The reading two weeks ago was Genesis 32:4-36:43.
Here, a summary:
Chapter 32:
On the way back, Jacob is met by some angels of God, and calls the place Mahanaim.
Jacob sends out messengers to Esau, they return with intimidating news.
Jacob splits his company in 2 from fear; then Jacob prays to God.
Presents are sent to Esau.
Jacob wrestles with a man, the man renames Jacob Israel, as he wrestled with God.
Chapter 33:
As Esau and his company arrives, Jacob divide the group in the order of the 2 maids, Leah, then Rachel and their respective child(ren).
Jacob bows to Esau 7 times, Esau runs to embrace and kiss Jacob, and they cry together. Esau accepts Jacob and his gift. Esau suggests in returning together to Seir, but Jacob insists on going at a slower pace for his livestock and children.
Jacob goes to Succoth and builds booths.
Jacob arrives in Shalem, Shechem in Canaan, and he buys a field to build an altar, and calls it Elelohe-Isarael.
Chapter 34:
Dinah is defiled by Shechem, a Hivite.
Shechem asks his father Hamor for Dinah as a wife.
Jacob hears about what happened; Hamor goes to Jacob to ask about Dinah.
Jacob's sons hear about Dinah and they are grived and wroth.
Hamor asks for the people to mingle. Shechem offers a lot of money for Dinah.
The sons deceive Shechem and Hamor.
Simeon and Levi goes and kill the men and spoils the city.
Jacob rebukes his sons, but they retort by asking why Shechem should treat Dinah as a harlot.
Chapter 35:
God tells Jacob to live in Bethel, and build an altar there.
Jacob and his household arrive in Luz, renamed as Bethel.
Deborah, Rebekah's nurse dies, and is buried under an oak, Allonbachuth.
God appears unto Jacob and blesses him, and calls him Israel. Jacob sets up a pillar, and calls the place Bethel.
Rachel labors with Benoni (Benjamin), and dies by Ephrath; Jacob sets up a pillar there.
Reuben lays with Bilhah in Edar.
Sons of Jacob listed.
Isaac dies at 180 in Arbah/Hebron, Esau and Jacob bury him.
Chapter 36:
Esau has 3 wives: Adah, daughter of Elon, a Hittite; Aholibama, the daughter of Anah whose father is Zibeon, a Hivite; Bashemath, daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebajoth.
Adah has Eliphaz, whose concubine bears Amalek.
Bashemath has Reuel.
Aholibamah has Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah.
List of other names who are descendants of Esau.
Jacob/Israel is renamed twice in these passages.
It's kind of odd that God does this.
I'm sure God doesn't do this for His own good, which must mean that it's for our/Jacob's benefit.
(to recap [again])
Jacob is renamed at the end of chapter 32. At the end of chapter 33, Jacob builds an altar with the name given to him by God, which is great. In chapter 34, there is this big drama in the family. Then in chapter 35, God reminds Jacob he is Israel.
A picture/lesson from the above is another reiteration from the last entry, where we need reminders from God/His people to return to God, and that God is faithful when even when we need to be reminded; yay,
God is good.
--
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
and he (Jacob) departed...
The reading of two weeks ago was Genesis 28:10-32:3.
The summary:
Chapter 28:
Using a stone as a pillow, Jacob dreams angels on a ladder with Yahweh at the top confirming promise. Awed by the experience, Jacob pours oil on stone/pillow for a pillar and vows to Yahweh about his future.
Chapter 29:
In Haran, Jacob finds Rachel among the sheepherders. Jacob waters the flock for Rachel, kisses her, and cries aloud; then identifies himself. Rachel runs off to tell Laban. Laban welcomes Jacob; Jacob names Rachel as his wage for 7 years, Laban gives his answer.
-
After 7 years, Jacob asks for Laban; Laban throws a feast but gives Leah as a wife for Jacob; Zilpah given to Leah as a maid by Laban. Jacob serves another 7 years for Rachel, Laban gives to Rachel Bilhah as a maid.
-
Seeing Leah unloved, Yahweh opens her womb; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah are born.
Chapter 30:
Unhappy, Rachel has Jacob take Bilhah to have children; Dan and Naphtali are born. Leah does the same with Zilpah; Gad and Asher are born.
-
Grown Reuben finds mandrakes, Rachel has Jacob be with Leah for the mandrakes; Issachar is born. Leah begets Zebulun, then Dinah, a girl. God has Rachel beget Joseph.
-
Jacob requests to return to his country with his wives and children; Laban wants them to stay, Jacob wants to go. Jacob asks as his wage the patterned cattle, the brown sheep, and the patterned goats, Laban agrees. Jacob schemes with patterned sticks, the flocks produce favorably for Jacob.
Chapter 31:
Jacob is unwelcomed by Laban and sons. Yahweh tells Jacob to return to Canaan. Jacob tells Rachel and Leah the on goings; he also tells them the dream with God in it. Rachel and Leah side with Jacob. Jacob gathers his belongings for departure. Rachel takes Labans gods.
-
Jacob and company flees without Laban knowing. Laban finds out after 3 days; catches up to Jacob in 7 days at Gilead. God tells Laban to behave in dealing with Jacob.
-
Laban is upset, in particular about his idols missing. Jacob admits fear and decrees to not let live anyone with whom Laban finds the idols. Laban searches Leah and the two maids, then Rachel. Rachel tricks Laban; Laban finds nothing. Jacob chides Laban for everything in their history, while acknowledging God watching out for Jacob. Admitting no wrong, Laban suggests to make a covenant, Jacob consents.
-
Laban and Jacob give names for the place as a witness for their agreement, and for Yahweh to keep watch over them both. Laban leaves the next morning.
Chapter 32:
Jacob met by angels of God, calls the place Mahanaim.
Jacob sends messengers for Esau to Seir in Edom.
Jacob struggles with his employer/father-in-law, Laban, who is the unfair and stingy boss type. Then Jacob deals with the struggles of his wives. Lastly, there is the struggle of Jacob leaving Laban.
God is consistently present in the resolution of the conflicts, just as it was promised to Jacob at the beginning. Many times, Jacob tries to be creative in solving his problem in his own way; these efforts seem to show his lack of faith on Jacob's part; fortunately for Jacob, God is faithful even when he is not.
Similarly for us, when we do things out of instinct or from a lack of faith, fortunately God is faithful; yay.
God is good.
--
The summary:
Chapter 28:
Using a stone as a pillow, Jacob dreams angels on a ladder with Yahweh at the top confirming promise. Awed by the experience, Jacob pours oil on stone/pillow for a pillar and vows to Yahweh about his future.
Chapter 29:
In Haran, Jacob finds Rachel among the sheepherders. Jacob waters the flock for Rachel, kisses her, and cries aloud; then identifies himself. Rachel runs off to tell Laban. Laban welcomes Jacob; Jacob names Rachel as his wage for 7 years, Laban gives his answer.
-
After 7 years, Jacob asks for Laban; Laban throws a feast but gives Leah as a wife for Jacob; Zilpah given to Leah as a maid by Laban. Jacob serves another 7 years for Rachel, Laban gives to Rachel Bilhah as a maid.
-
Seeing Leah unloved, Yahweh opens her womb; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah are born.
Chapter 30:
Unhappy, Rachel has Jacob take Bilhah to have children; Dan and Naphtali are born. Leah does the same with Zilpah; Gad and Asher are born.
-
Grown Reuben finds mandrakes, Rachel has Jacob be with Leah for the mandrakes; Issachar is born. Leah begets Zebulun, then Dinah, a girl. God has Rachel beget Joseph.
-
Jacob requests to return to his country with his wives and children; Laban wants them to stay, Jacob wants to go. Jacob asks as his wage the patterned cattle, the brown sheep, and the patterned goats, Laban agrees. Jacob schemes with patterned sticks, the flocks produce favorably for Jacob.
Chapter 31:
Jacob is unwelcomed by Laban and sons. Yahweh tells Jacob to return to Canaan. Jacob tells Rachel and Leah the on goings; he also tells them the dream with God in it. Rachel and Leah side with Jacob. Jacob gathers his belongings for departure. Rachel takes Labans gods.
-
Jacob and company flees without Laban knowing. Laban finds out after 3 days; catches up to Jacob in 7 days at Gilead. God tells Laban to behave in dealing with Jacob.
-
Laban is upset, in particular about his idols missing. Jacob admits fear and decrees to not let live anyone with whom Laban finds the idols. Laban searches Leah and the two maids, then Rachel. Rachel tricks Laban; Laban finds nothing. Jacob chides Laban for everything in their history, while acknowledging God watching out for Jacob. Admitting no wrong, Laban suggests to make a covenant, Jacob consents.
-
Laban and Jacob give names for the place as a witness for their agreement, and for Yahweh to keep watch over them both. Laban leaves the next morning.
Chapter 32:
Jacob met by angels of God, calls the place Mahanaim.
Jacob sends messengers for Esau to Seir in Edom.
Jacob struggles with his employer/father-in-law, Laban, who is the unfair and stingy boss type. Then Jacob deals with the struggles of his wives. Lastly, there is the struggle of Jacob leaving Laban.
God is consistently present in the resolution of the conflicts, just as it was promised to Jacob at the beginning. Many times, Jacob tries to be creative in solving his problem in his own way; these efforts seem to show his lack of faith on Jacob's part; fortunately for Jacob, God is faithful even when he is not.
Similarly for us, when we do things out of instinct or from a lack of faith, fortunately God is faithful; yay.
God is good.
--
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
the line of/ the story of (Isaac)
This (last) week's reading was from Genesis 25:19-28:9.
The summary:
Chapter 25:
Isaac is 40 years old marrying Rebekah.
Rebekah was barren but conceives after Isaac prays to the LoRD.
The babies wrestled within Rebekah, Yahweh tells her two nations struggle within, and the elder shall serve the younger.
Chapter 26:
Famine takes Isaac to Gerar in Philistine.
Yahweh appears and confirms promise.
Isaac claims Rebekah as his sister.
Found by king Abimelech, Isaac admits his wrong.
Yahweh blesses Isaac, but he is unwanted by the Philistines.
Strifes at wells: Yahweh provides room for Isaac at Rehoboth.
-
At Beersheba, Yahweh appears again to confirm promise.
Isaac builds altar, pitches tent, and has his servants dig a well.
Abimelech, Ahuzzath, and Phicol goes to Isaac to make a peace covenant.
Isaac's servants dig a well, Shebah, so the place is named Beersheba.
-
Esau takes two wives, Judith, Beeri's daughter, and Bashemath, Elon's daughter, both Hittites, they were a grief to Isaac and Rebekah.
Chapter 27:
Esau is told to hunt and cook venison to be blessed by Isaac.
Rebekah schemes for Jacob to be blessed.
Jacob is afraid, but Rebekah is bold.
Jacob gives Isaac the food Rebekah made.
Although suspicious, Isaac blesses Jacob nonetheless after the meal.
Esau returns just afterwards.
Isaac realizes the truth and trembles.
Esau mourns loudly, and his consolation: killing Jacob.
Rebekah, aware of Esau's plot, sends Jacob to Laban;
Rebekah complains about Esau's wives to Isaac.
Chapter 28:
Isaac instructs Jacob to find a wife from Laban's daughters in Canaan.
Isaac sends out Jacob to Laban, Bethuel's son, Rebekah's brother, with a blessing.
Esau, seeing his parents' unhappiness of his wives and the obedience of Jacob, takes a Ishmaelite wife, Mahalath, Nebajoth's sister.
Jacob totally steals the show here (pardon the lame pun), twice from the view of Esau. However, in fact, as we can see from the text:
1. Esau, the son that originally had the blessing, took for granted his birthright, at the price of his own gratification.
2. Rebekah did pretty much all of the stealing, or the redemption of the blessing; that is, claiming the blessing for the beloved (25:27) at the willingness of taking on the father's curse.
*. Jacob, although not perfect according to the law, because of the obedience to the voice of his parent, obtained the blessing.
Of course, the veteran believers can easily spot Jesus and the Father, along with us beneficiaries of the blessings in the above illustration.
So how about Esau?
As I imagine, Esau could depict any numerous figures of beings that are ungodly and have no regard for blessings that initially belonged to them but does not any more.
If the reader would grant me an extra measure of conjecturing, I would venture that it could be Lucifer/Satan, the one, of all of God's "sons" or created beings, that had the most promise. (see Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7, Ezekiel 28:12-19). This is probably a good time to review my first post.
All of this exercising one's mind in God's Word really doesn't seem to affect the price of gas in any one of our neighborhoods. In fact, too much knowledge only yields an inflated head, along with all the temptations of where pride and arrogance leads, which is exactly what happened to Esau, along with Lucifer/Satan.
So the application is precisely walking in humility, not at all taking for granted what has been given to us (Romans 11:19-25), exercising our faith by working out our salvation (Phil 2:12, it's a "therefore" verse, so it would be good to read v.1-11 to see what it's "there for")
I could continue to steer the flow of the entry so that I could end this in my usual way, but I'll stop, so that you (the reader) could possibly say,
God is good.
--
The summary:
Chapter 25:
Isaac is 40 years old marrying Rebekah.
Rebekah was barren but conceives after Isaac prays to the LoRD.
The babies wrestled within Rebekah, Yahweh tells her two nations struggle within, and the elder shall serve the younger.
Chapter 26:
Famine takes Isaac to Gerar in Philistine.
Yahweh appears and confirms promise.
Isaac claims Rebekah as his sister.
Found by king Abimelech, Isaac admits his wrong.
Yahweh blesses Isaac, but he is unwanted by the Philistines.
Strifes at wells: Yahweh provides room for Isaac at Rehoboth.
-
At Beersheba, Yahweh appears again to confirm promise.
Isaac builds altar, pitches tent, and has his servants dig a well.
Abimelech, Ahuzzath, and Phicol goes to Isaac to make a peace covenant.
Isaac's servants dig a well, Shebah, so the place is named Beersheba.
-
Esau takes two wives, Judith, Beeri's daughter, and Bashemath, Elon's daughter, both Hittites, they were a grief to Isaac and Rebekah.
Chapter 27:
Esau is told to hunt and cook venison to be blessed by Isaac.
Rebekah schemes for Jacob to be blessed.
Jacob is afraid, but Rebekah is bold.
Jacob gives Isaac the food Rebekah made.
Although suspicious, Isaac blesses Jacob nonetheless after the meal.
Esau returns just afterwards.
Isaac realizes the truth and trembles.
Esau mourns loudly, and his consolation: killing Jacob.
Rebekah, aware of Esau's plot, sends Jacob to Laban;
Rebekah complains about Esau's wives to Isaac.
Chapter 28:
Isaac instructs Jacob to find a wife from Laban's daughters in Canaan.
Isaac sends out Jacob to Laban, Bethuel's son, Rebekah's brother, with a blessing.
Esau, seeing his parents' unhappiness of his wives and the obedience of Jacob, takes a Ishmaelite wife, Mahalath, Nebajoth's sister.
Jacob totally steals the show here (pardon the lame pun), twice from the view of Esau. However, in fact, as we can see from the text:
1. Esau, the son that originally had the blessing, took for granted his birthright, at the price of his own gratification.
2. Rebekah did pretty much all of the stealing, or the redemption of the blessing; that is, claiming the blessing for the beloved (25:27) at the willingness of taking on the father's curse.
*. Jacob, although not perfect according to the law, because of the obedience to the voice of his parent, obtained the blessing.
Of course, the veteran believers can easily spot Jesus and the Father, along with us beneficiaries of the blessings in the above illustration.
So how about Esau?
As I imagine, Esau could depict any numerous figures of beings that are ungodly and have no regard for blessings that initially belonged to them but does not any more.
If the reader would grant me an extra measure of conjecturing, I would venture that it could be Lucifer/Satan, the one, of all of God's "sons" or created beings, that had the most promise. (see Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7, Ezekiel 28:12-19). This is probably a good time to review my first post.
All of this exercising one's mind in God's Word really doesn't seem to affect the price of gas in any one of our neighborhoods. In fact, too much knowledge only yields an inflated head, along with all the temptations of where pride and arrogance leads, which is exactly what happened to Esau, along with Lucifer/Satan.
So the application is precisely walking in humility, not at all taking for granted what has been given to us (Romans 11:19-25), exercising our faith by working out our salvation (Phil 2:12, it's a "therefore" verse, so it would be good to read v.1-11 to see what it's "there for")
I could continue to steer the flow of the entry so that I could end this in my usual way, but I'll stop, so that you (the reader) could possibly say,
God is good.
--
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