in fear of Jacob’s God, Laban proposes a covenant of friendship between them, to which Jacob readily agrees.

So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. He said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and piled them in a heap, and they ate there by the heap. Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed. Genesis 31:45-47

Laban called the pillar of stones, Jegar Sahadutha which means “witness heap” in Aramaic. Jacob called it Galeed which means the same thing, “witness heap” but in Hebrew. Laban the Aramean was an idolater, while Jacob the Hebrew served Yehovah. Although Laban asked to make a covenant, it was Jacob that took a stone and set it up as a pillar. Twenty years before Jacob took the stone that he slept upon, and after he had a dream of a stairway to heaven, set it up as a pillar and called that place Bethel – the House of God.

Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” That is why it was called Galeed. It was also called Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. If you mistreat my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.” Genesis 31:48-50

The heap of stones that served as a witness between Laban and Jacob was also called Mizpah which means a “watchtower.” These two men, father-in-law Laban and son-in-law Jacob, had had a tense relationship for twenty years and in these verses we are told of their last time together. These would be their final words and actions before they separated from one another to live five hundred miles apart. Laban would be going back to Paddan Aram, and Jacob going home to the Promised Land. But they were always to be related to one another. Laban would always be the grandfather of the many sons of Jacob. There could be no divorce in that relationship. Jacob had received from Laban the gift of his two daughters, and from these sisters and their maid servants, eleven sons and a daughter had been born. At this time, there had to be a dignified parting and that is why this formal ceremony of farewell.

Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is this heap, and here is this pillar I have set up between you and me. This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap and pillar to my side to harm me. The God of Abraham, and the gods of Nahor–the gods of their father–will judge between us.” And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac. Genesis 31:51-53

Jacob and Laban made a covenant and set up stones not only as a witness, or reminder, of the covenant but also as a borderline—one that neither one of them was to cross for the purpose of harming the other. Laban stated that may the God of Abraham and the gods of Nahor judge between himself and Jacob. Nahor was the son of Terah and brother of Abraham and Haran. Both Terah and Nahor were idolaters as were Nahor’s descendants, the Arameans.

Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. Joshua 24:2

But Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac. Jacob calls God the “Fear of Isaac” because Isaac was willing to lay down his life as a burnt offering since he loved, worshiped and feared God.

While the sons of Israel will inherit the Promised Land, the Arameans are to dwell in Babylon. This physical divide and five hundred mile separation between the Hebrews, the people of the God of Abraham, and the Arameans who are idolaters, symbolizes the great chasm between the bosom of Abraham (Paradise) and hell.

So Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac. He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there. Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home. Genesis 31:54-55

Jacob offered a sacrifice to ratify his covenant with Laban and then took part in a covenant meal with his relatives. The next morning Laban returned home empty-handed but Jacob had great wealth.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22

Genesis 30 – Jacob is Blessed with Many Children and Flocks!

02 Friday May 2014

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When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!” Genesis 30:1

When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. Leah had given birth to four sons. In biblical times, being barren was considered a reproach and was accounted as a severe punishment among the Hebrews. Although Rachel was the wife that Jacob loved, Rachel envied her sister Leah.

Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?” Genesis 30:2

According to Psalm 127:3, “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.” Children are God’s gifts. They are a heritage and a reward from God and are to be counted as blessings. Jacob was angered by Rachel’s words, “Give me children, or I’ll die!” Rachel blamed her childlessness on Jacob, which was unreasonable, since he had given proof that he was not infertile. Jacob responded that it was not him but God who kept her from having children.

Then she said, “Here is Bilhah, my servant. Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and I too can build a family through her.” Genesis 30:3

Following the example of Jacob’s grandmother Sarah, who gave her Egyptian Hagar handmaiden to Abraham, Rachel gave her servant Bilhah to Jacob to bear children for her. Having been persuaded by Rachel, Jacob took Bilhah her handmaid to be his wife. According to the customs of those times, a servant’s child belonged to her mistress. Instead, Rachel should have followed the example of Jacob’s parents, Isaac and Rebekah. Although Rebekah had been barren for 20 years, Isaac did not do as Abraham his father did and take a second wife to have children by her. Instead, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife and the LORD answered his prayer.

So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife. Jacob slept with her, and she became pregnant and bore him a son. Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son.” Because of this she named him Dan. Genesis 30:4-6

Dan was the 5th son of Jacob and the 1st child of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid. Dan means “judge”. Rachel believed that God rolled away the reproach of her barrenness through the birth of a son by Bilhah. Rachel had assumed that God judged her and found her guilty and therefore she was childless. After the birth of Dan, Rachel supposed that God had judged her again but vindicated her by giving her handmaiden a son.

Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.” So she named him Naphtali. Genesis 30:7-8

The name Naphtali means “wrestling.” Naphtali was the 6th son of Jacob and the 2nd by Bilhah.

When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. Then Leah said, “What good fortune!” So she named him Gad. Genesis 30:9-11

Although Leah had personally birthed four sons for her husband Jacob, she was so caught up competing with her sister for her husband’s favor, that she also gave her maid servant to her husband to bear children. The name Gad means “good fortune” or “troop”. Through Zilpah, Leah now had a 5th son and boasted of her troop.

Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. Then Leah said, “How happy I am! The women will call me happy.” So she named him Asher. Genesis 30:12-13

The name Asher means “happy.” Asher is the 8th son of Jacob and the 2nd son by Zilpah.

During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?”

“Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.” Genesis 30:14-15

How ironic that Leah accuses Rachel of taking away her husband, when in fact, Leah deceived Jacob into marrying her in the first place. Mandrake is the common name for members of the plant genus Mandragora belonging to the nightshades family. Ancients used it as an anesthetic. Used in small quantities like opium, it excites the nerves, and is a stimulant. Mandrakes contain chemicals that can act as hallucinogens and/or hypnotics. Mandrake is also translated as love-apple.

So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night.

God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. Then Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband.” So she named him Issachar. Genesis 30:16-18

The name Issachar (Hebrew -rkXXy) means “hire” or “reward.” Leah paid for her husband’s services. Leah believed that God rewarded her for giving her servant Zilpah to Jacob. Issachar was the 9th son of Jacob and the 5th by Leah his first wife.

Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. Then Leah said, “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun. Genesis 30:19-20

The name Zebulun means “exalted”. Leah hoped that she would be treated in an exalted fashion by Jacob for bearing him six sons. Zebulun was the 10th of the sons of Jacob and 6th and last son of Leah.

Some time later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah. Genesis 30:21

According to Genesis 37:35 and Genesis 46:7, Jacob most probably had other daughters, but only Dinah is named in the Scriptures. Dinah is the female version of the name Dan meaning “judgment”. Dinah’s name is probably recorded here because a significant future incident to place involving her that is detailed in Genesis 34.

Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” She named him Joseph, and said, “May the Lord add to me another son.” Genesis 30:22-24

Had God forgotten Rachel? Speaking of God as “remembering” Rachel is a literary device known as an anthropomorphism. God is speaking as if he were merely a man. God had never actually forgotten Rachel, for God never forgets anything. God demonstrated in a tangible way that he remembered her plea to no longer be barren. Although Rachel felt herself abandoned by God, God was waiting for the perfect time for her to conceive and bear a child. Her delay in birthing a child and her competition with Leah eventually resulted in Jacob having twelve sons which became the twelve tribes of Israel.

The name Joseph means “Yehovah has added”. Rachel desired that the LORD would give her another son as well. Joseph was Jacobs’ 1st son by Rachel and the 11th of his sons.

After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me on my way so I can go back to my own homeland. Give me my wives and children, for whom I have served you, and I will be on my way. You know how much work I’ve done for you.” Genesis 30:25-26

As long as Rachel was childless Jacob ran the risk that Laban could refuse to release her to return with him to Canaan or Rachel refusing to leave her home in Upper Mesopotamia. Now that she was bound to him through their child and his fourteen years of service were completed, Jacob determined that it was safe to ask Laban to let him return to his homeland with his wives, his concubines, and his children by the four Aramean women.

But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.” He added, “Name your wages, and I will pay them.”

Jacob said to him, “You know how I have worked for you and how your livestock has fared under my care. The little you had before I came has increased greatly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I have been. But now, when may I do something for my own household?” Genesis 30:27-30

Laban knew from experience that Jacob was a gifted shepherd. Laban discovered, by the pagan practice of divination, that he had prospered because the LORD was with Jacob. Divination was a method of consulting pagan gods and imparting knowledge, usually through the dissection and observation of the organs of a sacrificed animal. In order to keep Jacob from leaving, Laban makes Jacob an offer that he couldn’t refuse by saying, “Name your wages.”

“What shall I give you?” he asked.

“Don’t give me anything,” Jacob replied. “But if you will do this one thing for me, I will go on tending your flocks and watching over them: Let me go through all your flocks today and remove from them every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb and every spotted or speckled goat. They will be my wages. And my honesty will testify for me in the future, whenever you check on the wages you have paid me. Any goat in my possession that is not speckled or spotted, or any lamb that is not dark-colored, will be considered stolen.” Genesis 30:31-33

The flocks of sheep in the Near East are usually white and the goats are usually solid black or brown. For his wages Jacob asked for the rare colored animals – the speckled or spotted goats and the dark-colored lambs.

“Agreed,” said Laban. “Let it be as you have said.” That same day he removed all the male goats that were streaked or spotted, and all the speckled or spotted female goats (all that had white on them) and all the dark-colored lambs, and he placed them in the care of his sons. Then he put a three-day journey between himself and Jacob, while Jacob continued to tend the rest of Laban’s flocks. Genesis 30:34-36

Laban agreed to Jacob’s terms knowing that the dark-colored lambs and the goats that are speckled, spotted and streaked are in the minority. To “stack the deck” in his favor, Laban removed the animals that should have rightfully been Jacob’s starting flock. Knowing that dark-colored sheep and speckled, spotted and streaked goats have a greater chance of producing offspring with the same coloring, Laban removed them to ensure that Jacob was less likely to have any breeding stock which might produce the rarer colored animals. Laban weeded from among the flock all the sheep not totally white and all the goats not wholly black or brown. In addition, he gave those animals to his sons, separating those flocks from Jacob by a three day journey to ensure that there would be no intermingling and interbreeding with Jacob’s solid colored animals.

Laban thought this was a great deal, because it is known that usually the spotted goats and sheep will have spotted progeny, but if you remove all the spotted ones, then how are you going to get spotted baby goats and sheep? If you get spotted, their numbers will be very small. Jacob had observed during more than 60 years of herding for his father Isaac and 14 years for his uncle Laban that this is the case. If you only have solid colored rams and ewes then rarely will they have spotted, speckled or streaked kids. But Jacob had a plan.

Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches. Then he placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs, so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat and came to drink, they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted. Genesis 30:37-39

Those who practice Jewish mysticism known as Kabbala attribute Jacob’s peeling of the branches as a way of eliciting spiritual energy. They claim that Jacob was drawing divine consciousness into physical reality. Wiccans believe that branches have magical properties. But we shall discover that Jacob’s actions were neither mysticism nor witchcraft.

Urinary calculi or “water belly” is a common metabolic disease of male sheep and goats. The disease occurs when calculi (stones), usually comprised of phosphate salts, lodge in the urinary tract and prevent urination. Lack of water and water sources that are high in minerals are also contributing factors. Although Jacob provided Laban’s sheep with water in drinking troughs, the sheep and goats were three days away from their usual watering holes. The rams and he-goats were in danger of developing blockages that would lead to urinary tract infections. Poplar tree bark provides several medicinal qualities. One of those natural medicinal agents is salicin. Salicin is a precursor of salicylic acid (the main ingredient in aspirin). Because of salicin, poplar bark contains anti-inflammatory properties and is also an antipyretic (fever reducer). Poplar can also reduce mineral imbalance. Jacob added the poplar bark to the drinking water of the flocks in his care to keep the male sheep and goats from getting “water belly” and kept them healthy for breeding.

A number of medicinal uses are known in folk medicine for the plane trees including dietary, gynecological and gastrointestinal aids. The medicinal preparations are made from the leaves and the bark of the oriental plane. Just as poplar bark would benefit the rams and he-goats, the bark from the plane trees would be beneficial to reproductive system of the ewes and nanny goats.

The Indian almond tree is native to both India and the Middle East. Many people believe that almond improves fertility and its aroma stimulates passion in women. The Bible specifies that the peels of the bark of the trees were fresh. An aroma from the fresh bark of the rods of the trees of almond may cause the livestock to go “in heat” and mate more often to become more fruitful.

The almond bark also contains tannin. Recent studies have demonstrated that drinking products containing tannins can affect the genetic functioning of the individuals, manifested by changes in the DNA that produces cancer. One theory is that we may also deduct by logic that the tannin in the almond bark may have caused mutations that could be manifested as “spotted” skin color in goats and sheep.

Professor Scott B. Noegel in his treatise, “Sex, Sticks, and the Trickster in Gen. 30:31-43: A New Look at an Old Crux.,” offers a quite different explanation concerning why Jacob took various branches and peeled them:

When we read Gen. 30:39a, “When the flocks were in heat and came to drink, they mated in front of the branches”– the passage depicts Jacob employing the rods not as a fertility symbols or an aphrodisiac, but rather as a type of “phallus fallax” (an artificial male organ used to deceive the ewes and she-goats). Professor Noegel asserts that the proper translation of the verse is that they mated “on the branches” and not “in front of the branches.” Therefore Jacob allowed only the animals which he did not want to sire offspring to “become heated upon the rods.”

To make matters difficult for Jacob, Laban singles out for himself all of the goats that might produce speckled, spotted, and dark-colored young for Jacob. Laban takes them from Jacob’s portion of the animals but not from his own portion. We learn later in Genesis 30:40 that Jacob possesses a few oddly colored animals among Laban’s flock. Thus, Laban’s action leaves Jacob with speckled and dark-colored he-goats, striped and brown she-goats (which must belong to Laban) speckled and spotted male lambs, and speckled and spotted ewes, as well as some dark-colored lambs, presumably of both sexes. From this pool Jacob must produce his desired flocks.

Herders and veterinarians acquainted with the breeding patterns of sheep and goats are well aware that while in estrus (when they are in heat), ewes often are inclined to rub their vulvas on trees or sticks. Using Laban’s distance to his advantage, Jacob peels white streaks into the poplar rods. Because the poplar was fresh, the white streaks were clearly visible. Interestingly, J. Skinner identified the wood used for the rod as “styrax officinalis” so-called from its exuding a milk-like gum. The purpose of the mock phalluses in Gen. 30:37 is clear, Jacob uses them to alter the breeding pattern of Laban’s flocks, and thus increase his wages at Laban’s expense.

And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted. Genesis 30:39b

Since the animals brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted young, the animals that mated on the branches must have been Laban’s dark-colored she-goats. They, of course, did not bear any offspring. Conversely, only the few speckled and spotted ewes, and the striped she-goats that were not placed near the rods, brought forth young. From these, Jacob took for himself the spotted and speckled ewes, and the spotted and speckled he-goats

Jacob set apart the young of the flock by themselves, but made the rest face the streaked and dark-colored animals that belonged to Laban. Thus he made separate flocks for himself and did not put them with Laban’s animals. Whenever the stronger females were in heat, Jacob would place the branches in the troughs in front of the animals so they would mate near the branches, but if the animals were weak, he would not place them there. So the weak animals went to Laban and the strong ones to Jacob. Genesis 30:40-42

Then Jacob separated the new born that were speckled, spotted or brown from the sheep and goats of the original herd that belonged to Laban. The Hebrew expression used in Genesis 30:40 translated as, “made the rest “face” the streaked and dark-colored animals” is more accurately translated that Jacob stationed them behind Laban’s animals in a position more conducive to mating.

The key to Jacob’s success was that he exploited Laban’s striped and dark-colored sheep to produce his wages.

In addition, Jacob distinguishes from Laban’s flock those sheep which bred early (stronger) and those which bred late (weaker) and allows only the former to mate against the poplar rods. Thus, Laban receives an abundance of feeble animals.

Unlike the theories of magic and aphrodisiac, which fail to explain why Jacob would put Laban’s stronger animals within sight of the rods if he thought they would provide fertility, the interpretation proposed here provides an answer. Jacob allows the stronger of Laban’s animals to mate upon the rods so that they produce no young, while allowing the weaker of Laban’s flock to produce without interruption. This naturally resulted in a proliferation of Laban’s weaker animals. As Gen. 30:42 informs us, “the feeble ones went to Laban and the sturdy to Jacob.”

Since Laban’s animals and Jacob’s animals would not have been confused (they were distinguished already in 30:32), Jacob’s sturdier animals in 30:42 cannot have been obtained from Laban’s flocks. Instead, the mention of Jacob’s sturdier animals must refer to those animals that resulted from natural reproduction among his own flocks.

In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys. Genesis 30:43

Whether the proliferation of Jacob’s flocks was attributed to genetic mutations caused by the tannin enriched drinking water or by having Laban’s she-goats mating on peeled branches, Jacob’s success was not due to magic or Hebrew mysticism but the result of the scientific disciplines of animal husbandry and genetics.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Laban was an idolater who practiced divination, while Jacob had made a solemn vow that if he returned safely to his father’s household then the LORD will be his God. In spite of Laban’s concerted efforts to thwart Jacob’s success, Jacob grew exceedingly prosperous and his flocks became numerous because the LORD was with him.

Genesis 29: Jacob is Deceived by Laban so He Will Marry Leah

04 Friday Apr 2014

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Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. There he saw a well in the open country, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well. The stone over the mouth of the well was large. When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well’s mouth and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well. Genesis 29:1-3

Jacob’s mother Rebekah sent her son on a journey to the tents of his uncle Laban in order to find a wife. Jacob arrives at a well in the open country where shepherds are gathered to water their sheep. This scene closely parallels the events of Genesis 24 where the servant of Abraham was sent back to Abraham’s relatives to get a wife for Jacob’s father Isaac. The servant had his camels kneel down near the well outside the town of Nahor. At the well was Rebekah the granddaughter of Abraham’s brother Nahor and the sister of Laban.

Jacob asked the shepherds, “My brothers, where are you from?”

“We’re from Harran,” they replied.

He said to them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?”

“Yes, we know him,” they answered.

Then Jacob asked them, “Is he well?”

“Yes, he is,” they said, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.” Genesis 29:4-6

Abraham’s servant seeking a wife for Isaac arrived at a well outside of the town of Nahor and found Laban’s sister Rebekah. Now Jacob who is seeking a wife is at a well where Laban’s daughter Rachel has come to water her father’s sheep.

“Look,” he said, “the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”

“We can’t,” they replied, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.” Genesis 29:7-8

Genesis 25:2 records that Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. Jacob, who noted that the sheep should be taken back to the pasture, would later prove to be a skillful shepherd and breeder of flocks.

While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherd. When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban’s sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep. Genesis 29:9-10

Among the pastoral tribes the young unmarried daughters of the greatest elders tend the flocks, going out at sunrise and continuing to watch their animals until sunset. Watering them, which is done twice a day, is a work of time and labor. In volunteering his aid to the young shepherdess, Jacob demonstrated his willingness to be a productive member of his mother’s clan.

Before the sheep could be watered by Jacob who was a shepherd, the stone had to be rolled away.

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:7

Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. Mark 16:2-4

Yeshua the good shepherd laid down His life for His sheep. He resurrected and the stone was rolled away from the tomb. Yeshua ascended to the right hand of the Father and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within the believer. Now rivers of living water flow from within us. For the sheep to be watered, the stone had to be rolled away.

Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud. He had told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and a son of Rebekah. So she ran and told her father. Genesis 29:11-12

Jacob was overcome with emotion and wept for joy. After his long lonely journey, he had met his cousin Rachel who he hoped would become his wife.

As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things. Then Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.” After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.” Genesis 29:13-15

Among pastoral people a stranger is freely entertained for three days. On the fourth day he is expected to tell his name and purpose. If he prolongs his stay after that time, he must set his hand to work in some way as agreed upon. In a similar fashion, Jacob had been working for Laban but just for his room and board. Now after a month, Laban realized that Jacob was an accomplished shepherd and wanted to employ Jacob on a long term basis.

Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.” Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” Genesis 29:16-19

Laban’s older daughter, Leah, had weak eyes. The name Leah means “wearied” or “wild cow.” The dullness or weakness of her eyes was so notable that it is mentioned as a contrast to the beautiful form and appearance of her younger sister Rachel. Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. The name Rachel means “ewe” – a female sheep. An old-fashioned expression is “to make sheep’s eyes at somebody.” To make sheep eyes means to look at someone in a way that shows that you love them or are attracted to them. Jacob, who was a shepherd, was in love with the beautiful ewe with sheep eyes but was not attracted to a wearied cow with weak eyes.

So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. Genesis 29:20

Diligently, patiently and faithfully Jacob worked as a servant for seven years to pay the bridal price for Rachel. Because of his strong romantic feelings, just being around Rachel made Jacob’s years of labor seem to fly by.

Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.” So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her attendant. Genesis 29:21-24

Traditionally, an ancient wedding feast included wine. In John2:1-11, the first miracle of Jesus recorded in the New Testament is when He changed water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana. After being betrothed for seven years and waiting to consummate his marriage, I am Jacob was in a mood to celebrate. The bride wore a veil that was only removed in the bridal chamber. In the dark of night and in high spirits, Jacob made love to Leah believing that she was Rachel.

When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?” Genesis 29:25

Jacob, who had deceived his father Isaac, hypocritically was incensed that he had been deceived by his uncle. Prompted by his mother Rebekah, Jacob wore a disguise and pretended to be his brother Esau. After his father had feasted, Isaac whose eyes were darkened with blindness was deceived by Jacob who stole his brother’s blessing. Now the tables have been turned. Prompted by her father Laban, Leah was disguised as Rachel. After a feast, Jacob was tricked because of Leah’s disguise and then in the darkness consummated the marriage with Rachel’s sister. In Jacob’s case of deception, the mother and son conspired together to deceive his father concerning his brother. In this instance, the father and daughter conspired together to deceive Rebekah’s son concerning Leah’s sister. The LORD gave Jacob a taste of his own medicine in order to start the process of sanctifying his character.

Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.” Genesis 29:26-27

Even if it was the custom not to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older, Laban should have made that known before he entered into an agreement with Jacob. In any case, Laban intentionally set out to deceive Jacob for his own selfish purposes. Laban not only tricked Jacob into marrying Leah instead of Rachel, but extracted another seven years of labor from him in order to pay a second bridal price.

And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant. Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years. Genesis 29:28-30

Jacob did have feelings for Leah but those feelings paled in comparison to his love for Rachel.

When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.” Genesis 29:31-32

The names Leah gave her children, expressed her respect and regard, both to God and to her husband. Reuben (Reuven – as it is pronounced in Hebrew) is a name that is a compound of two Hebrew words. “Re’u” means “look” or “see,” and “ben” means “son.” Literally the meaning of Reuben is, “behold a son.” The name Reuben expresses the fact that “re’u” – God saw my miserable situation, and therefore blessed me with a “ben” – a son.

Leah gave birth to the firstborn son of Jacob. A firstborn son would be entitled to the birthright and would insure that the family name would be carried on. Leah believed that Jacob would be so pleased with her because she blessed Jacob with a son, that Jacob would love her and favor her as he did Rachel.

She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon. Genesis 29:33

Simeon (Shimeon in Hebrew) literally means “heard.” The name Simeon expresses the fact that the LORD “heard” of Leah’s plight and blessed her with a second son.

Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi. Genesis 29:34

Levi is translated from the Hebrew word, lay-vee and means “joined to.” Leah hoped that at last Jacob would be romantically attached to her because she had given birth to three sons.

Leah’s eyes were fixed upon her husband Jacob and she was in emotional distress because of her feelings of rejection. But Jacob and been deceived into marrying her and understandably he did not have the strong romantic feeling for Leah as he did for Rachel.

She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children. Genesis 29:35

The English name Judah is translated from the Hebrew word, Yehuda which means praised and is related to the verb להודות (lehodot, “to thank”). Leah finally realized that she should be thankful to God and give Him praise whether or not her child bearing would change Jacob’s feeling for her. In spite of her circumstances, Leah was thankful and gave the LORD a sacrifice of praise. At that time, she stopped bearing children for awhile.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

How is it possible to rejoice and be thankful even in difficult circumstances even if it is the will of God for the believer?

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:17

We can stand in faith regardless of our circumstances because we know that God is working even the hardest situations for our good. Assured that we have a glorious eternal future, we can rejoice and be thankful regardless of difficult worldly trials.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Traveling to Get a Wife, Jacob Dreams of a Stairway to Heaven

07 Friday Mar 2014

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So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. Then he commanded him: “Do not marry a Canaanite woman. Go at once to Paddan Aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.”   Genesis 28:1-2

Jacob’s brother Esau had married Judith the daughter of Beeri and Basemath the daughter of Elon who were both Hittites. His mother Rebekah had said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living” (Genesis 27:46). Rebekah was concerned that Esau was bent on killing Jacob for stealing his blessing and wanted to send Jacob afar off. Rebekah didn’t want Jacob to marry a Canaanite woman, so she convinced Isaac to send Jacob far away to her relatives. In God’s sovereignty, Jacob was not only chosen above  his older brother to receive the birthright but was forced to flee for his life. In doing so, Jacob would marry within his family’s clan and preserve Messiah’s line.

“May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples. May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now reside as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham.” Genesis 28:3-4

Jacob had deceived Isaac into giving him the blessing intended for Esau. But now Isaac calls for Jacob to bless him. Isaac must have had a revelation or finally acknowledged that it was according to the divine will that Jacob should be blessed in accordance to the LORD‘s declaration over 75 years before that the older son will serve the younger.

Isaac prayed that Jacob and his descendants would receive the blessings and promises given to Abraham. These same covenantal promises were passed down to Isaac and his descendants and now upon Jacob and his descendants. Although Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were foreigners and sojourners in the land of Canaan, the Hebrews would emerge from the furnace of affliction in Egypt as the nation of Israel to eventually possess the land of promise.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. Hebrews 11:8-9

Replacement Theology claims that because of the Jewish people’s disobedience and general rejection of Messiah, God has rejected Israel and replaced it with the church. It asserts that the church is the “New Israel,” and states that the promises made to Israel in the Old Testament have been transferred to the church. Replacement theology also holds that the prophecies in the Old Testament regarding a re-gathering of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel and the reestablishment of Israel as a nation should be interpreted symbolically and not literally. Thus, replacement theology argues that modern-day Israel is not a fulfillment of prophecy and that the Jewish people have no right to the Land of Israel.

Yet, Genesis 15 and verse 18 records the following promise: On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.”

Although Replacement Theologists claim that Israel failed to keep the Mosaic Law which is conditional, the unconditional Abrahamic Covenant was cut 430 years before the Mosaic Law was ever given on Mt. Sinai. The covenant promise of the Land of Israel that was pledged to Abraham was reiterated to Isaac and to Jacob and given to all of Abraham’s descendants. 

Then Isaac sent Jacob on his way, and he went to Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, who was the mother of Jacob and Esau. Genesis 28:5

After leaving the Ur of the Chaldees, while en route to Canaan, Abraham and his father Terah settled in the city of Harran.Harran is derived from the Akkadian word “harranu” which means road or caravan. Akkadian or Assyrian is the ancient Semitic language spoken by the people in the region of Mesopotamia that occupied the northern part of Babylonia. The Bible also refers to Harran as Paddan Aram which is Aramean for highway. The Arameans were a Semitic semi-nomadic people who raised livestock on natural pastures in what is now modern Syria.

Now Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had sent him to Paddan Aram to take a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he commanded him, “Do not marry a Canaanite woman,” and that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and had gone to Paddan Aram. Esau then realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac; so he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had. Genesis 28:6-9

While Jacob obeys his mother and father and seeks to marry in the blessed line of Shem, Esau desires to displease his parents and marry in the cursed line of Ham. Esau, like his father-in-law Ishmael was a skillful hunter. Both Ishmael and Esau trusted in their own power and ability which was in the arm of flesh and they both opposed the things and people of God.

Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. Genesis 28:10-11.

Although Isaac was very wealthy having been Abraham’s sole heir as well as receiving a hundred-fold return when he planted in a year of famine, there is no record of Jacob being accompanied by servants when he left his father’s tents and set out for Harran. According to Genesis 32:10, though Jacob had the blessing and the double-portion of the birthright, he left in haste with only the clothes on his body and his staff in his hands. Jacob, in fear of being pursued by his brother Esau and attacked, probably did not take the main road as he fled. Jacob’s actions up till now were not of a man who feared and trusted in God. But now in trouble and obliged to flee, he looked only to God to make him to dwell in safety. Therefore he could lie down and sleep in the open air with his head upon a stone.

He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. Genesis 28:12

Jesus is Jacob’s ladder. The step of this stairway that rested on the earth is Jesus’ human nature, while the top in heaven in his divine nature. He is the way that bridges the gap between sinful man and a Holy God.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

$rd(Derek) – meaning way, road or course of life

tma(Emet) – firmness, faithfulness, truth, reliability or truth as a body of ethical or religious knowledge.

yx (Chai) – living, alive, life

Jesus answered by first saying, “I am.”

And Moses said unto God, “Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me unto you,’ and they shall say to me, ‘What is his name/’ what shall I say unto them?”

And God said unto Moses, “I AM THAT I AM” and he said, “Thus shall you say unto the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me unto you.’” Exodus 3:13-14

In Exodus 3:14, a common English translation of God’s response to Moses when asked for his name was, “I Am that I Am (אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה) ʾehyeh ʾašher ʾehyeh.” Hayah means “existed” or “was” in Hebrew. “Ehyeh” is the first person singular imperfect form of “hayah” and is usually translated as “I will be.” Ehyeh asher ehyeh literally translates as “I Will Be What I Will Be.” However, in most English Bibles, this phrase is rendered as I am that I am. In Exodus 3:14, God is speaking and reveals His name in the first person. This Hebrew name for God is “Ehyeh” and is commonly translated as “I am.”

In John 8:58, Jesus said “Truly, truly I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am.” The Jews clearly understood Jesus to be calling Himself God because they took up stones to stone Him for committing blasphemy in equating Himself with God.

I am the way and the truth and the life” is one of the seven “I Am” statements of Jesus. On the last night before His betrayal and death, Jesus was preparing His disciples for the days ahead.

The way – Jesus used the definite article to distinguish Himself as “the only way.”

The truth – Again Jesus used the definite article to emphasize Himself as “the only truth.”

The life – Jesus had just been telling His disciples about His impending  death, and now He was claiming to be the source of all life.

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—or kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.  1 Timothy 2:1-6

 

The way to be reconciled to the Father and the truth necessary for salvation that results in eternal life is that there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.

 

Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” He then added, Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”  John 1:49-51

 

In order to be saved, we must embrace the fact that there is only “one God” who alone holds the key to eternity, and that there is only one way by which we can reach that God, “the man Christ Jesus.” We, in our natural state, are at war with God, estranged from Him, and separated by the presence of sin in our lives. Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) serves as our mediator, our peacemaker, our advocate, being both fully God and fully man who bridges the gap between the Father and all men. Yeshua (Jesus) is Jacob’s ladder – our stairway to heaven.

There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.” Genesis 28:13

The word LORD found in the English translations of the Old Testament, when spelled in all capitals, represents the personal name of God. This name is comprised of the four Hebrew consonants – Yod, Hey, Vav, and Hey. These four consonants (known as the tetragrammaton), as recorded in the oldest hand written scrolls, had no accompanying vowels. Therefore, the exact pronunciation of these four letters is unsure. Yod, Hey, Vav, Hey is known as the “Ineffable” or “Unutterable” Name of the God of Israel.

There above it all stood the LORD – Yehovah. This is God’s unique, self-revealed name, pronounced by some as Yahweh.

Yehovah

Each Hebrew letter is a word picture. The Hebrew letter “yood” is a hand. The Hebrew letter “hey” means behold (hinneh). While the Hebrew letter “vav” is a hook or nail. The tetragrammaton when studied as a pictograph – is the hand, behold, the nail, behold – behold the nail scarred hand!

 

The LORD was above the stairway to heaven and is above all. He is the sovereign King of kings and Lord of lords over all of creation. Yehovah is the King over heavens and the earth. He is faithful and just and keeps His covenant promises. He assured Jacob, as He did
Abraham and Isaac, that He would give the Promised Land to him and his descendants.

 

“Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Genesis 28:14-15

 

The LORD’s promise of the land to Abraham is found in Genesis 15: 18-21. The northern border of the Promised Land is the River Euphrates while the southern border of Canaan is the river of Egypt. The land’s western boundary, which is the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, is described in Numbers 34:6. To ensure that there is no doubt about the land’s boundaries; Scripture also indicates the different groups of people that had occupied it: “…the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.” We know that these peoples lived in what is today Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, part of Asian Turkey, and of course all of Israel, including Gaza and the West Bank.

 

The participants in the soon-coming Psalm 83 War will include many of these countries and territories. The inhabitants of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the Gaza encircle modern day Israel and are bent on the annihilation of God’s chosen people. But God will be faithful and deliver Israel’s enemies into her hands and Israel’s borders will extend from the Nile to the Euphrates.

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Genesis 28:16-17

Jacob was afraid as were many others who were in the presence of the Living God. The whole nation of Israel cried out to Moses as recorded in Exodus 20:19 and said, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die.”  Job declared in chapter 42 and verses 5-6 in the book that bears his name, “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” In Isaiah 5:6 the prophet bemoans,“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”  In the presence of the holiness, power and radiance of God, man is awe-struck and aware of how short he falls of God’s glory.

 Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz. Genesis 28:18-19

Jacob was so spiritually and emotionally impacted that, to memorialize the occasion and the place, he blessed the stone on which his head had rested, sanctified it by anointing it with oil and gave it the name “Bethel” (God’s House). Jacob took the stone that he used as a pillow and set it up for a pillar.

The worship of sacred stones constituted one of the most general and ancient forms of religion. But among no other people was this worship so important as among the Semites. The religion of the nomads of Syria and Arabia was summarized by Clement of Alexandria in the single statement, “The Arabs worship the stone.”

The Arabs still worship a stone today. The Black Stone is the eastern cornerstone of the Kaaba, the ancient stone building toward which Muslims pray, in the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is revered by Muslims as an Islamic relic which, according to Muslim tradition, dates back to the time of Adam and Eve. Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba as part of the Tawaf ritual of the Hajj. This ritual of the Hajj (the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca) is to circle the Kaaba 7 times in a counterclockwise direction. Many of the pilgrims try, if possible, to stop and kiss the Black Stone, emulating the kiss that Islamic tradition records that it received from Muhammad. The stone was venerated at the Kaaba in pre-Islamic pagan times. It was set intact into the Kaaba’s wall by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the year 605 A.D

Unlike the pagans who often used a stone for a sacred pillar to be worshipped, Jacob used the stone he slept upon as a memorial in the remembrance of the mercy and goodness that God bestowed upon him.

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” Genesis 28:20-22

Jacob made a solemn vow which demonstrated that he was on a path of humility and piety. Jacob did not ask for wealth and power but asked for God to provide him with the simple necessities of life. In return, Jacob would make  Yehovah his God, tithe and proclaimed that this stone which I have set for a pillar will be God’s house. The intent of Jacob’s declaration is that upon his return Jacob promised that would erect an altar at Bethel for the worship of the LORD.