5/1/05 Genesis The trickster Jacob deceived his father Isaac into blessing him instead of Esau.

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1 1 2 5/1/05 Genesis The trickster Jacob deceived his father Isaac into blessing him instead of Esau. He obeyed his mother Rebekah and played along with her plan but the entire ordeal has only made things worse. God had prophesied that Jacob would be the one He would bless but we will never know how God would of done it. The sovereignty of God over-rides the obstacles of man to fulfill His will but it does not over-ride the consequences for walking in the flesh. A better division would be to have the first nine verses to be part of chapter twenty-seven. 28:1-5 The sending of Jacob to Haran by Isaac 28:1-2 Isaac summoned Jacob. 1) Isaac called Jacob in response to Rebekah s concern about the safety of her own life if Jacob married women of the land like Esau. Vs. 1a, Gen. 27:46 a) She being a cleaver woman did not mention her concern for the safety of Jacob from Esau. b) She was the primary culprit through her plan. 2) Jacob confirmed the blessing he had given to Jacob. Vs. 1a a) Jacob had been chosen by God. Gen. 25:23 b) Jacob and Rebekah had chosen to contradict and help God out. 3) Isaac charged Jacob was regarding taking a wife. Vs. 1b-2 a) Jacob was not to take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. Vs. 1b-d 1) The word charged tsavah means to command or commission. 2) This was in obedience to God to keep the promise line pure. b) Jacob was to go the family of Rebekah and take a wife. Vs. 2 1) He told him, Arise, go to Padan Aram. Vs. 2a-b * The region is synonymous with Mesopotamia and Haran. Gen. 24:10,;11:31; 12:4, 5 2) He was to go to the house of Bethuel your mother's father. Vs. 2c

2 3 4 * The family connection has been carefully followed. Gen. 22:23, 24:15, 24:47 3) He was take himself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban his mother s brother. Vs. 2d * Gen. 24:29; 24:50; 25:20; 27:43 28:3-5 Isaac pronounced the blessing on Jacob. 1) The personal blessing. Vs. 3 a) The favor of God, May God Almighty bless you. Vs. 3a * El Shadday, Omnipotent! b) The increase of God, And make you fruitful and multiply you. Vs. 3b c) The people of God, That you may be an assembly of peoples. Vs. 3c * The word for assembly qahal has the sense of a congregation. 2) The Patriarchal blessing. Vs. 4 a) The promised blessing, And give you the blessing of Abraham. Vs. 4a b) The perpetual blessing, To you and your descendants with you. Vs. 4b c) The possession of the land, That you may inherit the land in which you are a stranger. Vs. 4c d) The principal owner, Which God gave to Abraham. Vs. 4d * The book of Hebrews says that, By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. Heb. 11:20 3) The summary statement. Vs. 5 a) The place, So Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Padan Aram. Vs. 5a-b b) The person, To Laban the son of Bethuel the Syrian. Vs. 5d-e c) The parental affiliation, The brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau. Vs. 5d-e 28:6-9 The retaliation of Esau towards Isaac The bitter response of Esau. 1) Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padan Aram with the charge not to take a wife from the daughters of Canaan and Jocob s obedience to Isaac and Rebekah. Vs. 6-7 a) This was a greater betrayal to him at this point, having been one with his father all his life. b) This provoked him to hurt both of his parents due to his parents displeasure of his marriage to woman of the land. 28:8-9 The rebellious heart of Esau.

3 5 6 2) Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan did not please his father Isaac, therefore Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife in addition to the wives he had. Vs. 8-9 a) He sought to get revenge on them. b) He sought to join himself with the son that had been rejected years earlier, a product of the flesh, his uncle s daughter. Gen. 16 c) Flesh attracts flesh! 28:10-22 The journey of Jacob to Haran. 28:10-12 Jacob had a dream the first night. 1) Jacob set out from Beersheba towards Haran. Vs. 10 2) He came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. Vs. 11a-b a) Though we are not told that God was directing or guiding him as the servant of Abraham, but Abraham had already that God Almight El Shadday would bless him. b) This place was by God s choosing and the appointment, about 55 miles north of Beersheba and was probably the third night. 3) He took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head. Vs. 11c a) Rock are not to comfortable for pillows. b) It is believed a better understanding is that he placed them around his head for protection from the elements. 4) He lay down in that place to sleep. Vs. 11d 5) He dreamed a dream. Vs. 12 a) He dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Vs. 12a-c b) He saw the angels of God ascending and descending on it. Vs. 12d c) Philip calls Nathaniel and told him they had found the Messiah. Jn. 1: ) And Nathanael said to him, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see. Vs. 46 2) Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit! Vs. 47 3) Nathanael said to Him, How do You know me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. Vs. 48

4 7 8 4) Nathanael answered and said to Him, Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel! Vs. 49 5) Jesus answered and said to him, Because I said to you, `I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these. Vs. 50 6) And He said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. Vs. 51 a) Without any doubt Nathanael was probably meditating on this section of Scriptures. b) The picture of God bridging the gap between man by the Messiah. c) angels are ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation. Heb spirits, d) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels. Heb. 12:22 28:13-15 Jacob was visited by God. 1) Yahweh identified Himself. Vs. 13a-c * The LORD stood above it and said: I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. a) In our loneliest desert experiences God is there to deal with us. b) Jacob told Pharaoh, Few and evil have been the days of my life. Gen. 47:9 2) Yahweh confirmed the possession of the land. Vs. 13d * The land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. 3) Yahweh confirmed the multiplication of his seed. Vs. 14a-c * Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south. 4) Yahweh confirmed the blessing to all the earth through the Messiah through his line. Vs. 14d * And in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 5) Yahweh promised four things to Jacob. Vs. 15 a) His presence, Behold, I am with you. Vs, 15a-b b) His protection, And will keep you wherever you go. Vs. 15b c) His personal return, And will bring you back to this land. Vs. 15c

5 9 10 d) His promise to fulfill His word, For I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you. Vs. 15d 28:16-17 Jacob s response to the dream. 1) He recognized the presence of God, Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it. Vs. 16 a) Interesting that the men at the Tower of Babel wanted to reach heaven in a corrupt manner and God destroyed the work. Gen. 11:1-9 b) Here heaven comes down to earth and God communicated with Jacob. 2) He was gripped with godly fear, And he was afraid and said, How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven! Vs. 17 * The expression the gate of heaven is found only here. 28:18-19 Jacob memorializes the location. 1) Jacob rose early in the morning, took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. Vs. 18 a) This was to mark the place where God visited him. * This is the fourth times it is mentioned. Vs. 11, 16, 17, 19 b) The practice of memorial are found throughout the Scriptures to remind people of something that God had done, like the stones taken out of the Jordan when they crossed it in flood season. Josh. 4 c) Later in the law certain pillars were prohibited due to the pagan association. 2) Jacob gave the location a name, he called it Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. Vs. 19 a) Bethel means house of God. b) Bethel became a key location throughout the history of Israel. 28:20-22 Jacob made a vow to God. 1) Jacob made a vow. Vs. 20a a) A vow is conditional, contingent on whatever it is dependent on. * This is the first vow in Scripture. b) An oath is absolute with no conditions. 2) The vow consists of five parts. Vs. 20b- 21 a) If God will be with me. Vs. 20c b) And keep me in this way that I am going. Vs. 20d

6 11 12 c) And give me bread to eat and clothing to put on. Vs. 20e d) So that I come back to my father's house in peace. Vs. 21a 3) The fulfillment of the vow. Vs. 21b-22 a) Then the LORD shall be my God. Vs. 21b b) And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house. Vs. 22a c) And of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You. Vs. 22b 1)) The first tithe was by Abraham to Melchizedek. Gen. 14:20 2)) Jacob is responding to the initiation of God! 29:1-14 The arrival of Jacob at Haran * Ch covers 20 years. 29:1-8 Jacob arrives at a well. 29:1-3 The observation of Jacob. 1) Jacob departed on his journey from Bethel and came to the land of the people of the East. Vs. 1 a) Literally lifted up his feet. b) Mesopotamia means the area of two rivers, Tigris and the Euphrates. c) The same trip the servant of Abraham had made, about 500 miles. 2) Jacob noted several things. Vs. 2 a) He saw a well in the field. Vs. 2a b) He saw that and there were three flocks of sheep lying by it. Vs. 2b-d 3) The commentary explains the scene for us. Vs. 2e-3 a) Out of that well they watered the flocks. Vs. 2e b) A large stone was on the well's mouth. Vs. 2f c) All the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well's mouth, water the sheep. Vs. 3ac d) Then they would put the stone back in its place on the well's mouth. Vs. 3d 29:4-8 The conversation of Jacob. 1) Jacob inquired of the men where they were from. Vs. 4 a), My brethren, where are you from? Vs. 4a-c b) And they said, We are from Haran. Vs. 4d-e 2) Jacob next inquired if they knew Laban. Vs. 5 a) Then he said to them, Do you know Laban the son of Nahor? Vs. 5a-b b) And they said, We know him. Vs. 5c-d 3) Jacob then inquired about his state. Vs. 6 a) So he said to them, Is he well? Vs. 6a-b

7 13 14 b) And they said, He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep. Vs. 6c-f 1) At this point, Jacob must have been elated, seeing all this as affirmation of God going before him! 2) God had directed and guided him to this well just as the servant of Abraham. 3) Then Rachel who was approaching the well and would be his wife, just a Rebekah had come out to the well and became the wife of Isaac. 4) Jacob inquired about the watering of the sheep. Vs. 7-8 a) He said, Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them. Vs. 7 b) But they said, We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep. Vs. 8 29:9-14 Jacob meet Rachel. 29:9-12 The celebration of Jacob. 1) Rachel is formerly introduced in the narrative by her profession. Vs. 9 a) As Jacob was still speaking with the men, Rachel came with her father s sheep. Vs. 9a-b b) She was a shepherdess. Vs. 9c 2) Jacob is moved with incredible emotions over the entire event and could not contain himself. Vs a) 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. Vs. 10a-d b) And He watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. Vs. 10e c) Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. Vs. 11 1)) He kissed her in overawe of God s faithfulness. * Jacob is years old when he leaves. 2)) He wept for joy in recognition that the hand of God was on him to guide and provide * Jacob is years old when he returns. 3) Jacob introduced himself as her cousin. Vs. 12 a) Jacob told Rachel that he was her father s relative and that he was Rebekah s son. Vs. 12a

8 15 16 b) So she ran and told her father. Vs. 12b 29:13-14 The reception of Jacob by Laban. 1) The response of Laban was based on his past experience with the servant of Isaac. Vs. 13 a) It came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him. Vs. 13a-c * Without any doubt Laban was imagining the wealth the servant of Isaac had when he arrived 97 year ago. b) He embraced him and kissed him. Vs. 13d * Laban wanted to ingratiate himself to Jacob! c) He brought him to his house. Vs. 13e * Laban presented himself as a very sensitive and kind individual, not as he really was, greedy and manipulative! d) Jacob told Laban all these things. Vs. 13f 1)) We are not told what all Jacob revealed to Laban. 2)) I doubt if he share the deception and the fact that he was running away from his brothers wrath. 2) Laban expressed his loving commitment to Jacob due to being family. Vs. 14 a) Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. Vs. 14a-c b) And Jacob stayed with him for a month. Vs. 14d 29;15-30 The marriage of Jacob to Leah and Rachel 29:15-20 Jacob asked for Rachel s hand in marriage. 1) Jacob is hired by Laban. Vs. 15 a) Then Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Vs. 15a-c 1)) The truth of the matter was that knowing Laban, he did not want to keep providing for Jacob food out of his own pocket. 2)) So he cleverly put his nephew to work for him. b) Tell me, what should your wages be? Vs. 15d-e 1)) Knowing Jacob was family and young, Laban takes advantage of Jacob, knowing he is going to give a low wage. 2)) It is amazing that Isaac having sent Jacob with his full blessing, did not sent him with the

9 17 18 appropriate dowry, as Abraham had done for him for Rebekah. 2) The commentary introduces Laban s two daughters. Vs a) Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, which means weary and the name of the younger was Rachel, which means ewe. Vs. 16 * There is a purposeful parallel to Jacob the younger and Esau, the older. b) Leah s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. Vs. 17 1)) Delicate may refer to light tender eyes that were eye-catching. 2)) But Rachel was a knockout in body and face. 3) The proposed wages by Jacob. Vs. 18 a) The reason for proposing such wages is declared, Now Jacob loved Rachel. Vs. 18a b) The stated the amount, So he said, I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter. Vs. 18b-c 4) The proposed dowry was excepted by Laban, And Laban said, It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me. Vs. 19 5) The passionate love of Jacob for Rachel. Vs. 20 a) The fulfillment of Jacob s years, So Jacob served seven years for Rachel. Vs. 20a b) The speedy passing of the years, And they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her. Vs. 20b 29:21-30 Jacob is deceived by Laban on his honeymoon night. 29:21-22 Jacob claimed his bride. 1) Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled. Vs. 21ab 2) That I may go in to her. Vs. 21c 3) Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. Vs :23-25 Laban gives Leah to Jacob instead. 1) Laban exchanged Leah for Rachel. Vs. 23 a) Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob. Vs. 23a-b b) And he went in to her. Vs. 23c 2) Laban also gave her maid. Vs. 24 a) And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah [as] a maid.

10 ) Jacob woke up to find out he was deceived. Vs. 25 a) So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. Vs. 25a-b * Jacob had to of thought on the time he deceives his father Isaac. b) And he said to Laban, What is this you have done to me? Vs. 25c-d * Jacob must of thought of the words of Esau at his deception. c) Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Vs. 25e * Jacob had been blindly deceived! d) Why then have you deceived me? Vs. 25f * Jacob now felt himself what his father and brother had felt by his deception! 29:26-30 Laban coned Jacob to work another seven years. 1) Laban justifies his treachery. Vs. 26 a) Laban said, It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. b) The emphasis on the firstborn had to of convicted him, in view of Esau. 2) Laban proposed another arrangement. Vs. 27 a) Laban asked that Jacob spent the first week with Leah and then he would also give him Rachel as his wife, Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also. Vs. 27a-b * Later the Law prohibited the marriage of two sisters. Lev. 18:18 b) Laban had a little catch, For the service which you will serve with me still another seven years. Vs. 27b 3) Jacob agreed to the arrangement. Vs. 28 a) Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. Vs. 28a b) So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. Vs. 28b * She was robbed of her wedding feast! 4) Laban was enriching himself by this deception. Vs. 29 a) Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid, two more mouths he would not have to feed. b) A total of four with Leah and her maid. Vs. 24 5) Jacob finally was married to Rachel. Vs. 30 a) Jacob also went in to Rachel, consummating the marriage. Vs. 30a b) Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, not what would produce harmony and unity in the home. Vs. 30b

11 21 22 c) And he served with Laban still another seven years, due to his love for Rachel. Vs. 30c * Fourteen years are covered in these five verses. 29:31-35 The intervention of God on behalf of Leah. * This verse would be a better chapter division for chapter thirty recording the birth of the eleven sons of Jacob and one daughter, Dinah. 29:31 God soveriegnly chastened Jacob. 1) God saw the injustice towards Leah by Jacob, When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved. Vs. 31a * She was being neglected and not desired as Rachel. 2) God allowed Leah to conceive, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. Vs. 31b 29:32-35 God gives to Leah four sons. 1) Leah bore her first son. Vs. 32 a) Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, which means seeing or behold a son. Vs. 32a-b b) Leah gives the reason, For she said, The LORD has surely looked on my affliction. Vs. 32c-d c) Leah expresses the change she hopes for, Now therefore, my husband will love me. Vs. 32e-f 2) Leah bore her second son. Vs. 33 a) Leah conceived again and bore a son. Vs. 33a b) Leah gives the reason again, And said, Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this [son] also. Vs. 33b-d c) And she called his name Simeon, which means heard. 3) Leah bore her third son. Vs. 34 a) Leah conceived again and bore a son. Vs. 34a b) Leah expressed the result of this son, And said, "Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons. Vs. 34b-d c) Therefore his name was called Levi, which means joined to. Vs. 34e 4) Leah bore her fourth son. Vs. 35 a) Leah conceived again and bore a son. Vs. 35a b) Leah expressed her gratitude to God at this birth, And said, Now I will praise the LORD. Vs. 35b-c

12 c) Leah called his name Judah, which means praise. Vs. 35d d) Leah then she stopped bearing. Vs. 35e * Clearly the implication is that God allowed her to bear children and kept her from bearing any more! 23 24