Genesis 30:1-4

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1 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die!" 2 And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?" 3 So she said, "Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her." 4 Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her.  ~ Genesis 30:1-4

Today, we transition into Genesis 30 which has two major themes within: The building of Jacob's family in v.1-24 and the building of Jacob's fortune in v.25-43. At this point in the narrative both of Jacob’s wives were desperate: One was desperate for love and the other was desperate for children. Leah, the older and the less-loved wife of Jacob had given birth to four sons in a row and Rachel had not even conceived a child once. This caused envy and jealousy to abound between the two women. Envy and jealousy are often the source of even greater troubles which lead us down all kinds of deadly streets.

In v.1 of today's passage we read, "Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, 'Give me children, or else I die!'"

It had been at least five years since Jacob had wed Rachel and she had not even conceived a child. In the culture of the Bible, bearing children was the highest honor of a woman and having none was a point of shame. After these many years, Rachel envied her sister. These feelings had festered over the years which led Rachel to say to Jacob "Give me children, or else I die!" 

Rachel envied her sister which meant she had the desire for that which was not hers and she begrudged her sister who actually possessed what she wanted. Envy is not primarily wanting what someone else has, it’s having a grudge that they have it. Envy prompted Rachel to want her sister to be miserable like she was. Rachel was a lady at the end of her rope. These fostered feelings of resentment led her to the point of blaming her husband for somehow withholding children from her when it was obvious that it was not God's will for her to have children quite yet.

In v.2 of today's passage we read, "And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, 'Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?'"

Jacob became angry and told Rachel that God had prevented her from conceiving a child. Interestingly, there are three other barren women in the Bible who are directly tied to Rachel. The first was Sarah who was related to her through the family of Terah, her great-great grandfather. Sarah didn’t bear a child after 70 or so years of marriage. The second barren woman connected to Rachel was Rebekah who was her aunt. When she couldn’t bear children, Isaac prayed to the Lord for her and she conceived. Although it took 19 years, the waiting was well worth the wait. The third barren woman contrasts with Rachel, and her name was Hannah, the mother of Samuel the prophet. Rachel was barren and envied; Hannah was barren and quietly wept. Rachel demanded children or she would die. Hannah on the other hand prayed to the Lord for a child, and then she had three boys and two daughters. 

Every married couple falls in and out of emotional love all the time. As our mood changes, we can get pretty upset at the very object of our affection. Jacob loved Rachel, but her accusations really upset him and so he cried out, "Am I in the place of God?" Sin messed up the harmony of this world, meaning that every pain, affliction, misery, fear, regret, and annoyance is the result of our rebellion against God. Rachel could not have children for one reason or another due to sin. She didn't lack children because God was mad at her. Children are the gift of God, and only He provides them. This means there is no birth which is a surprise to God and He has, in His wisdom allowed them all, including those for which we try to find reason to abort. 

In v.3-4 of today's passage we read, "So she said, 'Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her.' Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her."

Just as Sarah had suggested to Abraham so many years before, Rachel suggested the same to Jacob. When Rachel came up with this idea she was not behaving in accordance with God's will. According to the prevailing culture, Bilhah was Rachel's possession and any children Bilhah would conceived with Jacob would have been the possession of Rachel. Therefore, the child would belong to her as much as to Jacob. Again, this was a pagan practice which was perfectly normal in that culture but it was a human answer to a much deeper spiritual problem.

When Rachel couldn’t bear children she lost sight of Jacob’s commitment to her. Instead of accepting what he had already given her, his unrestrained love, she envied what Leah had with Jacob. The heated competition of who could give Jacob the most children gave birth to the sinister thorns of disunity within the family. This story provides for us a picture of how we can learn to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. And, if we do not learn the lesson here, we will find our walk with the Lord continually plagued with this problem of barrenness, and we shall miss the secret of fruitfulness. 

Rachel's difficulty grew out of the idea that her goal depended on her. This is a very common and widespread philosophy, even among believers in Christ. This is the place that the barrenness in our walk with the Lord leads us. As we read the Bible, we learn we are to be dependent upon the Lord for the definition of our lives. But what most often happens, we make up a list of rigid rules for acceptable behavior. We become frightfully busy doing things for God. We work hard at sincerely trying to meet His demands. We do our best. We note how the community around approves of our strenuous efforts and we love the pats on our backs for our faithful duty unto God. But despite all the effort and sincerity, deep in our hearts we know there is nothing but barrenness. 

This happened to both Rachel and Leah as we will see. It appears that Rachel was being selfless, but the resulting fruit was the fruit of the flesh rather than the fruit of the Spirit. The immediate results of acting in the flesh will always be the same. We become fleshly, displaying envy and jealousy, along with many other ugly emotions which lie ever near the surface of our yet fallen human hearts. Wherever these are evident they are the thermometer which tells us we are being defined by the self and not by the Spirit. 

Genesis 29:30-35

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30 Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years. 31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. 32 So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, "The Lord has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me." 33 Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. 34 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. 35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing. ~ Genesis 29:30-35

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 29 where Jacob has met his match in his father-in-law Laban. As we saw in our last study, similar to Jacob, Laban was deceitful. His deceit tricked Jacob into marrying his two daughters, one Jacob loved more than the other. It wasn't that Jacob didn't love Leah, he just didn't love her the way he did Rachel. 

Figuratively speaking, every married person has two spouses. There is the person we thought we would marry and there is the person we actually married. Whoever it is that we love, figuratively, that person is both Leah and Rachel. We may love one more than the other, but they are wrapped into the same person. For every married couple, like it was for Jacob, the tension between the love we have and the love we want seems to grow with each passing day. 

When we choose to love flawed people for whom they are, it will be then that we will be free to choose how we perceive their flaws. Biblical scholars are not real sure how to translate the Hebrew word used to describe Leah's eyes. Sometimes it is translated that "Leah had weak eyes." Sometimes it is translated that "Leah had lovely eyes." The difference between weak and lovely is significant, and clearly this word can be interpreted either way from the text. Jacob had a choice with regard to how he would translate Leah's eyes. He could have chosen to see them as weak, but he could have chosen to see them as lovely. Jacob was the biggest variable in this choice, but initially he saw them as "weak."

In v.30 of today's passage we read, "Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years."

Jacob lacked the depth to see the depth in Leah's eyes. And so, he chose to love Rachel more than Leah. I find it quite amazing though that by the end of Jacob's story, Jacob appeared to have embraced Leah. When Rachel died the family was in transit, so Jacob bought a piece of property by the side of road, buried Rachel there, and kept moving. But when Leah died he had her buried in the family plot where he would eventually have his own bones placed. Maybe this means that he had come to embrace the spouse he was given more than the one he wanted and had to leave behind.

In v.31-32 of today's passage we read, "31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. 32 So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, 'The Lord has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.'"

When we are despised by men we are potentially favored by God. I say "potentially" because if our trials drive us to more dependence upon the Lord, well we will be more blessed. If not, well, you get the picture. We can get hung up on those who look down on us or we can see their rejection as an opportunity to be more defined by the Lord, the choice is always before us.

Leah was unloved, but God tended to her need. Like Leah, we may feel unloved, but we aren’t. We are truly the joy of God’s heart because of what the Lord Jesus did for us. Our time spent with Him is time well spent and what we may seem to be missing out on now will have a different outcome in the days ahead. In the case of Leah, she was able to conceive children.

Jacob’s first child was born to Leah. As with all of the 12 sons and 1 daughter who are mentioned, their names reflect what was happening in Leah's heart. Leah named her first child "Reuben" which means "See a son." Leah went on to explain the choice of Reuben's name when she said, "The Lord has surely looked on my affliction." Leah was convinced that the Lord granted her a son due to the lack of love she received from her husband. As a result of giving birth to Jacob's first son, she thought Jacob might love her as she wanted to be loved. But, Leah was further disappointed.

In v.33 of today's passage we read, "Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, 'Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.' And she called his name Simeon."

Leah was again the one to bear a son for Jacob, but by this time she believed that being granted the honor of bearing the firstborn didn’t change Jacob’s heart toward her. Again she chose a name showing the condition of her heart. Simeon means "to hear." 

Leah craved the love of Jacob, but in her craving, the Lord granted her a child to love. God does not always give to us what we want, but He will always give us what we need. True contentment in a world which isn’t always fair or kind comes only from the Lord who can fill the emptiness in our hearts. He  knows when we are unloved and He always hears the cry of His children. Like Leah, we must let our voice be made known to the Lord for He is always faithful to hear and to provide for us what we truly need.

In v.34 of today's passage we read, "She conceived again and bore a son, and said, 'Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.' Therefore his name was called Levi."

Now, for the third time in a row, Leah conceived a son. Leah named their third child Levi which means "attached." With three sons came hope for a stronger bond than before. Three in the Bible stands for that which is solid, real, substantial, complete, and entire. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon used the number three to show us its strength. In Ecclesiastes 4:12 we read, "Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

Leah saw Levi as the son who would bring her what she had desired, a strong bond with Jacob. Interestingly though, in today's verses, this is the only verse in which the name of the Lord is not mentioned. Leah expected attachment from Jacob as a result of giving him children but to no avail. This caused Leah to leave the Lord out of the picture in this verse.

In v.35 of today's passage we read, "And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, 'Now I will praise the Lord.' Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing."

For a fourth time Leah received the Lord’s favor and she conceived a son. This time, she cried out, "Now I will praise the Lord." Leah's fourth born son was named Judah which means "Praise the Lord." As we previously noted, it was through Judah that the Lord Jesus Christ came to our desperation. Leah longed for praise from her husband but such is only to be found in the Lord. Like Leah we all long for the praise of men more than the praise of God. But, as Leah learned in the end, it is only the Lord who truly wells up from our souls authentic praise that endures even through our pain.

Genesis 32:1-5

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1 So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is God’s camp." And he called the name of that place Mahanaim. 3 Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 And he commanded them, saying, "Speak thus to my lord Esau, 'Thus your servant Jacob says: I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now. 5 I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight." ~ Genesis 32:1-5

Today, we transition into Genesis 32 where Jacob's time of exile in Haran has ended and he is back at the edge of the Promised Land. The emphasis in today's passage is most subtle and yet it is as clear as can be. But, it is only clear to those who are growing in their hearts as servants. Jacob was being freed to rule with the heart of a servant and to serve with the heart of a king.

In v.1 of today's passage we read, "So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him."

While on his way to Canaan, Jacob was met by "the angels of God." When Jacob left Canaan 20 years earlier, the last thing recorded was his vision of the ladder and the angels ascending and descending on it. As Jacob reentered the promised land, he again had another vision of angels who were there all along, but Jacob simply didn’t know it. Of course all things created, ladders and angels serve to point us to the One who has served us best by laying down His life so that we could be made right with God.

In Hebrews 1:14 we read, "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?" This passage speaks of angels as ministering spirits sent forth by God. When we hear about some miracle, we find ourselves wondering about what really happened in the realm of the unseen. It is truly plausible to think that those miracles came about as the result of the intervention of the angels of God. It is clear throughout the Scriptures that God's angels do His bidding in this world and it is largely due to those miraculous moments that we experience miracles.

In v.2 of today's passage we read, "When Jacob saw them, he said, 'This is God’s camp.' And he called the name of that place Mahanaim."

Jacob saw the angels who prompted him to say, "This is God’s camp." Interestingly, before he left Canaan 20 years earlier, when he had awakened from his sleep after his dream of the ladder Jacob said, "Surely this is God’s house." What began as the house of God was now seen as the camp of God. Then he called the place Mahanaim which is mentioned 13 times in the Bible. Mahanaim literally means "Two Camps" and it reveals the convergence of the seen physical realm and the unseen spiritual realm. God’s camp always surrounds His people and we are currently being prepared for the return of Christ and the establishment of His millennial kingdom here on earth.  

In v.3-5 of today's passage we read, "3 Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 And he commanded them, saying, 'Speak thus to my lord Esau, 'Thus your servant Jacob says: 'I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now. 5 I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.'"

The word "messengers" is the same word as "angels." In other words, Jacob's servants were sent by his direction just as angels are sent by God’s direction. The messengers of Jacob were commanded to speak to Esau using the name "Adoni," my lord. Jacob, despite having stolen both the birthright and the blessing was deferring his honor to Esau. He additionally referred to himself as "your servant." Jacob was intentionally subordinating himself in order to gain Esau’s favor. He did this so that his relationship with his brother could be restored. 

Esau, like Laban, was not in a personal relationship with the Lord. He knew about the Lord but he didn't know the Lord for himself. Our adventure with God is dependent upon our perceived need of Him and our awareness of His daily working in our lives. Often we miss the adventure because we are afraid of God and we are afraid to go to where He leads. 

Over and over we are reminded in the Old Testament that "Your servant is coming." In fact, Isaiah 53 has long been titled "The Suffering Servant." In Revelation 7:17 we read, "The Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water." And, according to Luke 12, the Lord Jesus will serve believers in heaven for eternity. There is much more to this concept of servanthood that meets the eye. I find it startling that the ultimate goal in Romans is this concept of servanthood.

According to v.5 of today's passage, Jacob accentuates the fact that he had obtained great wealth during his time away. He did this because he wanted his brother Esau to know that he would not be a burden to him. He also wanted Esau to know that he was not a threat to him, especially since his family had grown to be so large. Seeing such a large group advance in his direction would have alarmed Esau. So, Jacob served his brother by sending his messengers to him with a message of peace in advance.

In Matthew 20:25-26 we read, "But Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant.'" 

While in Haran, Jacob learned to lose sight of himself as he served Laban for 20 years for two wives and a healthy herd of sheep, goats, and camels. As we move forward into Genesis 32 the concept of servanthood will become more and more evident. As he arrived at Mahanaim, Jacob was beginning to see that God's ultimate goal in the life of the believer is to help those arrested by the seen world to be able to connect to the unseen world. This is the case for all believers for the more we get to know the heart of the Lord, the more we will reflect the heart of the Servant.

Genesis 29:21-29

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21 Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her." 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. 24 And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. 25 So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?" 26 And Laban said, "It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years." 28 Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. 29 And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. ~ Genesis 29:21-29

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 29 which in a few ways echoes the events of Genesis 27 where a deceitful brother tricked his blind father. Laban's trick in the darkness of night was aided by Jacob's partying spirit. It was also aided by Leah who wore a dense wedding veil. Then, to add to all of that, it was dark outside and dim inside. Interestingly, Jacob's service of seven years seemed "in his eyes" but a few days. Because Isaac’s "eyes were too dim to see," Jacob was able to steal his brother's blessing. Jacob’s eyes for Rachel, on the other hand, enabled Laban to take advantage of him. And, Jacob wound up with a woman whose "eyes were weak." Ironically, Jacob's deceit will have come full circle. Oh, the law of reciprocity, we reap what we sow. This law is different than karma because this law doesn't factor in our salvation but according to the Buddhist karma determines where one goes after death.  

In v.21 of today's passage we read, "Then Jacob said to Laban, 'Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.'"

After Jacob fulfilled his end of the bargain to Laban, he once again came to Laban asking for Rachel's hand in marriage. Having been reduced to a slave who had to beg for his wages, Jacob spoke of Rachel as payment for services rendered. At this point, Jacob sounded much like his brother Esau when he begged Jacob for a bowl of his red stew. 

As he stood before Laban, knocked down a notch or two, Jacob probably thought to himself, "This is a bad moment." But in reality, it was one of Jacob's greatest moments because being humbled is a good thing, especially when it prompts us to cry out to God for help. We are most often humbled by the most humiliating of circumstances. To be humble means to recognize that we are not self-sufficient, but dependent on God for everything we need. It is out of this type of humility that we are more likely to submit our will to God's will. And, when we do, we will witness God's power in ways that we have never before. This is when we are privileged to see God the best.

In v.22 of today's passage we read, "And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast."

This is the fourth feast noted in the Bible. The men of Haran had gathered for the wedding and the feast. Along with the feast would be included some of the best wine one could find. When it came time for Jacob to receive unto himself his bride, it was obvious that he had too much to drink and in his drunken state he found it difficult to even know that it wasn't Rachel who had entered his dwelling.

In v.23-24 of today's passage we read, "23 Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. 24 And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid."

Laban deceived Jacob by sending to him Leah instead of Rachel. And, since it was the custom to give handmaids to a daughter at her marriage, Zilpah was included. This is the law of reciprocity at its finest. We reap what we sow is the old saying. At the hands of his eventual father-in-law, Jacob was now the recipient of ill-treatment. All of this happened due to the fact that Jacob lacked a personal relationship with God wherein He was defining him. This is why we must be defined by God because when we walk outside of His truth, we avail ourselves to those who are wrongly defined.

In v.25 of today's passage we read, "So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, 'What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?'"

It was their custom at the time, as it still is in many places, for the bride to be veiled. Due to the fact that it was nighttime and the lighting was so dim, Jacob never saw the face of the wife he had for so long worked. Although Jacob was undoubtedly shocked by these events, in the big picture a greater reality was emerging: Jacob was humbled so that he would be fit to be the servant-leader of God’s people later.

Many years after these events, Joseph, after being hated by his brothers, was left for dead. And then, he was sold into slavery to some Ishmaelite traders. Due to his ability to see the big picture, Joseph was able to recognize that God’s sovereign goodness accomplishes the best who are learning to trust Him. Joseph told his brothers, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good." It was the truth as defined by God that enabled Joseph to ardently determine to be defined by God. This resulted in giving Joseph to see the world through the eyes of God which is wisdom. 

In v.26-27 of today's passage we read, "26 And Laban said, 'It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.'"

Laban, who was not being defined by God but by his culture explained his deceptive actions. Even though he had already been blessed by Jacob, Laban was motivated by his love of money. And, yet again, Laban would profit from Jacob’s love for his younger daughter. He knew that Jacob would be willing to work another seven years without payment. And to ensure that Jacob accepted, Laban asked Jacob to only complete the bridal week with Leah. So, in seven more days, Jacob would be given his prize.

The number seven shows up a lot in the life of Jacob. In Jeremiah 30:7 we read of the phrase, "The time of Jacob's trouble." This passage makes a lot more sense when we realize that in just a short time Jacob would be renamed by God to Israel. Since Jacob is Israel as an unbeliever, it makes sense that Israel is Jacob as a believer. A careful study of Jeremiah 30:7 renders the understanding that it is a description of the time known as the Tribulation in the New Testament. This "time of Jacob's trouble" describes how unbelieving Israel will come to believe in the Lord Jesus at the end of time as we know it. 

In v.28-29 of today's passage we read, "28 Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. 29 And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid."

We are not told how Rachel or Leah felt about their father treating them as objects for monetary gain. At least Rachel had the heart of Jacob. Who knows how much Leah struggled through these events. We were told earlier that her eyes were "weak" which meant that she probably had a disability that would have made it really hard for her to get by in the ancient world. Perhaps this is why her father was so eager to get her married to Jacob. It might also explain why she did not help her sister Rachel with the herding of the sheep.

So here was Leah with bad eyesight and not as pretty as her sister, struggling with deep insecurities about her disability and her appearance, and then her father publicly humiliates her by making her sleep with and marry a man who’s in love with her sister.  She’s denied the opportunity to marry someone who loved her and forced into a relationship with a man who loved someone else. She was used and abused by those who were supposed to protect and cherish her, and then she was publicly paraded around for a week as the new wife of her dad’s latest business partner.

But, there is a twist to this story, as there always is with God calling the shots. God saw Leah’s situation and had compassion on her. He opened her womb and her first son she called Reuben. Leah thought God sent her Rueben to help her find love from her husband. She acknowledged God giving her Simeon her second-born because she thought God was trying to make up for her husband not loving her. With Levi, her third son, she hoped Jacob might at least form an attachment to her, even if he didn’t love her. 

Finally, with the birth of her fourth-born son, Judah, Leah chose to praise the Lord, turning to Him for love instead of her husband. This is the ultimate lesson of this life that only God fulfills us. I find it most interesting that the Lord Jesus came through the line of Leah, not through the line of Rachel. The Savior of the world came through Judah, Leah’s fourth son.

Genesis 29:15-20

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15 Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?" 16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. 18 Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter." 19 And Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me." 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her. ~ Genesis 29:15-20

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 29 where we find Jacob in the home of his uncle Laban, his mother's brother. In our previous study, Laban had said to Jacob, "you are of the same stock and therefore you are family." This is why Laban allowed Jacob to stay as a guest for an entire month. In doing that Jacob pictured for us the Lord Jesus who came to this earth in order to procure a bride for Himself.

In v.15 of today's passage we read, "Then Laban said to Jacob, 'Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?'"

When he arrived at Laban's home, Jacob had enough money to pay Laban for his daughter to be his wife, just as Abraham’s servant did about 100 years before. Laban, being a shrewd man who valued money more than he should have, looked for a way to get as much out of Jacob as he could. In order to accomplish his desired result, Laban made it sound like he was helping Jacob. In reality, Laban was just as much a deceiver as Jacob was, only time would reveal it.

God, throughout the Bible, tells us to not put our trust in money. In 1 Timothy 6:17 we read, "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."

The prosperity of this world is okay as long as it is our servant rather than we it. Actually wealth is a common consequence of faithfulness. Paul didn’t tell the rich to feel guilty about being rich; he just urged caution. The abundance or lack of money will only be felt for one life, therefore we do well to not get tangled up in it. If we stockpile earthly treasures especially at the expense of heavenly treasures, we have demonstrated that we do not get what this life is really about. As we see throughout the Genesis narrative, God blesses us so that we can bless others with hopes that they will desire a personal relationship with Him.

In v.16-17 of today's passage we read, "16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance."

Over and over the Bible uses the number two to point us to contrast. Laban's two daughters were quite the contrast. The name of the first, Leah, means "wearied" and the second daughter's names, Rachel, means "ewe lamb." The two names of Jacob’s future wives are important to help us understand the contrast that is there for us on a daily basis. This contrast consists of being defined by this world or being defined by the Lord.

In v.17 we are given contrast between the two. Leah pictured the law. Her name means "wearied" and it describes our attempts to try to measure up to the law that wearies us. We are told that Leah eyes were "delicate" literally meaning "weak." In Hebrews 7, we are told that the law, like Leah’s eyes, is weak and useless to make us right before the Lord.

Also in v.17 we are told that "Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance." Rachel pictures for us the gospel which is pictured in the context of a swollen river which you’ve helplessly fallen into. Your head has gone down under the water several times and you're thinking that if it goes down again, well, you're a goner. Suddenly, from the shore, someone throws you a life preserver, which aggressively speeds toward you. Out of your desperation you grab hold of the preserver and you are triumphantly pulled to the shore. Rachel's name pictures for us this life-preserver. How beautiful is the One who came to rescue us from the torrential waters of sin? It was the Lord Jesus Christ who came to measure up to the law for us. The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news which tells us we’re saved by grace through faith and that our works are not involved in the process.

In v.18-20 of today's passage we read, "18 Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter." 19 And Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me." 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her."

Jacob was 77 years old when this story took place. He was the son of promise, the inheritor of Isaac’s estate, and he traveled to Padan Aram to purchase for himself a wife from among his parents people. Jacob was a man who made a commitment of seven years for a woman that he loved, even though he had only known her for a month. Laban was probably was very happy about the arrangements that Jacob offered because he got seven years of work out of Jacob and his daughter would be taken care of for the rest of her life. 

Seven is the number of spiritual perfection. The seven years of work which Jacob agreed to as a dowry pictures for us the work the Lord Jesus accomplished on the cross of Calvary. It was there while hanging on the cross that the Lord Jesus uttered seven statements. Within those seven sentences, the Lord Jesus summed up the Gospel which includes forgiveness, salvation, relationship, abandonment, distress, triumph and reunion.

Genesis 29:7-14

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7 Then 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." 8 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." 9 Now while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son. So she ran and told her father. 13 Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things. 14 And Laban said to him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh." And he stayed with him for a month. ~ Genesis 29:7-14

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 29 where Jacob has just met his future wife Rachel at a well near Rachel's hometown of Haran. After inquiring of the shepherds at the well that if they knew his uncle Laban, Jacob was told by the shepherds that Laban's daughter Rachel just so happened to be arriving at the well where they had all gathered.

Earlier we were informed that in order for the sheep to be hydrated the stone above the well had to be rolled away. We will see these words repeated in today's passage. This is the only place in the entire Old Testament where these two words, "rolled away" are combined. These two words are combined 4 times in the New Testament, and every instance concerns the "rolling away" of the stone in front of Christ’s tomb.

In v.7-8 of today's passage we read, "7 Then 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.' 8 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.'"

The flocks could not be watered until the stone was rolled away sounds a lot like a spiritual truth that we have learned from the resurrection of Christ. At the cross, the Lord Jesus paid the penalty that was earned by mankind's sinfulness. And, it was early on Sunday morning after He had been crucified that He rose from the dead. The stone was rolled away from the tomb of the Good Shepherd of the sheep so that the well of living water might be accessed by all humble enough to believe the gospel and to receive the gift of forgiveness of sin earned for us by the Lord Jesus. That Easter morning the stone was rolled away not to allow the Lord Jesus the opportunity to exit the tomb but that sinful man might have access to God.

Jacob was a shepherd and so he knew what was normal for tending sheep, but he didn’t know the customs of this well in the fields just outside of Haran. Normally in the middle of the day when it was the hottest, the shepherds would take a break and relax in the shade and let the animals enjoy a drink of water. But, once the hottest part of the day was behind them, the animals would be taken back out into the fields to eat further. It was the middle of the day and Jacob did not understand why they were just sitting around. This is why he suggested they drink. Jacob did not understand the local agreement which meant that only when all the flocks were gathered together would they roll the stone from the mouth of the well. 

In v.9-10 of today's passage we read, "9 Now while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother."

When Rachel, the beautiful cousin of Jacob arrived, it was obvious she was a shepherdess tending to her father's sheep. In that moment 77 year old Jacob was overwhelmed in such a way that he moved the rather large stone off the well by himself and watered the flock for Rachel. Jacob's journey to Haran was marked by three stones: The first stone was covered with oil at Luz to mark the place where God gave to Jacob the dream of the ladder. The second stone was this huge well cap that Jacob removed to gather the water for Laban’s flocks. The third stone will come later, in fact, it will be a pile of stones which will be a monument to Jacob's reconciliation with his brother, Esau.

In v.11 of today's passage we read, "Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept." 

This is the second recorded kiss in the Bible. The first was when Jacob kissed Isaac before being blessed and now Jacob, the one who was blessed, kissed his cousin and future wife. Then he lifted up his voice in praise of God over meeting Rachel. And, for whatever reason, the emotions that went along with the voice resulted in weeping.

In the background of Jacob's outburst was his deepest longings. Jacob was a man who was forever in searched of that which would fill his heart. His story is our story. We are like the woman the Lord Jesus met at Jacob's well in John 4 who had six different men whom she had hoped would fulfill her dreams but to no avail. To her the Lord Jesus said, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." Jacob, like the woman in John 4, was really in search of the One who would fulfill all of his longings, he just didn't know it yet.

In v.12-14 of today's passage we read, "12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son. So she ran and told her father. 13 Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things. 14 And Laban said to him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh." And he stayed with him for a month."

It was at that moment that Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative or brother. The Hebrew word translated "relative" is translated in other translations of the Bible as "brother." This is confusing to us, but in their culture, it was not meant in a literal sense. Brother, in this sense is extended to remote degrees of family relationships such as a nephew, a cousin, or an uncle. 

Laban certainly remembered the 10 camels full of goods bearing the servant of Abraham who came to find a wife for his son Isaac. He probably knew through communicating with Rebekah that Isaac had prospered greatly and had become great and that this blessing would flow down to his own son as well. Like he did about 100 years before, Laban ran out to a man by a well to become a part of God’s story, the story of mankind moving from the fall to his restoration in Christ. There at the well, Laban embraced Jacob, and for the third time in the Bible it notes another kiss. Then they went into Laban's house.

While in the house, Laban discerned what Jacob was proposing. This is why Laban announced Jacob was his bone and his flesh. This meant that they were family. Because of this, Jacob was now allowed to stay and be a part of Laban's family life. Jacob gladly stayed there for a month.

This true story of Jacob meeting Rachel pictures the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The stone over the well pictures the Lord Jesus while the water pictures the Holy Spirit. Jacob pictures Christ and Rachel and the sheep picture people who are coming to the Lord Jesus in faith. Everything here points to fallen man and his encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ.

What is clear from today's narrative is that Jacob was growing in grace and in his relationship with the Lord. Of course like you and me, Jacob was not all that godly when he was young, but as the years passed and as he experienced the Lord’s faithfulness God began to capture more of Jacob's heart. All of this just underscores the fact that God cares about our hearts most. And He will never be in as much of a hurry as we are to change us from the heart outward. 

Since God displayed so much patience with Jacob, we should be more patient with God, ourselves and others. God cares most that we are holy which means to be complete. This is why our lives are so full of troubles, pains, and sorrows because troubles, pains, and sorrows are useful tools that soften our sin soaked hearts toward God. The world does not understand this process because it has no concept of just how unholy it is and how far it has been removed from the heart of the Lord Jesus. But we get it because our eyes have been opened to the goodness of our wonderful God who sent His Shepherd Son who has been known to run after just one lost sheep.

Genesis 29:1-6

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1 So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the East. 2 And he looked, and saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stone was on the well’s mouth. 3 Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well’s mouth. 4 And Jacob said to them, "My brethren, where are you from?" And they said, "We are from Haran." 5 Then he said to them, "Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?" And they said, "We know him." 6 So he said to them, "Is he well?" And they said, "He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep." ~ Genesis 29:1-6

Today, we transition into Genesis 29 which is about Jacob the son of Isaac. The stories about Jacob contain pictures within pictures. As always, Bible stories are meant to show us what really happened in those days and what God desires to do in our lives today. Although the narratives of the Old Testament teach us really good lessons about life, eventually, everything points us to the Lord Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him.

In v.1-2 of today's passage we read, "1 So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the East. 2 And he looked, and saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stone was on the well’s mouth."

Within these two verses is a journey of 400 plus miles. After traveling for weeks, probably three weeks on foot, we find Jacob nearing Haran. It was then that he saw a well in the field. This was not the same well where Abraham’s servant met Rebekah, Jacob’s mother, many years before; That well was close enough to Rebekah's house so that she could carry a jar for use by the family. Also, the description of the two separate wells is quite  different in how the water was obtained from each of them. This was a well in the open field which was used by the shepherds specifically to refresh their flocks. When Jacob came to this well, there were three flocks already there and there was a large stone covering the well.

This was actually a spring well which flowed underground and bubbled up to the surface. Because of shifting sands and evaporation, the well was covered with a giant flat stone that had a hole cut in the middle of it. On top of that hole was a big heavy stone which had been placed over the mouth of the well, the pressure of the stone kept the water from coming up and being wasted on the ground.  

In v.3 of today's passage we read, "Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well’s mouth."

The shepherds waited for enough flocks to arrive and then they removed the stone so that all the animals could drink. They did it this way so that there would be no wasted water. The watering of the animals involved a process and Jacob was a man in process. God wasn’t done with him yet; He was slowly, but surely, molding Jacob into the servant leader He desired him to be. In just a few more chapters God will have his full attention and he will be far more developed than he was in today's narrative.

We don’t like slow processes, but God loves them! God values processes not just finished products. He created the universe in six days when He could’ve done it so much more faster. God changes His people "from one degree of glory to another" through the lifelong process of sanctification. Whereas justification is our ticket into heaven, sanctification is our ticket to get heaven in us now.

We don’t like processes because they’re slow and we are always in a hurry. We prefer rapid download speeds, fast food, and instant gratification. But not God, He is not in a hurry. He prefers steady growth whereby we are learning to trust in Him so much that we are in the habit of giving to Him our hearts.

In v.4-5 of today's passage we read, "4 And Jacob said to them, 'My brethren, where are you from?' And they said, 'We are from Haran.' 5 Then he said to them, 'Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?' And they said, 'We know him.'"

Here, Jacob was in a foreign land and he certainly didn’t want to appear as a stranger and so he referenced the shepherds as his brothers and then he inquired where they were from. Their answer to him undoubtedly peaked his spiritual senses for Haran was the land that his dad had told him to visit. After inquiring if they knew Laban and they responded in the affirmative, Jacob was undoubtedly blown away by the sovereignty of God. 

In v.6 of today's passage we read, "So he said to them, 'Is he well?' And they said, 'He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.'"

No sooner did Jacob inquire about Laban than the shepherds identified the daughter of Laban, Rachel. This was no coincidence. In fact, God’s hand and His timing were all over this story and it shows He is in complete control over whatever is happening in this world right now. Rachel, the daughter of Laban, came with her sheep at the perfect time.

Everyday we wake up to the grand idea of what will God do in and through our lives today. Looking for God to lead and to guide even through those disappointments that come into our lives. With the changing of just one letter, we will go from disappointment to His appointment.

Despite the sorted past of Jacob, God led him providentially to the girl who would eventually be his wife. Providence does not mean that God has predetermined everything and He pushes it into our lives. Rather, God's providence means that there is a creative and saving possibility implied in every situation of our lives, which cannot be destroyed by any event. What is required of us is that we welcome the will of God into our lives and we trust Him to work out all things in accordance with what is best for us and that is His will for our lives.

Genesis 28:16-22

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16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it." 17 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!" 18 Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, 21 so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. 22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You." ~ Genesis 28:16-22

Today, we close out our study of Genesis 28 where Jacob has just experienced his first encounter with the God of the Bible. Jacob's encounter with God came through a dream of a ladder reaching from heaven to the earth. As we pointed out in our last study, the Lord Jesus identified Himself as the ladder. Through his dream Jacob learned that the greatest antidote for our fear is our worship of God.

In v.16 of today's passage we read, "Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, 'Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.'"

When Jacob awakened from his dream, he was fully aware that he had been in the presence of the Lord. God is everywhere at all times, but His presence can be, and is, more expressed in some places than in others. He dwelt between the cherubim above the ark and His glory was seen by many prophets. Every believer in the Lord Jesus has been sealed by the Holy Spirit. The believer has all of the Spirit that he will ever receive at that moment. However, the Spirit can obtain more of the believer. His presence fills the obedient soul in a passive way which is displayed in an active presentation of His revealed glory. 

In v.17 of today's passage we read, "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!'"

There are two types of fear: one drives us away from God and the other drives us to Him. There is a fear that God commands and a fear that God forbids, a fear that builds up and a fear that tears down, a fear to gain and a fear to lose. Jacob's fear was the result of him seeing the Lord and His holiness. Jacob saw himself differently that day because he saw God in a way that he had never seen Him before. Overwhelmed by God's power and holiness and a deep awareness of his own sinfulness and fragility, a worshipful fear emerged in Jacob. Jacob's fear provoked him to worship God. According to Proverbs 9:10, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom." 

In v.18 of today's passage we read, "Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it."

As soon as Jacob awakened, he took the stone that he had used as a pillow during the night and he made of it an altar and then poured oil on it as an act of consecration. We are not told that he understood that this was the same spot where Abraham many years earlier had also built an altar. His anointing the stone was a demonstration of his faith in the vision he had seen and the promises the Lord had given him. Just as the ladder did, the altar points us to the Lord Jesus. The words for "the stone that he had put at his head" are also found in the Psalm 118 speaking also of the Lord Jesus as the rejected cornerstone.

Jacob poured oil on the stone to consecrate it as the entry point to the House of God. The High Priest of Israel, the prophets, and the King of Israel were all anointed with oil on their heads. Like them, the Lord Jesus is our High Priest, our Prophet, and our King. The Lord Jesus was the long prophesied Messiah who would die for our sin and He would be raised from the dead as a clear sign that His death was enough to conquer sin and death.

In v.19 of today's passage we read, "And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously."

Jacob named the place "Bethel" which means "the House of God." The name of the city had been previously "Luz" which means "to turn away" such as turning away from what is really real. Luz had been named after a "crooked and perverse people" who had lived there. This is the reason Jacob didn’t enter the city because of it was wicked.

This Stone had been rejected by this wicked city and yet it became the cornerstone of Bethel, the House of God, picturing the Lord Jesus who is the doorway to heaven. Instead of entering Luz Jacob slept in the field and he had a vision of the glory of the Lord who would come to this wicked earth, leaving the glory of the House of God, to redeem all humble enough to received His free gift of rightness with God.

In v.20-22 of today's passage we read, "20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, 'If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, 21 so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. 22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.'" 

This was the second time someone gave a tenth of his possessions, the first was in Genesis 14 after Abraham defeated the 4 kings of the east and he gave a tithe to Melchizedek. The concept of tithing is mentioned in only two contexts in the New Testament. The first was the Lord Jesus speaking about the wrong intent of the scribes and Pharisees in the giving of their tithes. The second is found in Hebrews 7 which informs us that the giving of tithes under the Law was to demonstrate the greatness of Melchizedek, not as any sort of a requirement for the believer in Christ.

As a result of being defined by the Lord, Jacob worshipped God. Worship is treasuring God above all things. In John 4, the Lord Jesus said, "The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." 

Worshiping in spirit is not contrasted with worshiping in the body, instead, it is put alongside worshiping in truth. Truth fuels worship, and Jacob recognized the truth about God and he therefore worshipped Him. Jacob's fear rendered worship. And, it was at that point in his life that Jacob became determined to be defined by the Lord.

Genesis 28:10-15

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10 Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: "I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. 14 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; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 15 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 spoken to you." ~ Genesis 28:10-15

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 28 which is an intense study of a man whose name means deceiver. His story gives us all hope because in a very real way his story is our story. In today's passage we find Jacob on his own for the first time in his life. It had come time for him to find himself apart from his family. His situation required a change in his understanding of God, a change in his relationship with God. For all of his life, YHWH had been the family God but not Jacob's God. This was about to change as God chose to initiate a relationship with the deceiver pretender.

In v.10 of today's passage we read, "Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran."

Jacob obeyed his parents and he left Beersheba which means "well of the promise." Jacob went out on a promise toward "Haran" which means "to ignite." After Jacob left the presence of his family, he stumbled into the presence of God. Jacob left Beersheba headed to Haran looking for a wife, he was not looking for God but God was looking for him! That was my story and I bet it was yours as well.

The God of the Bible is a God who goes after sinners, not waiting for us to come to Him. While traveling to Haran, God ignited Jacob's world, not because of Jacob's virtues, although Jacob appeared to be virtuous, he had none. For the first time in his life, Jacob was on his own. He was a pretending and scheming, thief of a man. On that night that Jacob went to sleep he for the first time was truly blessed because he learned that night that God has never been defined by fallen man. Think of how small such a God would be, to be at the mercy of man's performance. In time, Jacob would be God’s man only by God's grace.

In v.11-12 of today's passage we read, "11 So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it."

While Jacob was sleeping, a great ladder appeared between heaven and earth. Angels were going up and down the ladder. Before this night Jacob had been dreaming that if only he could climb the ladder of success, he would make certain wonderful things happen in his life. So he climbed and he climbed but his dreams always remained beyond his reach. 

In John 1:51 we read, "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.'" 

The Lord Jesus was speaking with a man named Nathanael. The moment the Lord Jesus met Nathanael, He alluded to Jacob and the story of the ladder. It was probable that Nathanael was reading the story of Jacob’s ladder when the Lord Jesus saw him under the fig tree. When the Lord Jesus described Nathanael as an "Israelite in whom there is no deceit,"  he was distinguishing Jacob and Nathanael. It was then that the Lord Jesus revealed that He was the ladder that Jacob saw in his dream. It is the Lord Jesus who is the divine connection between heaven and earth and Jacob's dream was a shadow of the Christ who came.

In v.13 of today's passage we read, "And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: 'I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.'"

In this dream, Jacob was below God and he wasn't even on the ladder. Jacob was not climbing the ladder. The angels were the ones going back and forth on the ladder. And, in this dream from God Jacob experienced something he had never experienced before, he received from God. It is hard for deceptive pretenders who strive for all they get to just receive. It is only by humbling ourselves before the Lord that we receive His grace. We can spend our fleeting years trying to achieve a life and exhaust ourselves to death. Or we can receive the life of blessing that the Lord desires to give us. If we make achieving our goal, our constant companion will be complaint because we will never achieve enough. But if we make receiving our goal, our constant companion will be gratitude. God has already made the choice to bless us. Now it is our time to receive from Him His definition for our lives. 

In v.14-15 of today's passage we read, "14 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; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 15 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 spoken to you."

When God first showed up in the life of this deceiver, this pretender, He didn't reprimand him. It was then that God made to Jacob three promises: a promise of His promised land, a promise of His presence, and a promise of His protection. This would be the first time that God defined Jacob and Jacob had a decision because all of his life he had been defined by his wayward ideas about life.

Like Jacob, we all have a twin who has defined us more than we ever knew. From the day we were born we were measuring ourselves against some Esau, some standard of what we thought we should be. Esau wasn't just Jacob's older brother, he was the person Jacob thought he had to become before he would reach a meaningful life. For Jacob, this meant he was constantly evaluating his life by Esau's standards. And, even though we do not literally have a twin, we struggle with the same psychological issues as Jacob. No matter what we do, it will never be good enough because we believe our Esau would have done it better. So we knock ourselves out trying to become some other person's definition for our lives. From this posture, no wonder Jacob was as deceptive and pretentious as he was. And, we are no different than he. Our problem is that we do not really know what the blessing truly is. 

As a result of Jacob's deception, he had to run away from home because his brother was so angry that he wanted to kill him. But, of course, Jacob had been hustling and pretending his whole life. And now as he ran away from the inheritance he hustled from his brother, he was led to the place of this dream. This was different from any other dream that Jacob had ever had because this dream revealed God to Jacob. And, in his first real encounter with God, God came down to Jacob's level, and He said to Jacob, "I am with you."

At that moment God enrolled Jacob into His course on grace. Grace is always uncaused by the recipient. Its cause lies totally in the Giver. Grace is always sovereign. Not having debts to pay or fulfilled conditions to wait for, it can act toward whom and how it pleases. Grace can, and often does, place the worst in its highest of favor. Grace cannot act where there is ability. Grace does not help, it is absolute. Grace measures up on the behalf of its humbled recipient. Grace does all that is required. There being no cause in the creature why grace should be shown, the creature must be brought down from trying to give cause to God for His grace. Grace, once bestowed upon us, is not withdrawn. The posture of the man being bolstered by God's grace is that of faith, to believe and to consent to be loved even though he knows for sure that he is unworthy of it.  

Genesis 28:5-9

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5 So Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Padan Aram, to Laban the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau. 6 Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padan Aram to take himself a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan,” 7 and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Padan Aram. 8 Also Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan did not please his father Isaac. 9 So 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. ~ Genesis 28:5-9

Today, we return to our study of the life of Jacob in Genesis 28. When Jacob's father blessed Jacob at the expense of Esau, Isaac left out the spiritual aspects of the covenant that God had given to Abraham. He had done this earlier in Genesis 27 where he had mentioned the land, the seed, and the blessing that was promised to Abraham, but he said nothing about how God would bless the whole world through His Seed. This was a serious oversight on the behalf of Isaac and this may well explain why Esau went the way he did.

In v.5 of today's passage we read, "So Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Padan Aram, to Laban the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau."

In this verse, Rebekah was referred to as "the mother of Jacob and Esau." This is the first time in the Bible that Jacob is mentioned first before Esau. The prophecy given to Rebekah back in Genesis 25 when the children were still in her womb was fully realized right here in today's passage. The older shall serve the younger was the result of who would be defined by God in the end and who wouldn't.

We don’t know how many people traveled with Jacob to Padan Aram, but we do know that Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, went with him back to her home. Deborah was the one who delivered Rebekah’s children, including Jacob. For a woman who is only mentioned by name once in the Bible, she played a very important role in the history leading to the coming of the Lord Jesus. We know that she traveled back to Padan Aram with Jacob because according to Genesis 35 she was with him when he arrived there.

In v.6-7 of today's passage we read, "6 Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padan Aram to take himself a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, 'You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan,' 7 and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Padan Aram."

God instructs us to obey our parents for a reason. Parents were given to their children so that they could lead their children to faith in the God of the Bible. God desires to be the Heavenly Father to all of our children, but this can only happen through our faith in Him. It is through our faith in Him and trust that we decide to be defined by God through our obedience to Him. In the New Testament book of Philippians we learn that because of the obedience of the Lord Jesus to His Father, God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name which is above every name.

In the mind of Jacob, I am sure that this idea to be obedient to his parents was a no brainer because he trusted his parents. In addition, Jacob knew that going to Padan Aram was a great idea because there he would be safe from the violent overtures of his brother Esau. So, Jacob made the long arduous journey to Padan Aram where he would meet his wife. The distance from Canaan to Padan Aram was about 480 miles. For Esau to go there would meant a long journey; It would have meant a long time away from his family and he would have been unable to try to regain Isaac’s favor during the time he was gone. 

In v.8-9 of today's passage we read, "8 Also Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan did not please his father Isaac. 9 So 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."

When Esau saw that his father was not pleased with his Canaanite wives to whom he had been wed for 40 years, he set out to change it. Unlike Jacob who set out in faith to obey his dad, Esau looked in the wrong direction for answers. Esau did this because he never entered into a personal relationship with the Lord. Foreign to Esau was a life lived by faith in the God of the Bible, even though it was modeled for him by his mother and father. Esau stood at the door of the Lord, but he never invited the Lord into his life. Instead, he lived in accordance with his works-based religion and his faith was essentially in himself.

Since Padan Aram was so far away, Esau, instead of doing what would have been pleasing to his dad, he went to marry a daughter of Ishmael. Again, he did this because Ishmael was a son of Abraham and Esau thought that this would make Isaac happy with him once again. But, Ishmael had been removed from Abraham's house and it was Isaac who became the son of the promise. Esau was not even aware that Ishmael was a picture of the law for the narrative that God was bringing about never included either Ishmael or Esau because they never came to faith in God.

No descendant of Ishmael is found in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus because the law is of works. It is faith, not works, which pleases God. Ishmael and Esau were both pictures of fallen man. Instead of exercising faith and traveling to Padan Aram to obtain a wife to make his father happy, Esau went to Ishmael, picturing for us a man who tried to earn his father's favor through his supposed good works.

The girl Esau married was named Mahalath which means "sad song." That day, Esau did what religions all around the world do every day, he performed in order to please God instead of exercising faith in Him which is the only thing that pleases Him. This was the stumbling block that Esau stumbled over again and again. Esau trusted in his goodness to please his father instead of doing what would have pleased his father.

We can spend our whole lives just like Esau making the wrong choices and continuing on down the wrong path, or we can make the choice to cry out to the Lord. When we trust in something other than the Lord's mercy and grace, we are actually trusting in ourselves. This is self-idolatry. The answer to this is as simple as A,B,C. The "A" stands for admit that you are a fallen sinner in need of God's help. The "B" stands for believe in the Lord Jesus as your Savior. The "C" stands for calling out to the Lord and inviting Him into your life to be your God and Savior.