Genesis_Nov 25

GENESIS 23:2 where God’s Lamb would die to without the other. See the two take away the sins of the world. “because” statements: “because And it was! you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, 22:15-18 THE SECRET OF TRUE your only son”  and  “because you have obeyed My voice.”  I BLESSING: Every heavenly blessing is to be love the words of E.A. Hoff- man’s beautiful but convicting found just a short distance on the other side hymn, “Is Your All On The Altar?” The hymn concludes: of death. “Who can tell all the love He will send from above, And how After the heart-wrenching ex- happy our hearts will be made, perience at Mount Moriah, “the Of the fellowship sweet We shall Angel of the Lord called to Abra- share at His feet When our all on ham a second time out of the altar is laid!” heaven” (Gen 22:15). But what a different message this time! No Dear Christian, would you longer is it about a son being have any blessing, any hope, slain but about his seed being any forgiveness without the sac- multiplied, not about suffering rifice of Christ? And do you loss but of blessings upon bless- think that your spiritual enrich- ings. Wait! I take that back. Let ment will come any other way? me quote exactly what was Come, follow Me, says Jesus. said:  “By Myself I have sworn, The blessings are unimaginable! says the Lord, because you have But, Isaac-like, the wood, the done this thing, and have not cross, must be taken up first. On withheld your son, your only son  the other side of death to self the — blessing I will bless you, and abundant resurrection life multiplying I will multiply your awaits.  descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is 22:19-23:2 SARAH’S GOOD EXAMPLE: on the seashore; and your de- scendants shall possess the gate Don’t forget Sarah! She too moved hither and of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be yon, living in a tent her whole life. God didn’t blessed, because you have obeyed My voice” (vv 16-18). forget her. Actually it IS about sacrifice —  Following Abraham’s return to and then the blessings that flow the south, we have recorded from it. You cannot have the one some of his extended family. In 101

GENESIS 23:2 other words, God’s promise just not weak in faith, but of Sarah it given, “I will multiply your de- records, “By faith Sarah herself scendants,” was already coming also received strength to con- true! But then we read a signifi- ceive seed….”  cant obit: “Sarah lived one hun- dred and twenty-seven years; Lovely, isn’t it! The Lord isn’t these were the years of the life of just looking for the strong Sarah. So Sarah died” (Gen 23:1- ones, “For the eyes of the Lord 2). Interestingly, Sarah is the run to and fro throughout the only woman in the Bible whose whole earth, to show Himself age is given at the time of her strong on behalf of those whose death. We will find much profit heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chron if we not only learn from the 16:9). It was hard for her to look patriarchs but from the matri- into the unknown future, so she archs as well! looked back and “judged Him faithful who had promised.” And Some preachers are a bit hard so can we. on Sarah, but the New Testa- ment always uses her as a good 23:3-20 ABRAHAM’S ONLY REAL example. Of course, it’s just like ESTATE PURCHASE: All the patriarchs are the Lord to see us in the best buried here, except Joseph (near Shechem) light, isn’t it — “in the light of and Rachel (near Bethlehem). [His] countenance,” so to speak. Sarah is presented as the mother You will recall that the Lord had of the son of promise, represent- instructed Abraham, “Lift your ing all who become  “the chil- eyes now and look from the dren of the free woman”  by place where you are — north- simple faith in God’s Word (Gal ward, southward, eastward, and 4:22-31). She is also a good ex- westward; for all the land which ample of women who recognize you see I give to you and your their husband’s God-given re- descendants forever” (Gen 13:14- sponsibility, and trust the Lord 15). That was some land survey! in those difficult times when No need to measure; whatever husbands are not what they you can see, it’s all yours. But the ought to be (1 Pet 3:6). God is man of God, if he had known the still faithful, as Sarah discovered verse, might have quoted,  “All both in Egypt and in Gerar. And things are lawful for me, but all Sarah also made it into God’s things are not helpful. All things Hall of Faith (Heb 11:11). Of her are lawful for me, but I will not husband we read that he was 102

GENESIS 24:4 be brought under the power of a place that’s out of this world! any” (1 Cor 6:12). There’s an investment worth making. Because I can possess some- thing in this world doesn’t mean 24:1-4 THE MISSING INGREDIENT: I should. Many things are more Here comes the bride! Who doesn't love a costly to maintain than to ini- love story? But what’s with this old man lead- tially purchase. Often it isn’t the ing the search team? money that something costs which is so expensive; it’s the As Genesis 24 opens, Abraham is time it takes from my life that old,  “well advanced in age.” could otherwise be spent for When we first meet him in Ur, he eternity. So of all the land that is already about 70 years old. At God offered Abraham, the only 75, he moves from Haran to Ca- piece he actually purchased was naan (Gen 12:4). Ten years later, where they buried him! When encouraged by Sarah, he takes Sarah died, it became a pressing Hagar and bears a son, named need, and he was able to buy the Ishmael (16:3ff). At the ripe age cave of Machpelah as a burial of 100, finally Isaac is born (21:1- crypt. My wife and I visited the 5). When Sarah dies, he is 137 cave many years ago; it’s off (23:1) and will live to the remark- limits today. But I recall at the able age of one hundred and sev- time that the large building con- enty-five (25:7)! structed by Herod over the cave had one end for Muslims and But at this point in the saga, we the other end for Jews — still read the sweet testimony, “and reminding us of Abraham’s two the Lord had blessed Abraham sons and their offspring. Sadly, in all things” (24:1). Isaac has both ends seemed equally blind been prophetically promised, to the truth. miraculously birthed, divinely selected to advance the Mes- Why did Abraham not become siah’s line, and supernaturally a great landholder? No need to saved at Moriah. guess: “By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign But wait! Isn’t something mis- country, dwelling in tents with sing? If he is to father a son who, Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with renamed Israel, will provide the him of the same promise; for he twelve progenitors of Israel’s waited for the city which has tribes, he needs a wife! And not foundations, whose builder and any wife, but, just as surely as he maker is God” (Heb 11:9-10). Ah, 103

GENESIS 24:4 was selected, the wife of God’s fully cross-stitched into the choosing. tapestry of history. Every detail is significant. And lest we miss Now Abraham, so often a pro- it, one particular feature is totype of God the Father as Isaac underlined no fewer than FIVE is a picture of God the Son, has times. No question, the plan an ancient and unnamed servant originates in the father’s heart. who will be sent to find a bride No doubt, it is effected by the for that beloved son. It hardly servant accomplishing the stretches the imagination to see father’s will on behalf of the son. him as representing the Holy But just as surely, the one invited Spirit and His present work of to share the love, life, and wealth wooing and winning a Bride for of the unseen bridegroom has a Christ. There would be no un- choice, too. equal yoke on this occasion; he must bring home one who was Listen: “And the servant said in the family. So it is that, when to him, ‘Perhaps the woman will the heavenly Bridegroom brings not be willing to follow me’” (v His Bride home and presents her 5). Abraham responds,  “If the to His Father, all within that woman is not willing to follow redeemed company will bear the you, then you will be released Family image, sharing through from this oath”  (v 8). Later, as grace her Beloved’s bloodline. the invitation is extended to the The wedding day is coming! young woman, the whole “Blessed are those who are arrangement between the father called to the marriage supper of and the servant is recounted, the Lamb!” (Rev 19:9). Have you with the two previous state- accepted His invitation? If not, ments repeated. But the servant why not? is impatient to get on his way back, to unite the bride and 24:5-8 (56, 58) “WILL YOU GO WITH groom. “Send me away so that I THIS MAN?” Who actually made the choice? may go to my master” (v 56). Abraham? The servant? Rebekah? Yes, yes, and yes! Not so fast, says her brother. “‘We will call the young The love story in Genesis 24 woman and ask her per- about a bride who accepts her sonally.’…‘Will you go with this bridegroom sight unseen is man?’” (vv 57-58). clearly an exquisite pattern, care- Some argue: Who chooses? Did the Lord choose you, or do you choose Him? The answer 104

GENESIS 24:12 should be obvious to anyone use. The servant was looking for who has attended a wedding a particular kind of young lately. The groom is asked if he woman for his master’s son. He will take the woman as his wife. wanted someone who was When he says yes, are they observant, diligent, and gener- pronounced married? No, the ous: “Let it be that the young woman is asked the same ques- woman to whom I say, ‘Please let tion. In every love relationship, down your pitcher that I may both must agree. The One “who drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and desires all men to be saved” (1 I will also give your camels a Tim 2:4) says,  “The one who drink’ — let her be the one You comes to Me I will by no means have appointed for Your servant cast out” (Jn 6:37). Likewise, Isaac” (v 14). A beautiful young “everyone who calls on the virgin approaches, draws, and name of the Lord will be turns for home. He asks, “Please saved” (Rom 10:13). let me drink a little water from your pitcher”  (v 17), and she 24:12 THE CO-OPERATIVE PLAN AT gives him a drink, then offers to WORK: Rebekah, just like us, had no idea draw for his 10 camels as well, what a quick trip on her daily chores would and a thirsty camel can drink 30 lead to — the Messiah! gallons or more! The man’s pulse quickened. But no matter how It was a long way from the home impressed he was with her, there of Abraham to the land where the was another requirement: Was servant sought a bride, perhaps she from the family? Yes! And 700 miles distant. When his more, she was hospitable, invit- trusted servant with his caravan ing not only the man home but of 10 camels arrived at the out- his camels as well, something skirts of the town, he prayerfully young women rarely do today! approached the well:  “O Lord God of my master Abraham, Immediately, the man re- please give me success this day, counts,  “I bowed my head and and show kindness to my master worshiped the Lord, and blessed Abraham” (Gen 24:12). the Lord God of my master Abra- ham, who had led me in the way Here was the idea. The daugh- of truth” (v 48). What a great exam- ters of the town’s families had a ple! First, commit our way to the daily chore to draw and carry Lord. Then be in the way so He can water home for their domestic lead you. Third, give Him glory when He directs us in His way.  105

GENESIS 24:22 24:22-36 FINALLY A BRIDE FOR “In modern Greek arrabona is an ‘engagement ring.’” What rich ISAAC: Here, try this on. You like it? The blessings we already have in Christ! But, writes Paul, it is a blessings we enjoy now are just a sampling sample of what awaits us at Home! Rebekah, “whom having of the treasures God has in store. not seen” Isaac (see 1 Pet 1:8), nonetheless agreed to make the At the well side, Abraham’s long journey to be with him. servant gave the young woman, What conversations they must Rebekah by name, a few pieces have had on the way, reminis- of jewelry (Rebekah means “cap- cent of the Spirit, who Jesus tivating”). When she arrived said,  “will glorify Me, for He home, her big brother Laban will take of what is Mine and noticed the jewelry and knew declare it to you” (Jn 16:14). Ger- something unusual had hap- hardt Tersteegen put it like this: pened. Standing in for their deceased father, Nahor, Laban “Long the blessed Guide has led quizzed Rebekah. After she me, By the desert road; Now I see explained, he ran to Abraham’s the coming splendor, Splendor of servant, who respectfully waited my God. There amidst the love at the well for a formal invita- and glory He is waiting yet; On tion. Warmly received, his His hands our names are graven, camels provisioned, the table He can ne’er forget.”  was spread. But no, the servant was too eager to explain his mis- 24:63-65 THE MEETING: It will be sion. This he did, and, Spirit- like, he brought out a sample of no Stranger who comes to meet us at that the treasures of his wealthy master and his son for “to him rapturous moment. We’ve been learning he has given all that he has” (v 36). Sounds like there’s another about Him all along the way. larger story, doesn’t it? We closed our last meditation Listen:  “His Son, whom He with a stanza from a hymn by has appointed heir of all Gerhardt Tersteegen, so let’s things” (Heb 1:2). But more, we begin with a little more from the read of “the Holy Spirit of prom- same hymn, based on our por- ise, who is the guarantee [Gk, ar- tion of Scripture today: rabon, pledge] of our inheritance until the redemption of the “O the blessed joy of meeting, All purchased possession”  (Eph the desert past; O the wondrous 1:13-14). W.E. Vine points out, words of greeting, He shall speak 106

GENESIS 25:8 at last!…He who in His hour of had offered one sacrifice for sins sorrow Bore the curse alone; I who forever, sat down at the right through the lonely desert Trod hand of God”(Heb 10:12). where He had gone; He and I, in “Behold the Man!”  (Jn 19:5). that bright glory, One deep joy He’s your blessed Man, Chris- shall share — Mine, to be forever tian, who waits for you at the with Him; His, that I am there.” end of your often difficult Watch as the distance rapidly journey Home. Yes, “it will be diminishes between the young worth it all when we see Jesus!” woman who in faith had made the journey and the young man 25:1-8 THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON who in expectation had awaited GIVING: Prayers Jesus prayed 2000 years her arrival. “And Isaac went out ago (for example John 17) are still being to meditate in the field in the answered today! evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the Genesis 25 begins with one final camels were coming. Then Rebe- flourish from the fruitful life of kah lifted her eyes, and when Abraham.  “Then Abraham she saw Isaac she dismounted breathed his last and died in a from her camel; for she had said good old age, an old man and to the servant, ‘Who is this man full of years, and was gathered walking in the field to meet us?’ to his people”  (v 8). But the The servant said, ‘It is my death of the patriarch could not master.’ So she took a veil and stem the blessing that came from covered herself” (Gen 24:63-65). his life. The chapter is full of And if we were to ask this names, unlikely as that may be, same question — “Who is this because they are all related to man?” — of the Holy Spirit, the man who didn’t receive the what might He tell us? Using the son of God’s promise until his words both of His detractors hundredth birthday! and His disciples, He could say: “Truly this Man [is] the Son I am reminded of the words of of God!” (Mk 15:39). “This Man our good friend, R.E. Harlow, receives sinners and eats with who advised, “Don’t let a little them” (Lk 15:2). “No man ever thing like death interrupt your spoke like this Man!” (Jn 7:46). ministry!” What was he saying? “Through this Man is preached That those who trust the Lord to you the forgiveness of sins” receive eternal life while still (Acts 13:38). “This Man, after He living on this planet, not just 107

GENESIS 25:8 when they arrive in that other Looking for baby boys’ names? world. This new kind of life Genesis 25 could provide some allows us to do things in time helpful research! How about that will last for eternity. Prayers Zimran, Jokshan, Ishbak, or prayed now may be answered Shuah? No? Well, there’s always long after we leave this scene. Nebajoth, Adbeel, and Mishma. Gospel seeds are “incorrupt- At least the folks four thousand ible”  (1 Pet 1:23) and, though years ago liked them. Yet in the lying dormant even for genera- midst of a flurry of baby tions, may yet sprout in the announcements, there’s a pain- hearts of people not yet born. The ful exception. same truth spoken into the heart of Timothy by his mother and Verse 19 begins:  “This is the grandmother he was to  “com- genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s mit…to faithful men who will be son. Abraham begot Isaac.” able to teach others also” (2 Tim There the genealogy is inter- 2:2). In fact, like the rainfall that rupted. In fact, Isaac doesn’t fell on the patriarchs thousands have a genealogy at this point. of years ago, and that still recy- Why? The storycontinues: “Isaac cles and falls on us today, so the was forty years old when he truth passed on from the eternal took Rebekah as wife…. Now Book by the first century Chris- Isaac pleaded with the Lord for tians is still the same “faith which his wife, because she was was once for all delivered to the barren” (vv 20-21). saints”  (Jude 1:3). The devil tempts us to sow to our flesh and As a result of the sin of our first thus reap corruption,  “but he parents, child-bearing would be who sows to the Spirit will of the fraught with multiplied sorrow Spirit reap everlasting life.”  So, (Gen 3:16). Barrenness, miscar- adds Paul,  “let us not grow riages, children born with huge weary while doing good, for in challenges — our little tribe has due season we shall reap if we do seen them, and many families not lose heart” (Gal 6:8-9). experience these agonies of broken dreams and hearts. How 25:19-21 MOTHERHOOD: HUMANITY’S many marriages feel the strain each month of yet another VITAL LINK: I think it’s beyond question reminder? Still, for all this, the deep and constant impulse for that the greatest joys and deepest sorrows child-bearing fills the planet. So it was with Rebekah. No doubt, on earth reside in the hearts of mothers. she pleaded with Isaac, and 108

GENESIS 25:22 Isaac wisely pleaded with the any gynecologist in history! He Lord. With all the modern talk of said,  “Two nations are in your family planning, birth control, womb, two peoples shall be even abortion, it should not be for- separated from your body; one gotten that it is God who opens people shall be stronger than the and closes wombs, and is the final other, and the older shall serve arbiter of every human life. the younger” (v 23). If that isn’t big enough — two nations locked So we read, “The Lord granted in conflict inside you — wait till his plea”  (25:21). She not only you find out what the New Tes- conceived, but would soon bear tament has to say about it! twins! Never forget: the Lord attends every birth, draws near Those boys didn’t just repre- in every sorrow, stands ready to sent two nations; they represent help in the challenges of child- the whole human race (see Mal rearing, and gathers Home each 1:2-3; Rom 9:13). They are pic- little soul that dies before it has tures of the “haves” and the a chance to live. After all, His “have nots.” The firstborn son most precious and endearing will represent the “haves” who name is “Father.” in fact “have not,” those who claim their rights by law, but in 25:22 DOUBLE TROUBLE: It’s hard the end do not receive God’s enough having twins, but what happens gift: “For they being ignorant of when you find out two nations are in there? God’s righteousness, and seek- ing to establish their own right- God had answered Isaac’s plea eousness, have not submitted to for a child by giving Rebekah the righteousness of God” (Rom two! But it was not an easy preg- 10:3). nancy. Movements in the womb are normal, but it seemed like a On the other hand, those born wrestling match in there! There second, who cannot appeal to were no prenatal clinics, no the law for their rights, receive ultrasounds, in those days. But righteousness by grace through she, like mothers today, could go faith: “What shall we say then? directly to the Lord:  “If all is That Gentiles, who did not pur- well,” she wondered, “why am I sue righteousness, have attained like this?” (Gen 25:22). to righteousness, even the right- eousness of faith; but Israel, pur- The Lord’s explanation, I’m suing the law of righteousness, sure, has never been offered by has not  attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because 109

GENESIS 25:22 they did not seek it by faith” The son born first had certain (9:30-32). A massive story in- rights in a patrilineal society deed, and more to come! Now I (where possessions pass from wonder: Have you been saved father to son), and the Jewish by grace through faith? people thought they had an automatic right before God 25:23a THE TWO BOYS AND THE because of their status as His special people. But the Lord TWO BIRTHS: A lesson to remind us that Jesus explained to one of their religious leaders, Nicodemus the Bible is constructed in layers — line upon (whose name tellingly means “victorious among the line, precept upon precept.  people”),  “You must be born again” (Jn 3:7). Human gestation takes about nine months, so we still have a The first birth, like the son little longer to think about Rebe- born first, will not get you into kah’s pregnancy and the two God’s kingdom. You will need a boys in her womb! Remember second birth, the new birth, the Lord had explained to which does not come by merit, her:  “Two nations are in your or religious activity, or inheri- womb, two peoples shall be sep- tance, but simply as a gift from arated from your body; one God because He is gracious and people shall be stronger than the because you believe what He other, and the older shall serve says. The old preachers used to the younger” (Gen 25:23). What say, “If you’re only born once, does this all mean? These are you’ll die twice (see Rev 21:8); some of the biggest ideas in the but if you’re born twice, at the Bible. most you will only die once.” And what of God’s statement At the simplest level, the two that  “the older shall serve the sons would be founders of two younger”? Ah, pregnancies people groups who would require patience! That’s for our wrestle throughout their history. next lesson. They are the Jews and the Edom- ites, later called Idumaeans. 25:23b “THE OLDER SHALL SERVE Herod, who sought to murder the child Jesus, was an Idu- THE YOUNGER”: What we are naturally maean. But we mentioned in our last study that they also repre- should always be at the service of what we sent two ways of seeking for a righteous standing with God. are spiritually. 110

GENESIS 25:25 As I write this, I actually have Simply stated, what we are by two daughters expecting twins  our first, or natural, birth should — one is having two boys, and serve what we are by our second, the other identical twin girls! or spiritual, birth. Paul ex- That hardly makes me an expert, plains:  “Just as you presented but it has certainly inspired my your members as slaves of thinking. I particularly want to uncleanness, and of lawless- look at the Lord’s words,  “the ness…, so now present your older shall serve the younger.” members as slaves of righteous- Cultures of the east would be ness for holiness”  (Rom 6:19). traumatized by such a state- Here, “members” means all our ment: the privileges of the “first- natural equipment: hands and born” were momentous. But eyes, hearts and minds, etc. from Cain and Abel on, it seems Once used as weapons against the one born first is not the one God to do morally unclean selected for God’s favor. And the things, now we should yield New Testament makes it clear these resources to Him so they that God’s selection (or election) can serve God in enabling our bypasses the firsts because He new life in Christ. wants to establish that it is not by law but by grace that we 25:24-25 HERE COMES ESAU! come into God’s good things. The red lentil soup tasted pretty good, until As to the words,  “the older shall serve the younger,”  you it turned really bitter. Would you kill for a will search in vain for a biogra- phical explanation; Esau never bowl of soup? served Jacob. Nor is there an historical explanation. Except for The Bible describes Rebekah’s a few years under David, the delivery: “When her days were Edomites were never subject to fulfilled for her to give birth, Israel. indeed there were twins in her womb. And the first came out The New Testament gives us red. He [had] like a hairy gar- two ways to understand this. One ment all over; so they called his regards justification, our right name Esau”  (Gen 25:24-25). standing before God, in Romans Wouldn’t that be a shocker! I 9:10-16, discussed in our pre- was born with red hair, although vious lesson. The other explana- with little to show for it. But red tion regards sanctification, hair like a fur coat? No wonder our right condition before God. he spent most of his life out-of- 111

GENESIS 25:25 doors, becoming  “a skillful this birthright to me?”  (Gen hunter, a man of the field” (v 27). 25:32). The trade was made. “Thus The domesticated life of Esau despised his birthright”  (v Jacob, “a mild man, dwelling in 34). Red Alert! It’s a terrible thing tents,”  was not for him. Esau to despise God’s gracious favor. might be translated “rough,” Do we? and the name fit the man. But later, Esau’s name was changed 25:26 MR HEEL-CATCHER: Have you to Edom, meaning “red” (v 30). ever met people like this, where every inter- And that’s the point of this story. action ends up a wrestling match? We’re let in on an unfortunate It’s amazing what you can tell family secret. As the boys grew, about a child’s personality right the parents picked favorites. from the start. Are they neat or We’re told  “Rebekah loved messy? Analytical or creative? Jacob.”  Worse than that, Isaac Quiet or noisy? From the very favored Esau for a superficial moment of Jacob’s birth, he let reason:  “Isaac loved Esau people know what he was because he ate of his game” (v about. Genesis 25:26 explains his 28). Playing favorites never arrival: “Afterward his brother turns out well. In this case, it al- came out, and his hand took most ended in murder! So how hold of Esau’s heel; so his name did Esau get the nickname was called Jacob.”  Watch out “Red”? Jacob had just cooked up when dealing with this fellow! some lentil stew when Esau Jacob means “heel-catcher, or returned from hunting, supplanter.” The dictionary exhausted and ravenous. He says, “The plantar fascia is a asked for a bowlful, and Jacob long, thin ligament that lies offered to trade it — for Esau’s directly beneath the skin on the birthright. This included: being bottom of your foot. It connects particularly consecrated to God the heel to the front of your (Ex 22:29); receiving a double foot.” Thus, “to supplant” is portion of the father’s goods defined as being, “to take the (Deut 21:17); governing the place of another, as through force, family (2 Chron 21:3); and, most scheming, or strategy.” This is the importantly, having the honor of objective of the wrestler: to lift the conducting the service of God plantar surface of the opponent’s with the family (Num 8:14-18). foot off the mat, thus gaining an advantage over him. Melodramatically, Esau says, “I am about to die; so what is 112

GENESIS 26:3 Jacob’s whole life was a series lest we think this is old news, the of wrestling matches. He wres- Holy Spirit clarifies, “besides the tled with his brother in the first famine that was in the days womb, but Esau came out first, of Abraham.” It may not just be in spite of Jacob’s efforts to hold a clarification; it may also be an him back. As we noticed in our alarm bell. Remember Abram’s last lesson, he wrestled with disastrous side trip into Egypt Esau over the birthright honors, (see Gen 12:10-20ff). It may be and seemed to gain the advan- the first time we discover that tage. But did he? As we will see, “denial is not just a river in he had to flee, leaving his Egypt.” The patriarch denied father’s wealth and the firstborn that God could look after him, privileges behind. He will even if there was a famine. Then wrestle again over Isaac’s patri- he denied Sarai, saying, “She is archal blessing, but again with my sister” (v 19). It was there he dubious results. gained Hagar and where Lot lost his heart, leading him to Egypt- Finally, there would be the Big like Sodom (13:10). And even Match, the final midnight wres- though the trip was financially tling with a Man at the fords of successful, it was relationally Jabbok. What a story that will fatal. There was too much stuff be! Jacob will be renamed that and too little room to dwell night, no longer Mr Heel- together, the tragedy of many a Catcher. But of course, there’s a couple who invest so much into little (or a lot) of Mr Heel- their house but so little into their Catcher in all of us. That same home. It’s people that are the Man will teach us the cure: treasures, not things. Life isn’t a “Learn from Me,” He says, “for warehouse; it’s a care house. I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your Well, time passes. But things souls” (Mt 11:29). don’t change much. Isaac and his family, facing food shortages 26:1-3 DANGER AHEAD! Watch out! in Canaan, decide to take the Hard times can lead to desperate choices same journey as Grandpa that lead us entirely the wrong way. Abram, down to Egypt. They only get a few miles on the way, Genesis 26 begins with a however, into what is called weather and crop report: “There Gerar,  “the land of the Philis- was a famine in the land.” And tines,”  when God puts up His warning sign: Danger Ahead! 113

GENESIS 26:3 This seems to be Isaac’s first within you. New fogies get them direct engagement with God from their old fogies. There is a since Moriah. “Do not go down string of Bible verses that, on the to Egypt,”  He says.  “Dwell in surface, seem to suggest chil- this land, and I will be with you dren are punished for their and bless you…and I will per- fathers’ sins. But in the preamble form the oath which I swore to to the Ten Commandments, the Abraham your father” (vv 2-3). Lord says the following: “I, the Thankfully Isaac listens, and, as Lord your God, am a jealous we always discover, God’s God, visiting the iniquity of the promises come true to those fathers on the children to the who obey His voice. That’s a third and fourth generations of great plan, isn’t it, even when those who hate Me, but showing things look bleak. When the out- mercy to thousands, to those who look is dark, try the uplook! love Me and keep My command- ments” (Ex 20:5-6). 26:6-11 THE SINS OF THE FATHERS: Does God really “[visit] the iniquity of the A careful observer will notice fathers on the children?” Is that fair? the real problem: both hating and loving God are contagious! Every new generation seems to And Isaac’s duplicity about his feel superior to the old fogies, wife being his sister to protect don’t they. We’re more tech himself was learned at home savvy, they think, and more re- not-so-sweet home. Parents can laxed about our parents’ old easily pass on their attitudes hang-ups. Less judgmental, too about God to their children. The (except about the old fogies, of idiom, “Little pitchers have big course). But, as my father ears,” sees the curved handle of warned me, it will be one of our a pitcher looking like a human great shocks in life when we dis- ear, and has been a popular cover, like Elijah, “I am no better expression since at least 1546, than my fathers!” (1 Ki 19:4). found in a proverb collection by John Heywood. It means, of In our story today (Gen 26:6- course, that parents freely speak- 17), Isaac has a hard lesson to ing in the home to (or at) each learn. It’s one thing to keep other have an audience, the yourself away from worldly child’s first school. Do they hear influences around you; the prob- cursing or blessing? Criticism or lem is those worldly attitudes affirmation? What are our little ones hearing? 114

GENESIS 26:18 26:12-14 A CHANGELESS GOD him. “Why have you come to me,” Isaac inquired, “since you AND A CAPRICIOUS WORLD: The world hate me and have sent me away from you?” (v 27). is a fickle lover. It will push you to the pin- They said, “We have certainly nacle of success — and then push you over seen that the Lord is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be an to make room for someone else. oath between us,…that you will do us no harm’” (vv 28-29). Isaac seems like a peaceful, verdant valley between the Joseph, David, Daniel, Paul —  thunderous heights of Abraham the list is long and storied. and Jacob. It’s true he has his Loved one minute, hated the challenging times, but his life next. So like our Lord. The same generally is marked by blessing. crowd cries, “Blessed is He who Here are three remarkable sen- comes in the name of the Lord! tences giving a recap —  The King of Israel!” then “Away “Then Isaac sowed in that land, with Him, away with Him! Cru- and reaped in the same year a cify Him!… We have no king but hundredfold; and the Lord Caesar!” (Jn 12:13; 19:15). blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prosper- Here is the testimony of God’s ing until he became very pros- servants:  “by honor and dis- perous; for he had possessions of honor, by evil report and good flocks and possessions of herds report; as deceivers, and yet and a great number of servants” true; as unknown, and yet well (Gen 26:12-14). known; as dying, and behold we live”  (2 Cor 6:8-9). It’s a fickle Imagine if your life was world — but we trust in a faith- described that way:  “began to ful God! prosper,…continued prosper- ing…very prosperous.” But this 26:18 WELL, WELL, WELL, WELL! isn’t Paradise, and the para- The old wells are filled with rubble. New graph concludes: “So the Philis- wells needed? Or dig out the ones our tines envied him.” It seems the fathers dug? people of Gerar couldn’t live Abraham was known for his with him, and couldn’t live altars. It is said he built them at without him. Shechem (Gen 12:6-7), Bethel (v 8), Hebron (13:18), and Moriah First their king said, “Go away (22:9). Later, Jacob will be known from us, for you are much mightier than we” (v 16). Then when he did, moving to Beersheba, they hurried after 115

GENESIS 26:18 for his four pillars: at Bethel which his father had called (28:18), Mizpah (31:45), back at them” (Gen 26:18). Bethel (35:14), and Bethlehem (35:20). Hmmm! Abraham’s four The enemy wants us as dry as altars. Jacob’s four pillars. You the world around us. That’s why don’t suppose… But, no, Isaac’s every generation of believers men dig SIX wells. However, as needs to redig the wells, redis- we shall see, he only gets to keep covering the same truths their four after all. And before we fathers knew, but in a fresh way. look at the well-digging projects, And the two forbidden wells? here’s a practical note. They were called Esek (meaning “strife”) and Sitnah (“quarrel- The altars speak of relationship, ing”). Let’s leave that bitterness Abraham’s relationship with the for the bad guys. Lord. Abraham was welcome in heaven any time, as are all God’s 26:34-35 ESAU AND TWENTY- people. We need both family and personal altars, places FIRST CENTURY HEDONISM: No wonder where we meet with Him. the Hittites were “hit and miss.” They be- Pillars speak of  remembrance, markers to recall those special lieved the gods were as uncertain as the times of God’s dealings in our lives. We can’t afford to forget weather, as uncaring as nature. His goodness to us:  “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not At the end of Genesis 26, we see all His benefits” (Ps 103:2). that Esau, the man enslaved by his own appetites, has set for Wells speak of  resources, himself a downward path. He reminding us of the need to dig has already sold his birthright deeply into God’s Word, espe- for a bowl of soup. cially when the world around us is suffering drought. “Therefore Now here he is, a grandson of with joy you will draw water Abraham the man of faith, at 40 from the wells of salvation” (Isa years of age, marrying two 12:3). Here’s what we read: Hittite women. Who were the “Isaac dug again the wells of Hittites, and why were they “a water which they had dug in the grief of mind to Isaac and days of Abraham his father, for Rebekah” (v 35)? the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. Descended from Heth, the He called them by the names great-grandson of Noah (Gen 10:15), they were not ignorant primitives but a people who, knowing God’s judgment in the 116

GENESIS 27:4 days of the Flood, had rejected 27:1-4 WHAT ARE YOU HUNGRY the light and embraced the dark- ness. At first, only the Bible spoke FOR? The Lord said, “Open your mouth wide of their existence, and many mocked the biblical record as and I will fill it,” but like any good parent, He mere myth. Keep digging, boys! Sure enough, between 1822 and will only fill it with what's good for us. 1902, archaeologists discovered that the Hittites were a powerful Because there are significant empire based in eastern Turkey periods of time between the and Syria and spreading into recorded interactions of God Canaan. Recall that Abraham with the human race, we may bought the burial cave of Mach- make false assumptions if we’re pelah from a Hittite (ch 23). not careful. In our story today in Genesis 27, we may assume The Hittites believed that the Isaac is near the end of his life. world was controlled by the He is well over one hundred at personified forces of nature, and this point. However, we will later this led to the most depraved discover that he lived until he practices in the names of their was 180 (Gen 35:28)! We jump to monstrous gods. This was the wrong conclusions because we reason God called Abraham out read that he “was old and his eyes of Ur in the first place, and de- were so dim that he could not livered Canaan to the Israelites see” (27:1). But he obviously lived (Ex 23:28-33), the Hittites being in this condition for a long time. the first-named enemies of God in the Land (Deut 20:17). The Nevertheless his poor eyesight Lord’s message was clear: there figures prominently in the story, is a personal Creator in control and perhaps it is a parable of his in the universe, not mindless growing spiritual imperception forces at war with each other. as well. He and Esau seem to be kin in their natural appetites, and Thus Esau both despised the the father, promising to bless his relationship the true God offered son with the blessing of God, first him in the birthright, and em- required Esau to hunt for him a braced a worldview increasingly good meal of savory game (vv 2- held today by those who 4). The Bible warns us of those have  “exchanged the truth of “whose god is their belly…who God for the lie, and worshiped set their mind on earthly things” and served the creature rather (Php 3:19). Such was the case of than the Creator” (Rom 1:25).  Isaac, who wanted a meal before his blessing, and Esau, who saw his father’s blessing merely as a 117

GENESIS 27:4 way to increase his personal Watch in this story in Genesis bank account. 27 as one lie leads to another. Isaac is almost blind. He has This is a trend often seen today asked his son, Esau, to hunt him in many religious leaders who some game and make a savory are, as Paul describes them, stew. And then, he adds,  “my “destitute of the truth, who soul may bless you before I suppose that godliness is a die” (v 4). But mother Rebekah means of gain” (1 Tim 6:5). overheard, and immediately began to scheme how Jacob, her How should we respond favorite, could intercept the instead?  “Seek those things blessing. She sprang into action, which are above, where Christ sending Jacob after two goat is, sitting at the right hand of kids. With the right combination God. Set your mind on things of spices, old Isaac would never above, not on things on the know the difference. earth. For…your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col 3:1-3). Immediately Jacob sees a As the Lord Jesus promised, problem: “Esau my brother is a “Blessed are those who hunger hairy man, and I am a smooth- and thirst for righteousness, for skinned man. Perhaps my father they shall be filled” (Mt 5:6). As will feel me, and I shall seem to we shall see, Jacob may go about be a deceiver to him; and I shall it in the wrong way, but at least he bring a curse on myself and not was hungry for the right things. a blessing” (vv 11-12). 27:4 THE TRAIL OF TRICKERY: No problem, says his mother. Like a stone thrown across the surface of a The kid skins can be attached to lake, actions we take today can ripple across your arms and back of your many generations. neck, and wearing some of Esau’s clothes, he’ll never know. A trail of trickery follows the line So far we have doctored food, of Abraham from his half-truths camouflaged arms, and bor- about Sarah through Isaac’s sim- rowed clothes, but there’s more! ilar ploy, and on through Jacob and Laban and Jacob’s sons to When his father asks,  “Who Joseph himself. Only one of these are you?” he replies, “I am Esau, (Joseph’s scheme to win over his your firstborn.”  The lies just brothers) was positive; all the keep coming. How did he get others had nefarious motives. the meat so quickly? The answer must have stung Jacob’s lips: “Because the Lord your God 118

GENESIS 27:15 brought it to me” (v 20). It has responds, “I am.” Lies are lethal. been well said that the truth They may not kill the body, but sometimes hurts but lies end up they certainly kill the soul. And hurting more. In the following they kill relationships, too. In at- lesson, wait till you see what tempting to steal the blessing, happens next. Jacob lost his brother. 27:15 JACOB SNARES HIS OWN The Lord Jesus declared that the devil, “When he speaks a lie, HEEL: When someone decides to live life by he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the taking from others, in the end the person father of it” (Jn 8:44). That ques- tion as to who Jacob “really” was from whom they take the most is really would haunt him until the night that God asked,  “What is your themselves. name?” Finally, he said, “Jacob” (32:27), the trickster. Amazingly, In order to pull off the deception the moment he was honest with of Isaac his father, Jacob and God, the transformation in his Rebekah contrived to override life began. But we’re getting all five of the old man’s senses. ahead of ourselves. The goat would be spiced to dis- guise it as wild meat. The man’s The punchline here is this: In sense of touch would be tricked attempting to trick his father, it with the skins on his arms. To was Jacob who was tricked. fool the subtle difference in When we attempt to take from smell between an outdoor son others, we rob the most from and a tent-dweller,  “Rebekah ourselves. Job, in describing the took the choice clothes of her wicked, wrote: “He is cast into a elder son Esau…and put them net by his own feet, and he on Jacob”  (Gen 27:15). Isaac’s walks into a snare. The net takes sight was the easiest to over- him by the heel, and a snare lays come, but the supercentenarian  hold of him”  (Job 17:8-9). (how often do you get to use that Trapped by our own trickery! word?) had used his ears to compensate for his loss of sight. 27:32-41 WHEN TEARS ARE NOT Thus, after all their efforts, Isaac still exclaims,  “The voice is ENOUGH: It’s true, Esau sought repentance, Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”  Again he but not for his own heart; it was his father, asks, “Are you really my son Esau?”  and Jacob unabashedly Isaac, he wanted to repent. We seldom find repentance when we think it’s the other fellow’s fault! 119

GENESIS 27:32 Fooled by the conspiracy between not be “like Esau, who for one his younger son and his wife, old morsel of food sold his birth- Isaac gave Jacob the blessing of right. For you know that the firstborn. Is the way to a afterward, when he wanted to man’s heart really through his inherit the blessing, he was stomach? Jacob thought so. He rejected, for he found no place stole the birthright from Esau for repentance, though he with a bowl of lentil soup; he sought it diligently with tears” stole the blessing from Isaac (Heb 12:16-17). Note! It was not with a plate of goat stew. Now his  own  repentance he sought. we wait for the other sandal to Are these the words of a pen- drop. Sure enough, in comes itant? “The days of mourning for Esau with his freshly caught my father are at hand; then I will venison, or whatever it was, and kill my brother Jacob”  (Gen he brings a heaping serving to 27:41). It was his father’s mind his father. Again the question he wanted changed, not his own. from the blind old man:  “Who But it was too late. Bartering are you?”  And again the earth’s pleasures for God’s bless- answer:  “I am your son, your ings will always be a bad deal. firstborn, Esau” (Gen 27:32). 27:43-44 THE WATERSHEDS OF LIFE: Can you feel the tension in the Key decisions are like the juncture of a rail- room? The Bible records: “Isaac road track. Where it branches is a matter of trembled exceedingly, and said, inches, but at the end, the two lines can be ‘Who?’”  (v 33). Then the sad a continent apart. news poured out. Jacob had beaten Esau to the punch. Isaac’s The household intrigue con- stomach was full with the goat tinues in Genesis 27. Rebekah meat from Jacob, and now hears what Esau had said about Jacob’s life was full with the killing his brother for taking the blessing of Isaac. birthright. She warns Jacob that he will need to lay low for a Esau, grown man that he was, while. Her advice is as fol- burst out with bitter crying. lows: “Now therefore, my son, “Bless me — me also, O my obey my voice: arise, flee to my father!”  he pled, but it was too brother Laban in Haran. And late. He would be blessed, but not stay with him a few days, until with the blessing of the firstborn. your brother’s fury turns Here the New Testament adds its own commentary. Be very careful, we are warned, that you 120

GENESIS 28:3 away”  (Gen 27:43-44). Do you ends in the balmy Mediterra- have any idea how long nean. Although a sovereign God those  “few days”  became? She was at work, the men made their should have said “a few dec- own choices. Jacob is featured in ades” instead! It’s likely Jacob Hebrews 11, the faith chapter, never saw his mother alive and poor Esau in the sad warn- again. What a solemn reminder ing about him in chapter 12. we all should take to heart: We are free to make decisions in life, but 27:46-28:3 AN ASSEMBLY OF we aren’t free to determine the consequences of those decisions. PEOPLES: The subtle phrasing is easily How important to consider this when making choices. overlooked, but God's plan always was to There is a castle on the Ayrshire bring the most blessing to the most people. coast of Scotland called Culzean, home of the Scottish clan Coming to the end of Genesis 27, Kennedy from 1777 until 1945. is Rebekah still conniving? It My wife and I visited the beau- looks like it. She wants her tiful grounds and the imposing favorite son, Jacob, safely away castle on our honeymoon. Al- from his brother’s anger but also though the castle is a master- wants his leaving to have her piece designed by the famous husband’s blessing. So she says architect, Robert Adam, and al- to Isaac, “I am weary of my life though the view across the Firth because of the daughters of of Clyde is breathtaking, and the Heth; if Jacob takes a wife of the surrounding tropical gardens daughters of Heth, like these magnificent, I was most im- who are the daughters of the pressed by the words of the land, what good will my life be family motto engraved over the to me?” (v 46). The daughters of entry. It reads,  Avise la fin. In Heth were the Hittite wives English, it means — whom Esau had chosen. Thus she frames an excuse for Jacob’s “CONSIDER THE END.” hurried departure, concealing Jacob and Esau were like two the true cause which included water drops landing not far her scheme to trick Isaac. So the apart in the Swiss Alps, with one father calls his younger son to flowing north into the placid him, and instructs Jacob to find Rhine river and ending in the a wife back in Padan-aram cold North Sea, while the other where the family originated. joins the turbulent Rhone and Then he blesses him. 121

GENESIS 28:3 Along with the blessing of the happened to be the place where his grand- Lord, the multiplying of his seed, and the possession of the father called on the name of the Lord. land, Isaac adds this interesting note:  “…that you may be an In our story today, Jacob is head- assembly of peoples” (28:3). This ing north, fleeing from his seems to be similar to the brother’s wrath. Did he wonder, promise regarding Abraham, “In as he journeyed, if the Lord your seed all the nations of the would endorse the blessing his earth shall be blessed” (22:18). father had given him, since it was taken from Esau by guile? Would This idea of an assembly com- the faithful, covenant-keeping posed of various “peoples,” not God ratify such a birthright taken simply the Jews, is explained by by lying lips and doctored stew? Paul when he writes to the Gala- Was Jacob deserving of the tians, “And the Scripture, fore- blessing of the Lord? seeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached We can assume it was at least the gospel to Abraham before- four days from the same place hand, saying, ‘In you all the for Jacob to arrive at what the nations shall be blessed’” (3:8). Scripture calls “a certain place” (Gen 28:11). The ancient traveler So here is Jacob, heading off to may not have known it, but this avoid his brother’s wrath, and place had been the site of grand- the Spirit of God uses this father Abraham’s altar built for occasion to point forward to the the worship of Jehovah, where, day when God would use the for the first time we read that the scattered Jews to actually assem- patriarch “called on the name of ble thousands of souls from the Lord” (12:8). among the nations to be the people of God. With such a du- Jacob was obviously exhausted. bious start, Jacob leaves his Anyone who can take  “one of father’s herds behind, but with the stones of that place and put the undeserved grace of God it at his head, and he lay down upon him. in that place to sleep”  (v 11) must be exhausted! But his sleep 28:11 JACOB CAMPS AT BETHEL: was soon interrupted. “Then he Jacob might have thought it was a random dreamed, and behold, a ladder location for his overnight stop, but it was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascend- ing and descending on it. And 122

GENESIS 28:12 behold, the Lord stood above a ladder was set up on the earth, it…” (vv 12-13). This has to be and its top reached to heaven; the dream of all dreams! There is and there the angels of God were a direct link from where we are ascending and descending on to heaven? Angelic beings it” (v 12). surround us? God Almighty is looking down upon us at this What, or who, is that ladder to very moment? No wonder Jacob heaven? People have had all exclaimed, “Surely the Lord is in sorts of explanations of the stair- this place, and I did not know way to heaven. Is it our good- it” (v 16). ness? Obviously not with Jacob! Does it represent man’s religious Do YOU know it? Perhaps efforts to reach up to God? you, like Jacob, have a past of Human good works? Here is the which you should be ashamed. Lord Jesus’ explanation to one of Truth be known, we are all His early disciples:  “Hereafter disqualified from God’s bless- you shall see heaven open, and ings. Except for this: “…God is the angels of God ascending and gracious and merciful, and will descending upon the Son of not turn His face from you if you Man” (Jn 1:51). return to Him”  (2 Chron 30:9). Will you today return to Him? Ah, that’s it! As the apostle Paul would describe it, “There is 28:12 A LADDER TO HEAVEN: one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man According to God, the world is condemned Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all…” (1 Tim 2:5-6). and ready to burn. Everyone on it should This one fact is crucial in deter- mining the way to heaven. We have at least a mild curiosity if a rescue lad- cannot build a pile of good works or religious activity and der is available. climb on them up to heaven. But, thank God, the way is already What a fascinating story here in provided! Jesus, the ransom —  Genesis 28! Jacob, traveling the word means a price paid to north, seems to stop at random set someone free — has already in the very place where his made it possible to bring us grandfather Abraham first home to God. called on the Lord. Now in his night dream he sees something In Abraham’s day, the place not entirely understood until where Jacob camped was called Jesus explains it centuries later. Luz. Now Jacob renames it Beth- “Then he dreamed, and behold, 123

GENESIS 28:12 el, which means “the house of humans are; each is a special God.”  “How awesome is this creation of God. They do not place!” exclaimed Jacob. “This is bear children — in spite of the none other than the house of false notion that cherubs are God, and this is the gate of baby angels. As Jesus explained, heaven!” (Gen 28:17). Yes, God’s angels  “neither marry nor are house is now open to us when given in marriage” (Mt 22:30). It we come to God through Christ, would seem that one-third of the Savior for sinners like us. these awe-inspiring creatures sided with the angel Lucifer in BEFORE WE LEAVE BETHEL... rebellion against God and were cast out of heaven (see Rev 12:3- We make a big mistake if we think there 9). But two-thirds remain loyal to are no angels around just because we the Lord. What are they doing? don't see them. And don’t forget: To this question, the writer to God is always around too! the Hebrews explains: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent Let’s make one last observation forth to minister for those who before leaving Bethel. Jacob saw will inherit salvation?” In other the Lord seated in heaven. Rising words, until God’s people are up to heaven was a ladder. Then saved entirely out of this sinful we read, “and there the angels of world, angels are standing by as God were ascending and de- elite, superhuman guardians of scending on it”  (v 12). In pre- God’s people. vious studies, we thought about The Angel of the Lord and how Notice the important order in this often points to the Son of our key verse. “The angels of God God Himself in His pre-incarnate were ascending and descending…”  appearances on earth. This is If they were ascending before clearly true if the Angel accepts they were descending, that worship, takes the names of infers they were already beside deity, or promises things that Jacob on earth, taking his needs only God can do. heavenward, and returning with God’s gracious responses. You But angels, like those spoken may not see them, Christian, but about here, are a special creation they are there, ready for action! of God. They are spirit beings, although they often appear as 28:13-15 THE PROMISE RENEWED: men. They are not a race, as we God loves to do things in a big way: “grace 124

GENESIS 28:21 upon grace,” “pressed down, shaken God’s presence would be with him to protect him wherever he together, and running over.” Here's another traveled; sixth, God would even- tually bring him back to the land example of His generosity. given him; and seventh, Jacob could count on the Lord to fulfill You may recall we asked in the every promise He had made. No section on Genesis 28:11, “if the fine print, no escape clause, no Lord would endorse the blessing exceptions. God would be as his father had given him, since it good as His word. was taken from Esau by guile?” Today we get our answer. Notice The next morning, to memori- all the promises within the bless- alize the occasion, Jacob took his ing. Genesis 28, verses 13-15, stone pillow and lifted it up to be reads as follows: “And behold, a pillar, then vowed, “If God will the Lord stood above it and said: be with me, and keep me in this ‘I am the Lord God of Abraham way that I am going, and give your father and the God of Isaac; me bread to eat and clothing to the land on which you lie I will put on, so that I come back to my give to you and your descen- father’s house in peace, then the dants. Also your descendants Lord shall be my God”  (vv 20- shall be as the dust of the earth; 21). How big of Jacob to let God you shall spread abroad to the be his God! west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in 28:20-21 THE LORD SHALL BE MY your seed all the families of the GOD: Do you ever find yourself, like Jacob, earth shall be blessed. Behold, I giving God a list of things for Him to do, am with you and will keep you instead of asking, “What will You have me wherever you go, and will bring to do?” you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done We concluded our last lesson what I have spoken to you.’”  with the facetious statement, “How big of Jacob to let God be How many promises did you his God!” What Jacob actually find? First, there is the promise said was this:  “If God will be of the land; second, of the with me, and keep me in this dramatic increase of his family way that I am going, and give to become a nation; third, that me bread to eat and clothing to they will spread out to the four put on, so that I come back to my compass points; fourth, through his progeny, all the families of the earth would be blessed; fifth, 125

GENESIS 28:21 father’s house in peace, then the course, His anointing equips us Lord shall be my God”  (Gen for ministry, gifting us to serve 28:20-21). If, says Jacob, God the Lord. Beautiful, isn’t it! The travels with me, feeds me, Father sits enthroned in glory. clothes me, and brings me home The Son is pictured in the ladder, safely, I’ll let Him be my God. our only link with heaven. The But how often we find this atti- Spirit poured out is seen in the oil, tude in our own hearts. Enjoying and now the picture is complete.  the blessings seems to be more important than enjoying the 29:1 IS GOD YOUR GOD? Lots of Blesser. But the Lord is not in folks know that God is powerful, and preem- heaven to do our will; we are on inent, and praiseworthy, and so on. But the earth to do His will. I believe it question is: Do you know Him personally? was Florence Nightingale who said, “I must constantly remind The story of Jacob continues with myself that God is not my the words that begin Genesis private secretary.” 29, “So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the Notice however that, in an people of the East” (v 1). But the action rich with symbolism, original here expresses a positive Jacob not only lifted his stone cheerfulness not seen in our pillow into a pillar, he also translation. It might read: “And “poured oil on top of it” (v 18). Jacob  lifted up his feet, and he Why would he do this? The oil travelled to the land of the of course was olive oil, and olive children of the east.” We speak oil was a useful commodity in about some event putting a that land. It was used for food, spring into our step, and this warmth, light, healing, and anoint- encounter with God at Bethel did ing. These are the ministries of just that for Jacob. He no longer the Holy Spirit, who is often rep- was looking forward with fore- resented in Scripture by the boding, but with anticipation. No symbolism of oil. He is the one need for Jacob to insert an “if” who feeds us with the nutritious into God’s promise — “If God Word of God. He provides the will be with me, and keep me in warmth of Christian fellowship, this way that I am going…” (28:20), being the bond between believers. since God had just declared, He shines the light of divine “Behold, I am with you and will guidance on life’s pathway, and is the Comforter who helps us in our hours of trouble. And of 126

GENESIS 29:3 keep you wherever you go” (v The first thing Jacob saw as he 15). Nothing iffy about that! approached the settlement of Paddan Aram was a well. This is always a red-letter day According to  The International in an individual’s life, when God Standard Bible Encyclopedia, becomes OUR God. The Lord “‘Paddan Aram’ and ‘Haran’ had introduced Himself to Jacob may be dialectical variations by saying, “I am the Lord God of regarding the same locality as Abraham…and the God of paddanū and harranū  are syn- Isaac” (v 13). Interestingly, God onyms for…‘caravan route’ in never called Himself “the God of Akkadian.” Wells were com- Abraham”  until Abraham was monly dug at low places, nearest dead, or “the God of Isaac” until the aquifer, whereas towns were Isaac was dead. God doesn’t built strategically on nearby play favorites, but He does have higher ground. As Jacob took in intimates, those who make them- the scene, he noticed three flocks selves available to Him for His of sheep lying near the well. friendship. Abraham and Isaac Water would be drawn from the had done this. Now it was well by large jars, then poured Jacob’s time. into nearby stone troughs from which the sheep would drink. In Very often those raised in cooler climates, sheep rarely Christian homes think of God as drink like this; they get sufficient the God of their fathers, God as moisture from the dew-laden an idea, a doctrine, an argument grass. But in hotter regions, water to make to unbelievers. But MY must be drawn for the flocks. God? This surely is one of the greatest discoveries anyone can Now the divine Author ex- make. These were Jacob’s very plains: “A large stone was on the words:  “the Lord shall be my well’s mouth. Now all the flocks God” (v 21). Can you pray this? would be gathered there; and Lord, I want you to be MY God, they would roll the stone from my personal Friend. And then the well’s mouth, water the live each day in the good of that sheep, and put the stone back in life-transforming truth. its place”  (Gen 29:2-3). Why is this significant? Seemingly it 29:2-3 THE MEETING AT THE WELL: was quite a job to manhandle the large stone off and on the well It seems that the village well was the mouth. They only wanted to do favorite place in ancient times for love to it once, and one of the regular flocks had not yet arrived. bloom. Jacob found it to be so as well. Please excuse the pun! 127

GENESIS 29:3 While they waited, Jacob en- hind Jacob’s kiss. We read: “Jacob quired about his mother’s older brother, Laban. Yes, said the loved Rachel” (v 17). shepherds, they knew him, “and After Jacob had stayed for a look,” they said, “his daughter Rachel is coming with the month in Laban’s home, and sheep” (v 6). She must have been obviously had made himself an inspiring sight, because Jacob useful around the farm, it was single-handedly “rolled the time for a family conference. stone from the well’s mouth, “Then Laban said to Jacob, and watered the flock of Laban ‘Because you are my relative, his mother’s brother”  (v 10). should you therefore serve me With gratitude and relief, Jacob for nothing? Tell me, what wept as he realized that, even if should your wages be?’” (v 15). Rachel was a little behind the others in coming to the well, His There are two sides to wages. God was right on schedule. Of course, there is the benefit to the wage-earner, but there is also 29:13-18 WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR a contractual arrangement made LOVE? There are many motivations for which is beneficial to the one doing things. One of the major themes in the paying the wages. We will sub- Bible is that the greatest motivator is love. sequently learn that Laban was tight with his money, if not Was it love at first sight? When actually covetous, and by this ar- Jacob saw Rachel, he gave her a rangement he hoped to lock in kiss! Of course, in that day it was Jacob’s helpful services to his often simply an expression of advantage. And so it would respect and friendship. How do prove to be. What wages did we know? Because when Rachel Jacob request? “He said, ‘I will conveyed the news to Laban that serve you seven years for Rachel Jacob, their relative, had arrived, your younger daughter’” (v 18). Laban  “ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, With no dowry money for a and brought him to his house” bride, he trusts this will be a (Gen 29:13). It isn’t long, ho- suitable alternative. But, if we’re wever, until we discover that not careful, we might miss the there was more than respect be- ironic words that precede Jacob’s offer. They will prove to be a ticking bomb, although they seem to be innocent enough in the telling. “Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the 128

GENESIS 29:26 younger was Rachel”  (v 16). nian church, Paul writes, “Re- Jacob may be a sly operator, but membering without ceasing has he met his match in Laban? your work of faith, labor of love, Watch out, Jacob! and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess 1:3). Oh, 29:20 SERVICE FROM THE HEART: what a difference! Is the Christian Life is hard work if it’s done well. Good rela- work you do just drudgery, or is tionships are costly but worth it. But it’s it a work of faith? Is it merely doing things for the right reason that turns hard exertion, or a labor of love? mere drudgery into a labor of love. Are you just hanging in there, slaving away, or is it the enduring Henry Van Dyke wrote: “Time is patience of hope? Too Slow for those who Wait, Too Swift for those who Fear, Dear believer, it may be you Too Long for those who Grieve, have the same problem the Too Short for those who Rejoice; assembly at Ephesus had: “Nev- But for those who Love, Time is ertheless I have this against not.” So it seemed with Jacob. you,” said the Savior to them —  For seven long years he had and to us — “you have left your toiled under the hot Middle first love” (Rev 2:4). Notice, their Eastern sun for his uncle Laban. first love was not lost, but left. Why was he doing this? To win Conscious choices are made that the hand of Laban’s younger take us away from Him to other daughter, Rachel. In fact, we loves. But today can be a new read, “Jacob served seven years beginning if, as He proposes, for Rachel, and they seemed only we “Remember…repent and do a few days to him because of the the first works” (v 5). If we do love he had for her” (Gen 29:20). this, like Jacob, our time of serv- ice will seem only a few days Allow me to pause for a mo- because we are impelled by love ment to apply this to our hearts to Christ. as believers. Is our service for the Lord motivated by such love 29:25-26 WEDDING BELLS! and loyalty? If not, it will be a hard slog indeed. Of the Ephe- MORNING TELLS! If Jacob was the sian church, Jesus observed:  “I know your works, your labor, ultimate trickster, he certainly met his your patience  (or endurance)” match in Uncle Laban. Jacob swapped the (Rev 2:2). But of the Thessalo- younger for the older. And Laban did just the opposite. 129

GENESIS 29:26 The day arrived that Jacob had Laban said, ‘It must not be done waited and worked for: Rachel’s so in our country, to give the hand in marriage! It had been younger before the firstborn’” (v seven long years, and he was 26). Ah, yes, Jacob, we have rules eager to get on with married life. around here about the younger A feast was planned and the not stepping in before the first- celebration lasted into the even- born. What a zinger! Now here ing. The sky grew dark, and we are almost 4000 years beyond crafty Laban brought his daugh- these times. But there is a princi- ter, no doubt veiled, to Jacob. ple throughout Scripture that Jacob consummated the mar- was true then and is true now. It riage that night in his tent. But comes in various forms: What what a surprise the morning you sow, you reap. As you brought! “It came to pass in the judge, you will be judged. Or morning, that behold, it was how about this, in Proverbs Leah” (Gen 29:25). 26:27, “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a Earlier, the sisters were described stone will have it roll back on him.” as follows: “Leah’s eyes were deli- cate, but Rachel was beautiful of 29:27-29 WHO SAYS “TWO ARE form and appearance” (v 17). The conjunction “but” in the middle BETTER THAN ONE”? When problems suggests a contrast. Some have translated the Hebrew word rak, arise, we need to go to God about them. If not as delicate, but as weak or faint. Perhaps. Or it may simply not, trying to solve them on our own can mean that Leah’s only redeem- ing feature was her eyes, while often turn problems into disasters! her younger sister was beautiful overall. Whatever the case, Jacob Our title asks, “Who says, ‘Two was unhappy, to say the least! are better than one’?” Well, the “What is this you have done to Bible does! Here are the words me? Was it not for Rachel that I of Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are served you? Why then have you better than one, because they deceived me?” (v 25). have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift Jacob is getting some of his up his companion.”  Yes, it’s a own medicine, isn’t he! What wonderful thing to have a godly goes around comes around. marriage partner who stands by Especially when you hear Uncle you through thick and thin. Of Laban’s ironic excuse:  “And course, husband and wife already make two. Though he 130

GENESIS 29:30 was tricked, Jacob already has a that night, would they! But what wife. And three are definitely a sad chapter, even with two not better than two! God’s plan weddings! Leah, we read, “was from the beginning was one unloved”  (v 31), but watch as man and one woman for life. the Lord comes to her rescue! Jacob had sealed a covenant with Laban’s daughter, Leah, 29:30 LEAH, THE WOMAN and he should have stood by it. In fact, the Word of God declares UNLOVED: Don't be disheartened when that one of the things God delights in is the person  “who things seem not to be working out, Christian. swears to his own hurt and does not change”  (Ps 15:4). Today Those who love God know a secret: all things people lightly say, “I married the wrong one.” Well, they may will work together for good, sooner or later. have been the wrong one before the wedding, but once married, At first, we read that they are the right one! Jacob  “loved Rachel more than Leah”  (Gen 29:30). Have you Jacob, however, was not satis- heard where an arrangement like fied, and agreed to the solution that ever worked? I’m no math- offered by Laban — to take both ematician, but I’ve discovered daughters as his wives. If the that all love triangles are acute! It girls were competitive before, reminds me of the impossibilities imagine the household after- described in the New Testament. wards! It was double trouble for Jesus said, “No one can serve Jacob. Had he not learned from two masters; for either he will the favoritism of his mother and hate the one and love the other, father for him and Esau? Now or else he will be loyal to the one he does the same thing, favoring and despise the other” (Mt 6:24). Rachel, the younger, over her It isn’t a challenge. It’s  impos- older sister, Leah. sible to live for God and gold. In a similar way, John writes: “Do Laban tacks on another seven not love the world or the things years, and back to work Jacob in the world. If anyone loves the goes. He doesn’t have to wait world, the love of the Father is seven more years for Rachel’s not in him” (1 Jn 2:15). His point hand, however. One week later, is clear. No one is happy with another marriage is consum- half a heart. mated. No one would blame Jacob if he kept a light burning The next assessment of Jacob’s home is more accurate:  “Leah was unloved” (v 31). There it is, 131

GENESIS 29:30 in black and white. How many sister who is more beautiful and women in our world can identify the object of her husband’s affec- with Leah. But who, in our story, tion. Used as a bartering chip by is the one who notices this? Let her father for seven years of me now read the full observation labor and, in spite of bearing in verse 31:  “The Lord saw  that four sons, neglected still. That’s Leah was unloved.”  the immediate view, and a bleak one at that. But it’s not the only Dear Christian, in a loveless viewpoint! marriage through no fault of your own, the Lord sees! And Centuries later, the apostle He went into action. In her case, Paul would write:  “We know we read that  “He opened her that all things work together for womb”  and Leah was given a good to those who love baby boy on which to lavish her God” (Rom 8:28). He would also love. In fact, she bore four sons state that love “bears all things, in a row! In that patrilineal soci- believes all things, hopes all ety, it should have made her a things, endures all things”  (1 very special woman in the Cor 13:7). But what did Leah family. But no, even after bear- have to look forward to, to ing Reuben (meaning “see, a believe in, to hope for? That’s son!”), Simeon (meaning “hear- just the point. The Bible says ing” because the Lord heard her we’re like sheep, and when crying), Levi (meaning “at- sheep are nibbling grass, their tached” because she hoped eyes are about two inches off the Jacob would now feel attached ground. They need a good shep- to her), and Judah, she was still herd to look out for them, to unloved. What does Judah have the long view. mean? “Praise!” Loved or not by her husband, Leah decided to For example, did she know praise the Lord anyway! Three, that two of her boys, Levi and no four, cheers for Leah! Judah, would be the progenitors of all the priests, Levites, and 29:31(a) THE GOOD VIEWPOINT IS rightful kings in Israel? Could she ever imagine that all of her GOD’S VIEWPOINT: Heaven’s perspective sons would someday have their names engraved on the pearly is always better than earth’s. Our eyes stop gates of the heavenly Jerusalem (Rev 21:12)? Or could she have at the horizon; God sees all the way to forever. known, wonder of wonders, that “Leah was unloved”  (Gen little more than 40 generations 29:31a). A lonely woman, living in a household with her younger 132

GENESIS 30:9 later, there would come from her that it is God who opens and direct line the King of kings, the closes wombs. In fact, here are Savior of all who believe, the the very words before this state- world’s greatest Lover? ment: “When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened If only she had known the her womb.”  words, she might have been able to sing Grace Pennell’s moving But Rachel was not thinking hymn, “Loved! then the way about asking the Lord for help; will not be drear; For One we it was Jacob she blamed. “Give know is ever near, Proving it to me children, or else I die!” she our hearts so clear, That we are said. In frustration,  “Jacob’s loved. Loved when our sky is anger was aroused against clouded o’er, And days of Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the sorrow press us sore; Still will place of God, who has withheld we trust Him evermore, For we from you the fruit of the are loved.” womb?” (ch 30 v 2). But clearly he wasn’t thinking about asking 29:31(b)-30:9 THE UNVARNISHED the Lord for help, either. Had the TRUTH: We love flattery; God wants family learned nothing from the honesty. The strange thing is, by grace God’s sad tale of Sarah and Hagar? view of us is way higher than we would ever dream for ourselves. Obviously not! Acting when the emotions are  “aroused”  is The phrase “warts and all” is like setting sail into the teeth of a said to have first occurred when storm. Rachel said, “‘Here is my Oliver Cromwell instructed Sir maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she Peter Lely to paint his portrait will bear a child on my knees, without any flattery. And he did! that I also may have children by So it is with God’s portrayal of her.’ Then…Jacob went in to humanity — He tells it like it is! her”  (vv 3-4). Two wives plus In our story today, we find two maids as additional wives —  Jacob’s younger wife, Rachel —  what was Jacob thinking? Ho- the pretty one, the loved one —  wever God did give Bilhah two envious of her older sister, Leah! sons, Dan and Naphtali. And why? Because, we read, “Rachel was barren”  (Gen Not to be outdone, when 29:31b). It is a recurring theme Leah “saw that she had stopped throughout the Old Testament bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as wife” (v 9). It’s hard to believe that this is the official record of 133

GENESIS 30:9 the start of the nation of Israel! as a cathartic, or as a narcotic and But you can always count on soporific.” God to tell the truth just like it is! The root, with its human form, 30:14 CHILDREN ARE NOT suggested to pagan minds that it might be an aphrodisiac pro- WEAPONS! Who said, “All is fair in love and vided by the gods. The plant provided enough poison, when war”? Certainly not the Lord! He says love mixed with wine, to kill an enemy. In slightly smaller por- “is kind.” What a contrast! tions, it was used as an anes- thetic for ancient surgeries, and Our story in Genesis 30 describes, in mild doses as a sleeping aid. in quick-fire action, the matrimo- But in those days, a small nial duel between Jacob’s two amount, mixed in a drink, was wives. What is their ammu- like modern “date-rape drugs,” nition? Baby boys! In chapter 28, used to inhibit people from Leah shoots first, with Reuben, making clear decisions. Simeon, Levi and Judah. Her objective is to capture Jacob’s In our next episode, Reuben’s affections from her sister. Rachel, mandrakes become a bargaining being barren, fires back by using chip in the family’s ongoing civil her maid, Bilhah. In quick suc- war. Sadly, this wouldn’t be the cession come Dan and Naphtali. last time that children (or the Not to be outdone, Leah intro- way of conceiving them) were duces her maid, Zilpah, into the used as weapons in the so-called fray. Gad and Asher appear. battle of the sexes. How far this Then there is a lull in the action. is from God’s plan of marital love and unity in wholesome We come now to Genesis family life! 30:14. Here we read that Leah’s eldest boy, Reuben, is out with 30:15-16 WHO IS HUNGRY FOR the men during wheat harvest, and discovers some mandrakes. MANDRAKES? Imagine a plant being a key Webster’s describes this plant: “a Mediterranean herb…of the player in a Bible story! And a plant with a nightshade family with large ovate leaves, greenish-yellow or root that looks human! What next! purple flowers, and a large usually forked root resembling a The New Testament describes human in form…formerly used people who “will turn their ears especially to promote conception, away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables”  (2 Tim 4:4). When people reject God’s 134

GENESIS 30:21 truth, they don’t live in a mental Leah intercepts Jacob even vacuum; they end up believing before he gets home and fairy tales. Reject God’s creation says, “You must come in to me, story, and you soon accept the for I have surely hired you with evolutionary hypothesis that my son’s mandrakes”  (v 16). frogs eventually turn into Love is a gift, not something to princes! Because if you refuse the be traded for advantage. “Love light, the only alternative is darkness. does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; Atheists laugh at Christians does not behave rudely, does not for their belief in heaven. But seek its own” (1 Cor 13:4-5). Yet when an atheist’s loved one dies, for all this, God still shows they make up fables like: “I saw Himself gracious, and Leah a butterfly land on my mother’s conceives again. favorite rosebush. I think it’s my mother letting me know she’s 30:21 IT’S A GIRL! Boys, boys, boys! watching over me.” That's all we’ve been hearing about. But now — imagine —a girl with ten older brothers! So Jacob’s wives in Genesis 30, unwilling to accept God’s way Did I mention at the end of our of asking Him to open their last meditation that Leah wombs, turn to  “old wives’ conceived again? Well, she con- fables”  (1 Tim 4:7). They think ceived again, and again, and again! the human-like poisonous root First Issachar, then Zebulun, her of the mandrake plants that fifth and sixth sons for Jacob. Then Reuben found will give them an one more: “Afterward she bore a advantage in their war for the daughter, and called her name affections of Jacob. Rachel asks Dinah” (Gen 30:21). for some of the mandrakes, and Leah sees her opportunity. “Is it How often do we find daugh- a small matter that you have ters mentioned in the Old Testa- taken away my husband?” she ment? Job’s daughters are asks. “Would you take away my mentioned, proving his double son’s mandrakes also?”  (Gen blessing. But it is not often that 30:15). You can see the hurt is girls are listed in Hebrew just below the surface. genealogies, since the system was patrilineal. God’s intention Thus Rachel and Leah make a was to establish twelve tribes, deal as at the beginning, but in- each with their own territory. If a stead of Laban’s daughters, now Jacob is the commodity to be traded. So sad, isn’t it? 135

GENESIS 30:21 woman were to inherit a piece of JACOB’S FAMILY PORTRAIT land, then if she married outside of her tribe, her son, recorded in You don't suppose Jacob’s family could be his father’s tribe, would inherit a picture of something much bigger, a land in the territory of another family united from every nation? tribe. Soon it would be a dis- ordered patchwork of land claims, We haven’t seen the last of and God didn’t want that. Jacob’s boys — Benjamin, born to Rachel. But it’s fitting to take We will later meet the daugh- a look at Jacob’s family’s por- ters of Zelophehad whose trait. God is always working requests regarding their father’s behind the scenes. In fact, divine inheritance laid out the prece- sovereignty is God overruling dent cases establishing the occa- humanity’s failures to bring sions when Hebrew daughters blessing to us in spite of our- could inherit land (which we selves! The names given to these discover is vital in the days of 12 boys might seem random, but Mary, Jesus’ mother). Sadly, the don’t be surprised if God is daughters are too often men- weaving a pattern here. After all, tioned when taken advantage of Paul writes,  “whatever things by men. Such was the case with were written before were David taking advantage of Bath- written for our learning” (Rom sheba, Eliam’s daughter, and 15:4). What if the names of these then his own daughter, Tamar, boys picture  our  entrance into being forced by her half-brother, God’s forever family? Amnon. Such will also be the case with Dinah (Gen 34). The first, Reuben, means “See, a son!”— the message of the Of course, that isn’t the whole gospel. Simeon means “hearing” story. Soon after, Rachel herself and “faith comes by hearing… bears a son named Joseph the word”  (Rom 10:17). Levi (meaning “adding”) and what means “Joined” and so the Spirit an addition he proved to be! But makes us one with our Lord. his story is the other side, al- Judah means “praise,” and those though not nearly as often the saved have a new song put in case. A woman will try to force our mouths. Now Dan appears, him into her bed, then accuse meaning  “judgment”  and we him of rape when he refuses, need to take sin seriously in the sending him to prison for years. house of God. Then comes Oh, how we all need a Savior! 136

GENESIS 30:25 Naphtali, meaning “wrestling” buying groceries for eleven and it is the believers’ challenge growing boys! He can’t simply to  “wrestle…against spiritual be a hired hand on Laban’s hosts of wickedness in the ranch; he needs to be building heavenly places”  (Eph 6:12), his own herds. But Laban knew especially through prayer. Gad a good thing when he saw it, means “a troop comes” and we and had no desire to see Jacob’s now find ourselves in a mighty family head for Canaan. As army of God’s people, in fellow- Laban observed: “I have learned ship through grace. No surprise by experience that the Lord has that Asher then means “happy,” blessed me for your sake” (v 27). which God’s people have every Jacob knows that, too (v 30). reason to be. Issachar, mean- Once again, Laban gives Jacob ing “wages,” reminds us of our the opportunity to choose his future reward. Zebulun, mean- compensation if he stays: ing “dwelling,” reminds us that “Name me your wages, and I we’re not Home yet, but soon will give it” (v 28). Jacob must shall be, while Joseph, mean- make a wise decision. The years ing “adding,” looks forward to have not been easy and Laban is the endless abundance of God’s a hard master. So Jacob makes grace. All that’s left is Benja- this offer: “Let me pass through min,  “son of my right hand,” all your flock today, removing coming full circle, looking for from there all the speckled and the day when the crucified Son spotted sheep, and all the brown is the glorified Christ seated on ones among the lambs, and the His throne. spotted and speckled among the goats; and these shall be my 30:25 SEEING SPOTS BEFORE wages” (v 32). Laban agrees. He will have the pure-colored and HIS EYES: One timeline gives Jacob’s birth white ones; Jacob will have the spotted, speckled, or brown ones. date as 1836. Gregor Mendel was born in The flocks were separated, 1822. But one is BC; the other is AD. How Jacob moved his family a short distance away, and he continued did Jacob know Gregor’s secret? another six years to look after both his animals and Laban’s. Jacob said to Laban, “Send me But Jacob isn’t finished, as we away, that I may go to my own will see next. Whether it’s high place and to my country.” That’s jinks or high school genetics, in Genesis 30:25. Jacob’s family has grown substantially; imagine 137

GENESIS 30:25 the end it’s the Most High who “Jacob took…rods of green rules in the affairs of men, and poplar…almond and chestnut that will actually determine trees, peeled white strips in Jacob’s blessing. And bless Jacob them…And the rods which he He does! A good reminder that had peeled, he set before the whatever blessing has come into flocks…in the watering our lives, it is because  “God is troughs... So the flocks con- able to make all grace abound to- ceived…and…brought forth ward you, that you, always hav- streaked, speckled, and ing all sufficiency in all things, spotted.… And…whenever may have an abundance for the stronger livestock con- every good work” (2 Cor 9:8). ceived, …Jacob placed the rods before the eyes of the live- 30:37-42 JACOB THE CATTLE stock…that they might con- ceive…But when the flocks WRESTLER: Is this stripping the bark from were feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were sticks of poplar, almond, and plane trees Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s” (Gen 30:37-42). hocus-pocus? Science proves otherwise. Note that the Lord explained things to Jacob in a dream (31:10- Remember: Jacob’s name means 12). Apparently the spots were a “heel grabber.” His wrestling ca- recessive gene, and by using reer began while he was still in spotted rams to breed, the flocks the womb and had continued to increased. As to the sticks, many this day. Laban was a match for studies in animal husbandry to him, as he said, “Your father has this day show the beneficial deceived me and changed my properties of these particular wages ten times, but God did trees. One  Animal Feed Science not allow him to hurt me” (Gen and Technology  report (2004) 31:7). Now Jacob decides to try showed that poplar supplemen- some breeding experiments. If tation “increased ewe reproduc- he could keep all the speckled tive rate by approximately 20 and spotted sheep and goats, and 30% units…with a higher what if there ended up more of proportion of pregnant ewes, those than the plain ones? And and a higher proportion of mul- what if they were bred to be the tiple pregnancies.” And God stronger and healthier ones? showed Jacob this almost 4000 years ago! Amazing! What could he do? You might want to read Genesis 30:37-42. We read, in part:  138

GENESIS 31:30 30:43-31:2 FLOCKS BREED WEALTH; acquired all this wealth.’ And Jacob saw the countenance of WEALTH BREEDS JEALOUSY: You've Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as heard that “money doesn't grow on trees.” before” (31:1-2). Some people long to win the But money does grow! Because loving it is lottery and, if they do, find out that what they thought was the “the root of all evil.” best thing that could happen to them turns into the worst thing. Due to Jacob’s God-given in- They gain wads of cash and a sights that led to remarkable Cadillac or two, but lose all their breeding success, we read, “Thus friends and family. Relatives you the man became exceedingly don’t even know show up at the prosperous, and had large flocks, door looking for a handout. female and male servants, and Every blessing is a burden, so camels and donkeys”  (Gen be careful what you wish for. 30:43). With rapidly expanding Sometimes if our dreams became flocks, he was able to hire more reality, they’re actually night- staff, and purchase more Twen- mares! That is why we’re tieth Century BC trucks and warned: “The love of money is a tractors (camels and donkeys) root of all kinds of evil, for which for his farm. Things were defi- some have strayed from the faith nitely looking up for Jacob. in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many Well, except for some local sorrows” (1 Tim 6:10). rumors circulating. You’ve prob- ably noticed a trend so far in our 31:3-30 TIME TO GO HOME: The studies. Abram and Lot, after an “few days” that Rebekah told her son to take ill-fated detour into Egypt, had in Haran has turned into decades, but finally so much stuff that fights broke he’s heading back. out between their workers and they had to separate. Isaac, As the animosity mounts in blessed abundantly in Gerar, Laban’s household,  “The Lord was forced out because the said to Jacob, ‘Return to the land locals became jealous of his suc- of your fathers and to your cess. And now listen to what family, and I will be with Jacob was hearing on the local you’”  (Gen 31:3). Does Jacob gossip line:  “Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, ‘Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has 139

GENESIS 31:30 take time to think about it? pathetic! Instead of having the What’s to think? God has true God who protects Jacob, spoken!  “So Jacob sent and Laban goes running across hill called Rachel and Leah to the and dale to rescue his idols! field, to his flock”  (v 4). He Imagine worshiping gods that didn’t even wait to get home can’t even protect themselves, from work. He explains the situ- let alone you! Don’t kid yourself. ation: Laban has constantly been The West is full of idols. An idol taking advantage of them, but is anything that gets between God has come to their aid. our hearts and the true God. That’s why John warns, “Keep Leah and Rachel agree:  “Are yourselves from idols”  (1 Jn we not considered strangers by 5:21). Do we need to do some him? For he has sold us, and also idol smashing? completely consumed our money. For all these riches which God 31:31-46 RAISING UP A LANDMARK: has taken from our father are Even if you don’t use stones, building really ours and our children’s; memory markers helps remind you of God’s now then, whatever God has loving care. said to you, do it” (vv 15-16). Now there’s some good advice! For seven days, Laban has chased Jacob south, primarily to Quickly they gathered their reclaim the family idols. Jacob is goods and livestock, and “stole irate that Laban would accuse away”  (v 20) without telling them of such a thing. “With who- Laban. When he found out, he mever you find your gods, do wasn’t happy! But Jacob and his not let him live,”  he says (Gen household had a three-day lead. 31:32). Then the author lets us in Mounting his posse, Laban on a secret. “Jacob did not know eventually caught up seven days that Rachel had stolen them.” later in the mountains of Gilead, Oh, no! His beloved Rachel is near the Jordan River. Laban let now under the sentence of death! Jacob have it, but he had to be Not ready to take his son-in- careful, for he says, “The God of law’s word for it, Laban and his your father spoke to me last men begin the search. But Rachel night, saying, ‘Be careful that had lived surrounded by trick- you speak to Jacob neither good sters and wasn’t above her own nor bad’” (v 29). deceptive ploys and schemes. But there’s a matter to be settled. “Why,” asks Laban, “did you steal my gods?” (v 30). How 140

GENESIS 31:55 “Rachel had taken the household 31:47-55 MEN AND ANGELS AND idols, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them” (v 34). GOD: The Lord is our Mizpah, our faithful When Laban approaches her, Watcher; He who keeps you will not slumber she begs his indulgence at not getting up, saying it was her or sleep. time of the month. Thus Laban comes up empty-handed. Jacob Galeed (in Jacob’s Hebrew), or takes the opportunity to tell his Jegar Sahadutha (in Laban’s father-in-law a thing or two and, Aramaic) means “the Place of both men having vented their Witness.” Described in Genesis anger, things finally settled 31, it was really a kind of Iron down. It’s time for a peace talk. Curtain between the two. Here’s how Laban described it:  “This The first thing Jacob does is in- heap is a witness, and this pillar struct his men to gather boulders is a witness, that I will not pass and pile them into a landmark. beyond this heap to you, and This was a common practice in you will not pass beyond this ancient times, providing markers heap and this pillar to me, for both to show the way in the fu- harm” (v 52). But Jacob sanctifies ture and to enshrine memories to the occasion with a sacrifice to keep from forgetting the past. As the Lord, then sweetens it by Jeremiah told those who were sharing a meal for all concerned. being taken into captivity in Bab- It seems they chatted until the ylon 1400 years later,  “Set up sun peeked over the Eastern Pla- signposts, make landmarks; set teau and “early in the morning your heart toward the highway, Laban arose, and kissed his sons the way in which you went” (Jer and daughters and blessed them. 31:21). Don’t forget the way Then Laban departed” (v 55). home! Thus ends Genesis 31, and So Jacob and Laban didn’t thus ends Jacob’s long sojourn in want to forget the peace treaty the land of Padan Aram. He sets they made that day. It was called his face towards Canaan. As Galeed, “a heap of testimony.” If soon as he begins his journey you’re a believer, you should from the heights of Gilead, now never forget your testimony with the Promised Land spread either, the day you were “justi- out before him, what does he fied by faith,”  and now  “have see?  “The angels of God met peace with God through our him”  (32:1). What a “welcome Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1). home” contingent! You recall he 141

GENESIS 31:55 saw the angels of God as homestead quickly, and left he left Canaan, during his night’s behind all that wealthy Isaac stopover at Bethel. Here they are had acquired. So Esau still had again. That spot, on the upper done very well for himself. And Jabbok River, he called Maha- remember the leftover blessing naim, meaning “two camps.” He Esau received from his had pitched his own camp there, father? “Your dwelling shall be but, as David wrote, “The angel of the fatness of the earth, and of of the Lord encamps all around the dew of heaven from those who fear Him, and above” (27:39). delivers them” (Ps 34:7). Nonetheless, Jacob was rightly The believer is never alone! Of concerned that long-simmering course, we should not worship hatred was still in his big angels, as some do. When John brother’s heart. The news he was tempted to do so by the mag- received back from the mes- nificence of one such heavenly sengers was chilling: “We came being, the angel advised,  “See to your brother Esau, and he also that you do not do that.…Wor- is coming to meet you, and four ship God”  (Rev 22:9). Yes, God hundred men are with him” controls circumstances, weather, (32:6). Four hundred men! That angels, and men, to bring about doesn’t sound like a friendly His good pleasure for our benefit. reunion. So Jacob decides to So let’s worship God! minimize his losses:  “He di- vided the people that were with 32:1-12 LOOK WHO’S WAITING him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. FOR JACOB! Jacob is soon going to meet And he said, ‘If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, Esau, someone known for both a long mem- then the other company which is left will escape’” (vv 7-8). ory and a short fuse. A wise plan, but he thankfully With Laban in his rear-view doesn’t stop there. Time for a mirror, look what’s straight prayer meeting, and a wonder- ahead!  “Then Jacob sent mes- ful prayer it is. First, he lays sengers before him to Esau his claim to God’s promise to help if brother”  (Gen 32:3). Ah, yes, he came home. Then he says, “I brother Esau — the man from am not worthy of the least of all whom Jacob first wrestled his the mercies and of all the truth birthright, then his blessing. which You have shown Your ser- Mind you, Jacob exited the 142

GENESIS 32:29 vant; for I crossed over this Jor- We have just considered dan with my staff, and now I Jacob’s first recorded prayer in have become two companies” (v Genesis 32:9-12, and that is cer- 10). I left with my walking stick tainly a good step in the right di- and look at me now. You have rection. But now there are two blessed me, Lord. Now please major hurdles. He knows he is deliver me. Our next episode going to come face-to-face with gives the rest of the story, but let’s Esau. In preparation, he selects a notice that faith AND works, due gift for his brother — almost 600 diligence AND prayer, are the animals! They are arranged into keys to life’s success. droves, and with them he sends servants whom he coaches to 32:13-23 FACETIME: After decades say, “Behold, your servant Jacob away in Padan Aram, Jacob now comes face- is behind us. For he said, ‘I will to-face with his moment of truth. appease him with the present that goes before me, and after- Genesis 32 underlines for us a ward I will see his face; perhaps most important principle: When he will accept me’” (v 20). we’ve been away from the Lord and want to come home, He will So as night falls, this self-pro- insist that we deal with our past pelled gift of braying, mooing, failures and offenses. One thing and bleating creatures crosses about the Christian life — God over at the Fords of Jabbok, and doesn’t want us to pretend; He then we read, “Jacob was left wants us to be real. And He alone” (v 24) — because, before he doesn’t want us to live with sees Esau’s face, he must come shadows or regrets. As Paul face-to-face with God! The Wres- would write, “Forgetting those tler at last is going to meet his things which are behind and match, and discover a principle reaching forward to those things that will revolutionize his life: true which are ahead, I press toward blessings do not come by trying to the goal for the prize of the up- selfishly wrestle them away from ward call of God in Christ others, but by learning to cling in Jesus” (Php 3:13-14). If we don’t our weakness to the generous- want to walk through life back- hearted Blesser God. wards, we need to come clean so we can look into the future un- 32:24-29 THE ALL-NIGHT distracted by the past. WRESTLING MATCH: We all grapple with issues, and then one day discover it’s actually a Person we’re wrestling with. 143

GENESIS 31:29 As we heard, Jacob sent every- Thus we shockingly read the one over the Jabbok River and is Lord’s response:  “Your name left alone as night falls. He could shall no longer be called Jacob, hardly be expecting a good but Israel; for you have strug- night’s sleep as he anticipates gled with God and with men, the showdown with Esau, the and have prevailed” (v 28). You man from whom he had taken have prevailed, Jacob? How? the birthright and the blessing. Not by wrestling! For at the Then suddenly, we read, “a Man climax of the conflict, the wrestled with him until the Lord “touched the socket of his breaking of day” (Gen 32:24). hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled A Man? What Man? Hosea 12:4 with him” (v 25). The large glu- calls Him  “the Angel.” Jacob teus maximus muscle allows the can’t figure it out, and asks Him wrestler to lock his hip joint and His name (v 29) but only receives hold his ground. No more of another question to his ques- that for Jacob! All he can do now tion:  “Why is it that you ask is cling, and that’s when the about My name?”  But in the blessing comes.  end, he figures it out.  “I have seen God face to face” (v 30), he 32:31-33:3 SUNRISE FOR A says. Yes, this was the pre-incar- nate Son of God, the One by NEW MAN: God’s blessings often come in whom God would give us, “the light of the knowledge of the unlikely places: gravesides, hospital beds, glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor 4:6). or night wrestlings. But here’s the fascinating After Jacob’s night of wrestling thing! They wrestled all night! with the heavenly Man, we read Why didn’t the Lord pin him? a curious thing:  “Just as he For the same reason that, when crossed over Penuel the sun rose I’m arm-wrestling my grandson, on him” (Gen 32:31). It was like I don’t pin him. I have the power the sunrise was just for Jacob to do it, but not the will to do it. that morning! A new day had Closer to home, why doesn’t the dawned for him, and everything Lord make us pray and read our had changed. Bibles? He wrestles with us, all right. And He has the power to He had a new honesty. In Gen- do it, but He wants us to prevail, esis 27, we read of his being to win in life. asked the question,  “‘Who are you, my son?’ Jacob said to his 144

GENESIS 33:9 father, ‘I am Esau your first- Peniel,  “For,”  he said,  “I have born’” (vv 18-19). But this night seen God face to face”  (v 30). the Lord said to him, “‘What is Can you, like Jacob, look back on your name?’  He said, ‘Jacob’” your life and point to places (32:27). Just like us, the moment where, like verse 29, He blessed we confess to the Lord who we you there? really are, the sinner Jesus died for, He gives us new names: 33:4-9 THE MOMENT JACOB HAS saints, believers, sons! In fact, as BEEN DREADING: Very often it seems that Jacob’s new name Israel means, our biggest calamities in life are actually the “he will prevail with God,” we ones that never arrive. can now  “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may ob- This is a great place to recall the tain mercy and find grace to words of William Cowper’s help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). classic hymn, “God Moves in a Mysterious Way.” Its third Like Jacob — with a new hon- stanza reads, “Ye fearful saints, esty, a new relationship with fresh courage take; The clouds God, a new name, a new walk, you so much dread Are big with and a new perspective on life —  mercy, and shall break In bless- for the Christian,  “old things ings on your head.” Oh, how have passed away; behold, all Jacob had feared this showdown things have become new” (2 Cor with Esau! How he had prayed 5:17). A new perspective? Yes, for help. How he trembled when the man who had lined up his he heard his big brother had wives and children and servants decided to bring 400 fellows and livestock as a series of along for assistance! How he buffers between himself and his had schemed and planned, sub- supposed adversary, now  “he dividing his household to limit crossed over before them” what he thought were inevitable (33:3)!  Why, he had seen the face damages. How he advanced a of God and his life had been pre- massive gift to ameliorate his served (32:30) so it put seeing brother’s anger, a menagerie Esau’s face in perspective. “The larger than most zoos! How he fear of man brings a snare, but humbled himself, calling Esau whoever trusts in the Lord shall “my lord”  and himself “your be safe” (Prov 29:25). It was one servant” (Gen 32:4), bowing to thing to see the company of the ground seven times as the angels and call the locale Maha- naim; now he calls this place 145

GENESIS 33:9 brother who had vowed to kill After the joyful meeting between him advanced. the once adversarial brothers, Jacob convinces Esau to accept his And in the end? Listen! “But peace offering. Esau continues his Esau ran to meet him, and gracious ways, inviting Jacob’s embraced him, and fell on his family to travel with them back to neck and kissed him, and they his settlement in  “the land of wept”  (33:4). And then what? Seir”  (Gen 32:3). Don’t get the Esau “lifted his eyes and saw the idea that Esau was a pushover women and children, and said, because of the way he treated his ‘Who are these with you?” (v 5). brother. Seir is the name for a He wanted to meet the family! shaggy he-goat, and the territory Esau settled in was rough coun- Friends, life is too short to let try. South and east of the Dead family squabbles, hurt feelings, Sea and extending down to pres- imagined unfairness, or old ent-day Saudi Arabia, it had wounds rob you of your family. been inhabited by the Horites Don’t you choke back a sob (see ch 14:6). when you read this? Way to go, Esau! God loves happily-ever- But of Esau it was pre- after stories, too. dicted,  “By your sword you shall live” (27:40), and the Lord And when Esau sees the so- had aided them in settling in called “gift”? He says,  “I have these mountain  fastnesses. We enough, my brother; keep what read that this “He had done for you have for yourself”  (v 9). I the descendants of Esau, who keep liking this Esau fellow dwelt in Seir, when He de- better all the time! At some stroyed the Horites from before point, everybody has to decide them. They dispossessed them whether they want the money or and dwelt in their place” (Deut the relatives. Please don’t choose 2:22). the money. If you do the right thing, “The Lord is able to give Jacob did not think a detour to you much more than this”(2 Mount Seir was God’s plan, and Chron 25:9). he demurred:  “My lord knows that the children are weak, and 33:10-14 THE BROTHERS PART the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me…Please let WAYS: The family reunion won’t last long, my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a but long enough for reconciliation and a new pace which the livestock that go beginning! 146

GENESIS 35:18 before me, and the children, are Succoth sits at the foot of the able to endure, until I come to plateau, overlooking the Jordan, my lord in Seir” (Gen 33:13-14). but still outside the Promised Land. Alright, we get it. Every- The fact was, Jacob had a dif- one needs a little time to relax ferent route in mind, heading and recover from the stressful straight west into Canaan, and days just past — sneaking out of as far as we know, he never Padan Aram, arrested by made it to Seir. In the centuries Laban’s posse, wrestling with following, the descendants of the Man from heaven, facing Esau, known as the Edomites, down the threat of annihilation were no friends of the Israelites, at Esau’s hands. It has been quite to say the least. But Jacob’s the high-intensity trip! So, yes, family eventually, in the closing the grasslands of Succoth by the days of the world’s history, will Jordan seem just the right place go to hide themselves in Edom, to recuperate. where the  “Angel of the Pres- ence” will again come to deliver The name  Succoth, meaning them (see Isa 63:1ff). Lord, “booths,” temporary lean-tos, hasten the day! will later in Israel’s history be given to a special festival 33:15-18 A STOP AT SUCCOTH: ordained by God. Even now, observant Jews each year build Even Jesus instructed His disciples that there little tents outside their homes to commemorate the temporary are times when it was good to “rest a while.” housing they lived in during the forty-year journey from Egypt to Esau, with his men and addition Canaan. But more, they were to of livestock, heads south along remember that God Himself the Eastern Plateau towards went camping with them. Imag- Mount Seir. Jacob and his expan- ine, the God of heaven living in sive household move due west, a tent on earth! But that’s not the coming down from the Gilead end of the story. Dome into the Jordan Valley by way of the passage cut by the God, in the person of His Jabbok River. But just as they Son,  “dwelt  [lit., tabernacled] seem poised to cross into Ca- among us, and we beheld His naan on their way to Bethel, glory”  (Jn 1:14). And still to Jacob stops. Why  here when so come, the ultimate Succoth close to their destination? occurs when, in Millennium glory, it will be declared with 147

GENESIS 35:18 joy,  “Behold, the tabernacle of gave it the name “El Elohe Israel”  God is with men, and He will — God, the God of Israel (re- dwell with them, and they shall member that Israel was Jacob’s be His people. God Himself will new name). be with them and be their God” (Rev 21:3). Then Jacob’s daughter, Dinah, went for a walk to see the other 33:19-34:25. SERIOUS TROUBLE girls in town. Well, boy meets girl. Shechem, seemingly spoiled, AT SHECHEM: It’s never a good excuse “saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her” (34:2). when we have messed up to say, It seems his attraction to her survived his lustful crime, and he “Well, something had to be done!” bluntly demanded of his father,  “Get me this young We’re not sure how long Jacob woman as a wife” (v 4). and his family camped at Succoth, but we are told he “built himself Jacob’s sons were incensed, but a house”  there (Gen 33:17). decided to continue the family’s Eventually they did cross the tendency to deceit. If we’re going Jordan and headed up a natural to intermarry, they said to the in- corridor to Shechem formed by habitants, all the men in town Wadi Fari’a, a seasonal river must be circumcised. So they did draining the central highlands. this and, as they were laid up “in Shechem is strategically situated pain” (v 25), Levi and Simeon ar- between two mountains — Geri- rived with swords — and cut sig- zim to the south and Ebal to the nificantly deeper! Not one male north. The main trunk road survived. The city was plun- through the mountains leads dered and these two sons proved right by the town. The Vale of without a doubt that “the wrath Shechem would become a large of man does not produce the natural amphitheater for the na- righteousness of God” (Jas 1:20). tion of Israel in the days of Jo- Consequences to follow! shua, but long before, it was the first place Abraham had built an 34:30-31 STINKY NAMES: It’s a altar to the Lord in the land. putrid world, a moral dump. But by grace we There Jacob bought some land from a man named Hamor; his can emanate a sweet aroma of Christ today. son, namesake of the town, is ominously mentioned (v 19). The city of Shechem, first place Jacob also erected an altar and in the Land visited by Jacob’s 148

GENESIS 35:5 clan, lay in ruins. One can only city destroyed? Many years later, imagine the wailing of widows Jacob will say of Simeon and and orphans, with not a man of Levi: “Instruments of cruelty are them left to bury the dead. Jacob in their dwelling place.…Cursed says to those responsible, “You be their anger, for it is fierce; and have troubled me by making me their wrath, for it is cruel!” (Gen obnoxious among the inhabi- 49:5-7). Never in that land to be tants of the land”(Gen 34:30). named Israel would there be a Here is the raw power of the territory with those boys’ names King James:  “Ye have troubled upon it, for, said Jacob,  “I will me to make me to stink among divide them in Jacob and scatter the inhabitants.” I don’t imagine them in Israel.” May God help he was thinking about his name us today that through us He “Jacob.” He had already done a may diffuse  “the fragrance of thorough job of making that His knowledge in every name stinky! But he had just place” (2 Cor 2:14). received a new name, reflecting the influence he was to have 35:1-5 BACK TO BETHEL: Here’s with God and men. He had linked himself with that name at a story within a story, a prototype of the the altar — God, the God of Israel. How solemn! It’s one history of the Jewish people in miniature. thing for a man to spoil his own reputation, but what about With relief we begin Genesis when he links himself with 35:  “Then God said to Jacob, God? Even slaves in New Testa- ‘Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell ment days could “adorn the doc- there; and make an altar there to trine of God our Savior in all God, who appeared to you things”  by  “not answering when you fled from the face of back,”  and  “not pilfering,”  for Esau’”  (v 1). No doubt, word example (Titus 2:9-10). had spread about the slaughter at Shechem, and Jacob opined, “I Simeon and Levi responded: shall be destroyed, my house- “Should he treat our sister like a hold and I”(34:30). But his fears harlot?”  (Gen 34:31). In other were not realized. Why?  “The words, “Something had to be terror of God was upon the cities done!” Yes, but not this! The that were all around them, and medicine was far worse than the they did not pursue the sons of disease. What Shechem had Jacob” (35:5). done was terrible, but the whole 149

GENESIS 35:5 Of course, there was much tling with the Man, and realizing more at stake than the survival at last, that in the rejected Mes- of this family. Your salvation, for siah Yeshua they have actually example! In fact, the fate of the seen the face of God. universe hung in the balance. God must protect this family, not 35:9-12 THE GOD OF BETHEL only from its enemies but from its own foolhardiness, since it COMES THROUGH AGAIN! There isn’t was through them that a Babe would be born who would be much flat land in life! Thankfully God is the Savior of the world! God of both valleys and mountains. Here Jacob shows his spiritual leadership:  “And Jacob said to Genesis 35 is a pivot point in the his household and to all who ongoing saga of the family that were with him, ‘Put away the God selected to bring blessing to foreign gods that are among the whole world. Its many fits you, purify yourselves, and and starts tells us much of both change your garments. Then let the saving and sustaining grace us arise and go up to Bethel; and of God. At Bethel,  “God ap- I will make an altar there to God, peared to Jacob again”  (v 9), who answered me in the day of blessed him, reaffirmed his new my distress and has been with name to be Israel, revealed Him- me in the way which I have self as El Shaddai, God Almighty gone’”  (vv 2-3). They were to or All-Sufficient, and concluded separate from all that was false by repeating the promises He and foul. Time to go back to had made previously regarding Bethel, to reconnect with the the seed and the land given (see God who not only met Jacob vv 10-12). there, but had been beside him along the rough road ever since. Jacob again sets up a memorial God is no fair-weather friend! pillar, but this time adds a drink offering to the oil he poured on Interestingly, this return trip to it at first. Jacob has learned a Bethel, placed on God’s big thing or two in the intervening screen, is called  “the time of years. Remember how he Jacob’s trouble”  (Jer 30:7), and said  “If God will…”  and then speaks of the way God will listed the terms on which, he bring the Jews at last, not only said,  “the Lord shall be my back to Jerusalem, but back to God” (28:20-21)? Now the drink Jehovah — but only after wres- offering pictures Jacob pouring himself out for the service of God 150