How did Jacob get two wives and twelve kids?
Well, it wasn’t easy. He worked for seven years for a woman he fell in love with—Rachel. But Rachel’s father, Laben, tricked Jacob and gave him his other daughter instead, Leah. So Jacob married both women and worked fourteen years altogether for his wives. The two wives were deeply jealous of each other and so Leah had many children to earn Jacob’s love, and Rachel tried to have kids, but couldn’t so she gave him her slave to have children with, so Leah gave Jacob her slave to have children with… well, it was a mess. But Jacob got a lot of kids out of it.
Why did Jacob call Esau “lord”?
Esau was showing his power, by meeting his brother with an army, and Jacob was scared to death. The prophecy said that Esau would serve Jacob. But Jacob is using his words to turn the tables, so that Esau would feel that Jacob was serving him. Jacob was being very humble, so that Esau would not be angry with him for stealing the blessing of their father. It seemed to work, but Jacob wasn’t so sure. By the way, the word Jacob used for “lord” wasn’t calling Esau “god”. He was calling him “master”, as a slave would speak to his master.
Why did Jacob wrestle with an angel?
This is a much disputed passage, and there are many difficulties in interpreting it. Most scholars, however, think that Jacob was really wrestling the angel over Esau, and over Esau’s nation, Edom. He is a powerful spirit, one that would be called a “god” in other parts of the Bible. So when Jacob was wrestling, he was actually fighting for his survival in his meeting with Esau. If he won the angel’s blessing, then he would be successful in his meeting with Esau. Some passages say that Jacob wrestled with “God”—but it was really a god—Esau’s spiritual power— he was wrestling with.
Why did Jacob have his name changed?
“Jacob” means deceiver or trickster. This wasn’t a great name for the father of a great and powerful nation. The angel Jacob wrestled with gave him the name “Israel” which means “God strives” or “Striving with god”. This is talking about two things—on the one hand it means that God would work hard for this people. Secondly, it means that the people Israel will be fighting against gods, doing spiritual warfare. A much more honorable name than “Jacob.” Yahweh confirmed this name when Jacob finally met him at Bethel. Interestingly, though, throughout the rest of Genesis, Jacob is called by his original name, not Israel. Israel is sometimes, but not all the time, used in reference to the nation, not the person.
How did Esau treat Jacob? Why did Jacob run away from him?
Actually, Esau treated Jacob pretty well. He hugged and kissed him, giving him the idea that he was forgiven. And he tried to refuse the gifts. However, this may have been all a show. If he truly forgave him, Jacob surely thought, he would have insisted on giving the gifts back. And Esau accepted Jacob calling him “lord” and didn’t place Jacob on an equal level. So this could mean that Esau was planning on making Jacob a true servant of his. Jacob didn’t want to have anything to do with that, so he ran away in the opposite direction.
Why did Levi and Simeon kill the whole town?
Levi and Simeon were concerned about their own honor. They felt that unless they got full, complete revenge against the town they would have to live with their shame. If they only killed the prince, others of the town would come after them. So it was kill everyone or live with their shame. Jacob thought this was ridiculous, and he gave Levi and Simeon less honor than their brothers because of their unrighteous anger.
Did Jacob’s family worship other gods?
Yes they did. We don’t know which gods, but we know that Rachel and Leah worshipped other gods from their land. Other slaves had their own gods as well. But when Jacob went to Bethel, he kept his promise and insisted that everyone in his household worship Yahweh alone. This is the turning point in Jacob’s life, where he focuses on God’s plan, and not his own.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Jacob and Esau-- Genesis 32-33, 35
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. Genesis 28:15
Jacob ran away from his brother Esau, taking with him the blessing of Yahweh. And Yahweh blessed Jacob greatly while he was away. Through the trickery of his mother’s brother, Laben, Jacob married two of Laben’s daughters and through them had 11 children. And through his dealings with his uncle over twenty years, Jacob gained large flocks of sheep and goats and servants and became wealthy in his own right. Finally, Jacob decided that it was time to go home, so he collected his family and flocks and servants and they traveled back to Canaan.
On the way back, Jacob’s fear of his brother, Esau, grew in his mind. When he left, Esau was threatening to kill Jacob—and now, who did Jacob have to protect him and his family. Even as Jacob left, Esau was gathering servants to him—servants that could fight and kill. What did Jacob have? Women, children and a few shepherds. They were completely defenseless and a battle would destroy them all. So Jacob sent some of his servants ahead to Esau’s land with a message: “Your slave Jacob comes to you, lord Esau, with all the wealth he gained.” The servants came back to Jacob and said, “Esau is coming to meet you with 400 men.” Jacob was very nervous now—400 men was the size of an army!
Jacob prayed to Yahweh, reminding Yahweh of the promises he had given and to ask for deliverance. Then Jacob sent hundreds of sheep and goats to Esau as a present to him, hoping to placate him. Then he divided his caravan into two camps so that if Esau attacks one camp, he might not attack the other.
The night before he was to meet Esau, Jacob spent moving things about from one side of a river to another, trying to figure out how best to escape an attack. Finally, he left the camps alone and wandered off by himself to think. There, a power of heaven met him and they wrestled for superiority. The power could not defeat Jacob, and so he touched Jacob’s leg and caused him to limp. Jacob would not let go of the power, however. The power pleaded, “Let go of me—it is almost morning.” Jacob replied, “I will not release you until you give me a blessing.” The power asked, “So, what is your name?” “Jacob. And what is your name?” “Why should you need my name? But you will no longer be called Jacob but Israel because you fought both men and gods and have won.” And the power blessed him. Jacob later realized that he fought with the power of Edom, the angel over Esau.
Jacob went back to camp, limping, and he saw Esau coming toward him, with his 400 men. Jacob lined his family up before Esau, with all of his flocks and servants on the other side of the river. Then Jacob bowed before Esau seven times until Esau came up to him. Esau stopped before Jacob and embraced him and kissed him on the cheeks. All of Jacob’s family bowed before Esau. Esau said, “Who are all these?” Jacob said, “These are the wives and children Yahweh has given your slave.” Esau said, “And what of all of the flocks you sent ahead?” Jacob replied, “I seek your favor, lord.” Esau said, “I don’t need this, here, you keep it.” Jacob replied, “No, you keep them please.” So Esau kept them after Jacob’s urging. In this way, Jacob knew that Esau did not intend to forgive Jacob and his life was still threatened. Esau said, “My land is not far from here. Come with us and you can stay with us.” Jacob replied, “We are so slow, we don’t want to keep you. You ride on ahead and we will catch up with you.” Jacob insisted, so Esau rode ahead.
However, Jacob did not follow Esau west, but traveled far south to Shekham. In his fear of Esau, Jacob forgot the promise he had made to Yahweh that he would return to Bethel and worship God.
As Jacob and his family were living near Shekham, Dinah, Jacob’s daughter was walking outside of her father’s camp. A prince of a local kingdom there lusted after her and raped her there in the wilderness. Afterwards, though, he regreted his actions and offered to marry her. His father, the king, explained the situation to Jacob, and asked permission to arrange the wedding.
Simeon and Levi, two of Jacob’s sons, spoke for their father and began to make arrangements. “Of course you can have our sister,” they said, “but we cannot allow her to marry just anybody. Your son, your family and your whole town would have to be circumcised. Only then can we be one family.” The king hesitated, the son pleaded for agreement. The king convinced his community to do this by saying that they could be very rich if they agreed to this “little” thing. So the whole community was circumcised. Three days after the circumcision, when all the men were in terrible pain, Levi and Simeon killed everyone in the town with their swords. Jacob confronted them on this evil deed, but they replied, “But they treated our sister like a whore!”
Jacob was furious and knew they had to move again. Yahweh spoke to Jacob and said, “Go to Bethel and keep the promise you made me.” So Jacob took his family and wealth and went north to Bethel. There he made all of his company get rid of any idols and false gods they had and they all dedicated themselves to Yahweh. Jacob offered sacrifices there at the rock he had placed there so many years ago. And from that time, Jacob was called Israel and he dedicated himself to Yahweh alone—no longer deceiving or tricking. And God blessed Israel there and gave him the blessing of Abraham.
Jacob ran away from his brother Esau, taking with him the blessing of Yahweh. And Yahweh blessed Jacob greatly while he was away. Through the trickery of his mother’s brother, Laben, Jacob married two of Laben’s daughters and through them had 11 children. And through his dealings with his uncle over twenty years, Jacob gained large flocks of sheep and goats and servants and became wealthy in his own right. Finally, Jacob decided that it was time to go home, so he collected his family and flocks and servants and they traveled back to Canaan.
On the way back, Jacob’s fear of his brother, Esau, grew in his mind. When he left, Esau was threatening to kill Jacob—and now, who did Jacob have to protect him and his family. Even as Jacob left, Esau was gathering servants to him—servants that could fight and kill. What did Jacob have? Women, children and a few shepherds. They were completely defenseless and a battle would destroy them all. So Jacob sent some of his servants ahead to Esau’s land with a message: “Your slave Jacob comes to you, lord Esau, with all the wealth he gained.” The servants came back to Jacob and said, “Esau is coming to meet you with 400 men.” Jacob was very nervous now—400 men was the size of an army!
Jacob prayed to Yahweh, reminding Yahweh of the promises he had given and to ask for deliverance. Then Jacob sent hundreds of sheep and goats to Esau as a present to him, hoping to placate him. Then he divided his caravan into two camps so that if Esau attacks one camp, he might not attack the other.
The night before he was to meet Esau, Jacob spent moving things about from one side of a river to another, trying to figure out how best to escape an attack. Finally, he left the camps alone and wandered off by himself to think. There, a power of heaven met him and they wrestled for superiority. The power could not defeat Jacob, and so he touched Jacob’s leg and caused him to limp. Jacob would not let go of the power, however. The power pleaded, “Let go of me—it is almost morning.” Jacob replied, “I will not release you until you give me a blessing.” The power asked, “So, what is your name?” “Jacob. And what is your name?” “Why should you need my name? But you will no longer be called Jacob but Israel because you fought both men and gods and have won.” And the power blessed him. Jacob later realized that he fought with the power of Edom, the angel over Esau.
Jacob went back to camp, limping, and he saw Esau coming toward him, with his 400 men. Jacob lined his family up before Esau, with all of his flocks and servants on the other side of the river. Then Jacob bowed before Esau seven times until Esau came up to him. Esau stopped before Jacob and embraced him and kissed him on the cheeks. All of Jacob’s family bowed before Esau. Esau said, “Who are all these?” Jacob said, “These are the wives and children Yahweh has given your slave.” Esau said, “And what of all of the flocks you sent ahead?” Jacob replied, “I seek your favor, lord.” Esau said, “I don’t need this, here, you keep it.” Jacob replied, “No, you keep them please.” So Esau kept them after Jacob’s urging. In this way, Jacob knew that Esau did not intend to forgive Jacob and his life was still threatened. Esau said, “My land is not far from here. Come with us and you can stay with us.” Jacob replied, “We are so slow, we don’t want to keep you. You ride on ahead and we will catch up with you.” Jacob insisted, so Esau rode ahead.
However, Jacob did not follow Esau west, but traveled far south to Shekham. In his fear of Esau, Jacob forgot the promise he had made to Yahweh that he would return to Bethel and worship God.
As Jacob and his family were living near Shekham, Dinah, Jacob’s daughter was walking outside of her father’s camp. A prince of a local kingdom there lusted after her and raped her there in the wilderness. Afterwards, though, he regreted his actions and offered to marry her. His father, the king, explained the situation to Jacob, and asked permission to arrange the wedding.
Simeon and Levi, two of Jacob’s sons, spoke for their father and began to make arrangements. “Of course you can have our sister,” they said, “but we cannot allow her to marry just anybody. Your son, your family and your whole town would have to be circumcised. Only then can we be one family.” The king hesitated, the son pleaded for agreement. The king convinced his community to do this by saying that they could be very rich if they agreed to this “little” thing. So the whole community was circumcised. Three days after the circumcision, when all the men were in terrible pain, Levi and Simeon killed everyone in the town with their swords. Jacob confronted them on this evil deed, but they replied, “But they treated our sister like a whore!”
Jacob was furious and knew they had to move again. Yahweh spoke to Jacob and said, “Go to Bethel and keep the promise you made me.” So Jacob took his family and wealth and went north to Bethel. There he made all of his company get rid of any idols and false gods they had and they all dedicated themselves to Yahweh. Jacob offered sacrifices there at the rock he had placed there so many years ago. And from that time, Jacob was called Israel and he dedicated himself to Yahweh alone—no longer deceiving or tricking. And God blessed Israel there and gave him the blessing of Abraham.
Reliance on God
We must depend on God for our salvation.
We should rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. II Corinthians 1:9
We wait on God for him to strengthen us.
Those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, for He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Isaiah 40:29, 31
We trust in the Lord and don’t take matters into our own hands.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday. Psalm 37:5-6
We trust in the Lord to fulfill all his promises.
Show diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:11-12
We cannot depend on anything or anyone else who might want to take God’s place.
Do not put your trust in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, Psalm 146:3-5
If we rely on God and not on our own thinking, he will bless us.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not depend on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
Those who rely on God call out to him to help them.
And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" Luke 18:7-8
We focus on God’s kingdom and righteousness and rely on God to meet our needs.
Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:31,33.
We should rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. II Corinthians 1:9
We wait on God for him to strengthen us.
Those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, for He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Isaiah 40:29, 31
We trust in the Lord and don’t take matters into our own hands.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday. Psalm 37:5-6
We trust in the Lord to fulfill all his promises.
Show diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:11-12
We cannot depend on anything or anyone else who might want to take God’s place.
Do not put your trust in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, Psalm 146:3-5
If we rely on God and not on our own thinking, he will bless us.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not depend on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
Those who rely on God call out to him to help them.
And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" Luke 18:7-8
We focus on God’s kingdom and righteousness and rely on God to meet our needs.
Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:31,33.
The Outcast
Jesus especially calls and ministers to the outcast of the world.
Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners. Mark 4:17
God greatly rejoices when a single one who is outcast from his kingdom returns to him.
There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7
The outcast of the world who are righteous before God will receive God’s greatest blessings.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10
The righteous should assist the outcast in any way they can, even sacrificially.
Sell your possessions and give to those in need; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven. Luke 12:33
The outcast of the world who are disciples are to be held in equal esteem in the church as any other disciple.
If you show partiality against the poor, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. James 2:9
The outcast are to rejoice in their lowly position, for they will be raised up.
Let the believer who is lowly boast in being raised up. James 1:9
Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners. Mark 4:17
God greatly rejoices when a single one who is outcast from his kingdom returns to him.
There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7
The outcast of the world who are righteous before God will receive God’s greatest blessings.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10
The righteous should assist the outcast in any way they can, even sacrificially.
Sell your possessions and give to those in need; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven. Luke 12:33
The outcast of the world who are disciples are to be held in equal esteem in the church as any other disciple.
If you show partiality against the poor, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. James 2:9
The outcast are to rejoice in their lowly position, for they will be raised up.
Let the believer who is lowly boast in being raised up. James 1:9
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