Joseph and his brothers in Egypt (Gen.42-47).

The command to Adam to “be fruitful and multiply” is restated to Noah and it becomes a promise to Abraham (Genesis 1:28, 9:1,12:2). God will give Abraham a homeland and multiple descendants to bless the world. In the Joseph story, Abraham’s descendants are in the land and have become a large family through Jacob’s twelve sons. Jacob favors Joseph, the sons are full of jealousy, and Jacob’s family is in no position to bless the world. Watch or listen to the story here and read the comments below.

 

Famine brought Joseph’s family to Egypt where God had elevated Joseph so that he managed Egypt’s food supply. Unknowingly, the brothers bow before Joseph as in Joseph’s dream (42:6-8). Joseph tested his brothers to determine whether they had changed in the twenty years that Joseph had been in Egypt. He gave them the opportunity to leave Simeon in Egypt with their pocket full of silver. Then they are given the opportunity to solve their problem by abandoning Benjamin in Egypt and grieving their father. Yet, through these tests they were reconciled to Joseph, to each other and to God.  Joseph’s brothers intended to harm Joseph but Joseph realized that it was God who sent him to Egypt and elevated him to prominence in order to bless Jacob’s family and the world (42:24, 28, 45:7).

Jacob sent his sons, without Benjamin, to buy grain in Egypt. Jacob didn’t trust his sons to take care of the youngest son, Benjamin, Joseph’s brother. In Egypt the brothers bow before Joseph, but fail to recognize him. But Joseph recognizes his brothers and he accuses them of being spies. The brothers claim they are the honest sons of one father, and their youngest brother was with their father in Canaan, but one of them was no more. Joseph put his brothers into prison for three days to test them. Joseph shows them kindness by letting the brothers return with food to their families. He sets up a very specific test by holding Simeon and refusing to let them return to Egypt without Benjamin. The brothers acknowledge that they are being punished for what they had done to Joseph (42:21). Reuben had told them not to kill Joseph and Judah had said they would be better off selling him to the Ishmaelite traders. Reuben’s plan to rescue Joseph failed and Reuben became an accomplice by going along with their plan to make it look like Joseph had been killed. Joseph imprisons Simeon, puts their silver in their sacks and sends his brothers home (42:37-38).

Joseph orchestrated his test to see if they would act differently. Given the opportunity would they abandon Simeon in exchange for silver (37:28, 42:33–34)? The brothers tell their father that they were accused of being spies. Being accused they explained to the man in Egypt that they were twelve sons of one father; the youngest son was with their father in Canaan and one was no more. Joseph refused to let them return to Egypt without their youngest brother. But Jacob refused to risk losing Benjamin as he had once lost Joseph. Reuben proposes that Jacob put Reuben’s two sons to death if Benjamin didn’t return. But why would Jacob be consoled by killing two of his grandsons? Jacob’s responded, “Joseph is dead, Simeon is gone and if anything happens to Benjamin you’ll bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow (42:37-38).”

When their food ran out Jacob tells his sons to go to Egypt. Judah reminds his father that they can’t go back to Egypt without Benjamin. Judah takes responsibility saying that if anything happens to Benjamin Judah would bear the blame all his life. So Israel tells them, “Go; take gifts for the man, double the silver and Benjamin and may God be merciful so that you all return (43:2-15).” In Egypt the brothers tell Joseph’s steward they had brought back the silver they found in their sacks. The Steward tells the brothers that their God had given them treasure. Then Simeon is returned and they are taken to Joseph’s house where they bow before Joseph. Much to their surprise, they are seated in their proper birth order and when their food was served Benjamin’s portion was five times that of his brothers. Benjamin is shown special favor (like Joseph was) but now the brothers were able eat and drink together without being jealous.  

Joseph filled his brother’s grain sacks, put their silver back and put his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. Joseph sent his steward who caught up with the brothers and said, “You have stolen my master’s silver cup.” This they denied but when they opened their sacks and the cup was in Benjamin’s sack. The brothers bow before Joseph and Judah says, “We are all now your slaves.” But Joseph said, “Only the one with my cup will become my slave.” Joseph gave his brothers the opportunity to become angry with Benjamin (44:16–17) and to abandon him in Egypt. Judah said that Benjamin is their father’s youngest son, the only son of his mother left and if he is harmed they would send their father’s gray head down to the grave in sorrow. Judah pleads to be made a slave in Benjamin’s place for he could not bear seeing the misery that would come upon his father (44:18-34).  Overwhelmed with how much his brothers had changed Joseph reveals himself as their brother, who they sold into Egypt. Moreover, Joseph sees what they did as God’s plan to save lives. Joseph threw his arms around Benjamin, kissed his brothers and wept over them.

Joseph tells them to bring their father and their families to Egypt where Joseph would provide for them during the famine. Joseph gives them abundant provisions for the journey and tells them not to quarrel. Jacob didn’t believe that Joseph was alive and ruling in Egypt until he saw all the gifts Joseph sent. Then Jacob said, “My son Joseph is alive and I will go to him before I die.” Later God would tell Jacob that in Egypt He would make Israel into a great nation and they would return them to Canaan. In Egypt, Joseph threw his arms around his father Jacob and Israel said, “Now I am ready to die, since my son Joseph is still alive.” God had made it clear to Jacob that this temporary migration was all according to plan (46:3–4). The Israelites multiplied in Egypt and when it was time for Israel to die, he made Joseph promise to carry him out of Egypt and to bury him with his fathers in Canaan. Joseph swore to Israel, and Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff with hope in a future resurrection (Heb.11:22).

The story reveals how God orchestrates the events of his world to fulfill His good purpose for His people. The Sovereign God used the flawed character of His people to accomplish that good purpose. What the brothers meant for evil, God meant for good (45:7, 50:20). God was fulfilling His covenant promise to multiply redeemed images to bless the world. Wherever Joseph was he was a blessing, but the brothers needed to be reconciled and the Israelites needed to be multiple. Joseph willingly forgives his brothers for he looked beyond their treacherous acts to the sovereign hand of God. The story helps us to know and trust that God is in control of everything that happens in our lives in this world. Consequently we can see beyond our personal struggles to God’s bigger plan to fill the world with redeemed images who will do God’s will on the earth.

Joseph in Egypt (Gen. 39-41).

God promised Abraham multiple descendants and a homeland to bless the world. The fulfillment would come through Abraham’s son, Isaac and not Ishmael, and through Isaac’s son Jacob and not Esau. Jacob disguised himself as Esau, so that Isaac gave Jacob the Abrahamic blessing (Gen.12:1-3). Esau planned to kill Jacob, so Jacob went to live with his Uncle Laban and eventually married Laban’s two daughters, Rachel and Leah. Jacob had twelve sons through Leah, Rachel and their maidservants. Rachel, Jacob’s beloved wife, gave birth to Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph, and later Rachel died while giving birth to Jacob’s twelfth son, Benjamin (35:18-19).   These twelve sons of Jacob became the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel.  

Now Jacob loved his son Joseph more than his other sons and so his brothers hated Joseph. Joseph told his brothers two dreams that he had and his brothers took to mean that Joseph planned to rule over them. This caused his brother’s to hate Joseph all the more. Given the opportunity Joseph’s brother sold Joseph to some Ishmaelite traders who took Joseph to Egypt where Joseph became a slave. The brothers smeared blood on the special robe that Jacob had given Joseph to make their father think that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal (37:31-33). This takes us to the story of Joseph in Egypt from Genesis 39-41. Watch or listen to the story and read the comments below.   https://www.dropbox.com/s/7adc0pudj01ojzw/14.%20Joseph%20in%20Egypt..MP3?dl=0

In this story Joseph resists temptation but ends up in prison. Yet, God was with Joseph in prison and everything he did succeeded (39:3, 23). Then after Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams the Pharaoh made Joseph his second-in-command in Egypt. Joseph implements a plan that preserved both Egypt and his own family. This story begins with Potiphar not needing to concern himself with anything in his house with Joseph in charge or so he thought (39:6). Potiphar’s wife notices Joseph and tries to seduce him but Joseph refuses to sin against God. Once when Joseph was alone in their house Potiphar’s wife grabbed Joseph’s cloak but Joseph ran out leaving his cloak behind. Potiphar’s wife claimed that Joseph attacked her but that he fled when she screamed.  So Potiphar put Joseph in the prison where the king’s prisoners were kept.

Joseph resisted temptation but was falsely accused and thrown in prison. Yet, the Lord was with Joseph and the prison warden put Joseph in charge of everything in the prison (39:20-21). One night Pharaoh’s cup-bearer and baker, who were in prison with Joseph, both had dreams which they couldn’t interpret. Joseph said that interpretations belong to God so they told Joseph their dreams. The cup-bearer saw a vine with three branches that blossomed, its grapes ripened and he squeezed the grapes into Pharaoh’s cup. The baker dreamed that he was carrying three baskets on his head and the top basket was full of baked goods that the birds were eating. Joseph said in three days Pharaoh would restore the cup-bearer but hang the baker and that is exactly what happened (40:20-23).

The cup-bearer forgot about Joseph until two years later when Pharaoh had two dreams. In the first dream Pharaoh saw seven fat healthy cows come out of the Nile then seven thin ugly cows came out of the Nile and ate the fat cows. In the second dream, Pharaoh saw seven healthy heads of grain then seven withered heads of grain sprouted and swallowed the seven healthy heads. Pharaoh’s wise men were unable to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. The cup-bearer told Pharaoh about the Hebrew prisoner, Joseph, who had accurately interpreted his dream. So Pharaoh sent for Joseph and Joseph said that God would interpret Pharaoh’s dream (41:9-16). Pharaoh told Joseph his dreams and Joseph said that there would be seven years of abundant harvests followed by seven years of famine. So Joseph told Pharaoh to store a fifth of the harvest from the abundant years and to put a wise man in charge of Egypt. Pharaoh put a robe on Joseph, gave him a ring, a gold chain and Joseph was made second-in-command in Egypt (41:37-43).

At the age of 30, after 13 years as an Egyptian slave and a prisoner, Joseph became Pharaoh’s second-in-command. The seven years of abundance came and Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain. When the famine came the people cried to Pharaoh for food and the entire world came to Joseph to buy grain (41:46-57). So God was with Joseph and blessed him even when Joseph was a slave and a prisoner and eventually Joseph was exalted to a position of authority in Egypt. All along God was working behind the scenes in Joseph’s life to preserve Israel and bless the world. Even today God is with those who trust in him, and He works out everything in our lives for our good (Romans 8:28). We cannot assume that God will turn our adverse circumstances around in the same fashion as Joseph’s were. However, this story encourages us that God works even through the difficult times in our lives for our good. God promises to work out everything in our lives according to His plan to restore this world and redeem a people for Himself (Romans 8:19-21, 28, Acts 3:21).

Joseph and his Brothers in Canaan (Gen.37,39).

God promised Abraham multiple descendants and a homeland to bless the world. The fulfillment would come through Abraham’s son, Isaac and not Ishmael, and through Isaac’s son Jacob and not Esau. Jacob disguised himself as Esau, so that Isaac gave Jacob the Abrahamic blessing (Gen.12:1-3). Esau planned to kill Jacob, so Jacob went to live with his Uncle Laban and eventually married Laban’s two daughters, Rachel and Leah. Jacob had twelve sons through Leah, Rachel and their maidservants. Rachel, Jacob’s beloved wife, gave birth to Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph, and later Rachel died while giving birth to Jacob’s twelfth son, Benjamin (35:18-19).   This takes us to the story of Joseph and his brothers in Canaan (Genesis 37, 39:1-6). Watch or listen to the story and read the comments below.   https://www.dropbox.com/s/mubnjdy7mmy7pe5/13.%20Jospeh%20and%20his%20brothers%20in%20Canaan..MP3?dl=0

Jacob and his family were settling down in Canaan, their promised homeland. When Joseph, Jacob’s son through his beloved wife Rachel, was seventeen he brought Jacob a bad report about his brothers. Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons and gave Joseph a special robe. Joseph’s brothers resented their father favoring Joseph and the bad report about them didn’t help (Gen. 37:2, 5, 9). Jacob’s father Isaac had favored his brother Esau and now we find Jacob doing the same thing. Like Isaac and Ishmael and Jacob and Esau before them now we find the sons of Jacob at odds with one another. 

Joseph had two relatively straight forward dreams.  The brothers were gathering wheat when Joseph’s bundle stood upright while the bundles of his brothers bowed down to it. In the second dream the sun and moon and eleven stars bow before Joseph. His brothers understood from the dream that Joseph planned to rule over them and they hated Joseph all the more. Even Jacob rebuked Joseph for suggesting that Jacob and Rachel would also bow before Joseph.  Joseph seemed oblivious to how his dreams affected his family. The dreams stirred up jealousy and hatred in his brothers but Jacob kept the matter in mind (See Luke 2:51).

Now Jacob sent Joseph to check up on his brothers while they were grazing their flocks in Shechem (Gen.34). Joseph was wandering around in the fields when a man told Joseph that his brothers had gone on to Dothan. When his brothers see Joseph approaching they plotted to kill Joseph and put an end to his dreams. They would kill Joseph, throw him in a cistern and say he was killed by a wild animal.  Reuben, the firstborn son of Jacob through Leah, persuaded the brothers not to kill Joseph. He wanted them to throw Joseph in the cistern so he could rescue him and return Joseph to their father (37:19-22). Ironically, Joseph was helped by the Canaanite man only to be betrayed by his own brothers.  

When Joseph arrived, his brothers tore off his robe and threw him into the cistern. As they sat down to eat some Ishmaelite traders passed by on their way to Egypt.  Judah suggests that it would be more profitable for them to sell Joseph as a slave than to kill him. So they sell Joseph for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites who take Joseph to Egypt (37:26-28). When Reuben returned to the cistern Joseph was gone. Reuben was the firstborn but he slept with his father’s third wife Bilhah, and Jacob found out (29:32, 35:22). Rescuing his fathers’ favorite son might put Reuben back in his father’s favor. However, Reuben’s leadership and his plan proved to be futile (37:29). Reuben went to his brothers who dipped Joseph’s robe in goat’s blood so that it would look like a like a wild animal had killed Joseph.

The brothers took the bloody the robe to their father to identify. Jacob concluded that Joseph had been torn to pieces by a wild animal so Jacob mourned for Joseph. Then the brothers who had caused their father’s grief tried unsuccessfully to comfort him. Jacob said he would go to his grave grieving the loss of son, Joseph. Meanwhile, the Ishmaelites sold Joseph to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. Joseph became a slave in Egypt but the LORD was with Joseph. The Lord blessed everything Joseph did so Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household. Then the Lord blessed everything in Potiphar’s house so he only concerned himself with the food he ate.  Joseph was a slave in Egypt, but God was with Joseph and made him successful even in his adversity. God even used the malicious acts of his brothers to preserve Jacob’s family and to accomplish His plan for them. 

Through adversity Joseph acted honourably and at the right time God honoured Joseph. In a similar fashion the Lord Jesus would rejected by his people, betrayed by a brother, and sold for a few pieces of silver. Yet God would see Jesus’ suffering and in time God would exalt Jesus for the good of his people (John 1:11, Isa.53:11, Phil.2:8-9).

Jacob Wrestles with God (Gen.32).

God promised Abraham multiple descendants and a homeland to bless the world. The fulfilment would come through Abraham’s son, Isaac. Later Isaac’s wife, Rebekah gave birth to twins, Jacob and Esau. Now Isaac wanted to bless Esau but Rebekah disguised Jacob as Esau so that Isaac unknowingly blessed Jacob with the Abrahamic blessing (Gen.12:1-3). Isaac made it clear that Jacob would indeed be blessed so Esau planned to kill Jacob. So Jacob went to Paddan Aram to the home of his Uncle Laban. On his way to Haran, Jacob fell asleep and dreamed of a stairway reaching from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it. Above the stairway was the Lord who promised Jacob multiple descendants and a homeland to bless the world. The Lord also promised to watch over Jacob and to bring him back to the land. Jacob called the place Bethel, God’s house.

In Paddan Aram Jacob met his Uncle Laban and eventually married Laban’s two daughters, Rachael and Leah. Leah bore Jacob six sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. Rachael gave her maidservant, Bilhah, to be Jacob’s wife and Bilhah had two sons, Dan and Naphtali. Leah gave her maidservant, Zillah to be Jacob’s wife and she bore two sons, Gad and Asher. Then the Lord gave Rachael a son for Jacob who she named Joseph. The Lord prospered Jacob and Jacob sought to return to his homeland. Laban pursued Jacob but the Lord warned Laban not to the harm Jacob. The two men made a covenant not to interfere with each other so Jacob went on to his homeland.  This takes us to the story of Jacob wrestling with God. Listen to or watch the story and read the comments below.  https://www.dropbox.com/s/pn1g6lff6wh7vf6/12.%20Jacob%20Wrestles%20with%20God..MP3?dl=0

Sometime after Rachael gave birth to Joseph, God told Jacob to return to the ‘promised land’ (Genesis 31:3, 13). God protected Jacob from his Uncle Laban’s wrath but now would he protect Jacob from his brother, Esau (31:24, 29, 52). 20 years earlier Esau had consoled himself with the thought of killing Jacob (27:41). Now as Jacob was on his way home, God gave Jacob a vision of angels (32:1-2). Jacob’s years away from the land are bracketed by two visions of angels (28:12, 32:1). Then Jacob sent messengers to Esau who returned saying that Esau was coming with 400 men (32:6). Jacob humbles himself before Esau with the hope of restoring their relationship (Gen. 32:5). Now that Jacob would have to face Esau, he divided his family into two groups so that if one was attacked, the other might escape (Gen. 32:8). So Jacob prays acknowledging that he is unworthy of God’s love (Gen. 32:9-10). Jacob left home with nothing, but now he had a large household! Then he prays for the Lord to rescue his household from Esau. Afterwards Jacob sends tribute to appease Esau then he planned to spend the night alone in preparation (Gen. 32:13-23).  

Jacob sends his family and his possessions across the river and stays behind alone. Before Jacob faced Esau he would have to wrestle with this unusual man all night long. This would be the fight of Jacob’s life and a fight which Jacob was determined not to lose (Gen. 32:24). When the man saw that he couldn’t overpower Jacob, he simply touched Jacob’s hip and dislocated it (Gen. 32:26). As daybreak approached the man told Jacob to let him go. But Jacob wouldn’t let him go until the man blessed him. When asked, Jacob told the man his name and the man changed Jacob’s name to Israel. Esau had said how Jacob was rightly named for he had twice deceived Esau, but now Jacob would be called ‘Israel’ for he had wrestled with God and man and had overcome. When Jacob wanted to know the man’s name the man blessed Jacob. Then Jacob called the place Peniel because there he saw God face to face and lived (32:30). As the sun rose it was a new day for Jacob and as he left Peniel he walked with a limp. God hindered Jacob’s ability to walk, gave him a new name and worked a permanent change in Jacob’s life. He was now Israel but for the rest of his earthly life he would still be part Jacob.

Following the Lord is like a wrestling match in which we are called to relentlessly cling to God. Jacob’s encounter with God didn’t lead to life of ease but to a painful crippling. After striving with God the clever and able Jacob would now walk with a limp. In the same way God calls us to cling to Him even when it seems like God is against us. In this life we are promised troubles—but we are to ‘take heart’ for Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33). Our Lord Jesus wrestled with God and with men even to the point of death on a cross. As ‘true Israel’ Jesus clung to God and prevailed over sin and death on our behalf. Jesus struggled with God so that we might share in his victory. Jesus endured the cross for us and now through our struggles we can become more like him (Phil. 3:10–11). This story encourages us to relentlessly cling to Jesus with all our strength, for he promises to never let us go.

Jacob's Dream at Bethel (Gen.28).

God promised Abraham multiple descendants and a homeland to bless the world. The fulfillment would come through Abraham’s son, Isaac. When Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, became pregnant the babies in her womb were jostling and the Lord revealed that there were two peoples in Rebekah’s womb and that the older son would serve the younger (Gen. 25:23). Now when Isaac was old and blind he wanted to bless Esau before he died. But Rebekah disguised Jacob as Esau and Jacob claimed to be Esau, so that unknowingly blessed Jacob. Isaac said the nations and his brothers would serve him. Also, Isaac restated the blessing given to Abraham (Gen.12:1-3) that whoever cursed him would be cursed and whoever blessed him would be blessed. Later Esau came in to be blessed and Isaac trembled violently when he realized he had blessed Jacob. Isaac told Esau that he had given the blessing to Jacob and that Jacob would be blessed! Isaac made it clear that even though Jacob had acted deceitfully the blessing of the Abrahamic covenant belonged to Jacob. Esau wept bitterly and comforted himself with the thought of killing Jacob. 

When Rebekah found out that Esau wanted to kill Jacob she told to flee to her brother Laban in Haran. When Esau was no longer angry Rebekah would send for Jacob. Then Rebekah told Isaac that her life wouldn’t be worth living if Jacob took a Canaanite wife. So Isaac commanded Jacob not to take a Canaanite wife but to a wife from among the daughters of Laban, his mother’s brother. Isaac blessed Jacob and said, “May God Almighty bless you and your descendants with blessing given to Abraham.” Then Isaac sent Jacob on his way to Laban, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau. Now this takes us to the story of Jacob’s dream at Bethel (Genesis 28:10–22). Watch or listen to the story and read the comments.   

Jacob’s parents, Isaac and Rebekah, sent Jacob to Haran to get a wife from Laban, Rebekah’s brother. Yet, Jacob was also fleeing from his brother Esau, who wanted to kill Jacob for taking Esau’s blessing. The scene quickly darkens reminding us that this is a dark time in Jacob’s life. The setting of the sun also recalls the time when God made His covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15). That put a stone under his head shows us that Jacob now has nowhere to lay his head. He rests his head on a stone, falls asleep and sees in a dream a stairway resting on the earth and reaching up to heaven. So Jacob is being exiled from the ‘promised land’ for stealing his brother’s birth-right and his father’s blessing.

Jacob sees this stairway intersecting heaven and earth and the angels of God are ascending and descending on the stairway. Above the stairway is the Lord who speaks to Jacob saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your fathers Abraham and Isaac.” Jacob is being ‘exiled’ but the Lord speaks to Jacob. The Lord chooses to reveal Himself to Jacob while Jacob is running for his life. This is the God of Jacob’s father’s Abraham and Isaac and He promises to give that the land promised to Abraham and Isaac would be given to Jacob and Jacob’s descendants. Jacob’s descendants will be as innumerable as the dust of the earth and they will spread out in every direction and all people throughout the earth will be blessed through them.

The Lord also promises that Jacob’s journey will be a successful one. Not only will Jacob find a wife and have children but the Lord will be with Jacob and watch over Jacob wherever Jacob goes. The God of Jacob’s fathers is identifying Himself with Jacob and promises Jacob innumerable descendants to bless the world. In addition to these massive promises the Lord adds the promise of God’s own personal presence so that the Lord will watch over him wherever Jacob goes. So the Lord of his fathers will be with Jacob, the deceiver, and will not only watch out for Jacob wherever Jacob goes but the Lord will bring Jacob back to this land. The land where Jacob is laying his head will be his and the Lord will fulfill His promise for Jacob.  

Jacob awoke and thought of how he didn’t even realize that the Lord was in that place. The reality of the presence of the Lord in that place was awe inspiring for Jacob. Jacob must have felt like he had really messed up and so even as Jacob was fleeing Esau God shows up and reveals Himself to Jacob. Jacob was unaware of God’s presence and had no idea that God would show up and confirm that Jacob would inherit the Abrahamic blessing. He was fleeing because his brother Esau wanted to kill him but the God of Abraham and Isaac shows up to bless Jacob. The presence of was so real, so awesome that Jacob in holy ‘fear’ Jacob said, “This is an awesome place! This is the house of God! It is the gate of heaven!” So for Jacob that place would become for Jacob the house of God and very gate of heaven!

So early that very next morning when Jacob woke up he took the stone from under his head and he set it up as a pillar. For Jacob the stone would become a kind of monument or a reminder of the Lord’s presence. Jacob poured oil on the stone and he called the place Bethel (God’s house). Then Jacob vowed that if God would be with Jacob, watch over him, provide him food and clothing, and bring him safely to his father’s house then the Lord would be Jacob’s God and Jacob would give God a tenth of whatever he would receive from the Lord. So Jacob vows that if God will do what God had said then God will be Jacob’s God. Jacob adds the further condition of the provision of food and clothing and a safe return to his father’s house. So Jacob makes this conditional vow to that is dependent upon God fulfilling his promises to Jacob. Jacob has done nothing to deserve God’s favor and his conditional vow shows that Jacob has a long way to go but 

Jacob Gets Isaac's Blessing (Gen.27).

God promised Abraham multiple descendants and a homeland to bless the world. The fulfillment would come through Abraham’s son, Isaac but Isaac's wife, Rebekah was barren (Genesis 25:21). Isaac prayed and Rebekah became pregnant with twins. The two babies jostling in Rebekah’s womb so she inquired of the Lord. The Lord revealed that there were two peoples in Rebekah’s womb and that the older son would serve the younger (Gen. 25:23). In time Rebekah gave birth to Esau and Jacob. Isaac loved Esau, who was a skillful hunter, while Rebekah loved Jacob.

Once when Isaac’s sons were grown, Esau returned to camp from hunting famished and found Jacob with a pot of stew (Gen. 25:29–30). Taking advantage of the opportunity, Jacob demanded that Esau swear an oath to give Jacob his birth-right for some of the stew. This Esau gladly did (Gen. 25:31) and so Jacob gave Esau some stew which Esau devoured. Esau left having despised his birth-right by giving it to Jacob for a bowl of stew (Gen. 25:32-34). This takes us to the story near the end of Isaac’s life of when Jacob steals Esau’s blessing. Watch the story here and read the comments below.

The story starts with Isaac being old, blind and ready to act contrary to the prophecy given Rebekah before the birth of her sons that, “the older would serve the younger.” Isaac tells Esau, his older son, to go hunt some game and prepare him some ‘tasty food’ so that Isaac could bless Esau before Isaac died. Isaac loved his ‘tasty food’ and he loved Esau so he plans to ensure that his older and favorite son gets the blessing. Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, loved Jacob so when Rebekah overhears Isaac’s plan she tells her younger son, Jacob. Why is Isaac seeking to bless Esau privately without his wife’s knowledge? But Rebekah hears of Isaac‘s plan so she comes up with one of her own. Rebekah tells her younger son, Jacob, to get two goats which she would prepare for Jacob to bring to Isaac. Jacob would pretend to be Esau and Isaac would give Jacob the blessing which he was planning to give Esau. So Isaac planned to bless Esau contrary to the prophecy while Rebekah thought she could trick Isaac into fulfilling it.  The story depicts Isaac as having dull senses and ready to act contrary to what God had revealed regarding his sons.      

The marriage of Isaac and Rebekah had started off so well. Abraham had sent his chief servant who was prayerfully led by God to Rebekah. Isaac married Rebekah and when Rebekah was barren Isaac prays for her. Rebekah became pregnant in answer to Isaac’s prayer and she gave birth to Esau and Jacob. But now Isaac and Rebekah aren’t communicating with each other or with God. So Rebekah tells Jacob to get two young goats for her to prepare just the way Isaac likes them. Then Jacob would take the ‘tasty food’ to Isaac and Isaac would bless Jacob thinking he was Esau. Jacob was hesitant but only because he thought Rebekah’s plan might backfire. Esau was hairy, and Isaac might touch Jacob’s smooth skin and realize it was a trick and would curse Jacob rather than bless him. Jacob goes along with Rebekah’s plan but only after he is assured that Rebekah will bear the negative consequences if the plan fails.

Evidently, Rebekah doesn’t think that Isaac will be able tell either Esau’s hands from goatskins or the difference from goat meat and wild game. Rebekah thought it was worth the risk so she says she will accept the blame and any curse that would result. Jacob gets the goats and Rebekah prepared the food. Rebekah put Esau’s clothes on Jacob and covered his hands and neck with goatskins. So Jacob is going to try to trick Isaac into giving Jacob what the Lord had promised him in the prophecy to Rebekah. Isaac thinks he can give the blessing to Esau contrary to the prophecy and Rebekah thinks she can deceive Isaac into fulfilling the prophecy. This only shows how gracious God was to them considering how undeserving they all were and that none of them were all that willing to trust the Lord.

So Jacob takes the ‘tasty food’ to his father disguised as his older brother, Esau. When Isaac asks how he was able to get the food so quickly Jacob claimed that the LORD gave him success. But the voice sounds like Jacob so Isaac wants to touch him to see if it’s really Esau. Isaac touches him and while the voice sounds like Jacob the hands feel like Esau. Isaac asks if it is really Esau and Jacob said, “Yes, I am”.  Isaac ate his ‘tasty food’ and he couldn’t distinguish between wild game and goat meat. Isaac was ready to give the blessing after one last test. Jacob kissed Isaac and for Isaac the smell of Esau’s clothes was like the smell of a field blessed by the LORD. But this is Esau who despised his birthright and grieved his parents by taking two Canaanite wives. Isaac, unknowingly, blesses Jacob with heaven’s dew and the earth’s richness— nations will bow before him and he will be lord over his brothers. Then Isaac restates the blessing given to Abraham (Gen.12:1-3) that those who curse him would be cursed and those who bless him would be blessed. In opposition to God’s ‘revealed will’ Isaac tries to pass on the Abrahamic covenant blessing to Esau. But God is sovereign and so he was actually imparting the blessing to the one God had chosen all along. 

Almost immediately, Esau comes in from hunting and brings the food to Isaac. Isaac wants to know who is there. “Your firstborn son, Esau, get up eat and give me your blessing” said Esau.  Then Isaac trembled violently and he wanted to know who had brought him the food he had just eaten. Isaac acknowledges that he had unknowingly given Jacob his blessing and yet he confirmed to Esau that Jacob would indeed be blessed! Esau pleads for his father’s blessing but Isaac tells Esau that his brother had taken it deceitfully. Esau says that his brother had deceived Esau twice; first Jacob took Esau’s birthright, and now Jacob had taken his blessing. Esau desperately pleads for another blessing, but Isaac had already made Jacob lord over his relatives including Esau. Isaac had sustained Jacob with grain and new wine so what more could Isaac do for Esau? Isaac realized that this was God’s will so there was now no turning back. Esau wept aloud but the blessing of the Abrahamic covenant belonged to Jacob. Isaac tells Esau he will dwell away from both the earth’s richness and heaven’s dew. Esau would not inherit the promised land of Canaan but he would live by the sword and serve his brother. In time when Esau grew restless then Esau would throw off his brother’s yoke. In response Esau consoles himself with the thought of killing his brother Jacob. 

The Birth of Jacob and Esau (Gen.25).

When Sarah was 127 years old she died and Abraham buried her in Canaan in a cave he purchased from the Hittites.  Abraham sent his chief servant to Abraham’s relatives to get a wife for Isaac so he wouldn’t marry a Canaanite. Abraham’s servant prayed and he found Rebekah, the granddaughter of Abraham’s brother. Abraham’s servant gave gifts to Rebekah and her family and told them how the Lord had blessed Abraham and given everything he owned to Isaac, the child Sarah bore in her old age. Rebekah agreed and went to Canaan where she became Isaac’s wife. Later, Abraham died when he was 175 years old and Isaac and Ishmael, Abraham’s sons, buried him in Canaan in the cave Abraham he bought from the Hittites as a grave for his wife Sarah. After Abraham’s death, God blessed Isaac (Gen.24-25).  Watch the below video and read the comments below. 

God promised to make Abraham into a great nation and Isaac is a transitional figure between Abraham and the twelve tribes coming from Jacob known as Israel. Abraham’s multiple descendants were to come through Isaac but Rebekah, like Sarah forty years earlier, was barren (Genesis 25:21).  But Isaac and Rebekah didn’t take matters into their own hands as Sarah and Abraham had. We’re not told when Isaac prayed only that the Lord answered his prayer and Rebekah became pregnant (Gen. 25:21). They may have had to wait up to twenty years since Isaac married at 40 and became a father at 62. Abraham and Sarah’s example must have taught Isaac and Rebekah to trust God for there would be no Hagar and no Ishmael for them.

There were two babies struggling with one another in Rebekah’s womb, and Rebekah wondered why. We’re not told how but only that Rebekah inquired of the Lord and the will of the Lord was made known. The Lord revealed that there were two nations struggling within Rebekah’s womb. Rebekah would give birth to twin boys and it was foretold even before they were born that the older son would serve the younger (Gen. 25:23). The firstborn was named Esau and the nation of Edom would come from him. Edom means ‘red’ and they named their land Seir, which sounds like the Hebrew word for ‘hairy’. The second child was named Jacob which can mean ‘deceitful’. When the twins grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter while Jacob, being a quiet man, liked to stay among the tents.

Jacob was born grasping his brother’s heel and this episode was the beginning of a lifelong struggle. In fact, Genesis reveals the ongoing rivalry between those the Lord has chosen and those he has not (3:15, 25:23). God accepted Abel and not Cain. God chose the line of Seth and not the line of Cain. God chose Isaac and not Ishmael, and here Jacob is chosen over Esau (Romans 9:10–12):

Rebekah’s children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”

It appears that Isaac and Rebekah valued Jacob and Esau for what they could do for their parents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau who was skillful hunter and Rebekah loved Jacob. Rebekah would have remembered the prophecy but maybe she just liked Jacob being around her among the tents.

Jacob tired of waiting on God so when given an opportunity Jacob tried to trick Esau into selling his birthright. Once when Esau had been out hunting Jacob stayed behind in the camp and was cooking stew. Esau returned famished from hunting and found Jacob in the camp with a pot of stew (Gen. 25:29–30). Now instead of sharing some stew with his brother, Jacob saw this as an opportunity to take advantage of Esau. Before Jacob would give his brother any stew Jacob wanted Esau to sell him Esau’s birthright. Sadly, Esau said that the birthright was no good to him since he was about to die. Jacob demanded that Esau first swear an oath which Esau gladly did (Gen. 25:31). So Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew which Esau ate and so Esau despised his birthright.

Isaac and Rebekah had waited on God for their child but their child, Jacob, didn’t want to wait on God for the birthright. It seems that Jacob wanted the blessing more than he wanted God. This was a lesson his forefather, Abraham, learned by being called to offer up Isaac (Gen.22). Now Esau wasn’t really going to starve to death and yet Esau forsook being in the Messianic line for a single meal. Esau devoured his brother’s stew and left despising his birthright (Gen. 25:32-34). Esau considered a single meal more valuable than his spiritual birthright, while Jacob considered the birthright something to be purchased.

Neither brother deserved God’s favor which only goes to show that grace is underserved favor! Jacob’s sinful scheming illustrates that God works out His plan through very flawed people. The poor choices of God’s flawed people have consequences but they cannot frustrate God’s plans. Clearly, God’s choice of Jacob over Esau was not unfair. God graciously gave to Jacob only what Esau considered of no value. By contrast God’s Messiah, the Lord Jesus, would wholeheartedly surrender his will to do God’s will. Moreover, Jesus so valued God’s people that he gladly gave his own precious blood to purchase them for God (Rev. 1:5-6, 5:9).

The Sacrifice of Isaac (Gen.22).

The Lord established a covenant with Abraham promising him multiple descendants and a homeland to bless the world (15:5-8, 18-21). Being barren, Sarah proposed she raise a family through her Hagar, her Egyptian maidservant (16:2). Abraham agreed and Hagar gave birth to Ishmael when Abraham was 99 years old (16:15-16). They all expected Ishmael to be the heir of God’s covenant but the promised son would be born to Abraham through Sarah (17:19). When Abram was 99 years old God appeared to him confirming the covenant and giving circumcision as the covenant sign. After this, the Lord appeared to Abraham through three mysterious visitors and confirmed that Sarah would have her own son. Sarah laughed when she heard this but one year later Sarah gave birth to a son as God had said and they named him Isaac, meaning ‘laughter’.  Watch and listen to the story and read the comments below. 

God tested Abraham to see if he would trust God completely to fulfil God’s plan. God had opened Sarah’s womb but could Abraham trust God when asked to offer Isaac as a burnt offering? Sacrificing Isaac would have seemed completely contrary to what God had promised. After all, God had sworn to give Abraham multiple descendants and to bless the world through Isaac. Originally, God called Abraham to go to a land that God would show him. Now God was calling Abraham to go to a place where he would sacrifice his beloved promised son (Gen. 22:1). The Lord instructed Abraham to take Isaac, who was now a boy, up a mountain and offer him as a sacrifice. If God didn’t intervene Abraham would lose everything. Would Abraham love God more than his long awaited beloved son?

Abraham got up early to obey right away (Gen. 22:3). He saddled his donkey, took two servants, enough wood for the altar, and set out with Isaac for the place God had told him about. When Abraham saw the place in the distance, he told his servants to stay with the donkey while he and Isaac went up to worship and then they would return. We see Abraham’s faith when he tells his servants to stay with the donkey while they went to worship and then they would return (22:5). Isaac inquired about the lamb, and Abraham said, “God will provide the lamb… my son” (22:8). When Abraham got to that place he built an altar and put Isaac on it. Yet, before Abraham could slay his son the angel of the Lord told Abraham not to “lay a hand on the boy”. Abraham saw a ram caught in a bush, he sacrificed the ram instead of his son, and called that place ‘The Lord Will Provide’ (Gen. 22:11–12).

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time saying, “Because you have not withheld your only son, I will bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.” God confirmed the land promise by saying that Abraham’s descendants would possess the cities of their enemies. Moreover, God said that all nations would be blessed through Abraham’s offspring because Abraham obeyed God. God wanted Abraham to be willing to offer up Isaac and Abraham’s willingness showed that he feared God. Abraham would have had to die to all his hopes and dreams to which God was not central and essential. The writer of Hebrews tells us that Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead (Heb. 11:19).

That a ram took Isaac’s place on the altar prefigures the Mosaic sacrificial system that would be practiced in the temple that would be built on that very place. It also points beyond the sacrificial system to the cross where Jesus would take the covenant curse upon himself. At the cross, God in human flesh would fulfill all that was depicted and promised in the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 15, 17). There Jesus was cut off for our sins so that we might live forever under God’s blessing. Ironically, because Abraham trusted God the covenant promises were renewed. Abraham obeyed God and because of his faithfulness Abraham would have multiple descendants and the Promised Land. We need to learn as Abraham did that one way or another God will provide and we can trust Him. A sacrifice would have to be made and God provided a substitute.

Ironically, the place where God provided a substitute for Isaac was on Mount Moriah (22:2). This is the very place where Solomon’s temple would later be built (2 Chron. 3:1). This incident would have helped Abraham understand the principle of substitutionary atonement. The ram took Isaac’s place and was sacrificed instead of Isaac (Gen. 22:13). The sacrifice of Isaac and the later sacrificial system points us to the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Surely, Abraham’s experience with Isaac would have given him a unique insight into the way of salvation that would be accomplished through Jesus Christ. Jesus, like Isaac, would have to allow himself to be bound (Isa. 53:7). But for Jesus there could be no other substitute. Our God has provided the pleasing sacrifice for us, let us therefore offer all our hopes and dreams to God and let us seek to love God above anything God can give us!   

The Birth of Isaac (Gen.16-21)

In our last story the Lord appeared to Abram in a vision but Abram wanted to know what the Lord would give him since Abram was still childless. The Lord showed Abram the night sky and gave Abram the promise of multiple descendants and Abram believed the Lord (Gen.15:5-6). Then the Lord reminded Abram how He had brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give him the ‘Land of Canaan’. But Abram wanted assurance that he would possess the land so God had Abram cut up some animals and the Lord passed between the pieces which resulted the making of a covenant. The covenant relationship was initiated and established by God in order to expel Abraham’s doubts (Gen.15:8, 18-21). Now listen to or watch the story of the birth of Abraham’s chosen son Isaac and then read the comments https://www.dropbox.com/s/ao9w6zpikjd73dx/The%20Birth%20of%20Isaac..MP3?dl=0

The Birth of Isaac (Genesis 16-21).

God promised Abram descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky (Gen.15:5). However, Abram’s wife Sarai was unable to bear children and this seemed to be permanent obstacle to the fulfillment of God’s promise. So Sarai and Abram came up with a plan to help God. In that ancient culture it was permissible for a barren wife to select a surrogate to extend her family. Sarai proposed Abram take Sarai’s Egyptian maidservant, Hagar, as his wife and Abram agreed (16:2). When Abram was 86 years old Hagar bore Abram a son they named Ishmael (16:15-16). Sarai and Abram fully expected Ishmael to be the heir of God’s covenant and while this was culturally acceptable it wasn’t God’s plan.   

Abram and Sarai tried to God to validate their own plan. They grew tired of waiting on God but their plan to raise a family through Hagar became another obstacle to God’s plan. Yet despite the limitations and failures of Abram and Sarai, God would fulfill His promise in His own way. Ishmael would not be the promised heir of God’s covenant with Abram. The promised heir of God’s everlasting covenant would be Isaac, Abram’s son through Sarai (17:19).

When Abram was 99 years of age he must have wondered if God still had a purpose for him. Then God appears to Abram and reconfirms the covenant, changes Abram’s name to Abraham (father of the multitude), gives him circumcision as the covenant sign and promises Abraham a son through Sarai (whose name becomes Sarah, Gen.17:1-6). God will require that Abraham show his loyalty by walking blamelessly before the Lord. God was still committed to being God to Abraham and his descendants and God would give them their promised land (17:7–8). Moreover, Sarah would give birth to a son in a year.

Every male among Abraham’s people was to be circumcised or be cut off from the people (17:14). The sign of circumcision was not unlike the cutting of the animals in the covenant ceremony in Genesis 15. The cut animals depicted the curse of breaking the covenant coming down on the covenant breaker and God alone passed between the pieces (15:17-18, 17:7). Now the sign was to be applied to Abraham’s reproductive organ as a reminder of Abraham’s failure with Hagar and of God’s chosen seed. Those failing to receive the sign and give it to their children would be cut off from Abraham’s seed. If they trusted God they would live and die under God’s blessing but if rebelled they would be cut off from the people as Ishmael was (21:12).

God’s covenant was with Abraham and his children so the children were to receive the sign. Circumcision was a sign of entrance into the community but it didn’t automatically save them. Abraham had circumcised Ishmael and God would bless Ishmael but God’s covenant was with Isaac (17:21, 26). If they, like Abraham, trusted God they would live and die under God’s blessing but if they rebelled they would be cut off from the people. Today, water baptism testifies to our need for the washing away of sin and the imparting of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is the sign of entrance into the community of God’s people and it testifies that we must surrender to the God of the covenant or suffer the consequences (Mt.28:19, Col.2:11-12).

After this the Lord appears to Abraham and spoke to him through three mysterious messengers (Gen. 18:1-2). Abraham went to great lengths to greet them and to show hospitality to his visitors who were carrying good news. Previously when Abraham was promised a son through Sarah, a 90 year old woman, Abraham laughed. This time Sarah laughs at the news that Sarah would have a son in a year when the Lord returned (17:17, 18:12). Sarah receives what we might consider a playful rebuke because nothing is too difficult for the Lord (18:14). Ishmael, Abraham’s backup plan, would be sent away so that God’s plan could only be fulfilled by God’s miraculous intervention. God did what He said and when Sarah gave birth to a son she said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me”. They named their son Isaac, meaning ‘laughter’, and circumcised him as God had commanded (21:6-7).  

The story teaches us how critical it is that we wait patiently on the Lord as we actively seek God’s direction. We don’t need to take matters into our own hands because God can accomplish His plans and our limitations and our failures are not insurmountable obstacles to God’s purposes for us. Moreover, Isaac the child of promise points us to Jesus who when the time had fully come, God sent to be miraculously born a woman. It is through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus that we become Abraham’s children and heirs of the promise (Gal. 3:7, 14, 29). 

The Call and Covenant with Abraham (Gen.12, 15).

In our last story, we saw how all mankind was found to be ‘corrupt (6:5)’ and the earth was ‘full of violence (6:13)’ so God determined to destroy all life on the earth by means of a flood. But Noah found ‘favor in the eyes of the Lord (6:8)’ and God told Noah to build and an Ark to preserve Noah’s family and two of every kind of animal. God made a covenant with Noah and his descendants and with all the earth in order to preserve mankind and the earth for redemption. In addition, God promised a stable environment for God’s redeemed images to do God’s will on the earth. God blessed Noah and his sons telling them to multiply and fill the earth. As men moved eastward they sought to build a city reaching the heavens to ‘make a name for themselves’ and not be scattered over the whole earth. They worked together in opposition to God’s will but God came down and confused their language. They stopped building their city and they were scattered throughout the earth. Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth (Gen. 6:10) and the Lord is said to be the God of Shem (Gen. 9:26) and from Shem’s line came Abram (Gen. 11:10-26).

https://www.dropbox.com/s/uhb5itl6gjg134s/6.%20The%20Call%20and%20Covenant%20of%20Abraham..MP3?dl=0

The Lord tells Abram in a vision not to fear for He is Abram’s shield, and great reward. But Abram wanted to know what the Lord would give him since he remained childless. But a son from Abram’s own body would be his heir so the Lord showed Abram the night sky and promised him as many descendants as the stars in the sky. When God first called Abram, He promised to bless him and to bless all the peoples of the earth through him (12:1-3). Now, despite being elderly and childless, Abram believes God’s promise of multiple descendants so God accepts Abram as being righteous.  Originally God had called Adam to multiply God’s images throughout the earth. Then after the flood this responsibility was restated to Noah. Now God promises Abraham innumerable descendants in order to fill the earth with redeemed images of God and fulfill God’s kingdom expanding purpose.

The Lord reminded Abram how He had brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give him the ‘Land of Canaan’. But Abram wanted further assurance so the Lord had Abram get a heifer, a goat, a ram, with a dove and a pigeon. Abram already knew to cut the animals in two and arrange the halves opposite each other. Then at sunset a ‘dreadful darkness’ came over Abram and the Lord said that Abram’s descendants would be enslaved in another country for 400 years. The Lord would punish that nation enslaving them and Abram’s descendants would return to the land with great possessions. Abram would die at an old age, but for now the sin of the Amorites was not yet complete. Then a smoking fire-pot with a blazing torch passed between the pieces and the Lord made a covenant with Abram. The Lord promised to give Abram’s descendants the land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates River. 

God had promised to make Abram into a ‘great nation’ and to give Abram’s descendants the land of Canaan (12:7). But Abram wanted assurance that the promise would come true. Abram sought the Lord’s confirmation (Gen 15:8) and the Lord answers by telling Abram to get some animals. Then Abram followed a common practice in his day of dividing animals and placing the bloody pieces opposite one another. Then a ‘dreadful darkness’ came over Abram and a smoking firepot with a blazing torch passed between the pieces (Gen 15:10-11). What did the ceremony and the visible manifestation of God mean? The cutting of the animals and passing between the pieces resulted in the ‘cutting’ or ‘making’ of a covenant. The animal carcasses symbolize the ‘curse’ to come upon the covenant breaker. When the parties involved ‘pass between the pieces’ they bind themselves together by a solemn oath. Ironically, God passes through the pieces and calls down a curse upon himself if He violates the covenant. The covenant relationship was initiated and established by God in order to expel Abraham’s doubts.

The word of God regarding the covenant came to Abram, not as a suggestion (Gen 12:1), but as a ‘sovereignly administered’ bond. Adam was to exercise his God given dominion by creating a world wholly consecrated to God. In the same way, Abram was to exercise dominion over Canaan, fill it with redeemed images and create a God glorifying culture there. But Abram had no land so in order to build Abram’s faith and expel his doubts God gave Abram the covenant. But what would it mean for the eternal and immortal God alone to pass through the animal pieces and take upon Himself the curse of the covenant? God was saying if the covenant isn’t fulfilled He would cease being God. But if any of Abraham’s children are to experience the blessing of the covenant than God must take the curse of the covenant upon Himself. While much more can be said, surely this is what the incarnation and the death of the ‘Son of God’ is all about (Gal. 3:6-8, 13-14).