jrhughes

[jrhughes]

In the Beginning. . .

(Sunday, March 10, 2024 A.D.)

Genesis 1:1-5

Golden Text:  1)In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4) And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5) And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. - Genesis 1:1-5 

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? - II Corinthians 6:14

The Bible begins with ten powerful words: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. If you believe those ten words, as they are written, without trying to wrestle with their obvious, clear meanings, then the rest of the Bible, as it is plainly written and commonly understood, should not be difficult to understand and believe. God provides ample proof. In this plain, honest belief of the Bible, one finds: everlasting life.

As we look in we find Joseph is in bondage where he will be falsely accused of infidelity with the wife of Potiphar. Joseph could have been summarily executed, but Joseph is placed in another prison where Joseph rises to prominence. At that time Joseph is told of two dreams. Then both the baker of Pharaoh and the butler (wine taster) of Pharaoh received dreams. Both of those dreams are interpreted by God for Joseph. Both were correct. The wine tasting butler and the baker received restoration as God had revealed to Joseph. The other man was executed.

Joseph was supposed to be recommended to Pharaoh as one that God would use to properly interpret dreams. However he was forgotten until the Pharaoh had dreams that none of the magicians of Pharaoh could discern. The butler now remembered this Hebrew young man that could interpret dreams, and he was called before Pharaoh.

At that point in time, because of his proper interpretation of the dream of pharaoh, Joseph was appointed second in command of all Egypt as far as the famine was concerned that was coming.

This chapter 38 has to do with a woman named Tamar and her father-in-law the son of Jacob the son of Israel named Judah and it is placed here historically. The story of Tamar and the sin of Judah shows us the need for Judah to be removing this family out of Canaan and sending it down to Egypt, according to commentator Pastor David Guzik.

What this means is simple, that during the time when Joseph had been sold into Egypt, Judah had to be examined. Chapter 38 is one more example of the theme that God’s people should not be marrying the heathen. (Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Amos 3:3)

In the meantime, Judah had gone down from his brethren and found and married a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah. Wikipedia says:

 “The connection between Judah and Adullam and its surroundings was actually already established in the patriarchal period, when Judah "went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah" (Genesis 38:1). Earlier when Saul was king David, fleeing from Saul, sought refuge in the cave of Adullam and made it a place of reconnoitering and organization, both, for him and his men (1 Samuel 22:1–2)”

Message Text: Genesis Chapter 38: 1 - 30

1 And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.

Adam Clarke tells us

 “the very earliest of the transactions here recorded must have occurred long before the selling of Joseph... For Joseph was born six years before Jacob left Laban and came into Canaan; Genesis 30:25, and Genesis 31:41. Joseph was seventeen years old when he was sold into Egypt, Genesis 37:2; Genesis 37:25; Joseph was thirty years old when he interpreted Pharaoh's dream, Genesis 41:46. And nine years after, when there had been seven years of plenty and two years of famine, did Jacob with his family go down into Egypt, Genesis 41:53-54, and Genesis 45:6; Genesis 45:11. And at their going down thither, Pharez, the son of Judah, whose birth is set down at the end of this chapter, had two sons, Hezron and Hamul, Genesis 46:8;Genesis 46:12. Seeing then from the selling of Joseph unto Israel's going down into Egypt there cannot be above twenty-three years... The time therefore here spoken of seems to have been soon after Jacob's coming to Shechem, Genesis 33:18, before the history of Dinah... Judah was about forty-seven years old when Jacob's family settled in Egypt. He could not therefore have been above fifteen at the birth of his eldest son Er; nor Er more than fifteen at his marriage with Tamar; nor could it have been more than two years after Er's death till the birth of Judah's twin sons by his daughter-in-law Tamar...”

While in the area of Adullam, Judah saw there a Canaanite woman named Shuah and he took her to be his wife. According to Adam Clarke, an Adullamite was “An inhabitant of Adullam, a city of Canaan, afterwards given for a possession to the sons of Judah, Joshua 15:1; Joshua 15:35. It appears as if this Adullamite had kept a kind of lodging house...As the woman was a Canaanite, Judah had the example of his fathers to prove at least the impropriety of such a connection.”

Wikipedia says:

 “In the King James Version, Genesis 38:2 reads "And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah ..." This is ambiguous as to who is named Shuah, the Canaanite or his daughter. This has led some to say that Shuah was Judah's wife”

3 And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er. 4 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan. 5 And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him. 6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.

What is important is the fact that Judah was the father of Er his firstborn. Adam Clarke says,

 “Er, the firstborn was to marry Tamar and raise up children. And he was at Chezib when she bare him. — This town is supposed to be the same with Achzib, which fell to the tribe of Judah”

7 And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.

The Bible tells us Er was wicked and God slew him. Adam Clarke says, “Er-was wicked in the sight of the Lord-- What this wickedness consisted in we are not told; but the phrase sight of the Lord being added, proves that it was some very great evil.”

8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

Judah had told Onan to go into his brother’s wife and raise up seed to his brother.

9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore He slew him also.

But Onan refused and was wicked. Onan disobeyed his father’s command to raise up seed with Tamar and this seed was to be considered to be from his brother. This act of defiance apparently occurred when while having intercourse with Tamar, he removed his penis and spilled the seed of copulation upon the ground. The Bible tells us that when he went into his brothers wife he spilled his seed (semen) upon the ground. The Bible tells us these acts of defiance by the brothers displeased the LORD and God slew them both.

Adam Clarke says:

“Onan knew that the seed should not be his -- That is, that the child begotten of his brother's widow should be reckoned as the child of his deceased brother...his crime was his refusal to raise up seed to his brother, and rather than do it, by the act mentioned above, he rendered himself incapable of it. We find from this history that long be fore the Mosaic law it was an established custom, probably founded on a Divine precept, that if a man died childless his brother was to take his wife, and the children produced by this second marriage were considered as the children of the first husband...”

11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

Apparently it was the custom of those days for an unmarried daughter to return to her father’s house. And she did.

12 And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

At about the same time, Judah’s wife died and he was without a wife. He decided to go to Timnath. When he arrived at Timnath, was it his express intent to become sexually involved with a women of that era who appeared to be a prostitute?

13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep. 14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.

It was in fact his daughter in law acting as if she were a prostitute. She felt righteous because he had withheld his last son from her.

15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face. 16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me? 17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it? 18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.

Judah asks permission to have intercourse with one he believes to be an harlot who is really his daughter in law in the role of a harolt.

His daughter in law playing the role of the harlot becomes pregnant. Before she becomes pregnant she asks for a sign that he would keep his promise to her.  He promises to send her a kid of the goats form the flock. When asked for proof he gives her his signet and bracelet and staff. She becomes pregnant.

Adam Clarke says a harlot...

 “signifies generally a person who prostitutes herself to the public for hire ... It appears that in very ancient times there were public persons of this description; and they generally veiled themselves, sat in public places by the highway side, and received certain hire. Though adultery was reputed a very flagrant crime, yet this public prostitution was not.”

Adam Clarke describes a pledge as:

“a part of the price agreed for between a buyer and seller, by giving and receiving of which the bargain was ratified; or a deposit, which was to be restored when the thing promised should be given ... He who has the earnest of the Spirit then in his heart shall not only be saved from death, but have that eternal life of which it is the pledge and the evidence.”

19 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

The next thing we read is that she has gone to her father in law’s home to answer for her whoredom.

20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not. 21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place. 22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place. 23 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her. 24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. 25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff. 26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.

She has gone home to be with her father in law where she is found to be pregnant three months later. Her father in law is upset because of her pregnancy. Then he discovers he is the father of the children.

According to Adam Clarke, “In Genesis 38:15, Tamar is called a harlot, zonah, which, as we have already seen, signifies a person who prostitutes herself for money. ... it appears ... that impure rites and public prostitution prevailed in the worship of the Canaanite in the time of Judah.”

Adam Clarke also tells us:

 “Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. — As he had ordered Tamar to live as a widow in her own father's house till his son Shelah should be marriageable, he considers her therefore as the wife of his son; and as Shelah was not yet given to her, and she is found with child, she is reputed by him as an adulteress, and burning, it seems, was anciently the punishment of this crime. Judah, being a patriarch or head of a family, had, according to the custom of those times, the supreme magisterial authority over all the branches of his own family; therefore he only acts here in his juridical capacity.”

Adam Clarke says: 

 “She hath been more righteous than I — It is probable that Tamar was influenced by no other motive than that which was common to all the Israelite women, the desire to have children who might be heirs of the promise made to Abraham, &c. “

27 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. 28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first. 29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez. 30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

Pharez and Zarah - Pharez means “a breach.” He was the twin son with Zarah of Judah by Tamar and ancestor of two families of Judah, the Hezronites and Hamulites; from the Hezronites came the royal line of David and Christ.

More words of wisdom from Adam Clarke:

 “THERE are several subjects in this chapter on which it may not be unprofitable to spend a few additional moments. ... The insertion of this chapter is a farther proof of the impartiality of the sacred writer. The facts detailed, considered in themselves, can reflect no credit on the patriarchal history; but Judah, Tamar, Zarah, and Pharez, were progenitors of the Messiah, and therefore their birth must be recorded; and as the birth, so also the circumstances of that birth, which, even had they not a higher end in view, would be valuable as casting light upon some very ancient customs, which it is interesting to understand.”

God will have His way and apparently will use those who sin and will forgive their sin and give us the righteousness if Christ.

We admit that these were sinful acts by Judah and Tamar, but the result is the line through Judah will continue as we learn about our new Great High Priest.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiving our sin and making Heaven our home, only through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Lord, please keep us mindful of the company we keep, that we do not become dragged down into the ways of this world. Help us to be the salt and light that brings glory to Your precious Name.

Lord, we see Your mercy, in that You allowed a child born out of a sinful situation - Perez - to be part of the line to Messiah. Help us to have that same attitude of mercy to others. To realize your forgiveness and You will help us to be forgiven and used. Please come into our hearts and lives in a bigger way than You have before, assuring us You are in control. We will give You all the praise, all the honor and all the glory - in Mighty Name of Jesus we pray - Amen!

May God bless you in all that you do for Him, Brother J.R. Soul winner, Bible teacher, Defender of the Faith

[jrhughes]

Joseph Sold Into Egypt

(Sunday March 3rd 2024)

Genesis 37:12-36

Golden Text:       And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.Genesis 37:19-20

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

As you will recall, Jacob went to the land of Laban his uncle. There Jacob met and loved Rachel. Jacob agreed to work seven years to obtain Rachel to be his wife. At the end of seven years it as time for Laban to keep his promise and Rachel to become the wife of Jacob. But Laban had planned how to take advantage of the situation again. Instead of sending his daughter Rachel as promised, he sent in the darkened tent Leah and Jacob consummated the marriage with her. The next morning Jacob was extremely upset, but Laban had a plan. Laban made some protest that he could not give the younger daughter before the elder daughter but Laban made a promise to Jacob. Agree to serve seven more. years and after the honeymoon period with Leah (1 week) he would also send Rachel to be wife of Jacob. But this meant seven more years of labor..

Faced with the ultimatum this was, he could walk away and lose them both, or agree to seven more years but have the fruit of that promise in one week. Jacob, for the love he had for Rachel, agreed to serve seven more years.

The second seven years was up and now Jacob wanted to leave and go back to be with his family in Canaan. Laban however, recognizing the blessing of God upon Jacob and Laban for Jacobs sake, said in effect, name your price and continue working for me. The two agreed that Jacob would take all the multicolored sheep and goats and for these he would serve.

Near the end of the time of service for the various animals, the sons of Laban decided that God had blessed Jacob but really all that He had blessed him with really belonged to their father. They encouraged their father to think the same way and to start the plan to get all of the animals that had been his wages for the past 6 years.

Jacob met with his wives Leah and Rachel and by then Bilhah and Zilpah. They agreed to go back to Canaan with Jacob. That all that had been acquired belonged to them and their children.

Laban was shearing his sheep in another part of the land and while he was shearing sheep they quickly got there things together and left and headed back towards Canaan. And now the focus shifts to Joseph.

Joseph had become his fathers favorite, because Joseph was the first born child of Rachel. Rachel was the one he had bargained for to be his wife. Joseph had become an informant against the other brothers not doing their work properly. To make it very obvious about his favoritism, Jacob had made Joseph a coat of many colors. Because they had great numbers of sheep and goats, they were always going someplace and looking for places to feed the flock.

Adam Clarke (1762-1832) tells us:

“with this chapter the history of Joseph commences, and sets before our eyes such a scene of wonders wrought by Divine Providence in such a variety of surprising instances, as cannot fail to confirm our faith in God, show the propriety of resignation to his will, and confidence in his dispensations, and prove that all things work together for good to them that love him. Joseph has often been considered as a type of Christ...”

Genesis, starting in chapter 12, is the story of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-Israel and that period of time God promises the land of Canaan first to Abraham repeats  His promise to Isaac again to Jacob-Israel. Starting in chapter 37, the narrative switches from Abraham Isaac and Jacob-Israel to one arrogant and self assured son of Jacob-Israel named Joseph.

Wikipedia has much to say about Joseph:

Birth and family

Joseph, son of Jacob and Rachel, lived in the land of Canaan with ten half-brothers, one full brother, and at least one half-sister. Joseph was Rachel's firstborn and Jacob's eleventh son. Of all the sons, Joseph was preferred by his father, who gave him a "long coat of many colors". When Joseph was seventeen years old, he shared with his brothers two dreams he had: in the first dream, Joseph and his brothers gathered bundles of grain, of which those his brothers gathered, bowed to Joseph’s bundle. In the second dream, the sun (father), the moon (mother), and eleven stars (brothers) bowed to Joseph himself. These dreams, implying the supremacy of Joseph, angered his brothers (Genesis 37:1–11) and made the brothers plot his death.

Plot against Joseph

In Genesis 37, Joseph's half-brothers were jealous of him. Most of them plotted to kill him in Dothan, except Reuben, who suggested they throw Joseph into an empty pit; Reuben intended to rescue Joseph himself later. Unaware of this plan to rescue Joseph, the others agreed to sell Joseph as a slave. Upon imprisoning Joseph, the brothers saw a camel caravan carrying spices and perfumes to Egypt, and they sold Joseph to these merchants. The guilty brothers painted goat's blood on Joseph's coat and showed it to Jacob. Jacob therefore believed Joseph had died. (Slain by a wild beast). These brothers had to know that this news would have crushed Jacob.

Potiphar's house

In Genesis 39, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard. Later, Joseph became Potiphar's servant, and subsequently his household's superintendent. Here, Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph, which he refused. Angered by his running away from her, she made a false accusation of rape so he would be imprisoned or killed.

Message Text: Genesis 37:12-36

12 And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. 13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I. 14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? 16 And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks. 17 And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.

Note that verse 12 clearly indicates the brothers of Joseph went to feed their fathers flock in Shechem. Shechem was some distance away from the main camp but was necessary because of the large flocks and herds. Verse 13 tells us that Israel dispatched Joseph to Shechem where he believed the other sons were feeding the flock and Israel said to Joseph, Go and see how things are going with your brothers and the flocks and bring me word again. It is clear from the past that Jacob-Israel knew Joseph would make a full report including what wasn’t being done properly. He was trusted to that by his father. Verse 15 tells us that when he was in Shechem looking for his brothers a man asked him who was he seeking and Joseph said I seek my brethren where are they feeding the flocks. The man replied in verse 17 they departed thence and I heard them say they were going to Dothan, so Joseph went to Dothan.

Adam Clarke says:

Go - see whether it be well with thy brethren — Literally, Go, I beseech thee, and see the peace of thy brethren, and the peace of the flock. Go and see whether they are all in prosperity. Genesis 37:4. As Jacob's sons were now gone to feed the flock on the parcel of ground they had bought from the Shechemites, (see Genesis 33:19,) and where they had committed such a horrible slaughter, their father might feel more solicitous about their welfare, lest the neighbouring tribes should rise against them, and revenge the murder of the Shechemites.

18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. 19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. 20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. 21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. 22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.

This group of verses lets us know that there was a difference among the brothers as to what should happen to Joseph. Most of them conspired  (conspired means “1. To agree, by oath, covenant or otherwise, to commit a crime; to plot; to hatch treason.” Webster’s 1828 Dictionary.) The majority wanted him dead when they recalled his dreams where the sheaves of his brothers had bowed down to his sheaf, indicating that he believed that they would serve him and bow down to him. This caused them to envy and they had murder on their minds. However, Reuben heard about the plot, the plan and said let us not kill him. Reuben argued, shed no blood. Cast him into the pit, lay no hand upon him. Reuben intended to rescue Joseph and deliver him back to his father again.

Adam Clarke says:

“Behold, this dreamer cometh. -  this master of dreams, this master dreamer. A form of speech which conveys great contempt. ...Come now and let us slay him - What unprincipled savages these must have been to talk thus coolly about imbruing their hands in an innocent brother's blood! How necessary is a Divine revelation, to show man what God hates and what he loves! Ferocious cruelty is the principal characteristic of the nations and tribes who receive not the law at his mouth. ...Reuben heard it - Though Reuben appears to have been a transgressor of no ordinary magnitude, if we take Genesis 35:22 according to the letter, yet his bosom was not the habitation of cruelly. He determined, if possible, to save his brother from death, and deliver him safely to his father, with whose fondness for him he was sufficiently acquainted....”

23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; 24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. 25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. 26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? 27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

When Joseph got to his brethren, they stripped him out of his coat of many colors. They took him, cast him into a pit - an empty pit in which there was no water. Then the other brothers sat down to eat bread. As they were eating bread, a company of Ishmeelites came with their camels. As you will recall, Ishmeelites are the relatives of Ishmael who had been cast out of the camp at the insistence of Sarah. Judah was trying to convince them it would not be good for them to slay his own brother and spill his blood. His compromise was to sell him to the Ishmeelites and the brothers were content with selling him.

Adam Clarke says:

“They stripped Joseph out of his coat - This probably was done that, if ever found, he might not be discerned to be a person of distinction, and consequently, no inquiry made concerning him. ... They sat down to eat bread - Every act is perfectly in character, and describes forcibly the brutish and diabolic nature of their ruthless souls. ... We may naturally suppose that this was a caravan, composed of different tribes that, for their greater safety, were traveling together, and of which Ishmaelites and Midianites made the chief. ...”

28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt. 29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. 30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go? 31 And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; 32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no. 33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

The brothers picked up Joseph out of the pit and sold Joseph for 20 pieces of silver. As you will recall, Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver. They brought Joseph into Egypt and when Reuben returned to the pit, where he thought Joseph was staying, he realized he was gone and he ripped his clothes in disgust. He was upset because they had sold him and they somehow convinced Reuben to agree to make it appear as if Joseph had been killed. They dipped his coat of many colors in the blood of a goat and they sent the coat of many colors to their father and said to their father this is what we found. Know now whether it be they sons coat or not. And Jacob knew it and said, It is my sons coat and evil beast has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt rent or ripped in pieces. This news had to crush the heart of Jacob. His favorite son was dead. How these boys could live with themselves is hard for me to understand. They wanted their father to believe the lie. And they conspired to agree - even Reuben who wanted to save his life.

Adam Clarke says:

“For twenty pieces of silver - In the Anglo-Saxon it is [Anglo-Saxon] thirty pence. This, I think, is the first instance on record of selling a man for a slave; but the practice certainly did not commence now, it had doubtless been in use long before. ... Reuben returned unto the pit - It appears he was absent when the caravan passed by, to whom the other brethren had sold Joseph. ... The child is not; and I, whither shall I go? ... Sent the coat of many colours - to their father - What deliberate cruelty to torture the feelings of their aged father, and thus harrow up his soul! ... Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces! - It is likely he inferred this from the lacerated state of the coat, which, in order the better to cover their wickedness, they had not only besmeared with the blood of the goat, but it is probable reduced to tatters. And what must a father's heart have felt in such a case! As this coat is rent, so is the body of my beloved son  ...”

34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him. 36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.

The Scripture says Jacob rent his clothes, put on sackcloth and mounded for his son many days. How could his sons have done this to him? I do not understand the agreement between them that caused nothing but grief and aggravation. His sons who knew the truth, at east part of the truth and his daughters who probably did not know the truth, rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. He had lost Rachel and now he had lost Rachel’s oldest son. Every day he would think about one or both of them. Every day he would mourn. And he wept for him. In the meantime the Midianites sold Joseph into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s Captain of the Guard.

Adam Clarke says: 

“All his sons and all his daughters - He had only one daughter, Dinah; but his sons' wives may be here included. But what hypocrisy in his sons to attempt to comfort him concerning the death of a son who they knew was alive; and what cruelty to put their aged father to such torture... Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's - The word saris, translated officer, signifies a eunuch...Captain of the guard. - chief of the butchers; a most appropriate name for the guards of an eastern despot. If a person offend one of the despotic eastern princes, the order to one of the life-guards is, Go and bring me his head; and this command is instantly obeyed, without judge, jury, or any form of law. ...”

We first deal with something that happens in the life of Judah, but by the time we get back to Joseph in Chapter 39 we find that:

1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him (Joseph)of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him (Joseph) down thither.

2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian (Potiphar).

3 And his master (Potiphar) saw that the LORD was with him (Joseph), and that the LORD made all that he (Joseph) did to prosper in his hand.

4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him (Potiphar): and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand (of Joseph).

5 And it came to pass from the time that he (Potiphar) had made him (Joseph) overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

We will find that Joseph is accused of forcing himself upon the wife of Potiphar. Yet it is believed that if Potiphar actually believed his wife, Joseph would have been executed, immediately. But no, Joseph is sent to work in the prison system, where he soon becomes a trustee (type) and assists the keeper of the prison. But that will wait until we come to Chapter 39. Next week we will learn of two historical events that are not of much concern to Joseph and the line to Messiah.

Prayer: Heavenly Father we come before You remembering all that Joseph went through. He was envied by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused and falsely imprisoned. Sometimes we go through similar trials, when we do the right thing and still get in trouble. But You were with Joseph in his trials and You will be with us, too. You bless obedience to Your commands. Help those of us who are parents to love our children wisely and equally. Remove arrogance and boasting from us, so we do not speak foolishly, as Joseph did in his teen aged years. Help us to live righteously day to day, as Joseph did in Potiphar’s house, and to be faithful stewards at our work, as Joseph was. And Lord, when hard times come into our lives, help us to trust You, to remember that You hold the outcome of each circumstance in Your hand, that You will work all these things together for our good, as we love You and are faithful to Your calling and Your purpose. Thank You Lord. This I pray in the Name of Jesus.  Amen and amen.

Note to our subscribers:  Brother JR is currently in the hospital and we covet your prayers. It is possible the next issue may be delayed. Thank you for your patience and your prayers.

May God bless you in all that you do for Him,

Brother J.R. Soul winner, Bible teacher, Defender of the Faith

[jrhughes]

Line of Esau, Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors

(Sunday February 25th, 2024)

Genesis 36-37

Golden Text:       17 But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. 18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.  19 And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. - Obadiah 1:17-19

Introduction - When I first read Genesis 36 and realized it had to do with Esau and Edom and nothing to do with the lineage to Messiah, I thought seriously about skipping over Chapter 36 totally, as it did not seem relevant. However, the Bible tells us All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16) so I thought perhaps I should check out whatever happened to Esau and the Edomites.

Wikipedia states:

Esau is the elder son of Isaac in the Hebrew Bible. He is mentioned in the Book of Genesis and by the prophets Obadiah and Malachi. The Christian New Testament alludes to him in the Epistle to the Romans and in the Epistle to the Hebrews. According to the Hebrew Bible, Esau is the progenitor of the Edomites and the elder brother of Jacob, the patriarch of the Israelites.

As to the Edomites, Wikipedia tell us:

Edomites are related in several ancient sources including the list of the Egyptian pharaoh Seti I from c. 1215 BC as well as in the chronicle of a campaign by Ramesses III. 1186–1155 BC), and the Tanakh. Archaeological investigation has shown that the nation flourished between the 13th and the 8th centuries BC and was destroyed after a period of decline in the 6th century BC by the Babylonians. After the fall of the kingdom of Edom, the Edomites were pushed westward towards southern Judah by nomadic tribes coming from the east; among them were the Arab Nabataeans, who first appeared in the historical annals of the 4th century BC and had already established their own kingdom in what used to be Edom by the first half of the 2nd century BC. More recent excavations show that the process of Edomite settlement in the southern parts of the Kingdom of Judah and parts of the Negev down to Timna had started already before the destruction of the kingdom by Nebuchadnezzar II in 587/86 BC, both by peaceful penetration and by military means and taking advantage of the already-weakened state of Judah.

Once pushed out of their territory, the Edomites settled during the Persian period in an area comprising the southern hills of Judea down to the area north of Be'er Sheva. The people appear under a Greek form of their old name, as Idumeans or Idumaeans, and their new territory was called Idumea or Idumaea (Greek: Idoumaía; Latin: Idumaea), a term that was used in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, also mentioned in the New Testament. During the 2nd century BC, the Edomites were forcibly converted to Judaism by the Hasmoneans, and were incorporated into the Jewish religion.

So it is clear that the Edomites never were in the line to Messiah through Abraham Isaac and Jacob. However, since all Scripture is given by inspiration of God we present it here. We are not going to delve into it in any detail. We are going to include only the names and the comments by Matthew Henry.

When searching for the reasons to set forth this lineage of Esau, we find no clear commentary as to why this lineage of Esau, which will not lead to Messiah or any of the tribes of Israel is set forth. We know of the propensity of Israel to keep genealogies but that is not offered as an explanation.

Matthew Henry (1662 - 1714) writes:

In this chapter 36 we have an account of the posterity (family) of Esau, who, from him, were called Edomites, that Esau who sold his birthright, and lost his blessing, and was not loved of God as Jacob was. Here is a brief register kept of his family for some generations. 1. Because he was the son of Isaac, for whose sake this honour is put upon him. 2. Because the Edomites were neighbours to Israel, and their genealogy would be of use to give light to the following stories of what passed between them. 3. It is to show the performance of the promise to Abraham, that he should be "the father of many nations," and of that answer which Rebekah had from the oracle she consulted, "Two nations are in thy womb," and of the blessing of Isaac, "Thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth."

We have here, I. Esau's wives, Genesis 36:1-5. II. His remove to mount Seir, Genesis 36:6-8. III. The names of his sons, Genesis 36:9-14. IV.

The dukes who descended of his sons, Genesis 36:15-19. V. The dukes of the Horites,

Genesis 36:20-30. VI. The kings and dukes of Edom, Genesis 36:31-43. Little more is recorded than their names, because the history of those that were out of the church (though perhaps it might have been serviceable in politics) would have been of little use in divinity. It is in the church that the memorable instances are found of special grace, and special providence; for that is the enclosure, the rest is common. This chapter is abridged, 1 Chronicles 1:35-54

Other then knowing the names of the several offspring of Esau, we learn little about Esau.

Matthew Henry (1662 - 1714) writes: The Generations of Esau. B.C. 1780.

1 Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom. 2 Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; 3 And Bashemath Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth. 4 And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel; 5 And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan. 6 And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob. 7 For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle. 8 Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.

Verses 9-19

The Dukes of Edom.     B. C. 1729.

9 And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir: 10 These are the names of Esau's sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau. 11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife. 13 And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife. 14 And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife: and she bare to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah. 15 These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz, 16 Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah. 17 And these are the sons of Reuel Esau's son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife. 18 And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau's wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah: these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife. 19 These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes.

Verses 20-30

20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, 21 And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan's sister was Timna. 23 And the children of Shobal were these; Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. 24 And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father. 25 And the children of Anah were these; Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah. 26 And these are the children of Dishon; Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. 27 The children of Ezer are these; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan. 28 The children of Dishan are these; Uz, and Aran. 29 These are the dukes that came of the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah, 30 Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan: these are the dukes that came of Hori, among their dukes in the land of Seir.

Verses 31-43

31 And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel. 32 And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom: and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 33 And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead. 34 And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of Temani reigned in his stead. 35 And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith. 36 And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead. 37 And Samlah died, and Saul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead. 38 And Saul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead. 39 And Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pau; and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. 40 And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth, 41 Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon, 42 Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar, 43 Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is Esau the father of the Edomites.

This is a summary of the line that led no where and ended: 18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.

Since it is clear these are not in the Messianic line we move on to Genesis 37.

Message Text -2 Chapter 37:1-11

1 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.

Verse 1 tells us Jacob lived in the land wherein his father Isaac was a sojourner not a landowner. His father Isaac had no property and the only property we know that was owned by the family was the burying place purchased by Abraham where they buried Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and would later bury Jacob and Leah

2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

Verse 2 tells us these are the generations of Jacob. Joseph was 17 years old and was out feeding the flock with his brethren. He was with the sons of Bilhah (Dan and Napthtali) along with the sons of Zilpah (Gad and Asher) and Joseph brought to his father Jacob an evil report. Apparently the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah were not acting in the best interests of Jacob their father. Joseph saw this as wrong and  there was nothing he could do except report what was really happening to his father Jacob.

Adam Clarke says:

These are the generations ... the history of the lives and actions of Jacob and his sons. ... brought unto his father their evil report — Conjecture has been busily employed to find out what this evil report might be; but it is needless to inquire what it was, as on this head the sacred text is perfectly silent. All the use we can make of this information is, that it was one cause of increasing his brothers' hatred to him, which was first excited by his father's partiality, and secondly by his own dreams.

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

Verse 3 tells us that Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than all his children because Joseph was the son of his old age and the biological son of Rachel. As you will recall, it was Rachel who was Jacob’s true love. It was Rachel for whom Jacob worked 7 years and then was enticed to work another seven. Jacob was a deceiver and he met his match in his uncle Laban. Both families were a mess.

The Ideal Family: Let us think for a moment of the ideal family. The Bible tells us that marriage is to be one man, one woman together forever. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.  Later the Bible tells us: And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: Genesis 5:4

So we have one man and one woman together for ever having sons and daughters. This is the picture of marriage and family.

Fast Forward to more modern times. A man meets his wife at a young age, say after they both graduate from college. They both come from two parent homes where divorce is not even thought of.  At first both work, but then she becomes pregnant and after the child is born, the wife becomes the mother and becomes a stay at home mom. The father makes enough money to meet the needs of the family. They have three or four children. Not one is favored. The children all feel loved and cared for by their parents. They have great home and school life and all of the children go to college. The children also have good marriages. Now this is the ideal home and family. Do we have that here with the eleven sons and one daughter of Jacob and his four wives?   No.  Are the children all treated the same?  No! Does the father openly favor one child above the others? Does this cause envy, strife and jealousy among the others?  YES! Would we have to admit that Jacob was not a good father for each of the children?

And contrast that one wife for life with Jacob. Jacob had four (4) wives and eventually 12 sons and one daughter. This family of Jacob was no where near the ideals set forth in the Bible. Jacob was in messy marriages. His wives were from the pagan religions and had their own gods. Furthermore Jacob had a favorite son, Joseph Everyone knew Joseph was his favorite. Joseph was envied and his brothers resented his favored status.

If Jacob-Israel had wanted to, he could have kept his thoughts to himself and probably lessened the strife in the family, but he not only made it clear Joseph was his favorite, he made Joseph a special coat of many colors. Some commentators tell us it means various things, but the 54 men who translated the King James verison of the Bible, who could all read Greek, Hebrew, English and Latin stated it was a coat of many colors.

Adam Clarke (1760 - 1832) states:

A coat of many colours ... Similar to this was the toga praetexta of the Roman youth, which was white, striped or fringed with purple; this they wore till they were seventeen years of age ...Such vestures as clothing of distinction are worn all over Persia, India, and China to the present day. ... We have already seen some of the evils produced by this unwarrantable conduct of parents in preferring one child to all the rest.

4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

They hated him: His brothers were not fools, they could see the outward signs of favor shown to Joseph. Although I suppose one should be upset with the father, instead they hated Joseph and could not carry on a peaceful conversation with him. So we see that we have a father who has caused strife among the other children. And they chose to have Jospeh. Joseph was despised by his brothers because of the favoritism showed him by their father. Parents should take heed at this point in time and not find themselves outwardly favoring one child over another, as it would disrupt the family. I am sure that in some cases one child is preferred above the other but wise parents will not make that obvious and cause strife in the family. The same can be said for grandchildren, for those of you old enough to have grandchildren. Hatred can often lead to death as Cain slew Able. Esau vowed to kill Joseph.

Adam Clarke (1760 - 1832) states of the brothers:

And could not speak peaceably unto him (Joseph). — Does not this imply, in our use of the term, that they were continually quarreling with him? but this is no meaning of the original ... they could not speak peace to him... They would not speak peaceably to Joseph.

5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

Verse 5 tells you Joseph dreamed a dream. So far no problem but then, either through his naivety, or perhaps even some arrogance, he decided to tell his brothers the details of the dream.

They were in the fields and they were binding sheaves, which was in this case most likely wheat or barley wrapped together with ties around it. Joseph said to his brothers, that his sheaf stood up and the brothers’ sheaves made obeisance - bowed down to the sheaf of Joseph.

This had to inflame their anger even more greatly than before. Probably in an uncivil tone, they asked Joseph, So you think you’re going to reign over us? You think you’re going to have dominion over us? They were angry and more hatred arose in their hearts, especially for Joseph having such an arrogant dream.

And we know that when one is jealous and envious, this often leads to death.  Cain slew his brother because of his jealous envy. Later Esau threatened death against Jacob, causing Jacob to flee from the area and go to be with his uncle Laban.

One has to wonder what caused Joseph to take this position so blatantly and obviously. Was he that naive? Was he just being what he considered honest? Did he understand his words would engender strife amongst his brethren against him? What was his motive?

Adam Clarke (1760 - 1832) states of the dream of Joseph:

We were binding sheaves in the field - Though in these early times we read little of tillage, yet it is evident from this circumstance that it was practiced by Jacob and his sons.

9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

We do not know how much time has passed, but Joseph dreamed yet another dream. By now Joseph had to know that the dream about the sheaves bowing down to his sheaf angered the brothers and made them think less of him. One has to think that by now he would know that what he was doing would not be popular but he couldn’t stifle himself.

Now Joseph told his brethren of his second dream. His told his brothers that he has dreamed a similar dream and the sun and moon and the eleven stars bowed down (made obeisance) to him, to Joseph.

Adam Clarke (1760 - 1832) states of Jospeh:

He dreamed yet another dream ... Why eleven stars? Was it merely to signify that his brothers might be represented by stars? But not the head of the family?

10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

When Joseph told his father and his brethren about them bowing down to Joseph, his father (who favored Joseph) rebuked Joseph and said unto him, Are you saying that your mother and I are going to bow down to you? What is going through your head, young man? We will not know for certain the motive behind the dream of Joseph and his believing he had to express it.

11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

What was the reaction? His brothers were very upset with him, they envied him, they were jealous of him and were upset by him. (Remember Cain) However, his father Jacob thought about what Joseph was saying and pondered it in his heart.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we touch on Genesis 36, although we do not speak of it in detail as it is clear that this does not concern the line to Messiah, through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob-Israel or the twelve sons of Jacob-Israel. Yet all Scripture is given by God and so we include it so one will have a completer picture of Scripture. Then we return to Jacob-Israel and the line to the Messiah of Israel and Saviour of all mankind. Here we see the error of a father, making it so very clear that Jacob holds one out as special. Jacob does not try to hide it from the other brothers who may be seeing themselves as second class family members. Then Jacob-Israel adds fuel to the fire with his dreams. He, Jacob would be superior to his brothers. They would bow down to him. This further angers the brothers. Joseph dreams yet another dream where the parents and brothers bow to Joseph. This further upsets the brothers and Jacob rebukes Joseph. But Jacob-Israel ponders this in his heart.  Not knowing that not too many years ahead, God will provide a way to fulfill the dreams when Joseph is made second ruler, after Pharaoh in the land of Egypt. There his brother and family end up being benefactors of the love and supplier of the food to keep Israel and all his alive. Thank You Lord that You are with us always. Because you live we can face tomorrow assured that You will meet our needs. Thank You Lord. This I pray in the Name of Jesus.  Amen and amen.

May God bless you in all that you do for Him, Brother J.R. Soul winner, Bible teacher, Defender of the Faith

[jrhughes]

Trust and Obey

Genesis 35:1-29

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Golden Text:     “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” -Proverbs 3:5-7

Introduction: As you will recall, God had decreed that marriage was between one man and one woman. They were to have many children, but only one wife. Jacob-Israel had married four women. His first wife was Leah. She gave birth to six sons, Reuben her first born and Simeon. Leah later gave birth to one daughter: Dinah.  After Dinah was grown up, Dinah went out into the country without a brother or other protector. Shechem defiled (raped) Dinah. There was no indication that Dinah, in any way consented to or encouraged this unwanted defilement. Should the parents have cautioned against going out unprotected?  YES! But that did not give Shechem the right to defile Dinah.

Jacob heard about the act, but decided to wait until his sons came in from the fields and watching the flocks. The two eldest sons of Leah, her first two born Reuben and Simeon, were very angry and plotted revenge against the village of the people of Shechem and Hamor.

They pretended that the only way they could allow intermarriage between the two groups was if all the men of Hamor would agree to be circumcised. Now although circumcision was the way of conversion, the brothers never mentioned them becoming Jewish. The sons of Leah, Reuben and Simeon (full brothers of Dinah) agreed that if all the men of Hamor and Shechem would become circumcised then Reuben and Simeon could give the Jewish daughters in marriage.

As we will learn, this was never their intent. They knew that circumcision had adverse effects on a man two days or so after the circumcision when they were healing. So when the men of that community were at the worst possible state to defend themselves, Reuben and Simeon, the full brothers of Dinah, exacted revenge and killed all the 318 males. They then took from the defeated foes all their wives, children, livestock and things as spoil.

There is no Godly position that would allow them to exact revenge and retribution to the extent that they did. And Jacob was afraid that they had gone too far and he was certain that the people of the area would gather together and come and slay Jacob and his family Israel. So it is into this uneasy situation we find ourselves.

Apparently however, Jacob/Israel was speaking to God about the situation. God would give Jacob specific instruction on where to go and how the people of Israel might find favor with God by putting away all the idol gods that were among them. However we never find God agreeing to the death of 318 men because of the defiling acts of one man.

Message Text: Genesis 35:1-29

1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

God spoke unto Jacob and tells him he is to rise and go to Bethel, and when he arrives in Bethel, he is to make an altar unto God. God reminds him that God appeared unto him “when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.” So all the talk about needing to find a wife was apparently not the main purpose. The main purpose of leaving father and mother was so that Jacob would not be killed by his angry brother Esau. Esau had made it known that he intended to kill his brother Jacob as soon as their father Isaac had died.

Adam Clarke (1762 – 26 August 1832)

Arise, go up to Beth-el — The transaction that had lately taken place rendered it unsafe for Jacob to dwell any longer at the city of Shechem; ... while he was reflecting on the horrible act of Simeon and Levi, and not knowing what to do, God graciously appeared to him, and commanded him to go up to Beth-el, build an altar there

2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

God exacts other requirements that Jacob/Israel wants to make the one true living God his Lord and his God. God warns Jacob that he must put away strange gods. All the idols are to be put away. As you will recall, even Rachel the favored of Jacob had stolen one of her fathers idol gods and that was among them. You can be certain that there were others that had idol gods because they all came from the pagan nation. God also told him why he and his people needed to do this. They needed to be clean, set apart, sanctified, holy unto the one true living God. Nothing has changed along those lines. You and I are to be clean, sanctified and set apart to the Lord God.

Furthermore there was a strange requirement or something which may have appeared strange. Change your garments. There was to be a cutting off from the old man of the worldly and each one was to become a new person following the commandments of God and walking in His ways.

This is carried over in Christianity today when we may put off the old man and set ourselves apart to the Lord Jesus Christ the Savior and Redeemer. It applies not only to ourselves personally but to those in our household over whom we have the authority or ability to persuade. God makes it clear that He wants us  to affect those with whom we live (our household). You decide to change sides. You accept what Jesus Christ has done for you on the cross at Calvary where He shed His blood and died to pay the death penalty that you had already earned for yourself. There is no other way. There is no other way mentioned, there is no other way to come to the Father, except through Jesus.

Jesus said, “I AM the Way.’ There is no other way back to the Father but through Him. If you or I are trusting in anything else we have not put away the strange gods. If we cling to any other way, we have not set ourselves apart, sanctified ourselves. We have not put off the old man and put on the new man. That can only happen when we surrender to the truth that Jesus Christ is the only Way to the Father. 

“Jesus saith unto him, I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) writes:

Put away the strange gods — the gods of the foreigners, which were among them. Jacob's servants were all Syrians, and no doubt were addicted less or more to idolatry ... But it is more natural to suppose that these gods found now in Jacob's family were images of silver, gold, or curious workmanship, which were found among the spoils of the city of Shechem. ... Be clean, and change your garments — Personal or outward purification, as emblematical of the sanctification of the soul, has been in use among all the true worshipers of God from the beginning

3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.

In verse 3 God says something that had to be very comforting. God said let us arise. God would go with them to Bethel. Bethel is the place where Jacob had encountered the ladder reaching to Heaven. Bethel was the place where Jacob wrestled with God and was assured everything would be fine. Then Jacob reminds himself that when he was distressed and thought his life was about to leave him, when the thought his brother Esau would certainly keep his word to take his life, Jacob did not know that God had been working in the heart and life of Esau during the same period of time. We read how there was reconciliation, not retribution in the heart of Esau by the time Jacob had returned.

4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.

Verse 4 tells us of the response the people gave unto Jacob. All their idol gods which they had in their possession and all their earrings which were in their ears, Jacob/Israel not wanting them to ever return to these idols, went and found an oak tree (we presume alone). We believe that no one else knew of the location and Jacob buried all the idol dead gods made with mans hands and did it in such a way as to hide them. This was so that the people would not ever be able to return to their strange gods. The idol gods were dead and buried, hidden from sight, not to be returned to ever again.

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) writes:

Ear-rings were certainly worn as amulets and charms, first consecrated to some god, or formed under some constellation, on which magical characters and images were drawn.

5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

Verse 5 tells us of God’s intervention on behalf of Jacob/Israel. They were not attacked by the other nations because God placed the terror of God upon them. They were afraid to attack Israel as they might have to fight against God Himself. The warning by God was sufficient to keep them from attacking Israel as they journeyed toward Bethel. I am certain that Jacob, who always seems to see the worst or imagine it, was still very concerned about the fact that he might be attacked and destroyed. But at least we find out that Jacob was obeying God and he is going in the direction of and towards Bethel. This is a good sign, it appears that Jacob was beginning to trust and obey God.

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) writes:

The terror of God — A supernatural awe sent by the Almighty, was upon the cities that were round about.

6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.

So Jacob came to Luz, Luz means "almond tree." What we do know is that Luz is in the land of Canaan. Canaan is the land promised to Abraham, later to Isaac and then to Jacob and his sons. It was given by God to Israel.

And they arrived at Bethel, that was where Jacob had been sent by God. Now the question is, did Jacob fully trust and obey God and do as God had directed him?

7 And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.

Verse 7 tells us that Jacob in fact did build an altar unto God in Bethel and called that place El Bethel. El Bethel means  "The God of the House of God." This was the place God had first appeared to Jacob when he fled from his brother Esau in fear of the death threat of Esau that he would kill Jacob as soon as Isaac, their father, had died.

So it appears that Jacob had trusted and obeyed God. He had come to this house. He was back in the land of Canaan. God had protected him from the other persons in the area. It appears that Jacob had finally trusted and obeyed God.

8 But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.

Next the find a verse that says Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse died. Rebekah was the mother of Jacob and Esau. It was her nurse that had died. This Deborah was sent with Rebekah when Rebekah came to marry Isaac. Deborah was buried beneath Bethel under an oak. The name of the burial place is called Allonbachuth. Allonbachuth means "oak of weeping." This writer does not understand the importance of Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse to the overall story. It is most interesting to note, however, that God thought it was important enough to include her name and burial place in Scripture.

9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. 10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and He called his name Israel.

The verse tells us that God appeared unto Jacob again when he came out of Padanaram and blessed him. This may be referring to when Jacob first came out of Padanaram and wrestled with the Lord Jesus. The word again may be referring to another time later on but whenever it was, God said to Jacob thy name shall not be called anymore Jacob but Israel shall be thy name. Israel means "God prevails."

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) writes:

God appeared unto Jacob again — He appeared to him first at Shechem, when he commanded him to go to Bethel, and now that he is arrived at the place, God appears to him the second time, and confirms to him the Abrahamic blessing.

11 And God said unto him, I Am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

Although we are not certain as to when the statement was made, it is clear that God is saying He is (I Am) God Almighty. God commands Jacob to be fruitful and multiply. God tells Jacob/Israel he will be a company of nations. We assume he is talking about the 12 tribes of Israel and furthermore God tells him kings shall come out of thy loins. In other words, your offspring will produce kings such as Saul, David, Solomon, etc. Ishmael also had kings in his line.

12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.

God says specifically to Jacob the land which He gave to Abraham and Isaac, the land of Canaan, to thee (Jacob/Israel) I will give it and to thy seed (children) after you will I give the land. This land was first promised to Abraham and Isaac but here God reiterates His intention that this land of Canaan would become the future promised land of the twelve tribes of Israel.

13 And God went up from him in the place where He talked with him. 14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.

Verse 13 tells us that after God said these things to Jacob/Israel God departed and went up from him. Did God ascend into Heaven before his very eyes? All we know for sure is that Jacob set up a pillar of stone and he poured out a drink offering. He poured the oil, which has come to symbolize the Holy Spirit, thereupon. And Jacob/Israel called the spot Bethel as he had been in effect ordered to do in earlier verses.

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) writes:

And God went up from him — This was not a vision, nor a strong mental impression, but a real manifestation of God. Jacob saw and heard him speak, and before his eyes He went up - ascended to heaven.

16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. 17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. 18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. 19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. 20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.

These verses tell us that Jacob journeyed from Bethel but he was still in the land of Canaan as they were on their way to Ephrath, which we find out is Bethlehem. During this time, Rachel began to have a child and was in hard labor. While she was in labor and bringing forth her son the midwife said do not be afraid you shall have this son also. And as Rachel was passing from this life (for she died) she called the name of her new son Benoni. Benoni means "son of my sorrow" but his father Jacob/Israel called the same son Benjamin. Benjamin means "son of the right hand."

We are then told Rachel died and was buried in the way (path or road) to Ephrath which is Bethlehem. And Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave and we see when it was written the pillar of Rachel’ s grave was still there.

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) writes:

Ephrath, called also Bethlehem, and Bethlehem Ephrata, was the birthplace of our blessed Redeemer.

...

She called his name Ben-oni —  the Son of my sorrow ... but his father called him Benjamin, the son of my right hand,

21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

The next verse tells us Israel continued his journey and set up his camp beyond the tower of Edar.

Edar [N] “tower of the flock,” a tower between Bethlehem and Hebron, near which Jacob first halted after leaving Bethlehem (Genesis 35:21). In Micah 4:8 the word is rendered "tower of the flock" (marg., "Edar"), and is used as a designation of Bethlehem, which figuratively represents the royal line of David as sprung from Bethlehem.

www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/edar/       

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) writes:

Tower of Edar. — Literally, the tower of the flock, and so translated Micah 4:8. ... the place where the angels appeared to the shepherds.

22 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

What in the world has happened to Reuben? First he slays several innocent men in retribution for one of them having had forced intercourse with his sister. The punishment of the rapist could well be death, but the other 317 men? They had not sinned to the point of giving rise to being killed.

Here Reuben makes a very unwise decision. Reuben decides to have intercourse with Bilhah his father’s concubine. Reuben was the firstborn. Was he trying to assert dominance over his father? We only see this kind of activity being reported on by Absalom, son of David who took his father’s concubines in the open so people would know that he was ascending over his father.

Why Reuben did what he did we have not the slightest hint. The Scripture tells us Israel heard about it and as far as we know did absolutely nothing. It is just mentioned that he was one of the 12 sons of Jacob.

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) writes:

The transgression of Reuben ... see Genesis 49:4 It brought a curse upon him ... A man, by sowing a grain of forbidden sweets, may reap an abundant harvest of eternal wretchedness. Reader, let not sin rob thee of the kingdom of God.

23 The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun: 24 The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin: 25 And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali: 26 And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.

These verses merely tell us of the mothers of the various sons of Israel. First we read of Leah’s sons; then Rachel’s sons; next the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid and finally the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid. Scripture tells us these were all born to Jacob when he was in Padanaram serving Laban, his father in law. 

27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.

This verse tells us that Jacob finally was united back with his father Isaac in the city of Arbah and Hebron. The Scripture tells us this is where Abraham and Isaac had spent their time (sojourned).

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) writes:

The city of Arbah, (which is Hebron)] See Genesis 23:2

28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years. 29 And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Although we were worried about Isaac’s death 20 years earlier, Isaac was still alive when his son Jacob returned from the pagan nation of Padanaram, the nation of Laban some 20 years later. The Scripture tells us that Isaac died at 180 years of age being old and full of days. Scripture tells us his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Adam Clarke says:

Esau, as we have seen chap. xxxiii., was thoroughly reconciled to his brother Jacob, and now they both join in fraternal and filial affection to do the last kind office to their amiable father, Isaac. It is generally allowed that the death of Isaac is mentioned here out of its chronological order, as several of the transactions mentioned in the succeeding chapters, especially Genesis 37 and Genesis 38 which must have happened while Isaac lived.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we come to You asking You to forgive us and cleanse us from all sin, so that we may bring our petitions before You, that You might hear and answer. Here we see the struggle of Jacob-Israel to trust and obey. May we learn that You are with us always.  Help me to trust and obey You in all that we say and do. And when we sin help us to confess the thoughts, the words and the deeds as sin, asking You to forgive us and draw us closer to You.  Help me to submit my self unto God, and to resist the temptation and the devil so that the devil (or his agent) must flee from us, because we are wise enough to submit myself unto YOU, dear Lord. Forgive me, cleanse me, and make me fit for Your use.  Please put in my path one that needs to hear about You and Your Great Love. Strengthen me for the battles and help me to trust and obey You, KNOWING that You will never leave me, and be with me always, I pray, in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen and amen.                                                                   

May God bless you in all that you do for Him, Brother J.R. Soul winner, Bible teacher, Defender of the Faith

[jrhughes]

Our Sister is not an Harlot!

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Genesis 34:1-31

Golden Text:       25 But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:  26 But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter:   - Deuteronomy 22:25 - 26

Jacob and Esau were the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah. When they were in the womb of Rebekah, she felt them struggling. God told Rebekah that there were two nations within her striving. However God made it clear that the elder would serve the second born. This would be a reversal of tradition as the elder, even by minutes would be the first born and to him would go the greatest share or in some cases all of the wealth of the father.

During their lifetime, Esau had given up the birthright when Esau came out of the field and was so hungry that Esau being extremely hungry gave up his birthright for a bowl of pottage.  But in spite of God telling them the elder would serve the younger, Isaac decided to give the blessing to Esau. This, of course, would be contrary to what God had said. Furthermore Rebekah the wife of Isaac and mother of the twins Esau and Jacob plotted with Jacob to fool Isaac into thinking Jacob was Esau. The older Isaac, who could not see well, was fooled by Rebekah and Jacob. Thus Jacob received the blessing of the first born.

Shortly after Jacob had received the blessing, Esau came from the field and sought the blessing, Isaac had already given the first born blessing to Jacob. Isaac told Esau that he had given his blessing and Jacob would in deed keep the blessing. Even though God had long before said the elder, Esau, would serve the younger, Esau was very angry.  This angered Esau so much that he vowed to kill Jacob as soon as Isaac died. Furthermore Esau had taken Canaanite women as wives. Rebekah and Isaac encouraged Jacob to go to the land of Laban to find him a wife. So Jacob fled from his brother and decided to go to the home territory of Laban to find a wife and to flee from his brother Esau.

Jacob left and on his way he saw a ladder from heaven with angels ascending and descending. Finally the LORD Himself revealed Himself to Jacob. Then Jacob continued on to the land of Laban. Jacob first encountered the young, well favored Rachel.  After a month of work by Jacob, Laban asked Jacob what would be his wages? Jacob agreed to work seven years for Rachel.

Came the wedding night seven years later. Laban substituted Leah. When the morning came Jacob was very, very upset, but Laban had a deal. Laban said you, Jacob agree to seven more years and I will give you Rachel next week.

When working for Laban, Jacob married two wives:  Leah and Rachel. Jacob also went in unto the maids of his wives and had other children. Leah produced all male heirs then for her first six sons her last child was Dinah upon whom we will focus in this lesson. 

Wikipedia reports:

Dinah was the seventh child and only daughter of Leah and Jacob. The episode of her violation by Shechem, son of a Canaanite or Hivite prince, and the subsequent vengeance of her brothers Simeon and Levi, commonly referred to as the rape of Dinah, is told in Genesis 34. Dinah is first mentioned in Genesis 30:21 as the daughter of Leah and Jacob, born to Leah after she bore six sons to Jacob. In Genesis 34, Dinah went out to visit the women of Shechem, where her people had made camp and where her father Jacob had purchased the land where he had pitched his tent. Shechem (the son of Hamor, the prince of the land) then took her and raped her, but how this text is to be exactly translated and understood is the subject of scholarly controversy. There is general agreement that Dinah did nothing to encourage the contact. She appears to have been taken by force.

Message Text   Genesis Chapter 34:1-31

1 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.

As you can see, from your Bible (and the Wikipedia report above) Dinah was the only daughter of Jacob. Her mother was Leah. It would seem that the then 11 brothers and a godly set of parents, that Dinah would not have much to concern herself with. However, Jacob and Leah had a responsibility to their daughter to see that she walked circumspectly in all she did. Here we see that she went out in a friendly manner to meet the daughters of that land. The people were pagan and rather immoral in their way of living. It would seem like her parents (Jacob and Leah) would have either cautioned her or sent her with a brother or two or perhaps having even forbidden her to go out alone or with others. But we find no evidence of that.

When the young prince Shechem sees her, it says he took her and lay with her and defiled her. These words all indicate an aggressive activity by Shechem. Apparently Shechem seized her and then lay with her, the term includes “to ravish.” The verse also tells us that he defiled her. The explanation for the word defiled includes many that indicate aggressive behavior. We do not even find a hint that this was consented to by Dinah. After all, he was a prince. He could have anyone at any time that he wanted. They should be honored to have him. We have no indication that this was what in fact Dinah had thought.

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:

“It is supposed that Jacob had been now about seven or eight years in the land, and that Dinah, who was about seven years of age when Jacob came to Canaan, was now about fourteen or fifteen.”

3 And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel. 4 And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.

This verse seems to say that the sexual experience that Shechem enjoyed was pleasant to him and he was interested in future contact between himself and the damsel. Shechem even asked his father Hamor to get the damsel to be his wife but he most likely meant only one of his wives, as after all he was a prince and one wife certainly would not be enough.

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:

“Literally, ... endeavoured to gain her affections, and to reconcile her to her disgrace. It appears sufficiently evident from this and the preceding verse that there had been no consent on the part of Dinah, that the whole was an act of violence, and that she was now detained by force...”

5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come. 6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him. 7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done.

The verse tell us that Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled Dinah his daughter. This was his only daughter, perhaps his little princess. After all, she was the only girl. We believe Jacob was very upset but since his 11 sons were with his livestock in the field, Jacob waited for them to come in from the field.

When the sons of Jacob heard what had happened, they were grieved. They were hurt. They felt betrayed, perhaps even responsible to some degree. And the Scripture tells us they were very wroth. Wroth means to blaze up in anger, but the Scripture tells us they were not just wroth but very wroth. And why were they so upset? Because of what had been done to their sister They knew who she was and who she was not. She was probably to them like a gentle flower, a weaker vessel. She had no chance to defend herself. She had been done wrong. This was considered folly. Folly means wickedness or a criminal act. They probably could almost not contain their anger. But apparently they realized that Hamor and Shechem were stronger than they were and they would have to get some kind of tactical advantage before seeking the revenge that they wanted and thought they were right to achieve. This was their father’s only daughter, their only sister. They could not allow this to go unpunished.

8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. 9 And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you. 10 And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.

Hamor discussed the matter with the brothers and most likely Jacob also. At least Hamor was honest about the situation. He admitted Shechem longed for or lusted after Dinah. What he said was, I beg you to give her to Shechem to be his wife. But Hamor continued. You can marry our daughters and you can give us your daughters. We will make marriages, marriages to Hamor and Shechem were arrangements, perhaps to bring families together or warring sides to a peaceful resolution. Hamor assured them that they could dwell in the land he controlled. You can live here and trade here and get possessions and wealth here. We will not stop you but will instead encourage you. Once again the world wanted control of the situation. The ungodly world wanted to control the godly children of God.  Then Shechem chimed in.

11 And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give. 12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife. 13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:

Shechem speaks unto Jacob and the brothers asking them to forgive him, Let me find grace in your eyes. And I’ll pay you, what is your sister worth? How much will it cost me to be able to do with her as I will? Of course Shechem spoke in terms that they could understand, and said he would give them a dowry and a gift. Dowry means the price for a wife. You will note that never once does he consider his actions wrong. He does not ask for forgiveness but assumes this could be a commercial transaction.

This attitude apparently incensed the sons of Jacob. They decided to answer the two of them deceitfully and dishonestly. They felt they could do this because Shechem had defiled their sister and did not show one bit of remorse, but was willing to pay to play. Ths could do nothing but anger them even more.

As to dowry, see Genesis 29:20 “And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; (his dowry) and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.”

14 And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us: 15 But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised; 16 Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. 17 But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.

The sons of Jacob said we cannot give our sister to one who is uncircumcised. So part of our “deal” with you would be that you and every male would be circumcised (having a piece of the foreskin cut off), which was a covenant  act between God and those who wanted to become His children. In this case, however, the brothers had an ulterior motive but they protested and said if you become circumcised, we will dwell with you, we will become one people with you and we will exchange daughters and intermarry and we will be as one people. But if you refuse to be circumcised, then we will take our daughter (apparently by force) and we will be gone. So it appears that not only had Dinah been taken without consent, she was still with Shechem.

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:

“Because the uncircumcised were not in the covenant of God; ... from whom might spring children who would naturally walk in the way of their father would have been absurd, reproachful and wicked. Thus far they were perfectly right; but to make this holy principle a cloak for their deceitful and murderous purposes, was the full sum of all wickedness.”

18 And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son. 19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father. 20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, 21 These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. 22 Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.

The request by the sons of Jacob pleased Hamor and Shechem and they began to sell the idea to their brothers. Soon all the young men agreed and were ready to be circumcised and Shechem was motivated of course because he delighted in the sexual act with Jacob’s daughter Dinah so perhaps he was more honorable than the rest of the men.

The way it was being sold to the men of Hamor, was well, if we circumcise all of us, they will dwell in the land with us, we will trade with them, we will take their daughters and wives and give them our daughters. But it is only under the condition that all the men of Hamor are circumcised. Obviously the motivation was clear - the men of Shechem thought they would eventually subdue and take over the children of Israel and would have all their land, their cattle and their substance.

23 Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us. 24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.

They admit that what they hoped to do is take all their livestock and all their wealth and all we have to do to get it is to become circumcised like they are now. And so every male of Hamor was circumcised for the express purpose of eventually taking over and subduing Jacob and his sons and obtaining all of their wealth. So, the Scripture tells us every male was circumcised. And every male under Hamor was circumcised at the gate of the city.

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says: 

“This was a bait held out for the poor unsuspecting people of Hamor by their prince and his son, who were not much less deceived than the people themselves.”

25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. 26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out.

Revenge - So on the third day when the men of Hamor were very sore and most vulnerable, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s full brothers (same mother) came in and killed every one of the males. This included Hamor and Shechem and the sons of Jacob Simeon and Levi took Dinah their sister out of Shechem’s house and took her back to her family to Jacob and Leah and the other brothers.

Adam Clarke says: “When the inflammation was at the height...”

27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28 They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field, 29 And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.

Apparently the other sons of Jacob had not been involved in the murder of Hamor and Shechem and the men of Hamor. But when they came and found all the men were killed, they took every good thing out of the city. They took the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys and all that was in the city or in the field. Further more they took all the wealth, the little ones and their wives. They left nothing but took it all. Why? Because they had defiled their sister Dinah. Jacob was wise enough to have chosen another way but it was done. And I’m sure Jacob was glad to have his daughter Dinah back with him, but Jacob indicated he had some fear.

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says: 

“it is therefore most natural to suppose that the rest of the sons of Jacob assisted...”

30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

Jacob was sure that there would be repercussions against Jacob’s family. After all these were kin to the Canaanites and the Perizzites. Jacob was sure they would rise up against Jacob and his family. He envisioned them joining together as one sole force and he was certain destruction would follow and Jacob said:  ”I shall be destroyed, I and my house.”

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says: 

“Ye have troubled me — Brought my mind into great distress, and endangered my personal safety; to make me to stink-to render me odious to the surrounding tribes... And had he not been under the peculiar protection of God, this in all human probability would have been the case;

31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?

To take an innocent woman and force her to have sex against her will is indeed a terrible thing. The one who does it certainly should be punished, perhaps even put to death. I don’t think that troubled Jacob. What troubled him was should the other men who were not directly involved or indirectly involved with the vile act of sexual abuse and rape have also suffered the penalty of the rapist? The Scripture says:

“The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.” Deuteronomy 24:16

Adam Clarke says: “Should he deal with our sister as with a harlot? — On this outrage alone they vindicated their flagitious conduct. ... Not only prudence dictates that young women should keep at home, but God expressly commands it.”

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, We do not come before You trusting in our righteousness, but instead ask You to search our inner most being. When You find sin, please forgive me and cleanse me so that I may confess my sins and be cleansed and You can then hear and answer my prayer. We bring before You all of our weaknesses and ask You to make us fit. If we are parents, help us to take good care of the children You have given, to lead and guide them according to Your Will and Your Ways. The story of what happened to Dinah is grievous unto us. Help us to be good leaders in our families. Then help us to fall on our knees and seek You and ask You what to do and help us to hear from You do what is right in Your sight. We do not see Reuben and Simeon coming to You. They seem to want to fix things in their own strength and as they see fit.  Help us to contact You in prayer and to follow Your advice. We do not know how You would have solved this, but we do not believe You would have the men who were not involved murdered for the sin of their fellow man, but Lord they did not contact You, help us to first turn to You for a Godly solution. And even if we do not understand or  do not like Your solution, help us to obey and trust You in Your great wisdom. Forgive us our sins when we go ahead of You or do not seek Your assistance. Help us to be willing vessels.  Help us to always ask You, no matter what and whether it be a large or a small matter. Please forgive us when we have not done this and put You and Your plans first and above our will and plans. Help us to rely totally upon You, we pray. We ask it in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen and amen.

May God bless you in all that you do for Him, Brother J.R. Soul winner, Bible teacher, Defender of the Faith

[jrhughes]

Reconciliation

Genesis 33:1-20

Sunday, February 4, 2024

Golden Text:       And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. - Genesis 33:8

Introduction For the past two weeks we have been discussing Jacob. We cannot understand Jacob without understanding he is the twin brother of Esau, born 1 minute before Jacob. Apparently their rivalry goes back to the womb of the mother Rebekah, as she felt unusual amount of movement by the babies within her. She was told by God that there were two nations inside of her and she was also told that the elder would serve the younger.

Then as you will recall during their lifetime, Jacob talked Esau into giving up his birthright for a bowl of pottage and when Isaac was going to go against the will of God and give the blessing to Esau, Rebekah and Jacob entered into a great deception convincing the older Isaac that this was in fact Esau coming to him. They put on Esau’s clothing and even put animal skins on Jacob to show himself hairy as was his older brother Esau. Isaac was deceived and gave the blessing unto Jacob that he intended for Esau. However, this first blessing going to Jacob was the will of God.

As we mentioned last week, Esau became so angry that he vowed to kill his brother Jacob as soon as their father died. Also about that time Esau married another Canaanite woman and these two factors were used by Rebekah to send Jacob away to Rebekah brother Laban so that he would marry a non-Canaanite woman and avoid death at the hands of Esau.

We were told about the ladder going from heaven to earth, angels thereon and the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ at the top of the ladder. There Jacob made a vow of sorts that if the Lord would bring him back safely he would serve Him then.

Jacob traveled about 500 more miles to Haran and as he arrived at an opening where they were watering the sheep and flocks, he met Rachel, the daughter of Laban. Rachel was considered beautiful and apparently was well favored as far as her physical appearance was concerned. Jacob immediately became enamored by her. Rachel went and told her father Laban.

Laban had sent Rebekah away to be the wife of Isaac because of the great wealth of Abraham who had come with 10 camel loads of things and presents for both Rachel and her mother. This was most likely still in the mind of Laban when he met the heir of Abraham and Isaac. He must have certainly thought this was the soon to be inheritor of great wealth.

After working for Laban for one month Laban noted how food a worker he was and asked him if he wanted to work on a regular basis and what did he want to receive. Jacob said he would serve 7 years for Rachel.

Seven years passed. They seemed but a short time for the love that he had for Rachel. Last week we told you about the fact that Laban had switched Leah the older less attractive daughter in the darkness of the tent and Jacob had gone in unto her. The next morning he discovered he had been deceived and tricked. But Laban offered a lame excuse and said to him if he would serve 7 more years he would let him have Rachel to be his wife after 1 week with Leah. Jacob realized he didn’t have much choice and he served 7 more years.

During the last 7 years God greatly prospered both Jacob and Laban. Laban became very much aware of the fact that the blessing was mutual perhaps even supernatural and he didn’t want to lose this developer of wealth and prosperity. So he bargained again with Jacob to stay.

The two of the agreed upon more service where Jacob would take care of Laban’s flocks and herds and only take for his wages animals in the sheep and goats that were not all one color.

After about 6 years the sons of Laban started coveting the prosperity of Jacob even though we are led to believe that Laban was prospered during that period of time. The sons of Laban of course would inherit all that was their father’s so they encouraged their father to demand that Jacob give up al that he earned. About that same time Laban had gone to shear his sheep and was gone for at least a week. During that week Jacob spoke with his two wives Leah and Rachel and told them God has spoken to him and told him it was time to go back to the land of promise. They agreed. They said that what had been gained by the work of Jacob belonged to him and to them and their children. They hurriedly packed and while Laban was still on his sheep shearing mission they left.

When Laban arrived back home from the sheep shearing he was told Jacob had gone some days earlier. He pursued after him and seven days later found him. By reading between the lines of what is in the Scripture it sounds as if Laban intended to take everything back from Jacob, perhaps even including his wives. As he claimed all that Jacob had really was Laban’s. But he admitted he had been warned in a dream by God:  the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Realizing this might be supernatural forces fighting for Jacob, he instead made a covenant with Jacob. They built an altar and neither was to pass that area to go to visit the other with any evil intent in their heart.

Laban left and Jacob got on his way to go back to the land of his father Isaac. It is interesting to note that God has sent him on this journey and God had not revealed anything ill was going to happen to him. Since it was God’s idea, it would turn out well. However, fear struck Jacob and overruled his faith in God. He was certain that Esau meant him harm. Jacob sent a great deal of livestock to Esau as a gift hoping he would not carry out this threat to kill him. But apparently from all we read, Jacob was gripped with this fear and was certain that Esau intended to carry out his threat.

1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. 2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. 3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

In spite of the fact that God had told Jacob to come back to the land of his father, and in spite of the fact that He had showed him in a wrestling match how He (God) was in control, Jacob believed the worst. He thought Esau was comng to kill him.

We note that Jacob has more than sorry he got caught. We also note that Jacob did not remind Esau thatt his was God’s intentionin the first place. Jacob was gripped with fear.

As he lifted up his eyes and looked toward Esau and his men, what he saaw was a man coming to exact revenge uponhim and perhaps take his life. Jacob, however devised a plan and wqe don’t see him checking in with God as to what God would counsel him. He divided the children and although its not clear here, the two concubines Zilpah and Bilhah were sent first with their children. Then Leah was sent with her children. And finally Rachel was sent with Joseph.

This sounds much like the plan of the day befpre except we note something differnet about it. This time, Jacob passed over before them. And as Jacob passed over before them to meet Esau he bowed himself to the groujnd seven times as he came near to him, thinking and expecting the worst. Jacob had sent on to Esau a present to try to gain favor or grace in his sight. But he did not really think his scheme had worked, as we mentioned before he was gripped with fear.

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:

It has been generally supposed that Esau came with an intention to destroy his brother, and for that purpose brought with him four hundred armed men. But,

1. There is no kind of evidence of this pretended hostility.

2. There is no proof that the four hundred men that Esau brought with him were at all armed.

3. But there is every proof that he acted towards his brother Jacob with all openness and candour, and with such a forgetfulness of past injuries as none but a great mind could have been capable of.

4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. 5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.

Expecting the worst, Jacob saw Esau running to meet him and a strange response, far from what Jacob expected. Esau wrapped his arms around him, came near him, kissed him on the neck and the two brothers wept. We can imagine that the tears of Jacob were tears of relief but apparently Esau was interested in reconciliation.

Esau lifted his eyes up after he was holding his brother tightly and as he wiped away the tear she saw the women and children who were with Jacob and inquired Who are these? And Jacob’s answer was soft and was gracious as he said, the women and children were graciously given to Jacob by God. It was the same God who had told him to return to his land, the same God who had wrestled with him the night before and showed him what a power ful Being He was. Jacob was finally realizing this was all a part of the plan of God, who would have His way. Jacob had left the land of Isaac in Canaan land with nothing and he came back with much great prosperity. Finally he acknowledged it was all from God.

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:

“How sincere and genuine is this conduct of Esau, and at the same time how magnanimous! He had buried all his resentment, and forgotten all his injuries; and receives his brother with the strongest demonstrations, not only of forgiveness, but of fraternal affection.”

6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. 7 And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

As we mentioned earlier, the plan the day before was for the handmaids to go first, Leah second NAD Rachel third, as Jacob was protecting himself. But here we see that Jacob had gone on before them. First the handmaids Bilhah and Zilpah came near to Esau. They came with their children and they like Jacob bowed themselves before Esau, perhaps seven times just as Jacob had done, showing deference of the lesser to the greater. After the handmaids Leah came with her children and they bowed themselves down to Esau, again showing that in their opinion he was greater and they were lesser. Then after those had all come, came Joseph near and Rachel and they likewise bowed themselves down before Esau. Bowing down to another person in that time meant that they were admitting they were inferior to him and that he was their superior. Interestingly enough, although God had spoken to Rebekah and clearly made it appear that He wanted the leader Esau to serve the younger Jacob there was none of that reminding here. Jacob was acting as if he were repentant, sorry for his actions, that he had been wrong. We do admit that what he had done was done in a manner that was probably not necessary, but God also used it for good. And we see that repentance of Jacob amid the reconciliation of Esau.

8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. 9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. 10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. 11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.

Esau looked up and saw the gift that had been sent ahead to him by Jacob and he inquired what does al this mean? And Jacob admitted it was to find grace or favor in the sight of Esau. It was his wish that Esau forgive him and not carry out his plan of killing him.

It appears that Esau who no longer lived in the land of Canaan, promised land but had moved to Mount Seir. But when we read chapter 36, we find that the two of them Esau and Jacob did dwell together in Canaan. But when they could not both sustain their livestock, the two of them parted and departed Canaan.

And Esau said to Jacob, I have enough my brother. Words of reconciliation and tenderness and Esau declared keep your gift for yourself. But Jacob insisted and said I pray that you would take them, if I have found grace, favor, forgiveness, if you’re going to reconcile with me then receive this present. I am thrilled just to see you face to face. It’s almost as if I had seen the face of God and thou wast pleased with me. Jacob did not realize what he was saying. The reconciliation and tender attitude of Esau was exactly what God had planned and brought into being. So the present was not only from God to Esau but also an indication of the reconciliation that God wanted between the two brothers.

Jacob begged him, begged Esau to take the blessing. In effect he said I have been greatly blessed by God and I have more than enough. Take the gift, please take the gift and let it work between us for grace and favor and as a sign of reconciliation of God.

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:

“Receive my present at my hand — ... in accepting it Esau necessarily became his friend, according to the custom of those times, ... if it be not received, you have every thing to fear. It is on this ground that Jacob was so urgent with Esau to receive his present”

Esau was content and apparently blessed of God, to the extent that the two brothers could not dwell togther. So as we learn in chapter 36, they parted so they could both find pasture land for their livestock.

12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee. 13 And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. 14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.

Esau was content to be with his brother Jacob and take the journey back to Isaac together. Esau volunteered to go first but Jacob spoke to Esau and as we learn later, they were first in Canaan, but later both departed because of the blessings of God on them.

Here Jacob said to Esau, the cattle, the livestock, the children could not take the pace set by men. He said I pray you, pass over and I will lead on softly. He led Esau to believe that was all that they could endure but that he Jacob was going to follow Esau and he did, but when they both realized that they could not dwell together Esau went unto Seir.

Seir means “hairy” or “shaggy.”  Seir is the ancient and Biblical name for a mountainous region stretching between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba in the northwestern region of Edom and southeast of the Kingdom of Judah. (Wikipedia)

15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. 16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.

Esau, still in reconciliatory mood, offers to leave some people with Jacob, probably to guide him and make the path easier for him to get to Seir. But Jacob says, I don’t need that. Let me find grace, let me find favor, trust me. At that point in time, they would try to dwell together in Canaan, but could not as God had blessed them both. Esau was going to journey to Seir, but Jacob was then going to take a turn and journeyed to Succoth.

17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

This verse does not reveal that before the split up, they both tried to live in Canaan. The Scripture tells us Jacob finally journeyed to Succoth.

Succoth means "booths" and Succoth is located east of the Jordan River, identified as tell Deir Alla, a high debris mound in the plain north of Jabbok and about one mile from it (Wikipedia).

Succoth and Seir are nowhere near each other. To get to Succoth, Jacob had to turn away from Canaan. Finally Jacob journeyed to Succoth and when he got there, the son and grandson and great grandson of nomads built him a house, a permanent structure. And to this name he built booths to house his cattle. You will remember when we say cattle, we mean a vast number of sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, camels, as well as menservants and maid servants. They had moved into succoth and there they were going to stay. Jacobs next move is interesting.

18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city. 19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money.

And Jacob came to Shalem, the city of Shechem. Shalem means "peace" and  Most Jewish commentators affirm that it is the same as Jerusalem but they obviously do not know for certain. Shechem means "back" or "shoulder" and is located in what we know as the West Bank of Israel, north of Ephraim and way south of Nazareth. Shechem appears to be in the middle of the Promised Land. It says he went there when he came from Padan Aram, the area in which Laban and his family lived. However, we are told that Jacob built a house in Succoth but when he arrived at Shalem, its reported he pitched his tent before the city. Then we have an interesting comment for this son of a nomad nad grandson of a nomad. Abraham had purchased only one plot of land and that was for a burying place. But her we are told Jacob bought a parcel of land, a field. He bought it from the children of Hamor. Hamor means male donkey and he purchased it from a man named Shechem who is the father of Hamor and he paid 100 pieces of money.

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:

“And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem ... After resting some time at Succoth, which was necessary for the safety of his flocks and the comfort of his family, he got safely to a city of Shechem. ... Shechem is called in Acts 7:16, Sychem, and in John 4:5, Sychar; in the Arabic it is called Nablous, and to the present day Neapolis. It was near to Samaria”

“For a hundred pieces of money. ... As kesitah signifies a lamb, it may imply that Jacob gave the Hamorites one hundred lambs for the field.”

20 And he erected there an altar, and called it Elelohe-Israel.

There Jacob erected an altar to the Lord and called it Elelohe-Israel, which means "the mighty God of Israel." So we see that Jacob is following now in the footsteps of Abraham and Isaac as he worships the one true God of Israel.

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:

“And he erected there an altar — It appears that Jacob had a very correct notion of the providence and mercy of God; hence he says, Genesis 33:5: The children which God hath GRACIOUSLY given thy servant; and in Genesis 33:11 he attributes all his substance to the bounty of his Maker:... Hence he viewed God as the God of all grace, and to him he erects an altar, dedicating it to God, the God of Israel, referring particularly to the change of his own name. ...

Since the time in which Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the covenant. We see in him much dependence on God,... God's grace alone can change the heart of man, and it is by that grace only that we get a sense of our obligations...”

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for the reconciliation of the brothers. You must have changed the heart of Esau toward Jacob. And Your Word tells us how good it is for brothers to dwell in peace and harmony together. Here you did a work on a heart and mind set on murder. But You Lord changed that hard heart and turned in into a heart of reconciliation. May that be true of all with whom we come in contact. Help us to be reconciliators for our brothers both in and out of the kingdom.  Use me as a reconciliator, bringing others to the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Make me fit for Your use, I pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

May God bless you in all that you do for Him, Brother J.R. Soul winner, Bible teacher, Defender of the Faith

[jrhughes]

Fear and Deliverance

Genesis 32:1-32

Sunday, January28, 2024

Golden Text:       And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother; Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams, Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals. - Genesis 32:13-15

Introduction: Today we are going to study Jacob’s return to the promised land of Canaan to his father Isaac. Jacob originally left his family 20 years earlier after he and his mother had deceived Isaac and received a blessing for Jacob which Isaac intended for Esau. Esau was extremely upset and said that as soon as his father died he was going to kill Jacob.

It is interesting to note that this contest between the brothers started when the two of them were in the womb of their mother Rebekah.  There, there was a great struggle within her womb and when she asked the Lord what it meant, she was told that two nations were in her womb and she was told that the elder would serve the younger. It is interesting to note that God spoke to the family, in this case, though Rebekah the wife and mother, which was a bit unusual because God usually spoke through the father/husband.

Once the two young men grew, one time Esau was out hunting and Jacob was home with his mother as usual and was preparing pottage. Esau came out from hunting and was famished and Jacob, who is a deceiver and supplanter, took full advantage of the situation and said to the very hungry Esau, Sell me your birthright. Esau had been born first, only by a few minutes, but the firstborn was going to either get all of the father’s wealth or a large portion of it. Esau succumbed to his hunger and said to Jacob what good is the birthright, feed me that pottage, lest I die, in exchange for his birthright position as number one.

Although Isaac knew of these events, and that God had said the elder shall serve the younger, Isaac intended to go against the will of God and give the blessing that Esau would have had by being firstborn back to Esau even though God had clearly told them the elder would serve the younger. Rebekah and Jacob devised plans to deceive an older Isaac who had trouble seeing and may have had trouble in his tasting ability because when Rebekah made savory meat, she took the meat from the goats and made it taste like venison. Anyway they convinced Isaac that Jacob was Esau and Isaac blessed Jacob with the blessings of the firstborn.

Shortly after this encounter Esau came in and was told that the blessing that Isaac was going to gice to Esau was already given to Jacob and Jacob would indeed get that blessing. Esau was very, very angry. He literally cried and asked his father for another blessing. The father told him that he would give him a blessing but Jacob had received the firstborn blessing. That is when Esau became so angry that he threatened to kill Jacob as soon as Isaac their father had died.

Rebekah heard this and about that same time Esau had married another Canaanite woman as his wife. Knowing these two facts, Rebekah convinced Isaac to join her in telling Jacob to go to the land of her brother Laban and there to find a wife, who was not Canaanite.

Off to Haran: Jacob traveled some 500 miles and early on in the travels he laid down his head on a stone and that night saw angels going up and down a ladder from heaven to earth. Furthermore, Jacob had seen the Lord at the top of the ladder. And Jacob had made a promise that if God would keep him when he would come back, he would then serve Him as God.

Jacob went to Laban. The first meeting was with the daughter of Laban, Rachel, when Rachel came to water her sheep. Jacob told Rachel who he was. Jacob was very interested in the very beautiful well favored Rachel and had worked out a deal with his uncle Laban to serve 7 years to marry Rachel as agreed upon between Laban and Jacob. However, on the wedding night, Laban substituted Leah.

Apparently in the dark and with the bridal coverings and the veil Jacob did not know it was Leah that night, but discovered it the next morning. Jacob went to Laban very upset, incensed, But Laban had a deal for him. After Leah gets her week (honeymoon?) Jacob could serve Laban seven more years and after only 1 week Laban would give Jacob Rachel, also to be the wife of Jacob. Jacob had no other alternative but to agree and started working now for Rachel.

After the 14 years were up, Jacob asked Laban to send him away. In the meantime God had prospered the efforts of Jacob and Laban had gained much wealth and prosperity. Laban wanted to continue this so he told Jacob basically you name your price and I will agree to it.

Flocks and herds of sheep and goats were generally speaking white, without any other color in their coats at all. The ones with color in them were not highly regarded so Jacob said you give me those with color in them and I will serve you for them. And so he made the agreement. Ten times Laban changed the “deal” but each time he did so God countered it by having the stronger animals mate and come up with the better offspring.

After 6 more years of service the sons of Laban (who stood to inherit their fathers wealth) decided that all that he, Jacob, had earned through his labors really belonged to their father and they convinced their father who also began to believe perhaps the sons were correct and Jacob realized that he was (perhaps) about to lose everything that he had earned in the last 6 years.

Jacob then talked to his 2 wives out in the field where he was keeping his own animals and asked them if they wanted to return back to the land of promise with him. Jacob informed them that God had told him it was time to go home. The two daughters of Laban agreed that all that had been accomplished by their husband Jacob belonged to him and to them and their families. Laban shortly thereafter went to shear his sheep and was gone for a week.

During that time when Laban was gone, Jacob Leah and Rachel and the two handmaids and all the company and all the livestock that he had acquired left and went with him on the way back to the Promised Land.

Laban pursues Jacob: When Laban returned from shearing sheep he was told what had happened and he and his men went after Jacob and his company. Seven days later Laban overtook them. God spoke to Laban in a dream and told him not to be harsh with Jacob. Apparently Laban realized that he was not only going to have to battle with Jacob and his people, but God would be on the side of Jacob. Rather than take them all on he made a covenant with Jacob. They set up a pillar and neither one was to pass that pillar to do any harm to the other. Then Laban kissed his daughters and left and went back to his land.

Message Text: Genesis 32:1-32

1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

The angels of God met him After God has told him to return to his home and his wives had agreed, Jacob went on his way. And to confirm that he was in the will of God, the angels of God met him. And when he realized these were the angels of God, he exclaimed this is God’s host. He called the name of that place Mahanaim. Mahanaim means “two camps.”

3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

Verse 3 tells us Jacob sent messengers to Esau. As you will recall, Esau is the older twin brother of Jacob. Esau had vowed to kill Jacob as soon as Isaac their father died. This was part of the reason that Jacob fled from Canaan in the first place.

We find out that after the return to Canaan, the two discovered that they had too much livestock to dwell together. Thus Esau (brother of Jacob) left the land of Canaan and then moved to the land of Seir in the country of Edom.

Seir means "hairy" or "shaggy" and Edom means “red.” The reason that is important is because that describes Esau. He was a hairy man who also had some redness about him. As you will recall, in the eyes of Esau, Jacob has stolen his blessing from his father and therefore had stolen the inheritance or goods that would flow to the firstborn.

4 And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now: 5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight. 6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.

Speak unto my lord Esau As you can see, he speaks humbly and in deference to Esau, calling him lord. It seems to indicate that he considers him above himself.

Jacob tells Esau that he had been gone for these twenty years working with Laban and stayed there until now. He had been gone for 20 years where he had worked 14 years for his two wives Leah and Rachel and another 6 years during which time, Jacob had acquired animals and wealth. Jacob said when he sent to Esau, “I now own or have oxen and donkeys, flocks of animals, menservants, maidservants. I have been prospered greatly and I said to tell this to you Esau it is my purpose to find grace in thy sight.”

Certainly the motivation for Jacob was fear. He feared for his life. He remembered how badly Esau had been hurt and felt betrayed by what he had done to take the blessing from Isaac unto himself. He knew that Esau was angry enough to carry out his threat to kill Jacob and to kill him as soon as their father died. Another thing we can surmise is Jacob was not sure as to whether or not Isaac was living or dead and if he had died, certainly Esau would be wanting to carry out his threat against Jacob.

The messengers of Jacob returned and told him more frightening news. When they met Esau, he wasn’t coming alone or with a small group to meet him. Esau had with him 400 men and we assume that the messengers meant 400 men of war willing to do the bidding of Esau. Jacob (falsely) realized at this moment that Esau was still intent on taking his life. If he hadn’t been afraid before now Jacob was certain, Esau had come with his men intending to kill Jacob and take all that he had.

7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; 8 And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.

Jacob was greatly afraid It was clear to all that Jacob was greatly afraid. Jacob decided he would try to save at least some of his people. Jacob divided the people that were with him and all that they had into two separate bands of people. The one thing that puzzles me is if Jacob had all that he claimed to have he must have had a substantial group of men himself that could have fought in defense against Esau’s 400 men but Jacob wasn’t thinking.

Fear struck his heart. Jacob was distressed, upset, worried. Jacob believed Esau had only ill will toward him and Jacob expected the worst.

Jacob spoke to the two companies and said if Esau strikes one of the two companies the other should run for their lives and escape. That way at least half of the people would be saved.

9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which Thou hast shewed unto Thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. 11 Deliver me, I pray Thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. 12 And Thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

Deliver me I pray Thee Jacob must have recalled that he had heard form God and it was God that told him to return to the promised land so Jacob finally does something wise. He prays and asks God to intervene. He wants to make certain that he is talking to the right God, the one true living God, the God of his father Abraham and Isaac. He reminds God that it was God who told him to return to his country and to his kindred. Then he thanks God and reminds himself how he is unworthy and that when he passed over Jordan to go to Haran all that Jacob had with him was his staff. Jacob came back blessed of God, prospered and there were two bands of people.

Then he again reverts back to fear and asks God deliver me I pray Thee from the hand of my brother Esau for I fear him. The fear was total. The fear was complete. It was controlling Jacob his life and his thoughts.

Then Jacob ends the prayer, interestingly enough, reminding himself that God was going to do him good and make his seed as the sand of the sea, perhaps reminding God that as a dead person that would not be possible. And then his prayer is ended.

13 And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother; 14 Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams, 15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals. 16 And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove. 17 And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee? 18 Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us. 19 And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him. 20 And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.

Now Jacob devises a plan. We don’t see any direction from God but he decides he is going to give a gift to Esau his brother and hopes to satisfy him so he will not take his vengeance out upon him as promised to do after Jacob had convinced Isaac that he was Esau so Isaac would give the blessing he intended for Esau to Jacob.

One only has to look at what Jacob offered to his brother to realize how God had blessed him. He gave him 450 goats and rams, 30 camels with their colts, 40 head of cattle, 10 bulls, 20 donkeys half of them having foals. This great number of animals was but a fraction of the wealth he had obtained and prosperity he had been given by God. It seems like he should have at least advised God of his plan to offer these to Esau, but we don’t see any evidence of that here.

Furthermore Jacob delivered them to his servants and commanded them to pass over before Jacob and put a space between those things he was giving away to Esau. Certainly his fear had driven him to the point of seeing if he could buy off his brothers anger.

He then tells them when you meet Esau my brother and he asks about these animals, you are instructed to say these were all acquired by and belonged to Jacob. They are a present sent to Esau, it’s for Esau. Then they were to say Jacob is behind us. Apparently there were three droves, I do not know if this was the number of animals in each drove or the total number in three droves. Whichever way it is you can see how blessed Jacob was by the hand of God.

Jacob tells his servants the purpose: Jacob wanted to appease Esau. Jacob hoped that Esau would forgive him and accept him and not carry out his plan to kill Jacob.

21 So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company. 22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. 23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.

Jacob had sent the present on before him and he spent the night with his company of people. But apparently he could not sleep. He rose up that night, took his wives and servants (concubines) eleven sons and they all passed over the ford of Jabbok. He sent them over the brook probably for their own safety but we are not sure what was his purpose. Except Jacob wanted to be left alone or left alone with God.

24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a Man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when He saw that He prevailed not against him, He touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, Let Me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.

After Jacob sent them over, Jacob was left alone. He wrestled there a Man but if one looks forward to verse 30, Jacob says for I have seen God face to Face. Therefore it is apparent to this writer that this was nothing less than a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. Jacob wrestled with that Man until the breaking of the day and then suddenly the Man touched the hollow of the thigh of Jacob and threw it out of place, perhaps indicating that really Jacob was no match for Him; and He could have stopped the wrestling at any point in time but He did not. The pre-incarnate Christ said to Jacob let Me go because the sun is coming up. Jacob protested no, I will not let You go unless You bless me.

27 And He said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And He said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked Him, and said, Tell me, I pray Thee, Thy Name. And He said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after My Name? And He blessed him there.

And the One wrestling with Jacob asked him what is your name. Jacob replied Jacob. He was told you are not going to be called Jacob anymore but Israel because I have now made you a prince and given you power with God and with men. In other words, God had touched Jacob in such a way his life was totally and completely changed. Have you received this touch from God?

Now Jacob asks the Person with whom he is wrestling tell me Your Name. And He said to him why do you ask after My Name? I believe that meant you know Who I AM. If we look at the next verse we see he did know Who it was. And the Wrestler (Jesus) blessed him (Jacob). Now we have an encounter with God by a man who is in fear for his life and has forgotten it was God who told him to come back to the land and we know that God will not send us into a dangerous situation unless we are so forewarned. He was not longer fully trusting in God because of his fear.

The Bible says fear hath torment but perfect love casteth out all fear. Who is the Author of perfect love? The Lord Jesus Christ.

30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. 31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

I have seen God face to face Jacob called the name of the place Peniel. Peniel means "facing God." Here Jacob had come face to face with God the Son and he knew the Scripture which said no one has seen God face to face and lived. That obviously does not apply to the Lord Jesus Christ but God the Father only. God the Holy Spirit is the Spirit that is not readily seen. Jacob passed over Penuel which means "facing God," a derivation of the word Peniel. And the sun rose bringing him a new day. When Jacob walked he walked with a limp because his thigh was out of joint. Does your encounter with Jesus change the way you walk?

32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because He touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.

Verse 32 talks about a custom that had risen up in Israel. Because Jacob’s thigh was put out of joint and he walked with a limp, the people decided not to eat of the sinew (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, a tendon; that which unites a muscle to a bone.)

We will find out in the next chapter what happens when Esau and Jacob meet. Were Jacob’s fears well founded? Tune in next week and find out!

Prayer Heavenly Father we thank You that You love each and very one of us. We ask You to cleanse us of all of our sin so that You may hear and answer our prayer. We learned to day how Jacob was gripped with fear believing the worst was going to happen by his brother who had vowed to kill him after Isaac their father died. Apparently he had forgotten it was God Who told him to go back to his family and Lord You are clear that You’re with us always, protecting us when we don’t even know it. Help us not to fear. As Your word says fear hath torment but Your Word also says perfect love casteth out all fear. That perfect love is the Body of God the Son the Messiah of Israel and Savior of all mankind who came to earth in the form of man. He lived a sinless life. He became the sacrifice to take away the sin of the world. So now those who trust and believe in Him and what He has done on the cross for them will one day rule and reign with Him in Heaven. God You are so good to us. We don’t deserve any of what You have given us. We certainly don’t deserve the death of God the Son in our place. We thank You and praise You and worship You. God the Holy Spirit thank You for bringing us into all truth teaching us Your ways. These things we pray in the Name of Jesus Christ God the Son Amen and Amen.

[jrhughes]

Jacob Begins Journey to Canaan

(Sunday, January 21, 2024 AD)  

Genesis 31:1-55 

Golden Text:       41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times. Genesis 31:41 

The two tricksters have used each other. Laban wanted more wealth and prosperity and since God was blessing Jacob and Laban was being blessed also, because of Jacob, Laban wanted Jacob to stay.  Jacob served fourteen years, seven for Leah and seven for Rachel. He wanted to return to Canaan land, but Laban asked Jacob to stay and told Jacob to name his wages and Laban would pay them.  

The motive of Laban was to secure more wealth through the efforts of Jacob and the blessing of God on Jacob.  Jacob also saw an opportunity to gain in livestock and wealth, so Jacob agreed to stay another period of time. Jacob named his wages of taking the undesirable sheep and goats as his wages. Jacob would take the ones who were not of pure color. Laban not regarding the ring straked and multi colored goats and sheep, gladly agreed. During the next six years both Laban and Jacob prospered. Jacob was given all of the multi colored and then Jacob encouraged these ones to breed and produce more. Jacob also watched over the flocks of Laban. Both Laban and Jacob prospered because of the blessing of God.  

However, things began to change. The sons of Laban said they now believed that what Jacob had, he had taken by trickery. They asserted that the flocks of Jacob really belonged to their father (and thus unto them, eventually as they were heirs of Laban). We look in on Jacob and Laban after the twenty years of service. 

Message Text:  Genesis Chapter 31:1-55 

1 And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory.  2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before. 

Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons. The sons of Laban (who were to receive the inheritance of their father Laban) began to envy the flocks and herds of Jacob. They now claimed that all that Jacob had, really belonged to their father. Apparently they began to poison the relationship between Laban and Jacob also and when Jacob saw the changes taking place in Laban, he became concerned and most likely believed that Laban and his sons would soon come and take away all that God had given to Jacob. This evidently sent Jacob to his knees and into prayer. 

3 And the LORD said unto Jacob,Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee. 

And the LORD said: God answered the prayer of Jacob. God told Jacob it was time to return unto the land of Canaan, the land of his father, Isaac. God promised Jacob that He, God would be with Jacob. 

4 And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,  5 And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.  6 And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.  7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.  8 If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.  9 Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. 

God has taken away the cattle of your father. Jacob now called his wives, Rachel and Leah to the field unto the flock of Jacob. Jacob told them of his concern that Laban would soon come and take the flocks which God had given to Jacob. Jacob reminded them of how unfair Laban had been changing what was to be given to Jacob, but Jacob now admits that it was God Who was blessing all the time. All his trickery was not what he now believed had done the job, but it was God. 

One can see how Jacob has grown as he realizes that God is in control and it is God Who was the Author of it all. The faith of Jacob is growing stronger as Jacob realizes the real Source. How about you do you? Do you see God in your life? HE is!   Allow Him to direct you ways. 

10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.  11 And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.  12 And He said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.  13 I Am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto Me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred. 

I Am the God of Bethel (House of God). Jacob recalls for his wives how God had worked through his life to insure the prosperity of Jacob. Then Jacob tells them that the angel of God spoke to Jacob. He (God) had seen it all, how Laban had tried to change things to get a larger advantage, but God had intervened. Remember Laban had his household gods, Laban did not know or rely upon the True Living and Only God.  Laban was a pagan with idol gods made by the hand of man. We see later that these idols were important to him, as Laban wanted to search through all of the stuff of Jacob to find the idols.  One commentator says if your gods can be stolen, you need to change gods. 

God reminds Jacob of the vow of Jacob made twenty years before. God assures Jacob HE, God, was always with Jacob working sometimes behind the scenes. 

14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?  15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.  16 For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do. 

The wives were with Jacob. It must have felt good when Jacob realized that his wives had now changed their allegiance from their family to him. They saw themselves as strangers in their own family and they recognized the fact that all the riches that had been transferred from Laban to Jacob were in spite of the fact Laban had changed the deal, so to speak, several times. Each time he changed the deal, God who sees everything countered his attempt and began to bless Jacob in a way which now seems obvious that God was involved behind the scenes all the time. There is no question that Laban had also been prospered by God.  

At first his sons started complaining and apparently influenced their father enough that he too looked at Jacob as perhaps having taken something that really belonged to Laban. The motivation of his sons was most likely the fact that they would inherit their father’s property when he died and they wanted as much as they could get (like father like son).  

So now Jacob talks to his wives and finds out that they are with him and support his decisions. They agree to return to the land of Canaan.  

17 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels; 18 And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan. 19 And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's. 20 And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled. 21 So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead. 

Jacob stole away unawares to Laban Now that his wives had agreed with him, most likely they were hasty about their plans to leave. The reason they were leaving then is that Laban had gone to shear his sheep and was not in close proximity and would not be seeing all that was happening. The Bible tells us that Jacob set his sons and his wives upon camels. That would mean 12 camels for each of his sons and I imagine his wives would include the maids, so 4 camels for them, a total of 16 camels. Obviously God had prospered him tremendously.  

Jacob took all of his livestock, all his goods to return to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan. Since Laban was shearing his sheep, Jacob was able to pack and leave with his multitude of camels and the Bible tells us he fled. That seems to indicate that he left in a hurry, understanding the gravity of the situation if he stayed around. Jacob was most likely convinced that soon Laban would try to take everything back from Jacob which he had earned and which had been given to him by God. So he fled, left in a hurry, and started on his journey back to Canaan toward and through Mount Gilead.  

22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled. 23 And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead. 24 And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. 

Jacob was fled The Bible tells us that Laban found out on the third day that Jacob had left with his wives, his sons, his livestock and all that he had earned while also blessing Laban. Laban was most likely very upset with Jacob but probably not because he had fled but because he had fled with all the things Laban and his sons had decided to take back from Jacob. The fleeing of Jacob had caused complications. Laban took his relatives and most likely his sons and pursued after Jacob. It took him seven days to overtake Jacob into Mount Gilead.  

That night he overtook Jacob, God came to Laban in a dream and warned him not to speak good or bad (evil) toward Jacob. Obviously it then became apparent to Laban that he was not only fighting against Jacob, but also against the only true living God. 

25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead. 26 And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword? 27Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp? 28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing. 29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. 30 And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods? 31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them. 

Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly? The night after God had spoken to him, Laban overtook Jacob and confronted him. Laban asked Jacob, Why did you steal away unawares? Why did you carry away MY daughters? Laban claimed he wanted to give a feast, kiss his daughters and send them away. However, later on in verse 43, He said the daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the cattle are my cattle. That does not sound like a person who wants to hold a feast and voluntarily send away Jacob and his wives with the materials and goods and livestock that he has acquired through his own efforts.  

He also admits that God had spoken to him, the God of his father Isaac yesternight, warning him not to speak good or evil to Jacob. Then Laban asked the question, claiming that he may have longed to be with his father Isaac, but he said why have you stolen my gods? And Jacob was affronted and said, First of all, I was afraid you would take your daughters back from me by force. But as to your gods, with whomsoever you find them, let that person not live. Jacob did not know Rachel had stolen her father’s household idol gods. 

33 And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not. 35 And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images. 36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me? 37 Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both. 

Rachel had taken the images Laban began to search for his idols. He searched Jacob’s tent, Leah’s tent and the maidservants tents but he did not find his household gods. Apparently after he left Leah’s tent was just before he entered Rachel’s tent. We learn that Rachel had taken the images but she had hidden them in the furniture and she sat upon the furniture. So Laban searched all the rest of the tent but did not find his household gods. Rachel, being her father’s daughter, lied to him, claiming she was on her period therefore could not arise. She was sitting on the place she had hidden his household gods.  

When the search found nothing, Jacob was very angry. What is my trespass and sin that you so hotly pursued after me? What have I done that was wrong? Did you find anything? Set it here before my brethren! 

38 This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. 39 That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. 40 Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. 41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times. 42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight. 

Thou hast changed my wages ten times Jacob reminds Laban that he has served him for 20 years. During that time, Jacob has taken nothing other than what he had been given as wages from the flocks of Laban and Laban too had prospered. He reminded Laban that any losses, including when a sheep was taken by a wild animal, Jacob bore the loss. He reminded Laban that it was not always pleasant weather: he had been through droughts, cold nights and sleepless nights and had not complained. Jacob had worked a total of 20 years - seven years for Leah, seven years for Rachel and 6 years for the other things he had acquired. And even though Laban had changed his wages 10 times, God had countered all of Laban’s tricks and deceptions. Jacob was certain however, that had not God protected him and rebuked Laban in a dream, Laban would have sent him away empty, without his wives or livestock or anything else he had acquired. 

43 And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born? 44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee. 45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. 46 And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap. 47 And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed. 

Let us make a covenant We learn in verse 43 Laban’s true intent. He said the daughters and their children are mine. The cattle which Jacob acquired, are mine. All that you see is mine. It sounds like he had fully intended to take back everything from Jacob and perhaps even Jacob’s life. But God had spoken to him and Laban recognized it as some kind of warning from God. Laban would not only have to fight against Jacob, but against God, the Almighty and Ever Living Only True God. So Laban then said let us make a covenant, an agreement including God. Let this covenant be a witness between the two of us and obviously Jacob agreed and took a stone or a large rock - we are not sure which - and set it up as a pillar. Jacob and his brethren gathered stones and made a heap of stones, perhaps a place to eat things because it said they did eat upon the heap. Laban called it Jegarsahadutha. That word means “heap of the testimony.” However, Jacob named it Galeed, which means “witness heap."  

48 And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galled; 49 And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another. 50 If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee. 51 And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee;52 This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm. 53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount. 55 And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place. 

The Lord watch between me and thee The heap of stones was called Galeed and Mizpah. Mizpah means “watchtower.” Laban wanted the Lord to watch between me and thee, but this was not some sweet sentiment. This was more like a non-aggression pact. Perhaps Laban had seen all that Jacob had and perhaps decided he would be in a fight which he could lose, as his character is not one that would back off easily. But perhaps it was just the word of God which had frightened him into being civil. But Laban had some specifications also. He wanted Jacob’s promise to take care of his daughters, not harm them and not take other wives. This was to be part of the covenant.  

Laban took credit for the heap and pillar which he said he had cast between the two of them. And he asked that the heap be a witness and a boundary line. It was more like you will not invade me and I will not invade thee. Both had to agree not to pass over that marked out area to do the other harm.  

Then Laban said something which would be unusual for him. He mentions the God of Abraham and the god of Nahor. Nahor was an ancestor of them both, and so perhaps Laban was invoking pagan gods again, but Jacob swore by his father Isaac. Since it was a custom of the Hebrew children to offer animal sacrifices, it says here that Jacob offered a sacrifice. Generally sacrifices were cut as part of the covenant. After the sacrifice was over, they ate together and stayed up all night in that mountain. Early the next morning, Laban rose up, kissed his sons and his daughters and departed to go back to Haran. Jacob would of course continue on toward Canaan. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I know You love us all. Today in the lesson Jacob had endured trickery and deceit as Laban tried to gain an advantage, but each time Laban changed things, You, God responded and Jacob was protected by You. We do not always see You working in our lives, but we know that You do and we thank You. Please continue to have Your way in my life.  Please help me to be willing to be more changed and more fit for Your use. Give us Your appointments and help us to tell others about Jesus and His Death on the cross to pay my death penalty and so that by His Blood we are set free. And one day all who repent and believe will be with You in heaven for ever and ever and ever. Thank You Father, Thank You Jesus, Thank You God the Holy Spirit. Thy Will be done is my prayer in the Name of Jesus. Amen and amen. 

May God bless you in all that you do for Him, Brother J.R. Soul winner, Bible teacher, Defender of the Faith

[jrhughes]

Laban and Jacob Both Seek an Advantage

(Sunday, January 14,2024)  

Genesis 30:1-43

Golden Text:       For the eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.  Proverbs 15:3  

Introduction: When we last looked in on Jacob and Laban we found that Laban had deceived Jacob, but for a purpose. Jacob had served seven years for Rachel, but on his wedding night, a much veiled and covered Leah was substituted for Rachel.  Jacob did not realize it that night and consummated with Leah. He awoke to find Leah, rather than Rachel and Jacob was very upset.  Laban had a solution. Jacob would have to keep Leah with whom he had consummated a marriage, but after a week long “honeymoon” Laban would give him Rachel, provided Jacob served another seven years. Jacob was obviously having marital relations with both women and Leah conceived and gave birth to four sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. During that same period, Rachel remained childless (barren). 

A barren woman in those days was considered cursed of God. The most important thing for a husband and wife were the children and keeping the family line growing. So when we encounter barrenness, Rachel would have feelings that she had been cursed of God and wondered why. Jacob of course, had a wife (Leah) bearing children and it probably did not concern him as much, but he must have questioned what was going on. Finally, Rachel really became distressed and angry.  

Message Text:  Genesis Chapter 30:1 - 43 

1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. 2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? 

Rachel envied her sister I can just imagine Rachel had gone off the deep end and was wondering why God had done this to her and she displaced her anger.  First she was angry with her sister. Her envy, her jealousy was ruining her and now she turns to her husband and I imagine she screamed at him and said,”Give me children!” 

Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel Perhaps Jacob believed he was being blamed for not producing children or perhaps it was implied that he was not being with her enough to give her children, but when his wife blamed him, his response was I’m not God and it’s God that has withheld from you children (fruit of the womb). Wow! How harsh and uncaring! He humiliates his wife Rachel and tells her, in effect, you are cursed of God, don’t blame me! In effect he was saying,”What have you done to displease God? It wasn’t me, it’s all on you!” Contrast that with Isaac and his reaction when he found Rebekah was barren.  

“And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.” Genesis 25:21 

Men of God, look at these two examples. Which one should you and I emulate? Isn’t it clear that we should pray for our wife and not yell at her and tell her she’s cursed of God? What was going through the mind of Jacob? We do not know. But we do find out that Rachel decides she can “help” God. Sort of reminds you of Sarai who wanted to “help” God and so Sarai gave Hagar to Abram. Ishmael was born and his family is still at odds with the line of Isaac (Israel) to this day. 

3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. 4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. 5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan. 

Jacob went in unto her We see that Rachel’s idea would be to have her husband have marital relations with her maid Bilhah. Apparently there was a custom in those days that you could have a child through someone else. You could then claim the child as your own. We would never think of doing such a thing in this day and age. No, no, we have surrogate mothers. We can implant fertilized eggs in a woman. 

So Jacob must have looked the situation over and thought to himself, “If Rachel wants me to go into this other young sweet thing, I will do so and enjoy my time with her also.”  

Bilhah conceived. Surprise, surprise! Bilhah conceived and gave birth to a son, and they called his name Dan. Dan means “a judge.” She saw this as a vindication by God, who had blessed her ideas with a son. Of course, what really happened is, the laws of God settled from the beginning of time were the result of the man and woman coming together in marital relations. I do not personally see this as some kind of a miracle.  

7 And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. 8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali. 

Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived We have no urging by Rachel specifically in the second conception. Apparently, Jacob was more than willing and so he had marital relations again with Bilhah. And again we should not be surprised that a second son was born to Bilhah.  

However, Rachel again took credit for this and said that it was her idea and prayers that had prevailed and caused this all to happen. And they called his name Naphtali which means “wrestling.” Was Rachel saying she wrestled with God and won? 

9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. 10 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son. 11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad. 12 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son. 13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher. 

Leah saw that she had left bearing Leah was the mother of four sons. She should have been quite content but apparently she too was jealous of what was happening with Rachel and her maid. Remember these two had been struggling over Jacob since before Leah had gone in and replaced Rachel on the wedding night. Leah had consummated the marriage with Jacob first and therefore Leah believed she was the true wife, despite the fact that Jacob had not bargained for her, but for Rachel. Then, as you will recall, Laban who had deceived Jacob took advantage of the situation and said that he (Jacob) could have Rachel but only if he agreed to serve seven more years. So Jacob then had two wives and each of them had a maid. Here we see Leah, doing the same thing she had seen her sister Rachel do. Leah took Zilpah her maid and apparently requested Jacob be with her. And he lay with her.  

Again, no surprise. Laws of God are producing after his kind goes in effect. Zilpah gave birth to a son. Now Leah saw this as a great triumph and she called his name Gad. Gad means “troop.” And Leah said, “A troop cometh.” But once was not sufficient for Leah and so Jacob “forced himself” to go in unto Zilpah once again. Again, Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. Leah was very happy and considered this a blessing and they called his name Asher. Asher means “happy.” The name indicated the feelings of Leah. 

We see the contest between Laban and Jacob for the right to be called the wife of Jacob. Leah had given birth to four sons and the two maids Bilhah and Zilpah had given birth to four sons (two each). We see conniving happening between the father (Laban) and now here the daughters are “at war” over children.  

14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes. 15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes. 16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night. 17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son. 18 And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar. 

Leah hires Jacob Reuben, one of Leah’s sons, went into the field in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes. Mandrakes means “love apples.”  

Wikipedia reports: 

A mandrake is the root of a plant, historically derived either from plants of the genus Mandragora found in the Mediterranean region, or from other species, such as Bryonia alba, the English mandrake, which have similar properties. The plants from which the root is obtained are also called "mandrakes". Mediterranean mandrakes are perennial herbaceous plants with ovate leaves arranged in a rosette, a thick upright root, often branched, and bell-shaped flowers followed by yellow or orange berries. They have been placed in different species by different authors. They are highly variable perennial herbaceous plants with long thick roots (often branched) and almost no stem. The leaves are borne in a basal rosette, and are variable in size and shape, with a maximum length of 45 cm (18 in). They are usually either elliptical in shape or wider towards the end (obovate), with varying degrees of hairiness.  

         -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandrake   

Most probably these were a special fruit. Apparently they were rare and not something that was seen every day. When Reuben came out of the field with the mandrakes, Rachel coveted them and asked Leah to give her (Rachel) some of the mandrakes. 

Leah was upset and said, “You took my husband (Jacob) and you want my son’s mandrakes?” Rachel’s reply was, “Give me of your son’s mandrakes and I will tell Jacob to lie with you tonight.” This apparently pleased Leah and apparently she agreed.  

When Jacob came in out of the field that evening, Leah went out to meet him and told him that he had been bought and paid for like a gigolo. Jacob would have to spend the night with Leah. And so Jacob went in unto his wife Leah.  

The Bible says God hearkened unto Leah, so apparently she was praying for a pregnancy. That night Leah conceived and gave birth to a fifth son. His name was called Issachar. Issachar means "there is recompense." Apparently Leah saw this as a gift from God and that she had prevailed against her sister. So apparently the contest over Jacob continues.  

19 And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son. 20 And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun. 

Leah conceived again. After Issachar was born, again Jacob was with his wife Leah and she conceived and gave birth to Jacob’s sixth son and they called his name Zebulun. Zebulun means “exalted.” 

Leah now believes that with this son she has been endowed with a good dowry (gift) from God. As the contest continues, she now believes her husband Jacob will spend the majority of his time with her, because in effect, she is the only working womb in the group. She had prevailed of having six sons which is enough to carry on the family name to make both Leah and Jacob proud parents with good standing in the community.  

21 And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah. 

Called her name Dinah. Leah now gives birth to a daughter and names her Dinah. Dinah means “judgment.” at this point in time, Leah had given birth to six sons and the handmaids had also given birth to sons and there was only one female out of the whole group: Dinah. The Bible is silent as to why this is important. So we are left with some puzzling questions but we know that all the children except Dinah were males.  

22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. 23 And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: 24 And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son. 

God remembered Rachel It is not that God was not aware of Rachel, it is not that God had no plan for Rachel. God knew exactly what He was going to do and when He was going to do it. God had His own good reasons for waiting this long. Rachel now conceived  and bears a son and calls his name Joseph. Joseph means “Jehovah has added."  

Joseph will be a very important and crucial character and he is used by God to save the entire family later from starvation. Also Rachel believes God has taken away her reproach, the reproach of not bearing children.  

25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country. 26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee. 27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake. 28 And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it. 

Send me away Apparently the second seven years was up and Jacob had earned his two wives Leah and Rachel. He now wants to go home. He speaks unto Laban and asks him to give Jacob his wives and his children and apparently he is going to leave and go back to the land from whence he had come. Laban did not want this to happen. 

Laban, for the first time, sounds like the desperate one. Laban realizes that he has been blessed of God because of Jacob. He even says as much to Jacob. 

Appoint me thy wages. Then Laban says “What’s your price?” What will it cost me to have you continue serving me? Name your wages and I will give them to you. 

29 And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me. 30 For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also? 31 And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock: 32 I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire. 33 So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me. 34 And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word. 

According to thy word Here we see the struggle between two deceivers. Up to this point in time Laban seems to have had the better of the two. He has had Jacob serve him for 14 years. There was no outlay of cash or produce by Laban. Just a hardworking man (Jacob) blessed by God. The blessing of God was apparent to Laban. It meant wealth and prosperity, his favorite idols. He would do almost anything to keep Jacob and the prosperity he brought to the situation. So now he may have advantaged Jacob. Jacob has a plan. 

Jacob said he didn’t want anything at this point in time. But Jacob proposed that he pass through the flock of Laban and take the undesirable animals out of the flocks and herds of Laban. Jacob would take the speckled and spotted cattle and all the brown sheep and the spotted and speckled goats. That’s all he wanted. Apparently Laban did not count this as much of a loss. He may even have believed that once again he had outsmarted Jacob. 

So Jacob removed from Laban’s flock and the “undesirables.”  Jacob left him all the white sheep and solid colored sheep and goats. And Jacob said if you find any that are not speckled or spotted in my herd, you can consider them stolen from you and they will be promptly returned. 

Laban agreed. 

35 And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons. 36 And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks. 

Now we see that Laban is removing the goats and sheep which are not a solid color and he gave those into the hands of his sons. Laban’s sons drove these sheep and goats three days journey away from Laban and his flocks. But we assume Jacob’s men then watched those sheep and goats but Jacob himself stayed nearer to Laban and fed and cared for the rest of Laban’s flocks. 

37 And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. 38 And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink. 39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted. 40 And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle. 41 And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods. 42 But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. 

The flocks conceived. The Bible tells us that Jacob took green poplar, hazel and chestnut trees and peeled back the bark so white streaks appeared. He set those rods before the flocks in the watering trough. Apparently his idea was that if they bred in front of the rods, the cattle would be stronger and so he did this in front of the strong cattle. But when the feeble cattle came he did not set them out before them.  

Matthew Henry says: 

Here is Jacob's honest policy to make his bargain more advantageous to himself than it was likely to be. If he had not taken some course to help himself, it would have been a bad bargain indeed, which he knew Laban would never consider, or rather would be well pleased to see him a loser by, so little did Laban consult any one's interest but his own. Now Jacob's contrivances were, 1. To set peeled sticks before the cattle where they were watered, that, looking much at those unusual partilly-coloured sticks, by the power of imagination they might bring forth young ones in like manner partly-coloured, Genesis  Genesis 30:37-39. Probably this custom was commonly used by the shepherds of Canaan, who coveted to have their cattle of this motley colour. Note, It becomes a man to be master of his trade, whatever it is, and to be not only industrious, but ingenious in it, and to be versed in all its lawful arts and mysteries; for what is a man but his trade? There is a discretion which God teaches the husbandman (as plain a trade as that is), and which he ought to learn, Isaiah 28:26.  

It seems like Matthew Henry is not really certain about what this peeling of wood was supposed to accomplish. 

Adam Clarke (1762-1832) says: 

It has long been an opinion that whatever makes a strong impression on the mind of a female in the time of conception and gestation, will have a corresponding influence on the mind or body of the fetus. This opinion is not yet rationally accounted for. It is not necessary to look for a miracle here; for though the fact has not been accounted for, it is nevertheless sufficiently plain that the effect does not exceed the powers of nature; and I have no doubt that the same modes of trial used by Jacob would produce the same results in similar cases. The finger of God works in nature myriads of ways unknown to us; we see effects without end, of which no rational cause can be assigned; it has pleased God to work thus and thus, and this is all that we know; and God mercifully hides the operations of His power from man in a variety of eases, that He may hide pride from him. Even with the little we know, how apt are we to be puffed up! We must adore God in a reverential silence on such subjects as these, confess our ignorance, and acknowledge that nature is the instrument by which He chooses to work, and that He performs all things according to the counsel of His own will, which is always infinitely wise and infinitely good. 

Apparently the scholars have differing opinions and cannot agree upon the meaning. It sounds like they don’t fully understand but believe this is in the Bible for a reason and believe that God had some part in this and I guess that has to be enough for us to understand. 

43 And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses. 

The man increased exceedingly One simple verse indicates the blessings of God upon Jacob. His wealth increased and increased exceedingly until he had acquired much cattle (flocks and herds), and had hired maidservants and menservants. Unlike the day he arrived, walking, he now had camels and donkeys to carry away his wealth. But Laban and his sons envied Jacob and was sure that he had done this in some deceptive manner. The reason they believed that is because this has been the tale of two deceivers. Jacob deceived his father. Laban deceived Jacob and got him to serve him an extra seven years by trickery and deceit. Truly for both of them, what they have sowed they have also reaped. 

But through it all, God’s hand was upon Jacob and He prospered him greatly. And now you know the rest of the story. 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, we know that You love each and every one. We see that You can bless Jacob even though he is not the most pristine example but instead is a man much like us who is involved in sin. But You Lord God know the future. You know this man who will eventually be the man of God You want him to be and so You bless him even in his time of deception and sin. What a loving and patient God You are. We ask You to look upon us when we sin and forgive us of all of our sin and unrighteousness. Help us to be willing to surrender ourselves to You Lord, that You might use us in the up building of Your kingdom. And how can we say thanks? How can we appreciate all You have done? You sent Your only Son to die on the cross so that each one of us who believes in You and believes You raised Jesus from the dead and wants us to live as best we or she can then may be saved from the penalty of death and hell in the lake of fire. Jesus, thank You so much. God the Holy Spirit thank You for leading us into all truth. May we make ourselves available to You. Help us to be willing to submit to You and Your authority. Help us to be a fit vessel for Your use. These things we pray in the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen and amen.

[jrhughes]

What Goes Around Comes Around

Sunday January 7, 2024  

Genesis 29:1-35  

Golden Text:       Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. - Galatians 6:7  

Introduction: Today we will find out that Jacob the deceiver meets his match in Laban his uncle. As a matter of fact, Laban takes such advantage of Jacob that one might think Jacob almost deserves it. He serves Laban for 7 years for one daughter, Rachel, but instead Laban deceives him and gives him Leah. Then Laban bargains with him for him to get Rachel whom he always wanted but he had to work 7 more years.  

Jacob had come from Beersheba to go to Haran, a distance of probably 500 miles. Early in his journey from Beersheba, he came to a place where he slept all night and it says he used a stone for a pillow. As he dreamed, a ladder set up on earth reached into the heavens and Jacob saw the angels of God ascending and descending upon that ladder. The Bible says:  

13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I Am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I Am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. Genesis 28:13-15  

He apparently had a conversation with the Lord Jesus Christ in His pre-incarnate form. Before he left the area, he named the place Beth-El. He had contact with the living God. He left immediately and continued his journey from Beth-El into Haran, where he had been sent to find a wife and avoid the anger of his brother Esau, who had threatened to kill him as soon as their father Isaac passed away  

Message Text Genesis 29:1-35  

1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.  

Then Jacob went on his journey The word then indicates that Jacob immediately after his encounter with the angels and the Lord went on his journey which he now knew would be prosperous as God was with him. He went into the land of the people of the east, the Syrians, who were from Ur of the Chaldees, a pagan nation that had followed the teachings of Nimrod and was in rebellion against God.  

2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. 3 And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place.  

During his journey he was looking for Haran, the home of Laban. He had no GPS, satellite guidance or maps. He was being guided by God. And he came upon a scene in the field. As he looked, he saw 3 flocks of sheep lying by a well. Apparently the well was a source of water for the flocks in the area. A great stone was upon the well’s mouth, most likely to keep it form contamination and or any use by wild creatures who were precluded by the great stone.  

All the flocks in the area would gather together and they (more than one man) rolled the stone from the well’s mouth. It must have ben a very great stone in size and weight. When the stone was rolled away they watered the sheep, and once all of the sheep were watered for the day, they replaced the stone again on the well’s mouth. Jacob had no idea who these men were or if he had found Haran.  

4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.  

Whence be ye? Not being certain of where he was or who were these men, he said my brethren where am I? Who are you? And they said Of Haran are we. In effect they were telling him that he had come into the country to which God had directed him and his parents had asked him to come and find a wife. Perhaps his journey was at an end or at least he was very close to finding Laban the brother of his mother Rebekah.  

5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. 6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.  

Know ye Laban? Hoping that he had found his way to a proper part of Haran, he asked them whether or not they knew Laban the son of Nahor. And the men there replied, We know him. Jacob then asked about his well being. Is he well? (Is he prospering? Is he in good health?) And they said He is well.  

And then they pointed to a figure in the distance bringing some sheep to the well and said “Look! Rachel the daughter of Laban comes with the sheep of her father to be given a drink for the day.”  

7 And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. 8 And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep. 9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.  

Water ye the sheep And now it seems that Jacob is trying to direct the young men as he said, although it’s not time nor have all the cattle or sheep been gathered, but he said to them, “Water ye the sheep.” They replied, “We cannot until all the flocks be gathered together, until they (more than one) roll the stone (the great and large well covering boulder) from the well’s mouth. Then we water the sheep. That’s how we do things around here.  

While Jacob yet spoke to them, Rachel came near with her father Laban’s sheep. She came into view and the closer she got, the more excited became Jacob. Was this the one? Was this a Divine appointment?  

10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. 11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.  

Jacob...rolled the stone form the wells’ mouth And as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother’s brother Laban, and the sheep, it was as if he were charged with supernatural power because whereas it was customary for more than one man (they) to roll the stone from the well’s mouth, Jacob, by himself, rolled the large stone (boulder) from the well’s mouth and gave water to the flock of Laban. Jacob then excitedly kissed Rachel. We assume it was a warm greeting which was customary and nothing more. The he lifted up his voice and wept. In his excitement and believing he may have found his future wife, Jacob told Rachel he was Rebekah’s son. Rebekah was the sister of Laban and the aunt of Rachel. This greeting and explanation surprised and perhaps even shocked Rachel. We must remember that from the story as it continues on, Rachel had to be a very young woman, perhaps just into her puberty and barely marriageable age, but she was excited. She was so excited, she apparently temporarily left the sheep there, I guess, as she ran to tell he father Laban of the appearance of Jacob the son of Laban’s sister.  

13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. 14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.  

Laban ran to meet him. Here we encounter Laban and we remember how impressed he was when they came to get his sister Rebekah. What impressed him? The gifts that they were bringing and the 10 camel loads of prosperity. So as Laban ran to meet Jacob, I am sure that he recalled the wealth of Abraham and Isaac that had been shown to him in the past. And we will see that Laban was all about being prosperous and wealthy and would do almost anything to satisfy the longings of his lustful heart for these things.  

And Laban said to Jacob You’re my relative. You’re my kinsman. We share the same DNA. (Although DNA was not even thought of in those days). He tried to make Jacob feel at home although we cannot forget what motivates Laban. And so Jacob stayed with him for the space of a month.  

Apparently during that first month the good work ethic of Jacob had become apparent and Laban saw that he was a person he could depend upon to help him in his search for prosperity and wealth.  

15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? 16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. 18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.  

Tell me what shall thy wages be Whenever someone hires a new person or watches him or her doing their work, it doesn’t take long to figure out this person is exactly what you need to grow your business or assist you in your work. Laban decided he wanted Jacob and Jacob would be an asset to him. So although Laban wanted Jacob he wasn’t sure that he could hold him unless they could work something out for his compensation that would be more binding than a handshake or a “good job my brother.”  

Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah (delicate, weary) the name of the younger was Rachel (young female lamb). Leah was tender eyed. No matter where you search on the internet, whether it be Wikipedia or the Jewish Encyclopedia it is not clear what the term “tender eyes” means, Some believe she had weak eyes, others believe it is a phrase saying she is a plain, perhaps homely woman. We do not know but we will find out in the future that Leah the tender eyed one became the mother and true wife of Jacob. In the long run she was beautiful on the inside, humble, loving, faithful, all that a man should want in a wife.  

But Jacob looked at Rachel, who was a beautiful woman in appearance and had a fine looking body (well favored). And like most men, did not wait until he found out what was her true being on the inside that said, “Wow! Look at that hot one!’ And he said to Laban “I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.” That must have been music to the ears of Laban.’ I got him! I got him for seven years! He’s mine. He will help make me prosperous. I will use him in every way that I can. But Laban did not say that.  

Laban said, “It’s better I give her to you than I should give her to another man. Abide with me.” In other words, “It’s a deal. He just made himself a deal. I will gladly give up my daughter for more wealth.”  

The Bible tells us Rachel was beautiful and well favored. Jacob was smitten. His eyes and other parts of his body apparently ruled his decision.  

20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.  

Give me my wife It is very clear that the understanding between Laban and Jacob is that he would serve seven years and then Jacob would marry Rachel. The seven years of labor was like a dowry that he was paying to the father for the privilege of marrying Laban’s daughter Rachel. Now we see Laban taking advantage of the situation as he becomes a deceiver at a level exceeding Jacob. The seven years of service seemed to fly by as his love for Rachel and his focus and plan remained clear. He had now served the seven years and asked Laban to give him his wife as he had agreed upon seven years earlier.  

When Jacob says he wants to go in unto his wife, he means he wants to consummate his marriage with Rachel.  

22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.  

Laban...made a feast Apparently the tradition of a wedding feast has its roots in antiquity. Here we see that Laban has a wedding feast. I am certain that Jacob was very happy to celebrate this auspicious occasion of finally having the reward for seven years of labor. He had watched the flock and under him and his leadership God had prospered Laban and so this was a situation where in the eyes of both Laban and Jacob was a happy and winning time. I am certain that Jacob never thought Laban would do anything but keep his promise of seven years earlier. However, Laban had other ideas.  

Laban would take Leah and put her in the place of Rachel. This was cruel, he broke his word to Jacob and can you imagine how Rachel and Leah must have felt? Rachel knew that she was the object of the affection of Jacob. Rachel planned to become his wife, but Laban disregarded the feelings of Rachel and Jacob and substituted Leah.  

Leah must have known something was up that wasn’t proper. Everyone knew Jacob had served for Rachel. We can assume that Laban was a strong willed man and compelled her to be part of his deceptive plot. She knew she was not the object of Jacob’s affection, she was a pawn being used by a cruel father who had a plan now to manipulate the situation to his benefit.  

Although we do not understand fully the deception, it is most likely that the bride had a heavy veil over her face and would not be seen. We do not know the ceremony but apparently there was not much required that would give away the fact that this was not Rachel. We have to assume that Rachel and Leah must have been approximately the same height and with the myriad of clothing put upon the bride one could not see or discern clearly the face or body of the bride to be. Apparently they did not use candles or other lighting and so Leah went in to the tent and apparently in the darkness took off enough of her clothing for consummation to take place. Jacob, thinking he was consummating his marriage with Rachel, must have been ecstatically happy. Leah on the other hand knew she was not the promised one, knew that she had been rejected and could not expect to suddenly be accepted by Jacob who had served seven years for Rachel. She was part of a deceptive plan and pawn being used by her father.  

Also we learn for the first time that Laban is giving his daughter Leah a maiden named Zilpah. Zilpah means (Strong’s H2153 - from an unused root apparently meaning) to trickle, as myrrh; fragrant dropping. Zilpah must have known that she was destined to a life of serving her mistress and meeting her needs. She had no idea that she too would be a mother of Israel.  

25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?  

Wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? First again we learn that Jacob woke up and what to his surprise - it was the tender-eyed Leah! He must have been outraged. On the other hand, Leah had to see the rejection and disgust in his eyes and the demeanor which had been caused by her father using her as a pawn in his plan to entrap Jacob. It must have crushed her heart, but her father did not care. She was a thing to be used for him to prosper and gain wealth. He is truly a despicable character.  

Jacob was outraged but what was he going to do? He had consummated a marriage with Leah. Would he take her and leave and give up the seven years he served for Rachel? I cannot imagine his disgust and rage against Laban.  

26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.  

Laban makes a declaration to Jacob which, had he been honest and this was true, he should have long ago revealed this fact to Jacob and Jacob could have made a reasoned decision as to whether or not he wanted to serve Laban. Jacob had served for Rachel not Leah. Laban did not care. He wanted to have some way to trap Jacob into more service as he noted that God prospered the efforts of the hand of Jacob and he wanted that prosperity and wealth and did not care who he would hurt in the meantime. Cruel as it may have been to do this to a relative such as Jacob, it was even worse to do the same thing to his own daughter as if she were nothing but a piece of meat or a pawn to be used in his lust for wealth and power.  

27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. 29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. 30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.  

Fulfil her week Apparently there was a custom in that country that a honeymoon period lasted at least one week. It may have been customary to leave the bride and groom alone as they now newly discovered the gift from God of intercourse and the bonding which it affords. The verse tells us that perhaps Jacob, maybe out of pity, maybe he realized that he and Leah were so to speak “in the same boat,” they were pawns being used by Laban in his quest for wealth and prosperity. Laban cared not for either one of them. This may have bonded them somewhat together. The verse says that he fulfilled her week, which I am assuming means he continued to have marital relations with Leah for that week. But Leah knew she was not the first choice. It must have gnawed at her. Jacob must have had some empathy for her and a kind of caring and love. One can imagine that during the seven years he served for Rachel he had gotten to know Leah and probably saw much good in her and did not despise her as a person but was very upset only because his service was not for her but for her sister Rachel.  

After the week with Leah finally, Laban kept his promise but only after he had extracted seven more years of labor. What choice did Jacob have? None, really. He wanted Rachel, these were the terms and conditions. He would become, in effect, a slave (indentured servant) for seven more years, which was not what he had bargained for. But apparently Rachel was that desirable to him that he would allow himself to be caught in this trap. The only reason he would allow that is most likely because he was now given access to Rachel. But imagine Rachel, a big wedding had been planned, the night of consummation was anticipated, and she was cheated out of both of these by her father, as was Jacob. What a rude, crude character is this Laban! Laban knew exactly what he was doing and Jacob was trapped.  

And now we see that Laban give his daughter Rachel a handmaid named Bilhah. Bilhah means (Strong’s H1090 timid). This young woman most likely was a timid young thing whose life was to be spent meeting the needs of her mistress. At that point in time there was no way she could even imagine being also a mother of Israel. But she was the mother of two of the tribes of Israel.  

Loved Rachel more than Leah This verse tells us that apparently Jacob did have some feelings for Leah, but his feelings for Rachel far surpassed his feelings for Leah. Leah was second place. Leah was not the one he desired, an unexpected addition, and apparently there was some love between them. He only despised or rejected her because she was not the object of his seven years of labor. Jacob, although deceived, did keep his commitment to serve an additional seven years for Laban the deceiver and despicable father and uncle. With relatives like this you do not need enemies, you already have them.  

31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, He opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.  

Leah was hated (Jacob loved Rachel more). Today, when we use the word ”hated” we mean despised, someone we will not have anything to do with, someone who has offended us greatly and we have no more use for them. Here in the Bible, it merely means a comparison to another. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. This is the meaning of “hated” as used in this Scripture. Again we remember that Jacob and Leah were mere pawns in the hand of Laban who lusted after wealth and prosperity.  

According to the Bible, God wanted to support and lift up Leah and try to give her an advantage or equal footing with Rachel. Because men desire to have offspring, God here uses the birth of a child or children to lift up Leah in the eyes of Jacob and of course the rest of society. In contrast, the Lord did not look with favor upon Rachel and she at that point in time had gone childless.  

32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.  

Leah conceived. Leah’s firstborn was named Reuben. Reuben means (Strong’s H7205 see ye a son). Reuben was the first born and we will find out that he becomes quite a controversial character and can be vindictive and cruel, as well as blatantly immoral. But at this point in time, all we know about him is, he is the firstborn son of Jacob. Jacob must have been swelling with pride as a father and the father of a son. Jacob’s line would not stop here but go on, as Reuben became a tribe of Israel.  

33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, He hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.  

she conceived again. Next Leah has a second son named Simeon. Simeon means (Strong’s H8095 hearing). Simeon was influenced by his older brother. He even joined him when Simeon and Ruben killed several hundred men who were in almost a helpless state because of the fact they had just been circumcised. Circumcision was at the request of Reuben. Reuben intended to kill them and Simeon joined his older brother Reuben.  

34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.  

she conceived (yet) again. Again the Lord granted to Leah a pregnancy and she gave birth to Levi. Levi means (Strong’s H3867 attached). Levi would go on to become the father of the tribe of Levi, who were excluded from inheriting land but served God in the tabernacle and Temple. The Levites lived off of the tithes of the other tribes. The Levites also made the great sacrifices of bulls and goats which rolled back the sins of the people but did not forgive them or cleanse them from sin and unrighteousness.  

The sacrificial program instituted by God and carried out by the Levites was merely a foreshadowing of the Messiah (Jesus) to come. He would cleanse His people from their sins. He would be the Lamb of God, the only One worthy of being a sacrifice. Jesus unlike Levi, would live a sinless life, and when Jesus died on the cross, it was not for any sin He committed, for He had committed none. His death was to pay for your sins and mine. We can only receive His gift of salvation and cleansing and forgiveness through Jesus Christ if we believe that He is Lord and that His death is necessary to cleanse us from sin. Levi only operated to exercise a series of sacrifices looking forward to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  

35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.  

She left bearing Here we see that Leah brings forth Judah. Judah means (Strong’s H3063 celebrated). Leah must have been very satisfied that God had used her. She had now given birth to the tribe from which would come King David and later the legal line to Messiah (Jesus) of Israel and Saviour of all mankind. No one else had children but her. She must have now been seen differently by Jacob, who saw the hand of God using her. We may not realize it at this point in time, but through all the tricks and other things we do not understand, God’s Will was being done. He needed 12 tribes and He would get them. God was sovereign then and God is sovereign now. Nothing surprises God. He knows ahead of time exactly what’s going to happen. I’m certain it does not always make Him happy, as we are a people given to sin and rebellion and immorality. But through it all, God will have His will done.  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know You love each and every one of us. I know You will have Your will done in our lives. Help us to be willing to be used of You. We ask for Divine appointments with others and to tell them about Jesus and how He died for us on the cross and how You, Lord, are in control of all things. No matter what this world may put us through, may we always remember You are in control and You will do what is best in all things. Also help us remember that we reap or receive what we sow or cause. Help us to deal fairly and honestly in all things. Help me to submit to You. Help me to love You more. Help me to want to live for You. Make me Your willing vessel. I pray in the Name of Jesus Christ, God the Son. Amen  

[jrhughes]

Jacob is Sent to Find a Wife

December 31, 2023  

Genesis 28:1-22  

Golden Text:       Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. Proverbs 18:22  

Although Jacob is sent to find a wife, when we last looked in on the family, we find that Isaac has decided to bless Esau in spite of the fact that God had told him through his wife that the older (Esau) would serve the younger (Jacob).In short, Isaac wanted to rebel against God. In Chapter 27, Isaac proclaims that he is going to die and he wants to bless his son Esau so he tells Esau to go get savory meat (venison) that Isaac may eat that meat and give the blessing that was now to be that of Jacob back to Esau.  

Remember that Esau had sold his birthright to Jacob when he came out of the field hungry and traded his birthright for a mess of pottage. Esau has despised his birthright but now Isaac has thought he was going to go against the will of God and bless Esau with a blessing that was supposed to be Jacob’s.  

Rebecca the mother of Jacob and Esau, heard what Isaac was saying to Esau and she worked with her son Jacob to deceive Isaac to think Jacob was Esau and so, because of the deception, the blessing went to Jacob as God has intended.  

Shortly after Jacob left, having received the blessing of Isaac, Esau arrived and wanted the blessing from his father. Isaac trembled and admitted to Esau he had been deceived by Jacob and that he had blessed Jacob and Isaac said,”Yea and he shall be blessed.” Esau was bitter and that bitterness led to anger and the anger led to his plan for murder.  

The Bible says “And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father had blessed him and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.” It is not clear whether Rebecca heard these words uttered by him or if it was revealed to her by God, but she knew the plan and purpose of Esau to kill Jacob. And she wanted to send her son Jacob away to be with her brother Laban in Haran , hopefully until the anger of Esau turned away.  

But at the same time, Esau had married again a Canaanite woman and Rebecca used that to convince Isaac that he should send away Jacob to be with her brother Laban and there find a wife other than of the Canaanite women.  

Message Text: Genesis 28:1-22  

1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan . 2 Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.  

Apparently by now, Isaac was settled in the fact that the blessing would go to Jacob. I’m sure Isaac must have been aware of the fact of the death threat by Esau toward his brother, however, he seemed to encourage Jacob to go to Padan-Aram and take a wife of the daughters of Laban, Rebekah’s brother, not mentioning the death threat. God had not yet revealed to Jacob or Isaac or Rebekah the full plan He had for Jacob. As we read we will learn that God was preparing through Jacob for the 12 tribes of Israel .  

Adam Clarke (1762– 1832) says:  

It appears, from Genesis 28:11, that he lodged in the open air, with a stone for his pillow; and from Genesis 32:10, that he went on foot with his staff in his hand; nor is there even the most indirect mention of any attendants, nor is it probable there were any. He no doubt took provisions with him sufficient to carry him to the nearest encampment or village on the way, where he would naturally replenish his bread and water to carry him to the next stage, and so on.  

3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; 4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.  

And Isaac here passes on the blessing of God made first to Abraham and then to Isaac. Isaac tells Jacob to be fruitful and multiply and that he and his seed (children) will be prepared one day to inherit the land wherein Isaac is now living, which Isaac tells Jacob God gave unto Abraham and here Isaac passes the promise on to Jacob.  

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) states: 

Give thee the blessing of Abraham - But, according to St. Paul, much more than this is certainly intended here, for it appears, from Galatians 3:6-14, that the blessing of Abraham, which is to come upon the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, comprises the whole doctrine ... redemption from the curse of the law, remission of sins, and the promise of the Holy Spirit, including the constitution and establishment of the Christian Church.  

5 And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.  

We notice that Isaac sent Jacob away. He did not want Jacob to take a wife of the Canaanite women. That was no longer his plan nor was it God’s plan but instead he was to go on to Laban, Rebekah’s brother. (Rebekah of course was the mother of Jacob and Esau.)  

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says: 

Bethuel the Syrian - so called ... because he dwelt in that country which had been formerly possessed by the descendants of Aram .  

6 When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan; 7 And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram; 8 And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; 9 Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.  

Esau was a keen observer. Not only had they blessed Jacob but had forbidden him to take a wife from the daughters of Canaan . Up to that point, Esau’s wives were from Canaan . Esau noted that Jacob had obeyed his parents and was gone to the home of Laban to find a non-Canaanite wife. Esau realized that his wives, the Canaanite wives, were displeasing to both his father Isaac and his mother Rebekah. Rather than pray and seek God or talk to his father, Esau went unto Ishmael. Ishmael was the son of Abraham. Surely a daughter of Ishmael would be acceptable to Isaac and Rebekah. But we will later learn that was not true either.  

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:

Then went Esau unto Ishmael - Esau did this with a sincere desire to obey and please his parents. Having heard the pious advice which Isaac gave to Jacob, he therefore went and took a wife from the family of his grandfather Abraham ... Esau married his father's niece; Jacob married his mother's niece. It was therefore most obviously to please his parents that Esau took this additional wife.  

10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba , and went toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.  

Jacob went out from Beersheba toward Haran and the home of Laban, apparently all alone. No camels, no entourage, and as he traveled, the sun set. He decided to lie down for the night. The Bible tells us he took stones for his pillows. That doesn’t sound too comfortable but apparently it sufficed Jacob.  

As Jacob went to sleep, he had a dream, an unusual dream. He saw a ladder that set on the earth and the top of it, why it reached to Heaven! Then as he watched, he saw the angels of God going up and down on it. We don’t know if it was a moving or a stationary ladder. We are only told it was a ladder and the angels went up and down on it.  

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:

A certain place and tarried there - From Genesis 28:19, we find this certain place was Luz, or some part of its vicinity. ... Or the gates might be shut by the time he reached it, which would prevent his admission.  

He took of the stones - He took one of the stones ...  Genesis 28:18  

He dreamed, and behold a ladder - It is very likely that its primary design was to point out the providence of God, by which He watches over and regulates all terrestrial things ...  In his present circumstances it was highly necessary that Jacob should have a clear and distinct view of this subject ... It might be intended also to point out the intercourse between heaven and earth, and the connection of both worlds by the means of angelic ministry. ...  It was probably a type of CHRIST ... for GOD was manifested in the FLESH, and in Him dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. ... By Him God comes down to man; through Him man ascends to God.  

13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I Am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I Am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.  

Suddenly, the LORD stood above the ladder and spoke to Jacob, proclaiming Himself to be the LORD GOD of Abraham and Isaac and told Jacob, The very spot you are lying in, I will give it to you and your children.  

And God said, his children would be numerous (as the dust of the earth). He would occupy the entire land to the east west north and south. Then He said, to his children, the children of Jacob, all of the families of the earth be blessed, of course referring to the Messiah of Israel and the Saviour of all mankind to come through the line of Jacob.  

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:  

 I Am the Lord God of Abraham — Here God confirms to him the blessing of Abraham, for which Isaac had prayed, Genesis 28:3-4.  

Thy seed shall be as the dust — The people that shall descend from thee shall be extremely numerous, and in thee and thy seed-the Lord JESUS descending from thee, according to the flesh, shall all the families of the earth - not only all of thy race, but all the other families or tribes of mankind ... be blessed; for Jesus Christ by the grace of God tasted death FOR EVERY MAN, Hebrews 2:9.  

And, behold, I Am with thee — For I fill the heavens and the earth. ... Thy descendants also shall be My peculiar people, whom I shall continue to preserve as such until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of-until the Messiah shall be born of thy race, and all the families of the earth - the Gentiles, be blessed through thee;  

16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.  

After Jacob awoke from the conversation in dream with the LORD, he was awestruck. He realized the LORD was in this place. And he was fearful, he was frightened, just to have been in the Presence of God. He came to the conclusion that this was the gate of Heaven.  

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:  

How dreadful is this place! — The appearance of the ladder, the angels, and the Divine glory at the top of the ladder, must have left deep, solemn, and even awful impressions on the mind of Jacob  

18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel : but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.  

These verses merely tell us that Jacob arose early in the morning, took the stone he had used for a pillow, set it up for a pillar and poured oil upon the top of it. He named the place Bethel (House of God). He knew he was in the presence of Almighty God but he didn’t fully understand how God was preparing him.  

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:  

And Jacob-took the stone - and set it up for a pillar — He placed the stone in an erect posture, that it might stand as a monument of the extraordinary vision which he had in this place; and he poured oil upon it, thereby consecrating it to God.  

And poured oil upon the top of it. — Stones, images, and altars, dedicated to Divine worship, were always anointed with oil.  

He called the name of that place Beth-El — That is, the house of God; for in consequence of his having anointed the stone, and thus consecrated it to God ... This word should be always pronounced as two distinct syllables, each strongly accented, Beth-El.  

20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee.  

Jacob made a vow which was a promise to God. We are told in the Bible we are better off not to make a vow than to make a vow and not keep it. But Jacob’s vow was sort of self centered. It started off with, IF God will be with me and will keep me... Then Jacob asked for bread and clothing and said that if Jacob comes again and is able to go back to his father Isaac’s house in peace - then he is ready to make the LORD his God. And the stone which he set for a pillow would be one of the foundation stones for God’s house. There he promises God that he will keep the tithe, or give one tenth to God.  

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:  

         Vowed a vow — A vow is a solemn, holy promise, by which a man bound himself to do certain things in a particular way, time, c., and for power to accomplish which he depended on God hence all vows were made with prayer.  

If God will be with me, -- Jacob seems to make this vow rather for his posterity than for himself, as we may learn from Genesis 28:13-15 for he particularly refers to the promises which God had made to him, which concerned the multiplication of his offspring, and their establishment in that land. ... but as his taking refuge with Laban was probably typical of the sojourning of his descendants in Egypt, his persecution, so as to be obliged to depart from Laban, the bad treatment of his posterity by the Egyptians ... were all typical of the exodus of his descendants, their travels in the desert, and establishment in the promised land  

I shall worship God in this place. And this purpose he fulfilled, for there he built an altar. ...  

On the teaching of tithes ... as a whole tribe, that of Levi, was devoted to the public service of God; and when the land was divided, this tribe received no inheritance among their brethren. Hence, for their support, the law of tithes was enacted ...  If the ministers of God give up their whole time, talents, and strength, to watch over, labor for, and instruct the people in spiritual things, justice requires that they shall receive their support from the work.  

Next week we will see how Jacob and Laban work one against another for an advantage. When Jacob comes to the land of Laban , he has nothing, when he leaves God has indeed blessed him with two wives, two concubines, twelve sons and one daughter and thousands of livestock.  

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I know that You love me and have a wonderful plan for my life that includes heaven with You forever in the next life. Here we see God has a plan for Jacob and the line to Messiah and the Saviour of all mankind. We need a Saviour because all have sinned. We have earned for ourselves death in the lake of fire. But Jesus died on the cross to pay that death penalty so that all who believe He is Lord and accept His death to pay for their sins can be in heaven with Him one day for ever and ever. In this lesson and the one to come we see the hand of God, that He is in charge of everything. Thank You Father, thank You Jesus, thank You God the Holy Spirit. Come in to my life in a bigger way and make me a fit vessel for Your use here on earth. This I pray in Jesus’ Name - Amen.       

May God bless you in all that you do for Him, Brother J.R. Soul winner, Bible teacher, Defender of the Faith

[jrhughes]

God Will Surely Have His Will Done

Merry Christmas 

Sunday December 24th 2023AD 

Genesis 27:1-46 

Golden Text:       “And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.” Genesis 25:21-23  

It is interesting to note that we find several lessons applicable to chapter 26 in chapter 25. When his wife is unable to bear children, Jacob prays for her and she becomes pregnant. While she is pregnant, she feels great struggles within her body. And she cries out to the Lord and asks Him what’s going on. And the Lord speaks to her and tells her the truth of the matter is that there are two nations struggling within her, and affirms to her that the elder shall serve the younger. This is the word of the Lord for the family given to the wife of the family. Certainly this was known to both Isaac and his wife.   

Many men under the false impression that God speaks only to the man, and thinks that what the wife hears is suspect. However it is clear here that God makes His desires and wishes known to Rebekah. Those who think that’s not possible should resolve in their mind the fact that it is possible and here is a prime example of God speaking to the family though the wife.  

In the normal happy family, the husband and wife are of the same accord and support one another. However, in this situation, there is obvious strife between husband and wife and the wife is the one that heard from God. Despite what God had said Isaac has decided he has some authority. This is kind of a dysfunctional family a this point in time. And despite the clear word if the Lord, Isaac is in rebellion but not for the right reasons. Remember, Esau was given the opportunity to sell his birthright to his younger brother for a bowl of pottage.  And he despised his birthright and sold it to him. So now by agreement Jacob has received the blessing that would have been due the firstborn. This was known to both parties, Isaac and Rebekah.  

Message Text: Genesis 27: 1-46 

1. And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. 2. And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: 3. Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; 4. And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. 

Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old: perhaps Isaac believed his time had come to die, and this was his way of settling his affairs, sort of a last will and testament. His old age was evident in his weakened eyesight (his eyes were so dim that he could not see). 

Isaac was old, but perhaps not near death. Martin Luther calculated Isaac’s age to be 137 at this point; he lived to be 180. Isaac lived 43 more years. 

That my soul may bless you before I die: Strangely, Isaac insisted on giving the blessing to Esau, the one whom God did not choose (Genesis 25:23), who despised his birthright, and who married pagan wives. It seems Isaac rejected godly thinking and spiritual wisdom, and instead thought only of food and common, man-centered ideas of might. 

Isaac was older and suffering from not being able to see and was relying upon his other senses. However there is no excuse for his behavior since he knew the clear words of God that came to the family through his wife. Yet he took it upon himself to bestow a blessing upon his son Esau who did not deserve it and was not entitled to it, all because Isaac favored his outdoor hunting macho son over what appeared to be a Momma’s boy in Jacob. And no matter what God had said, Isaac was determined to pass th blessing on to him. 

He asked Esau to go hunt, bring back some venison and feed it to him so that he would now have a reason to bestow a blessing upon him. This was all totally out of God’s will. 

Warning - Men, God can and will speak to you through your wife. God will speak to the entire family through the wife of the family. God has clearly spoken. But here we find Isaac refused to obey God.  

5. And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6. And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, 7. Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death. 

Do you suppose Rebekah overhear this by chance? I do not. I believe it was the plan of God. I suppose Rebekah could have gone to her husband and reminded him of the promise of God and urged him to not go against the will of God, but she did not. She chose rather to join in a deception against her husband who was in rebellion against the will of God. She heard what he wanted to do and knew that she had a duty to help perform the will of God. She reveals to her son Jacob that his father Isaac intends to attempt to thwart the will of God. And she wants to use Jacob an a deceptive manner to have God’s will done. Interesting? Why God puts up with all this nonsense we are not certain, however we are sure of one thing: God’s will shall be done.  

Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau: The account here does not specifically tell us that Rebekah spied upon Isaac and Esau in some inappropriate sense. The feeling that this was scheming and spying is here, but it is possible that she casually overheard this important conversation. When Esau went to the field to hunt, Rebekah was ready with her plan. 

8. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. 9. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: 10. And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. 

Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you: Instead of trusting God to fulfill what He had promised in Genesis 25:23, Rebekah used manipulative scheming to accomplish what she knew to be the plan of God. 

The plot of Rebekah is set. She will deceive her husband and she will use Jacob to deceive Isaac so that Jacob might receive the blessing God intended him to receive. 

So we know that Isaac could not see and now we see that he may have trouble discerning between kids of the flock prepared to taste like venison and the real deal venison. Jacob is fully involved in the plot to deceive Isaac.  

11. And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: 12. My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. 13. And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. 

Clearly, Jacob was in on the plot fully willing to participate His only fear was, what if I’m caught. My father will be upset with me. The deception was fine. His concern was getting caught. 

14. And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. 15. And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: 16. And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: 17. And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. 

The deception was complete. Jacob would pretend to be Esau to get the blessing his father promised to Esau, even though it was clearly God’s will that blessing belonged to the younger Jacob. Once Jacob overcame his fear of getting caught in his deception, he was ready to carry it out. Rebekah manipulated both Isaac and Jacob, but Jacob was willing to be manipulated. 

Even Esau, in agreeing to Isaac’s plan to give him the birthright, disregarded his previous promise to allow Jacob to have the birthright. 

All four of them — Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau — did not trust each other. Worse yet, they did not trust the Lord. Each one of them schemed and plotted against each other and against God. 

The worst aspect of this all is they seem to regard the blessing as magical, as something detached from God’s wisdom and will. But in giving the blessing, the most Isaac could do was to recognize God’s call and blessing on Jacob. Only God could truly bestow the blessing. Esau could receive the blessing from Isaac a hundred times, but it only mattered if God in heaven honored it. 

18. And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son? 19. And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. 20. And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me. 

Here we see the ultimate deception even to the extent of using God as part of the lie. There is no excuse for this much deception. We know that God’s will is that Jacob receive the blessing, but he sure is acting very undeserving at this point in time. I wouldn’t have been surprised if God said, “That’s it! You’ve gone too far!” But God did not, He allowed all this so that God’s will would surely be done. 

21. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. 22. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. 23. And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him. 24. And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. 

Isaac becomes suspicious and wants reassurance. He finally convinces himself that this is his son because of the character of the skin and the smell but he still asks are you my son Esau? And Jacob again lies to his father.  

What a mess! Husband and wife striving one against the other, lies and deceptions flying all over the place. God watching, but again, God’s will shall be done. 

25. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26. And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. 27. And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:  

So, Jacob gave him the prepared deceiving meat so that he could receive a blessing from God and his father, which was due to him. However, why God put up with all this deception is puzzling, but His will is being done. 

28. Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: 29. Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee. 

Here Isaac embodies the blessing intended for Jacob all along by God. He will be the pre-eminent of the two sons now, it is settled. And so apparently Jacob quickly leaves his father and goes back to be with his mother. They have pulled it off. 

30. And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31. And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me. 32. And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. 33. And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. 

In comes Esau, seeking a blessing which rightly belonged to his brother Jacob. He knows it and he has despised his own birthright. But he is willing to receive a blessing which does not belong to him. However Isaac informs him that this will not be because he has given that blessing to Jacob.  

34. And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. 35. And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. 36. And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? 37. And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? 38. And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. 

Esau freely admits that he has given up his birthright and thus forfeited the right of blessing of the firstborn. But somehow, he wants to have done all these things which disqualified himself and still claim that blessing that always was intended for his brother Jacob according to the word of God. We will see to what depths of despair this takes him as we continue reading. 

39. And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; 40. And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck. 41. And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. 

“Give me the same blessing, aren’t they just words?” Of course they are not. We read in Hebrews, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” (Hebrews 12:15-17) 

This is a puzzling blessing, although it clearly indicates Esau shall serve Jacob he also talks about some kind of dominion.; I am not sure what he meant because we never see Esau taking dominion over Jacob at any time. However, we see the murder in the heart of Esau and hearken in our minds back to Cain and Abel. Clearly Esau will have some blessing but not to the level to which God blesses his son Jacob. 

42. And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. 43. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; 44. And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; 45. Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day? 46. And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me? 

Rebekah is going to save Jacob from the wrath of Esau. She does it by sending him away to her brother Laban. She apparently believes Esau feels wronged and will carry out his threats to kill Jacob. Why Esau does not act now, is it out of some sort of respect to his father? Or, more likely because the plan of God shall be carried out. 

Rebekah next says to her husband, “I came all the way to this land to marry you and fulfill God’s will. And all that I have lived for will be taken away if Jacob breaks the covenant by improperly marrying a pagan woman.” Apparently Isaac agrees and they send Jacob away to Laban. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I know that You love me and each one of Your Creation since the beginning of time. Here You have shown that no matter what man may try to do to violate Your Will, You will surely have Your Will followed. Thus we should seek Your Will which is revealed in the Bible, Your word. Then we should follow You and be an instrument of You to and for others. Here there is a great strife between these two twin brothers. And You allow must nonsense to take place, but always so that Thy Will be done.  We yield to You in all that we do. Help us (me) to be a vessel fit for Your use in this lost and dying world without Jesus. Use us (me) I pray to further Your kingdom and purpose. Help me to seek it out, find it and be a co worker with You. Please save all those who do not know and understand. Please make me a fit vessel for You to use, I pray in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, God the Son. Amen and amen. 

May God bless you in all that you do for Him, Brother J.R. Soul winner, Bible teacher, Defender of the Faith

[jrhughes]

For unto you is born this day in the city  of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 

Merry Christmas 

Sunday, December 17th 2023 AD 

Luke 2:1-35 

Golden Text:       “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners;  of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15 

As we look at the text above, it ends with these words to save sinners; of whom I am chief. While to some degree we may not be the worst sinners (as the world sees it) but in the eyes of God all sin is so bad that it must be paid for by the death penalty. 

For the wages of sin is death... . Thus everyone of us is (without Jesus) on the way to everlasting death in hell and the lake of fire. There is only One Way out of that penalty. You must repent of (turn from) the continual life style of sin and begin to live a new life following the commandments of God. And you must accept the death penalty paid by Jesus on the cross. Have you done that? Have you really confessed your need for this Savior and His death? 

Is Jesus the Lord in your life? Do you do His will or your will? Do you believe that He died to pay the death penalty that your sins owe? Have you confessed that you need His death to save you from the death penalty of those sins? And finally have you confessed your sins and called upon Him to come into your heart and life and be your Saviour and only Lord? THERE IS NO OTHER WAY! If you do not follow these clear directions, you will not be in Heaven when you pass from this life. This is an extraordinary but terribly true statement. Please consider it. Please consider it. Please consider what you must do and do it.  

Let us go back to the birth of the God-Man Jesus Who came to Earth with only one mission in mind, to be our Savior.  Learn and receive Him as your Christmas gift this year, this day, this hour, I pray. 

Message Text:  Luke, Chapter 2:1-35 

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 

When God wanted to move Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem to fulfill His prophecy, He merely spoke to the most powerful political leader in the world at the time, Caesar Augustus and asked that he take a census of the people. The purpose of which would have been of course to impose a tax upon them.  Joseph and Mary were residing in Nazareth which is about ninety miles away and there is only one way to get to Bethlehem. Walk.  Why Bethlehem?  It was the city of the ancestors of Joseph and it was foretold in the Bible as the birth place of The Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord. (Jesus Lord at His Birth). 

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 

There were most probably more than one “taxing events” by Rome. But this one was when Cyrenius was first governor of Syria. This helps us establish the period of time when Joseph and Mary would be taxed.  

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with Child. 

Every person was to go back to the city of his family’s origin. Joseph was of the tribe and lineage of Judah, so he was sent to the city of David, which is Bethlehem. 

And there he was taxed or counted. As the couple Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem at the command of Caesar Augustus, Mary was already pregnant with her Baby Jesus. 

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 

should be delivered. These verses are self explanatory. It was time for Mary to have her Child and she did. She brought forth her firstborn Son Jesus, wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and because there was no room for them in the inn and they were in the area with the animals, Mary laid Him in an animal feeding trough called a manger. And that was the first bed of the Saviour of the world. Amazing, amazing. He came from Heaven to earth, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to a birth canal of a virgin named Mary. And these were His humble beginnings.  

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

We shift our sight from the manger to the same country where shepherds were sleeping in the field with their flocks, keeping watch over them by night from predators. And suddenly, the glory of the lord shone round about them. The skies lit up. It was the middle of the night. They did not understand, they were in great fear.  

And then a voice spoke to them an angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I have come to tell you great news - news which shall be great for every person. For unto you and them is born this day in the city of David Christ the Lord. And so that you will know that you are at the right place you will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a feed trough (manger). 

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

Suddenly one angel revealed that this was not just him, but multitudes, a great number of angels praising God and saying, Glory to God! This is the God Most High, for because of what’s happening in the city of David, there will be the opportunity for peace and good will toward all men who will receive the Saviour into their heart and life as Savior and Lord.  

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 

Suddenly the angels disappeared back into heaven and the awestruck shepherds, realizing they had seen something supernatural and had been told of the birth of our Saviour, could not restrain themselves. They had to go to Bethlehem. They had to go see the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. So they came with haste without waiting, hurrying, moving as fast as they could and seeking, and they did find Mary and Joseph and the Baby Jesus Christ lying in a manger (food trough). And they were filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory.  

They could not keep it to themselves, this great news that unto us was born that day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord and so they could not keep their mouths shut and went from that area witnessing to every one that they could see and talk with concerning this Child Jesus born to save the world from its sins. 

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 

When people heard the wondrous things told them by the shepherds of the appearance of angels and the Babe lying in a manger they were convinced this was Christ the Lord (and He was). Some people tended to believe them, others tended to not believe them. But that did not stop the shepherds. They kept telling people about Jesus, over and over and over again. Did they get laughed at? Probably, but they kept on being witnesses, for God had spoken to them. 

What should that tell us?  You are to be a witness. Many will believe some will not believe. You (and I) should continue to tell the good news of Jesus Christ, our Lord, the Only One the Only Way to avoid hell and make a final home in heaven. 

Do you have a Bible? Has God spoken to you? Are you doing all that you can to further the kingdom and convey to people the fact that, many years ago was born a Saviour who is Christ the Lord and because He was born, and lived a sinless life. He was able to be the Lamb of God, the sacrifice for the death penalty to pay for all the sins of mankind. NO ONE ELSE LIVED A SINLESS LIFE.  NO ONE ELSE WAS ABLE TO BE THE SACRIFICE TO PAY YOU DEATH PENALTY. 

If you have sinned, you are on your way to hell and the lake of fire. If you confess your sins, forsake them and receive this gift of eternal, everlasting life which comes only from Jesus Christ, then you my friend will have a very merry Christmas. Your heart will be filled with joy if you believe the words of the shepherds and pass them on to the people with whom you come in contact.  

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 

Mary did not easily disregard all that had happened to her from the time the angel Gabriel came to her to tell her she would give birth to the Christ Child, how she wondered how that could be accomplished. God had spoken to her and said He would place in her body the fertilized ovum, the seed, the seed of the woman first mentioned in Genesis 3:15.  

Then Mary was told of Elizabeth and when she was told about Elizabeth, being pregnant, who had been barren all of her life, Mary arose and went to the hill country to the house of Zechariah and saluted Elizabeth. An amazing thing occurred:  

“And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:  And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” Luke 1:41-45 

Do you realize what happened? As soon as they realized this was Mary, the babe, the baby John the Baptist leaped in the womb of Elizabeth. Both Elizabeth and John recognized that in the Fruit of her womb was the Saviour of the world. Elizabeth spoke and said what is this, that the mother of my Lord should come to me. If Mary had any doubt about her contact with the angel Gabriel before, and the Baby that was within her, all her doubts, if any, would have disappeared. Mary knew this was a confirmation of those things that were told to her by the angel Gabriel. 

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. 

The shepherds just could not keep their newfound joy to themselves. They returned from the scene where they had seen the Christ Child wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger and were convinced they could not but share the news with everyone with whom they came in contact. 

21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, His Name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 

It is the law that a male child would be circumcised on the eighth day.  And it came time for the circumcision of Jesus, so named because He would save His people from their sins. Under the laws of purification, a woman who had given birth to a male child had a short period of cleansing for a short time around the time of the eighth day for the circumcision of the child. So Mary was pure of her menstruation and was able to accompany her husband Joseph and they brought Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him for circumcision to keep the Law of God. Every male that openeth the womb, who was the firstborn, was called holy to the Lord.  

The parents (married couple) are commanded to offer a sacrifice, anywhere from an elaborate sacrifice to a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, which was offered by those who could not afford more lavish sacrifice.  And this Mary and Joseph went  to the temple and acted in accordance with the Law and made the offering for the circumcision of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law, 

As Mary and Joseph came in obedience to have the Baby Jesus circumcised, they encountered a man named Simeon, who had been told by God the holy Spirit that Simeon would not die before he had seen the Christ Child born in Bethlehem to come and save the people from their sins.  

Simeon came and saw the Child and behold it was the promised Christ Child. 

28 Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, 

Simeon expresses his thanksgiving to the Lord and affirms that he is ready to leave this world because he has seen the salvation of the Lord in the Person, the Christ Child Jesus Christ our Lord, born in Bethlehem, born to die that we might have eternal life.  

LEARN: Do not leave this world until you have believed and received Christ Jesus as your Savior and Lord.  

31 Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. 

Simeon declared this was the Promised One, this had been done out in the open before the face of all the people and he declared it. This Christ Child was going to be a Light, not only to lighten and be the Messiah of Israel but to be a Light to the Gentiles, the Saviour of the world and at the same time be that Messiah of Israel that the people had ben waiting for. A confirmation of everything that Mary and Joseph had seen heard was confirmed to them by God through Simeon. 

33 And Joseph and His mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother, Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 

Joseph and Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, were amazed. Their hearts were filled with joy for those things which were spoken to them by this man Simeon. It confirmed everything again that they believed about the Saviour Jesus Christ, born this day in the city of David. Simeon also blessed them both and spoke to Mary and warned her this Child is here for a purpose. He may not have said these words, but this Child was born to die and pay the death penalty that you and I owed for every sin that we have committed, to be the final payment for our sins.  

A sword would pierce Him, He would be the sacrificial Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. 

Rejoice, rejoice and again I say rejoice. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. 

PRAYER: For unto us was born in the city of David (Bethlehem) the Saviour of all mankind. He was born more than 2020 years ago that you and I might have everlasting life with God in heaven. We all admit that we do not deserve to have everlasting life, as we (I) have sinned. My sin prepares me for hell and the lake of fire. If that is where you want to go, you need do nothing further. But if you want to make heaven your home, there is only One Way, through the death of Jesus in your place to pay your death penalty that your first sin earned you. This story of Jesus and His death for you can bring you life everlasting in heaven with Him. So, LORD Jesus, since I do not want to go to hell and the lake of fire, I ask You to come into my heart and my life and be my Savior (save me from hell and the lake of fire). Having asked, I now receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and LORD. I receive forgiveness, I am no longer a child of the devil.  Jesus You are my Lord. Make me Your child, now and forever, I pray in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen and amen. 

If you have prayed that prayer and meant it,  

you will have the most Merry Christmas you have ever had.

Brother JR Hughes

[jrhughes]

Remarriage and Last Days of Abraham and His Line Continues

 (Sunday, December 3, 2023 AD) 

Genesis 25:1-34 

Golden Text:     8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.  Hebrews 11:8-10 

We have spent a long time on Abram-Abraham.  He was called out of Ur of the Chaldees with his wife Sarai (she was also his half sister). They moved toward Canaan: when the family of Abraham and his nephew Lot move toward Canaan, they stopped in Haran. God again called Abraham to go to Canaan from Haran. Abram-Abraham took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot and moved into Canaan. God promised to bless all the world through the offspring of Abram-Abraham. 

They traveled to Canaan land and then when famine arose, Abram-Abraham did not seek God as to what to do, but Abraham with his wife and his nephew Lot took refuge in Egypt, where there was food. Here Abraham told Sarai to lie and say that she was only the sister of Abraham. That put Sarai at risk of becoming a member of the harem of Pharaoh. Pharaoh did take her, but God warned Pharaoh that Sarai was the wife of another man. So Pharaoh did not sin. Pharaoh gave Sarai back to her husband and told them all to leave Egypt. God had promised an heir. 

Years later Sarai decided to help God to provide an heir and told Abram to go in unto her maid, Hagar. He did and they had a son named Ishmael. 

God later came to the couple and told them, they (Abram and Sarai) would be the parents of the promised line. So, at age 90 for Sarai and age 100 for Abram- Abraham they were parents of Isaac. Eventually Sarai, now Sarah told Abraham to tell Hagar and her son Ishmael to leave. God confirmed that idea and Abram sent them away. 

Finally at age 127 Sarah died and was buried in a cave and field that Abraham purchased. 

MESSAGE TEXT   –    Genesis 25:1-34  

1 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. 

After the death of Sarah, Abraham took a second wife, named Keturah. 

2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. 

The two of them, Abraham and Keturah had six more sons. 

3 And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.  4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. 

These children of Keturah also gave birth to children 

5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. 6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country. 

And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. Except for gifts to the other sons, everything else was being held for Isaac. Isaac was his chief heir. (Genesis 15:4). But unto the sons of the second wife and concubine (Hagar and Keturah), Abraham gave gifts and sent them away from Isaac his son. Abraham may have been trying to avert a war between family members. While he yet lived (i.e. during Abraham's lifetime) Abraham sent all but Isaac eastward, unto the east country (or Arabia in the widest sense; to the east and south-east of Palestine). 

7 And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years. 

 And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, - an hundred and threescore and fifteen years - i.e. 175 years; so that he must have lived seventy-five years after Isaac's birth and thirty-eight years after Sarah's death. "His grandfather lived 148 years, his father 205, his son 180, and his grandson 147; so that his years were the full average life span of that period. 

8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people. 9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; 10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife. 

Then Abraham gave up the ghost (literally, breathed out, the final breath of life), and died in a good old age, - an old man, and full of years. Literally, and satiated, i.e. satisfied not merely with life and all its blessings, but with living. He had tasted all the sweets and realized all the ends. He was ready to go to be with his King.  

And was gathered to his people. An expression similar to "going to his fathers" (Genesis 15:15), and to "being gathered to one's fathers" (Judges 2:10) friends who have gone before, and therefore presupposes faith in the personal continuance of a man after death". Abraham died in the hope of a better country, even an heavenly home (Hebrews 11:13-16).  

And his sons Isaac and Ishmael - Isaac as the heir takes precedence; but Ishmael, rather than the sons of Keturah, is associated with him at his father's funeral, buried him (Genesis 23:19) in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; the field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife. 

11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi. 

And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God - But the general name of God is here employed because that the Divine blessing descended upon Isaac by inheritance. Abraham blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi (Genesis 16:14; Genesis 24:62). 

Beer-lahai-roi 

Beer-lahai-roi or well of the Life which saw me is the name of a well in the Negev which is known for its appearance in a story in which God appears to Hagar. Later the Book of Genesis claims that Isaac stayed near it. Genesis locates this well in the wilderness of Beer-sheba, "on the way to Shur ... between Kadesh and Bered". Because the Beer in Beer-lahai-roi is simply the Hebrew word "well", the King James Version renders the whole expression "the well Lahairoi".  

12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham: 

Now these are the generations of Ishmael, -whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham. The opening of a new section, in which the fortunes of Abraham's eldest son (Ishmael) are briefly traced. Then we return to  

the main current of the history in the line of Isaac-(Genesis 16:1, 15). 

13 And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, 14 And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, 15 Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah: 16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations. 17 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people. 18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren. 

And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations:  

The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; - "Heights" the Nabathaeans, a people of Northern Arabia, possessed of abundant flocks (Isaiah 9:7), - "Black Skin" ... ; characterized as good bowmen (Isaiah 21:17), and dwelling between Arabia Petraea and Babylon - and Adbeel, - "Miracle of God" of whom nothing is known - and Mibsam, ... - and Dumah, - "Silence”; same as Stony Dumah, or Syrian Dumah, in Arabia, on the edge of the Syrian desert (Gesenius); mentioned in Isaiah 21:11- and Massa, - "Burden”; north-east of Dumah are the Massanoi.   -  Pulpit Commentary 

These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, - unwalled encampments, from hatzar, to surround; used of the movable villages of nomadic tribes - twelve princes -  

And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: - a life shorter by nearly half a century than that of Isaac (Genesis 35:21);- and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people. 

19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: 20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 

BACK TO THE LINE TO THE MESSIAH: And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham begat Isaac. 

And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, - the valuable chronological fact here stated for the first time proves that Isaac was married three years after his mother's death (Genesis 23:1) - the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian (Genesis 22:23; 24:29). Though a descendant of Arphaxad (Genesis 10:24), Bethuel is styled a Syrian, or Aramaean, from the country of his adoption. 

And Isaac entreated - from a root signifying to beg in prayer. Perhaps only pointing to the fact that the prayers of the godly ascend like incense - because she (his wife was barren: - as Sarah had been before her (Genesis 11:80); the long-continued sterility of both having been designed to show partly that "children are the heritage of the Lord" (Psalm 127:3), but chiefly that the children of the promise were to be not simply the fruit of nature, but the gift of grace and the Lord was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived (Romans 9:10).  

22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. 24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. 26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them. 

And the children struggled together within her. The verb is expressive of a violent internal commotion, as if the unborn children had been dashing against one another in her womb. What is the reason of these unwonted sensations that accompany my pregnancy? The language seems to imply that by this time there was a regularly-appointed place for the worship of God by prayer and sacrifice. 

And the Lord said unto her, - in a dream but whether communicated directly to herself, or spoken through the medium of a prophet  in which she was informed that her unborn sons were to be the founders of two mighty nations, who, were unequal in power and antagonism from their youth.  

Two nations are in thy womb (i.e. the ancestors and founders of two nations, ie., The Israelites and Idumeans), and two manners of people shall be separated from thy womb - and the one people shall be stronger than the other people (literally, and people shall be stronger than people, i.e. the one shall prevail over the other); and the elder shall serve the younger.  

And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, - WHEN she was ready to give birth- behold, there were twins in her womb (Genesis 38:27, where the full form of the word for twins is given).  

And the first came out red, - of a reddish color containing an allusion to Adham, the red earth - all over like an hairy garment. The appearance of the child's body, covered with an unusual quantity of red hair. And they called his name Esau - "the hairy one," from an unused root.  

And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel. The inferior seized Esau's heel but Hosea 12:3 explicitly asserts that he had his brother's heel by the hand while yet in his mother's womb.  

And Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them. When Rebekah bore the twins, Isaac was 60  years old when she bare the twins. 

27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.  31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. 32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? 33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. 

And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, - literally, skilled in hunting; a sportsman - a man of the field; - not a husbandman (farmer). It is obvious that he intended to describe Jacob as, both in character and life, the antithesis of Esau - (reminds one of Cain and Abel). 

And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: -Apparently Isaac loved venison. That was not perhaps the sole reason for Isaac's preference of Esau, though mentioned here because of its connection with the tale of Jacob pretending to be Esau. Mothers, on the other hand, are mostly drawn towards children that are gentle in disposition and home-keeping in habit. Accordingly it is added - but Rebekah loved Jacob. 

And Jacob sod pottage: - literally, cooked, prepared, boiled, browned food of the wild.  Esau came from the field, and he was faint - exhausted, the term being used of one who is both wearied and languishing (Job 22:7; Psalm 63:2; Proverbs 25:25).  

And Esau said unto Jacob, Feed me before I die of hunger. Give me that same red pottage; - literally, produced by his voracious appetite. He (Esau) wanted food for I am faint.  

"There is no discrepancy in ascribing his name both to his complexion and the color of the lentil broth. Sell me this day - thy birthright. The right of primogeniture in the family of Abraham implied; (1) succession to the earthly inheritance of Canaan; (2) possession of the covenant blessing transmitted through the paternal benediction; and (3) progenitorship of the promised seed. Under the Mosaic institute the privileges of the firstborn were clearly defined. They involved succession to (1) the official authority of the father; (2) a double portion of the father s property; and (3) the functions of the domestic priesthood (Genesis 27:4, 19, 27-29; Genesis 49:3; Exodus 22:29; Numbers 8:14-17; Deuteronomy 21:17).  

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: - literally, going to die; meaning, "on the eve of expiring," through hunger; "or, what is most probable, "on the way to meet death" - literally, of what (use) this (thing) to me, (called) a birthright signifying, according to the sense attached to the foregoing expression, either,- 1 of what use can a birthright be to a man dying of starvation? 2 The birthright is not likely ever to be of service to me, who am almost certain to be cut off soon by a violent and sudden death; on what signifies a birthright whose enjoyment is all in the future to a man who has only a short time to live? I prefer present gratifications to deferred felicities.  - Pulpit Commentary 

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day. The conduct of Jacob in this transaction is difficult to defend.  

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils. Thus Esau despised his birthright - and thus Scripture both proclaims his guilt and describes his offence. 

What good is my salvation? I will just cheat on God and show Him what I think of what His Son has done for me on that old rugged cross, where He suffered and died for me. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, it is with some sadness we see Your Friend Abraham has left this Earthly life. We see him as the father on earth of the believers in the One, True, Living Creator God. From this man come all the Jewish believers and all of the Christian or Messianic believers. We owe much to him. Of course all that he could go is point us forward to that One that would and does and has blessed our people, the Lord Jesus Christ. For as You remind us we who truly believe in the real Biblical Jesus and are in Christ are heirs of this line back to Abraham. Help us to realize that we are tied together. Help us strive to become one in You. We  pray that You will show us the Way. One Way to Heaven. Through the Messiah of Israel and Saviour of all mankind. Lord Jesus You died to pay our death penalty and because of you my sins are forgiven and I may have everlasting life. Forgive me, cleanse me and come into my life and heart, a fresh and a new, I pray in the Holy, Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.   - Amen.  

[jrhughes]

ABRAHAM, FRIEND OF GOD

(Sunday, November 26th 2023 AD)  

Genesis 24:1-67 

Golden Text:       20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. - James 2:20-23 

But thou, Israel, art My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham My friend. Isaiah 41:8 

Here we come to the earthly end of Abraham.  Most of us cannot hope to be called the Friend of God as was Abraham. In most cases it will take an intervention of the father and grandfather who are faithful to God to even have a chance to raise a child to one day be called a Friend of God. That is why it is so amazing here. God called Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees, a people who had rejected God and were, for the most part, idol worshipers, but God called Abraham. Abraham obeyed God.  

When Abraham was 75 he obeyed God and went to Canaan land. He sojourned in this land for the next 82 years. Abraham and Sarah his wife were given a miracle birth of Isaac when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was age 90. God showed them ANYTHING is possible with God. 

But how could Abraham be called a friend of God? Abraham was a man who sinned and lied and had a child out of wedlock. But God loved him through it all and finally got the most of the man, Abraham. Abraham did whatever God asked Him to do. And he did it right away (straight away) without hesitation, even when it made no sense. He was even willing to offer his beloved son, Isaac as a burnt offering to the Lord. He was about to plunge in the knife when The Angel of the Lord stopped him. Obedience to God ruled his life. He is the Friend of God.  But as we open this chapter, all his life is behind him. 

Message Text Genesis Chapter 24:1-67 

1 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.  2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: 3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: 4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. 

A. The commission to his servant: Find Isaac a wife. 

Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. Abraham was older (147 at the least as Sarah had died at 137) and Abraham was ten years older. Isaac was the promised line to Messiah. Isaac needed descendants.  

Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that God had given Isaac. Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: 3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites 

Put your hand under my thigh: According to ancient custom, this described a solemn and serious oath. Abraham was extremely concerned that Isaac not be married to a Canaanite bride, making his servant swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth. ...  Our ideas of delicacy may revolt from the rite used on this occasion; but, when the nature of the covenant is considered, of which circumcision was the sign, we shall at once perceive that this rite could not be used without producing sentiments of reverence and godly fear, as the contracting party must know that the God of this covenant was a consuming fire.” (Clarke 1762-1823) NOTE: Not convinced that God wanted us to touch another penis this does not make sense! 

The oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had: The servant named Eleazar held this position before (Genesis 15:2). Since he is described as the oldest servant of his house, this was likely Eleazar. 

Take a wife unto my son Isaac. Abraham was clear that he did not want Isaac to have a Canaanite wife, and that the wife should be found among Abraham’s ancestors in Ur of the Chaldees (go to my birth country and to my family). 

5 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? 6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. 

Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me - Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. Take not my son back there: Isaac, the son of promise, never once left the Promised Land. His wife was to come to him, as Isaac stayed in the land of Canaan. This principle was so important that if the woman would not come with the servant, it was better for Isaac to not have a wife (only do not take my son back there). 

7 The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; He shall send His angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. 8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again. 

To make it clear Abraham again says God will send His Angel. God will be with you. But the woman must be willing to come with you to Canaan. 

9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter. 

Again this promise was to be holy, special and a solemn swearing. 

10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.11 And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.  

The servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed: Abraham’s servant (likely Eleazar) led a large and impressive caravan. They carried such substantial riches that it could be said with poetic exaggeration, all his master’s goods were in his hand. The journey was long. The straight-line distance from Canaan to Ur of the Chaldeans was some 500 miles (800 kilometers), but the most common route was about 900 miles (1,450 kilometers). 

To the city of Nahor: This probably refers to the place known as Ur of the Chaldees. Two men named Nahor were associated with this place: the grandfather of Abraham (Genesis 11:24-26) and the brother of Abraham (Genesis 11:26-29). It was the city of Nahor in this sense. 

12 And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray Thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: 14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that Thou hast appointed for Thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast shewed kindness unto my master. 

PRAYER TO GOD.  - O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day: As Abraham’s servant arrived in Nahor he asked for God’s guidance through these circumstances. Generally speaking, circumstances alone can be a dangerous way to discern the will of God. CHECK YOUR BIBLE. We have a way of ignoring circumstances that speak against our desired outcome (or we attribute those circumstances to the devil), while focusing on the circumstances that speak for our desired outcome. But in this case, Eleazar established what he would look for before anything happened. He wasn’t making up the standard as the process unfolded. He wanted God to help, God to lead, God to be totally involved. You and I need to pray for guidance in all we do. Then follow God. 

15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. 16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. 

God answers the servant’s prayer before it was finished.  And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder.  

Before he had finished speaking: Isaiah 65:24 speaks of this kind of gracious answer to prayer: It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. 

Rebekah… came out with her pitcher on her shoulder: The servant did not yet know the prayer was answered. Only time would prove it. Would she give all drink? The woman Rebekah was the granddaughter of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 

17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.  18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. 19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. 20 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. 

A total answer to the prayer. Praise the Lord! Will she draw water for him and the ten camels?  That is a lot of water, that is a lot of work. 

21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not. 22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;  23 And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?  

The servant, though surprised, waits for complete confirmation of his prayer. 

Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. And the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.” So she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink. And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not. 

The young woman was very beautiful to behold: Rebekah is one of the women whom the Bible specifically says was beautiful. The others are Sarah (Genesis 12:11-14), Rachel (Genesis 29:17), Abigail (1 Samuel 25:3), Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:2), Tamar (2 Samuel 14:27), Queen Vashti of the Persians (Esther 1:11), Esther (Esther 2:7), and the daughters of Job (Job 42:15).  - Pastor David Guzik 

The servant ran to meet her: he certainly did not do anything to suggest that she should provide water for the camels. Prayer is what motivated her. 

And she drew water for all his camels: As Rebekah began the hard work of watering all the ten camels, the servant did not stop her. He wanted a woman who would not only say that she would water the camels, but who would actually do the hard work. She did not disappoint Eleazar, servant of Abraham.  Perhaps Eleazar knew that for some, it is much easier to talk like a servant than to actually serve. He wanted to see if she had a servant’s heart, not only a servant’s talk. 

24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor. 25 She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.  26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD. 27 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of His mercy and His truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren. 28 And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things. 

The servant of Abraham, when Rebekah has completely fulfilled the prayer, the servant of Abraham gives to her rich gifts even before the agreement of marriage to the son of Abraham. 

So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold, and said, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please, is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge?” So she said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she bore to Nahor.” Moreover she said to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge.” Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the LORD. And he said, “Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.” So the young woman ran and told her mother’s household these things. 

The servant of Abraham had given Rebekah a golden nose ring… two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold:   

Whose daughter are you? Having already revealed the gifts indicating that Rebekah was the answer to the servant’s prayer, he then asked about her family. He praised God when he found out that she was related to Abraham’s family. Then he gave all the praise to the LORD who he admitted led him. This showed the mentality of the servant. He felt it was his duty to be on the way, and to trust that God would guide him along the way. 

The young woman ran and told her mother’s household these things: It is easy to picture Rebekah’s excitement. A day that likely started as any other turned out to be a remarkable, life-changing day. 

29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.  30 And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.  31 And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels. 32 And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.  33 And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.   

Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban: The father of Rebekah was Bethuel, who was still alive (Genesis 24:50). Yet it seems that Laban took the lead in representing the family. When Laban saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists: Laban’s eyes were on the riches the servant brought. He was motivated to show appropriate hospitality to this mysterious visitor and to warmly greet him: “Come in, O blessed of the LORD!” 

The servant of Abraham said, I will not eat until I have told about my errand: Abraham’s servant was focused on his mission and would not be distracted from its fulfillment. 

Like every true servant of Christ, he put the business of his master before his own ease or comfort; even before the question of necessary food. When a man begins to think more of his eating than of doing the will of God, he ceases to be a true-hearted minister.” (Spurgeon) 

34 And he said, I am Abraham's servant.  35 And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and He hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.  36 And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.  37 And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell: 38 But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son. 

I am Abraham’s servant: Abraham had left Ur of the Chaldees several decades before, and his family may have wondered how he fared. Here, Abraham’s servant explained that the LORD has blessed my master greatly. He went on to describe the blessing mainly in material terms. 

To Isaac, he, Abraham has given all that he has: Abraham’s servant explained that his master had only one heir, Isaac and that this son would inherit all the  wealth of his master.  Then the servant of Abraham explained to Laban what he had experienced on the way to find Rebekah. If you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: Abraham’s servant understood that they would say yes or no to his master, not to him. He truly represented his master, not himself. 

Eleazar is a wonderful example of the master’s faithful messenger:  He told them that his master was great.  He told them his master’s son was the heir. He wanted one who would leave her old home and live with the master’s son. He pressed for a reply.  

39 And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me. 40 And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:  41 Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath. 42 And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now Thou do prosper my way which I go:  43 Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;  44 And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master's son.  45 And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee. 46 And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also. 

Reiterating what the servant and God had discussed, earlier, he in effect gave them a pleasant ultimatum. It is now or never. I have done what God commanded me, now it is up to you.  My work is done.  What do you say? Notice that when he had finished, he now relied upon God.  When you are faithful in telling about Jesus and you have done your best, now you must rely upon God to take over. 

47 And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.  48 And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son. 49 And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.  

The servant of Abraham reminds Laban and the family of the involvement of God and tells them what he had experienced. 

50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.  51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken. 52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.  53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.  54 And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master. 

Laban and Bethuel answered: In light of the evident hand of God, and the wealth of the servant’s master, the answer seemed obvious to the brother of Rebekah and father. They quickly decided that the thing comes from the LORD and that the LORD has spoken. 

The servant of Abraham brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing: The gifts given to Rebekah at the well were only the beginning. With an agreement from Rebekah and her family for marriage to Isaac, she received even greater gifts as a sign she would become one with the one who would inherit all Abraham’s wealth. 

The servant of Abraham also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother: When an agreement of marriage had been made, it was customary for the bridegroom (or his representative) to give the family of the bride gifts as a dowry to demonstrate his financial ability to provide for the bride.  -Pastor David Guzik 

55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go. 56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master. 57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.  58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. 

One more request for delay is met with stiff opposition by the servant of Abraham again, as he had explained his work is done. They had to make a decision, now! DO NOT HINDER ME. 

59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.  60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.  61 And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 

I will go: Rebekah showed a remarkable willingness to leave everything she knew in order to be with a bridegroom she had never seen. Her words “I will go” were worthy words of faith. The servant was determined to leave promptly, and Rebekah was determined to make her home with her new husband. She understood that her loyalty should be with her new family. 

If the world does not succeed in persuading the believer to abide in the world, it will seek to delay his exit… When you decide to go with the Lord, the world will applaud your devotion but will say, Do not rush. Abide a few days, at least ten, and then go. (Barnhouse) 

62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country. 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.  64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. 65 For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. 

Meanwhile back in Canaan, Isaac came to meditate in the field. Isaac saw the camels coming. Isaac would know that there was good or bad news. It could be his bride. Now Rebekah saw Isaac. She got down off of her camel. The servant had informed her that this man was Isaac. She took a vail and modestly covered herself. 

66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. 67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife;and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. 

And the two became one flesh and consummated the marriage. And they lived happily ever after.  (Well not all the time, as you shall see.) 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we see Thy Mighty Hand in all that is said and done here. There is the utmost respect for You, Your Ways and Your Guidance. Help us (me) Lord to rely on You in everything we (I) do. Help us to trust in the Lord with all of our (my) heart and not think we have the answer. Come into my heart and life in a bigger, better, stronger, way and more fully than You ever have in the past. Come God the Holy Spirit, permeate me, fill me body, soul and spirit, with Your presence, with Your POWER, we (I) pray. Do not give up on me, please. Thank You Father, Thank You Jesus, Thank You, God the Holy Spirit. We humbly ask this all in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.  

NEXT WEEK WE CONTINUE AS WE APPROACH  

PEARL HARBOR DAY. WE ARE IN ADVENT. 

May God bless you in all that you do for Him, Brother J.R. Soul winner, Bible teacher, Defender of the Faith

[jrhughes]

THANKSGIVING To GOD 2023

(Sunday, November 19th, 2023 AD)  

Deuteronomy 8:6-15 

Golden Text:       Deut. 8:10-14, 10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which He hath given thee. 11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping His commandments, and His judgments, and His statutes, which I command thee this day:  12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;  14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; 

Why do we not realize that this nation has turned from the true and living God to the secular world ideas? I thought someone said we have always been a secular nation.  Some have said that, BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE.  

The First thing which we should know is that this country of government of the people, by the people and for the people was begun when a church in Holland that had fled from England, came to this country on the Mayflower and founded Plymouth Colony in 1620 AD. So our government was always founded by people who believed in and worshiped God. From God all rights flowed. They came here to find a place where they could worship God according the dictates of their own community conscience. A brief history follows. 

Church of England: Most do not know that the Pilgrim settlers were rebels against the Church of England. The Protestant Reformation in England was ushered in through a dispute about whether or not to annul the first marriage of Henry VIII from Catherine of Aragon of Spain who had not produced a male heir for King Henry VIII.  Henry sought an annulment so that he could remarry and get him a male heir. When the Pope would not annul that marriage, the Church of England separated from the Roman Catholic faith and formed their own church, the Anglican church. That new church granted Henry VIII his annulment. Henry named himself head of that church. (That made him head of church and state.) However, that church in England was no different than the old Roman Catholic Church. It opposed those who believed in a priesthood of believers (1st Peter 2:9 =Pilgrims) The Church of England believed in formal priests, bishops and the like (top down rule). These dissidents that rebelled against the top down rule of man were the ones who founded our government of the people, by the people and for the people. Henry married and remarried and eventually got him a male heir: Edward. Edward was rather sickly. 

Unified Church And State Abuses: After Henry died, Edward, his son served, then died. Mary (known as Bloody Mary) daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon was next. She was a harsh ruler. She reestablished a catholic type church. The Church and State were one. She had hundreds of dissenters killed. This was why, in our history, we have decided there would never be a State with one leader of church religion and state in the United States. That is our basis for separation of church and state. It has never had anything to do with keeping Christian principles out of government, or the school or keeping a manger scene out of the public square. That was all later put in place by adminstrations who ignored the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  They wanted change and sought that change through the Court system.  

However, according to our founding documents, we just do not want the ruler of government being the head of both church and state, since if that happens then the state (as head of government) can compel acceptance of a particular religion and way of doing things or ways of seeing and worshiping God. This is the exact opposite of the founding documents. 

Seeds of Representative Democracy: Europe and most of the rest of the populated, civilized world saw things from a top down (king, bishop). The pilgrims believed in a congregation of free men under God given rights. Rights flowed from God to man and each man had direct access to God. (The priesthood of believers, we the people.) They believed every man (person) should be able to worship God, publicly, according to the dictates of each ones own conscience. In Europe it was a Pope or an Arch Bishop who said they would convene with God and then tell the people what they should do. The Pilgrims (pilgrims on this earth) believed that the Bible said, no one would be able to restrict their free exercise of religion. 

... We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,... 

Then followed the Constitution which the people refused to ratify without the 1st Amendment to the Constitution. (1st Amendment to the Constitution, Bill of Rights)  

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 

The founders and this document restricted Congress. There was not to be any one religion and there was not to be only formal way to worship God. This was the very FIRST Amendment, without which, the Constitution would never have been ratified.  

And the founders believed each person had direct access to God without need of a priestly human mediator. The top down religions gave the power to forgive sins to a man, not unto God. 

These Pilgrims (separatists) who founded our form of government were considered dissidents, enemies of the Anglican State Church. They had separated from that church, and they faced persecution, so they left England so they could worship and exalt God according to the Bible. They moved to Amsterdam where they were allowed to worship God or a tree or nobody. But the anything goes lifestyle in Amsterdam was affecting their young people. (Sound familiar?) It seems as if the evil one uses some to draw youth and the weak from the faith toward the gates of hell in each generation. Eventually these Pilgrims were forced to flee to America, as pilgrims to a new country where they could worship God according the dictates of the Bible. They sought a place to be nearer to God.  

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.  15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.  16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.... Hebrews 11:13-16 

Mayflower Voyage: The Pilgrims had a dreadful, dangerous voyage over stormy seas, with the Hand of God being upon them to preserve them alive. Twice they almost sank because of the storms. Not one Pilgrim was lost. One fell overboard but was rescued. They arrived at Cape Cod on November 11, 1620, but did not find the harbor at Plymouth until December 6th.  

Mayflower Compact: They had landed far north of the place where they were supposed to land and so they established their own government under the Mayflower Compact. The laws and law givers would be God with themselves, under God, as leaders, not the king. (Sounds like the principles found in the Declaration of Independence). It was the first government of the people, by the people and for the people.  

Winter Death: It was not until about Christmas Day (one report says December 23rd) that they first began to construct the buildings which housed them in the great icy cold, severe winter of 1620-1621. There were one hundred two (102) people on board the Mayflower as passengers and not one of them died on the voyage over. But then in the winter months of December through April, forty-six people died, including the wives of leaders William Brewster, William Bradford and Captain Myles Standish. 

William Bradford had been keeping the records, he writes: that miraculously not a single Pilgrim passenger died on the high stormy seas of the Atlantic. However William Bradford wrote of his and other losses between December 1620 and April of 1621: 

And in three months past, die Half our Company. The greatest part in the depth of winter, wanting houses and other comforts; being infected with the scurvy and other diseases which their long voyage and unaccommodate condition bring upon them. So as there die sometimes two or three a day. Of one hundred persons, scarce 50 remain. The living scarce able to bury the dead; the well not sufficient to tend the sick: there being in their time of greatest distress but six or seven who spare no pains to help them. Two of the seven were Master Brewster, their reverend Elder, and Master Standish the Captain. 

The like disease fell also among the sailors; so as almost Half their company also die, before they sail. 

Now that you understand our founding on Christian principles fast forward to today. 

WHAT HAPPENED TO THANKSGIVING TO GOD?  It is just me or is the focus on commercialized Christmas happening earlier and earlier as the years go by? Years ago you did not see anything Christmas until after Thanksgiving. Now the attention on Christmas starts before Halloween. In the Discount stores, we had Christmas starting on October 1st without the slightest mention of Thanksgiving.  

WHY is Thanksgiving important? It acknowledges our dependence upon God as we thank Him for all the provisions of the harvest season: apples, vegetables, corn, tomatoes, squash, and the list could go on and on. What can we do to give Thanksgiving the attention it deserves? REMEMBER WHO is the Source of all of our bounty and make this a day to remember the God Who loves us all and gives us crops in abundance. 

Black Friday used to be one day. And Cyber Monday did not exist. Now they are more profitable than Thanksgiving Thursday but recently, online sales in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day totaled $2.87 billion. Thank You Lord for all my blessings, but now I'm off to Amazon.com and eBay to fill my shopping cart. And the local merchants lose more and more business. TRUE Blessings come from God, not eBay and you and your ability. 

1 Chronicles 29:14 King James Version. 14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. 

It's easy to get caught-up in such spending when retailers offer amazing deals. But in doing so, Thanksgiving becomes the forgotten holiday and our minds quickly become transfixed on commercialized Christmas. 

And Football. Some cannot live without college and NFL football. 

NFL games on Thanksgiving Day have been going on since the league was formed. So, football on Thanksgiving is a tradition to which many people look forward. Even though I was a football fan, it is not too hard for me to resist watching football on Thanksgiving, as players kneel in protest. And the Cowboys are on almost every year. Yes, that must mean I am not a Cowboy or NFL fan. So, unless the Cowboys play my team, it won't be much of a temptation for me. 

But this can be a deterrent from what the holiday is supposed to be about. Although I must say, it can be an opportunity to keep the theme of thankfulness going. But in the place of God? We were thankful we get to watch football on Thanksgiving. WHAT?  GOD or Football Who deserves the glory, honor and praise? No more church services. We leave God out of our remembrances. Although the day can be fun and seemingly harmless to watch football on Thanksgiving, it can serve as a deterrent to focusing on the real meaning of the holiday. Thanksgiving used to always be Thanksgiving to God Day.  Not anymore.  WHY? 

How about going to the movies? (There are no longer church services). 

I do not know when this became a thing, but it seems pretty common now for people to go to the movies on Thanksgiving Day. In fact, there are movies that purposely open on Thanksgiving. AND SOME ARE STRAIGHT OUT OF HELL. Sure, it can be an enjoyable event when you go with the people who were sharing the Thanksgiving meal with you. However have you seen some of the horror and trashy movies from Hollywood? And it becomes a way to escape giving thanks to God. We lose the focus on giving thanks to God and many of the movies are to say the least, anti-God or otherwise not God friendly. 

The bottom line is that there are other days to watch football or go shopping or go to the movies. In the very least wait until the next day to do those things. We really need to spend the whole day doing nothing but expressing our thanks to God in God honoring activities, and not going shopping or out. Not staying home to watch football.  

God does tell us to choose Him over worldly adventures. I am not saying that if you do go shopping or watch football or go to the movies that you have blasphemed the spirit of thanksgiving but you have come close.  

Christmas, is the birth of Jesus, yet we give praise to a mythical fat man in a red suit. Thanksgiving becomes Turkey Day, not Thanksgiving to God Day. These things can get us sidetracked from what Thanksgiving is supposed to be about. We need to be aware of it being about God and His blessings. 

Do not forget that in order for Thanksgiving to not be the forgotten holiday we need to do things that will help us to maintain the essence of it. WE need to love and appreciate our Giver of all things. When God was giving instructions to the Israelites for when they established themselves in Canaan, the land of promise, He warned them about forgetting to be thankful. 

MESSAGE TEXT   –  Deuteronomy 8:6-15 

6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him. 

It is our duty to keep His commandments and to walk in His ways. 

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 

Moses directs to keep the duty especially in a prosperous condition. Let the people always remember their Benefactor (God). In everything we must give thanks. 

7 For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; 

The LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land. They are cautioned against forgetting, in their enjoyment of the gift, the bounty of the Giver. All things come of Thee O Lord... .  The people must not congratulate themselves on having achieved the conquest of such a land, instead of gratefully acknowledging the God which brought them here. HE alone enabled them to take possession of that favored land. 

A land of brooks of water, of fountains. Here we have brooks of water, running streams, mountains, the fathomless pools from which such streams flow. Full-grown rivers, almost as broad at their sources as at their mouths. ALL FROM GOD. There is no reason to suppose it was different in the ancient times. 

8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; 

The principal corn crops were wheat and barley. We are told the vine was largely and carefully cultivated, the olive required little cultivation, being almost a spontaneous growth.  

Honey. The word so rendered (d'bash) is used both of the honey of bees (Leviticus 2:11; Deuteronomy 32:11; 1 Samuel 14:26, etc.; Psalm 81:17; Proverbs 16:24, etc.), and of the honey of grapes, a syrup obtained by boiling down the newly expressed juice of the grape to a half or third part of its bulk, and still known among the Arabs by the name of dibs. .. Moses here tells them that the land they were about to occupy was not such a place, but one abounding in all those things of which they had found the wilderness so destitute.  - Pulpit Commentaries 

9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. 

God has provided food (bread without scarceness). You will lack NOTHING. All is from God. It is God who placed the stones, iron and brass, here easily to mine. Everything in, above and under ground come from God. 

10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which He hath given thee. 

BUT BEWARE! When thou hast eaten and art full, remember to bless and thank the Lord thy God. Do not fall into the trap of I did it all. You friend, can do nothing without God. You do not think that is true? Who supplied the oxygen we need to breathe?  Who supplies the rain? It all comes from God. That is why we thank and bless God at our meals. Why give Him thanks for His benefits? Because all things come of Thee O’ LORD. And of Thine own have we given Thee. 

11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping His commandments, and His judgments, and His statutes, which I command thee this day: 12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 

Caution Again. NEVER FORGET: GOD is the Source of ALL! 

13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; 

Later on when the herds and flocks multiply, remember life comes from God. When you FIND wealth, remember it was placed there by GOD. 

14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; 

Wealth is apt to generate in the possessor of it a spirit of self-congratulation and pride. Why dare we think this is of our own doing? The abundance of good things can induce men "to trust in uncertain riches," as if they came from the efforts of man. Then we forget of His bounteous Hand from which come all that they enjoy. We fail to remember these things, come from God. Against this self congratulations, this I did it my way the people are here cautioned and warned.  BUT without GOD, you would not be here! 

15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; 

Who led thee. It was GOD Who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, etc. The fiery serpent and the scorpion. 

The blessing in store for them was God's free gift to them; and when they came to enjoy it they were not to allow themselves to say in their heart, i.e. to think or imagine, that the prosperous condition in which they were placed was the result of their own exertions; they were to ascribe all to God's gracious bounty, for from Him had come the power by which prosperity had been gained, and this He had given, not on account of any merit in them, but that He might fulfill His covenant engagements to their fathers. Get wealth, to make strength, to gather substance (Genesis 12:5), to procure wealth (Ruth 4:11) all this comes from God. As it is to this day all things come of Thee O God. "As was quite evident then, when the establishment of the covenant had already commenced, and Israel had come through the desert to the border of Canaan (Deuteronomy 4:20) 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, how can we fail to see Thy Hand in all that we have or receive? You keep us safe. You feed us. If we listen to You and Your Word, You will direct us in all that we do. Truly all things, life, rain, crops, metals in the ground, all these things come of Thee O Lord. Open the eyes of our understanding. Help us to see all things in an eternal perspective. We need You every nano second of every day. Please forgive us and cleanse us and make us (me) fit and proper to serve You in this world and in the world to come in life everlasting, we (I) pray in the Name of My Redeemer, Lord Jesus. Guide and direct us we pray. God the Holy Ghost we need Your guidance and protection every day. This we (I) pray in the Name of Jesus Christ, our LORD. Amen and amen.   

May God bless you in all that you do for Him, Brother J.R. Soul winner, Bible teacher, Defender of the Faith

[jrhughes]

Sarah Goes Home

(Sunday, November 12th 2023 AD)  

Genesis 23:1-20 

Golden Text:       11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.  12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.  13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Hebrews 11:11-13 

Wikipedia reports:  

Sarah (born Sarai) is a Biblical matriarch, prophetess and major figure in Abrahamic religions. While different Abrahamic faiths portray her differently, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all depict her character similarly, as that of a pious woman, renowned for her hospitality and beauty, the wife and half-sister of Abraham, and the mother of Isaac. 

. . .  

Sarah dies at the age of 127, and Abraham buys a piece of land with a cave near Hebron from Ephron the Hittite in which to bury her, which is the first land owned by the Israelites in Canaan according to the Biblical narrative. The place became known as the Cave of the Patriarchs. 

Hebron:     ... a Palestinian city in the southern West Bank, 30 kilometres (19 miles) south of Jerusalem. Nestled in the Judaean Mountains, it lies 930 metres (3,050 ft) above sea level. The second-largest city in the West Bank. 

Ephron       Ephron the Hittite, son of Zohar, lived in Mamre among the children of Heth. Abraham comes to the Hittites, which are strangers to him, and asks them to sell him a property that he can use as a burial site. The Hittites, flattering Abraham by calling him a mighty prince say that he can choose whichever tomb he wants (Genesis 23:1–8). Abraham then asks them to contact Ephron son of Zohar who owns the cave of Machpelah which he is offering to buy for "the full price". Ephron slyly replies that he is prepared to give Abraham the field and the cave within, knowing that, that would not result in Abraham having a permanent claim on it. Abraham politely refuses the offer and insists on paying for the field. Ephron replies that the field is worth four hundred shekels of silver and Abraham agrees to the price without any further bargaining. He then proceeded to bury his dead wife Sarah there (Genesis 23:9–20) 

MESSAGE TEXT:  –   Genesis  – Chapter 23:1-20   

1 And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah. 

And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old (literally, and the life of Sarah was an hundred and twenty and seven years); so that Isaac must have been thirty-seven, having been born in his mother's ninetieth year. Sarah, as the wife of Abraham and the mother of believers (Isaiah 51:2; 1 Peter 3:6). She is the only woman whose age is mentioned in Scripture.  

Sarah was about ninety-one years old when Isaac was born, (NOTE: The Bible says she was 90) and she lived thirty-six years after, and saw him grown up to man's estate. With SARAH the promise of the incarnation of Christ commenced, though a comparatively obscure prophecy of it had been delivered to Eve, (Genesis 3:15); and with MARY it terminated, having had its exact completion. Thus God put more honour upon these two women than upon all the daughters of Eve besides. Sarah's conception of Isaac was supernatural; she had passed the age and circumstances in which it was possible, naturally speaking, to have a child; therefore she laughed when the promise was given, knowing that the thing was impossible, because it had ceased to be with her after the manner of women. God allows this natural impossibility, and grants that the thing must be the effect of Divine interposition and therefore asks, Is any thing too hard for God? The physical impossibility was increased in the case of Mary, she having no connection with man. But the same power interposed as in the case of Sarah. We find that when all aptitude for natural procreation was gone, Sarah received strength to conceive seed, and bore a son, from whom, in a direct line, the Messiah, the Saviour of the world, was to descend; and through this same power we find a virgin conceiving and bearing a Son against all natural possibilities. ... - Adam Clarke (1762-1823) 

These were the years of the life of Sarah - an emphatic repetition designed to impress the Israelitish mind with the importance of remembering the age of their ancestress, Sarah. 

2 And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. 

And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba - or city of Arba, Abraham having again moved back after an absence of nearly forty years. The same is Hebron - the Original name of the city, which was changed by that of Kir-jath-arba. It was restored at the conquest in the land of Canaan - perhaps to emphasize the circumstance that Sarah's death occurred not in the Philistines' country, but in the promised land.  

And Abraham came  (or went) not as if he had been absent at her death, where he had gone to sell the lands and other properties he used as if his own, or in the pasture grounds adjoining Hebron - to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. Most likely to arrange for the customary mourning ceremony. 

... referring to the beating of the breast as a sign of grief (cf. 1 Kings 14:13); and the secondly, a flow by drops, intimating a quieter and more moderate sorrow. Beyond sitting on the ground and weeping in presence of  the dead, no other rites are mentioned as having been observed by Abraham; though afterwards, as practiced among the Hebrews, Egyptians, and other nations of antiquity, mourning for the dead developed into an elaborate ritual, including such ceremonies as rending the garments, shaving the head, wearing sackcloth, covering the head with dust and ashes (2 Samuel 3:31, 35; 2 Samuel 21:10; Job 1:20; Job 2:12; Job 16:15, 16).  - Pulpit Commentary 

3 And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, 

And Abraham stood up - during the days of mourning he had most likely been sitting on the ground (sitting shiva); and now, apparently his grief having moderated Abraham goes out to the city gate - "Sarah, though dead, was still his" - saying.  

4 I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. 

I am a stranger and a sojourner with you. one living out of his own country, and one dwelling in a land in which he is not naturalized. This confession of the heir of Canaan was a proof that he sought, as his real inheritance, a better country, even an heavenly (Hebrews 11:13).  

Give me a possession of a burying-place with you. The first mention of a grave in Scripture, the word in Hebrew signifying a hole in the earth, or a mound, according as the root is taken to mean to dig or to heap up. Abraham's desire for a grave in which to deposit Sarah's lifeless remains was dictated by that Divinely planted and, among civilized nations, universally prevailing reverence for the body (image of God) which prompts men to decently dispose of their dead by rites of honor. The wish to make Sarah's burying-place his own possession was to have ownership and control. (Isaiah 22:16) that his dead might not be unburied.  

Also the strong faith of Abraham that the land would yet belong to his descendants, which naturally led him to crave a resting-place in the soil with which the hopes of both himself and people were identified.  

That I may bury my dead out of my sight - Burial was to preserve the body from predators. This body is a man made in the image of God. And neither did Abraham want to watch the body decay. 

5  And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,  6 Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead. 

And the children of Heth answered. Abraham, saying unto him, Hear us, my lord. My lord (Adoni). Not so, my lord; but hear us. Thou art a mighty prince among us. Literally, a prince of Elohim. This estimate of Abraham strikingly contrasts with that which Abraham had formed of himself.  

In the choice of our sepulchers bury thy dead; None of us will withhold from you a burying place, but that thou mayest bury thy dead. This remarkable offer on the part of the Hittites, as having been merely compliment, which Abraham was too experienced not to understand. But, even if dictated by true kindness and generosity, the proposal was one to which for many reasons - faith in God, love for the dead, and respect for himself being among the strongest - Abraham could not accept what did not legally belong to him. 

7 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth. 

Abraham stood up, and bowed himself. And Abraham stood up (the customary posture among this people and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth - an act of respect. Even to these children of Heth. 

Heth is, according to Genesis 10:15, the second son of Canaan, who is son of Ham, son of Noah. Heth is the ancestor of the Hittites , second of the twelve Canaanite nations descended from his sons, who lived near Hebron (Genesis 23:3,7). - Wikipedia 

8 And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,  9 That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you. 

And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind - Listen to me. I need something that you have and can give to me, if you are willing to sell it to me. 

That I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar.  Zohar is the ruler of the city. It was customary to have a mediator, a go between persons. Abraham knew that this matter of the field could not be brought about without the intervention of the person as a go between.  

That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, First of all he asks can he even sell this land to me. (Ephron s ownership of the cave is expressly recognized). 

For as much money as it is worth. So that he may give me the cave for a fair price. Abraham makes it clear that an honest purchase is what he contemplates. - literally, for full silver (as King David did -1 Chronicles 21:22). For money. This is the first mention of the use of the precious metals as a medium of exchange in the Bible although this must have been the method used as metals were given value. (Genesis 13:2) - 

 He shall give it me for a possession of a burying-place amongst you. The early Chaldaeans were accustomed to bury their dead in strongly-constructed brick vaults, composed of sun-dried bricks embedded in mud. 

10 And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying, 

And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth. He was then present sitting amongst the townspeople, but whether in the capacity of a magistrate or councilor is not stated.  

Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, - this does not imply that he was the chief magistrate, but only that he was a prominent citizen. On the gate of the city as a place for transacting business (Genesis 19:1) - saying -  

11 Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead. 

Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee - Oh-oh. Ephron would make a present of cave and field to Abraham. NO! Thank you. I need to own and control this piece of land. Please sell it to me. - Ephron's generous phrases, which have now become formal and hollow courtesies indeed, as Ephron would have retained ownership and control. 

12 And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.  13 And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there. 

And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land again. To express his appreciation of the offer of Ephron. But he courteously but firmly urged a full, fair price.  

And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me. If you would give it, please sell it to me. I will give you fair money for the field. This seems to indicate that Abraham at least imagined Ephron's offer of the field and cave as a gift to be not wholly formal or safe or wise. Take it of me, and I will bury my dead there. 

14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,  15 My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead. 

And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him, My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. The word "shekel," from shakal, to weigh, here used for the first time, was a piece of metal of definite weight, according to Exodus 30:13. According to Josephus (Ant., iii. 8, 2) the shekel in use in his day was equal to four Athenian drachmae. It is impossible to ascertain the weight of the shekel current with the merchant in the time of Abraham.- bury therefore thy dead. 

16 And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant. 

And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron Abraham either knowing that the price he asked was reasonable, or as being in no humor to bargain with him on the subject of a burying place for Sarah. 

Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, - Every merchant then carried a small apparatus by which he weighs each coin to see that it has not been tampered with by someone chipping off value. The stipulation and the payment of the money were both made in the presence of witnesses: four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant - literally. The Canaanite, of whom the Hittites was a branch, was among the earliest traders of antiquity (Proverbs 31:24). 

17 And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure 

And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, - which was before Mamre, - the field, and customarily the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, - In like manner the operations in the contract are just such as are found in modern deeds. It is not enough that you purchase a well-known lot; the contract must mention everything that belongs to it, with the field" 

18 Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city. 

Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of the city. When any sale was then to be affected in a town or village, the whole population gathered about the parties at the usual place of concourse, around or near the gate. There all take part as if it were their own individual affair. 

19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. 

And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife - with what funeral rites no one knows as the Bible is silent. This can only be conjectured. Monumental evidence attests that the practice of embalming the dead existed in Egypt and was practiced, but this is before Israel went into captivity in Egypt.  

Among the early Chaldaeans it was customary to place the corpse upon a matting of reed spread upon a brick floor, the head being pillowed on a single sun-dried brick, and the body turned on its left side, the right arm falling towards the left, and the fingers resting on the edge of a copper bowl; usually placed on the palm of the left hand (Rawlinson s 'Ancient Monarchies,' vol. 1. p. 87)  - Pulpit Commentaries 

In the cave of the field of Machpelah before: Mamre. In which also in succession his own remains and those of Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah were deposited, Rachel alone of the great patriarchal family being absent.  

After having been for 600 years hermetically sealed against Europeans, - only three during that period having gained access to it in disguise, - was visited in 1862 by the Prince of Wales and party (Stanley, 'Lectures on Jewish Church,' App. 2.). The same is Hebron in the land of Canaan (Ver. 2).  - Pulpit Commentaries 

20 And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth. 

And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a burying-place by the sons of Heth. Here we find that Abraham had secured by purchase the cave and field in the land of Heth for Abraham to have a burying place. We know that after Sarah, Abraham was buried there as was Isaac, and Rebekah and Leah and Jacob. So this purchase was honored. 

Sarah being dead, Abraham being only a sojourner in that land, shifting from place to place for the mere purpose of pasturing his flocks, and having no right to any part of the land, wished to purchase a place in which he might have the continual right of sepulture (burying). For this purpose, 1. He goes to the gate of the city, the place where, in all ancient times, justice was administered, and bargains and sales concluded, and where for these purposes the elders of the people sat. 2. He there proposes to buy the cave known by the name of the Cave of Machpelah, the cave of the turning or the double cave, for a burying place for his family. 3. To prevent him from going to any unnecessary expense, the people with one voice offer him the privilege of burying his wife in any of their sepulchres; this appearing to them to be no more than the common rights of hospitality and humanity required. 4. Abraham, intent on making a purchase, Ephron, the owner of the field and cave, values them at four hundred shekels, but at the same time wishes Abraham to receive the whole as a gift. 5. Abraham refuses the gift and weighs down the silver specified. 6. The people who enter in at the gate, i.e., the inhabitants coming from or going to their ordinary occupations in the country, witness the transaction, and thus the conveyance to Abraham is made sure without the intervention of those puzzlers of civil affairs by whose tricks and chicanery property often becomes insecure, and right and succession precarious and uncertain. But this censure does not fall on lawyers properly so called, who are men of honor, and whose office, in every well-regulated state, is as useful as it is respectable. But the accumulation and complex nature of almost all modern systems of law puzzle even justice herself, and often induce decisions by which truth falls in the streets and equity goes backwards. In the first ages of mankind, suspicion, deceit, and guile seem to have had a very limited influence. Happy days of primitive simplicity! When shall they return? – Adam Clarke (1762-1823) 

Prudence, as well as justice, directs us to be fair and open in our dealings; cheating bargains will not bear the light. Abraham, without fraud or delay, pays the money. He pays it at once in full, without keeping any part back; and by weight, current money with the merchant, without deceit. See how anciently money was used for the help of trade, and how honestly it should be paid when it is due. Though all the land of Canaan was Abraham by promise, yet the time of his possessing had not come. What he had occasion for, he bought and paid for. Dominion is not founded in grace. The saints' title to an eternal inheritance does not entitle them to the possessions of this world, nor justify them in doing wrong. Ephron honestly and fairly makes a good title to the land. As that which is bought, must be honestly paid for, so that which is sold, must be honestly delivered and secured. Let us manage our concerns with punctuality and exactness, in order to avoid contention. Abraham buried Sarah in a cave or vault, which was in the purchased field. It would tend to endear the land to his posterity. And it is worth noting, that a burying-place was the only piece of the land which Abraham possessed in Canaan. Those who have least of this earth, find a grave in it. This sepulchre was at the end of the field; whatever our possessions are, there is a burial-place at the end of them. It was a token of his belief and expectation of the resurrection. Abraham is contented to be still a pilgrim while he lives, but secures a place where, when he dies, his flesh may rest in hope. After all, the chief concern is, with whom we shall rise.  -   Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we know that You love us all and that You have respect for women. They, along with You, procreate children. Thank You for this blessing. Here we see people of faith who had twice almost given up, only to find out that there is a GOD Who can do anything, Anything, ANYTHING! Thank You for being a prayer answering God. Thank You. But most of all we thank You for allowing Jesus Christ to come to die to pay our death penalty, so that we may now all go to heaven. If we turn from sin to You. God the Holy Spirit, thank You for leading us into all truth. Help me to deny myself, help me deny myself frivolous things when You have much for us to do, we pray. Help us to be the kind of person You want us to be, every day, we pray in the Name of Jesus.  Amen and amen.          

NEXT WEEK – THANKSGIVING TO GOD 2023,  

then back to Abraham! 

May God bless you in all that you do for Him, Brother J.R. Soul winner, Bible teacher, Defender of the Faith