Roaring River

Genesis 50

Jacob's Burial and Joseph's Death

Joseph sought permission from Pharoah to take his father's body to Canaan. A contingent of the royal family traveled with Joseph to bury his father.

The cave in Machpelah is where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and Leah are buried with Jacob.

Then they returned to Egypt.

Afterward, his brothers became worried that Joseph would harm them for their past selling him into slavery. But Joseph reminded them that this was God's will and not their evil. He protected them until he died at the age of 110. 

This is the site of the cave where Abraham, Sarah,  Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah are buried. 

Genesis 49

Israel Predicts the Future of His Sons

Jacob assembled his sons to thell them what would happen in the days to come -- including far into the future of New Testament times. Each son led one of the 12 tribes.

• Reuben, first-born, excellent until he fornicated with Bilhah (35:22) would enter troubled waters and never again succeed
• Simeon and Levi are cursed because of angry violence
• Judah will be a strong ruler leading to David and Jesus
• Zebulun will be a sea merchant
• Issachar will be strong but lazy
• Dan would lead a generation of judges
• Gad would settle east of the Jordan and be vulnerable to constant attacks, thus needing strong warriors on his side
• Naphtal would be swift and elegant
• Asher would be rich in crops
• Joseph would be the fruit of the vine, a father of future faith leaders, including Gideon
• Benjamin would be successful in war, but cruel

All these are the 12 tribes of Israel.

Jacob then asked to be buried with his ancestors and then he died.

Genesis 48

The Blessing of Joseph's Sons

Israel was dying so Joseph brought his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh to his father Isaac who took these two as his own (adopted them) and therefore placed them ahead of Joseph's brothers. Israel also blessed the youngest Ephraim ahead of his older brother and declared that the youngest would become great. Joseph protested that Manasseh was first-born and Isaac acknowledged that while both sons would be successful, but that Ephraim's destiny was to be greater.

Issac also acknowledged to Joseph that he was "over his brothers" and would inherit an extra portion of his land, a section that Israel gained in battle with the Amorites.

Everything is occurring according to God's plan of placing the younger child over the oldest: Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph over Reuben. 

Genesis 47

Joseph Protects His Father's Family

The family met with Pharoah and did as instructed by Joseph. Pharoah let them settle in the best land in Goshen. The famine grew worse all across Egypt so the people came to Joseph, seeking food. Joseph sold them food and in the process collected all the money in Egypt for the Pharoah.

The following year, they again came for food and exchanged their livestock to Pharoah. The next year, again they came to Joseph for food and since they had no money and no livestock, they offered themselves as servants to Pharoah. Joseph gave them seed with the condition that 20% of the crop be given to Pharoah.

Israel was in Egypt for 17 years and made Joseph promise that when he died that Joseph would bury his bones where his fathers were buried, not in Egypt.

Genesis 46

Joseph's Family in Egypt

Israel and the entire family left for Egypt. Along the way, Israel stopped at Beersheba to honor his father Isaac. There is a long list of the names of family members who traveled to Egypt -- 66 people. He instructed Israel and his brothers to tell Pharoah that they were all shepherds because shepherds were looked down upon and the Egyptians would then let them stay in a region called Goshen.

 

Genesis 45

Joseph Reveals His True Identity

Joseph dismissed his servants and said  to his brothers that he was their lost brother, Joseph. They were speechless because they were terrified of what was to happen. Joseph asked if his father was still alive.

Then he told them not to be afraid for having sold him into slavery because it was God's will that he might be sent ahead to save them and their father from the famine.

Further, he said this all resulted in his being a leader of all Egypt.

He asked them to reurn and bring their father, their families and their herds to live in a safe region in Egypt where he would care for them during the five remaining years of famine still coming. They all embraced and wept.

He sent them back with food for the journey and with carts to bring back the family. When the brothers returned, their father at first did not believe that Joseph was alive and a powerful leader in Egypt. When he saw the carts loaded with provisions, he agreed to go to Egypt to see Joseph.

Genesis 44

Joseph Challenges His Brothers to Bring Closure to their Separation

Again Joseph gave his brothers as many sacks of grain as they could carry. He also replaced the silver they used to buy the grain back into their sacks. But the trick he pulled that really caused them to have genuine fear is that he had one of his servants hide his own silver cup inside Benjamin's sack of grain.

After the brothers left for home, Joseph sent his servants out after them and charged them for stealing his silver divinity cup. The cup was discovered in Benjamin's sack. Joseph demanded Benjamin to remain behind as his slave. This really frightened his other brothers who had promised their father Israel that they would protect Benjamin from harm. They fell on their knees and begged for the release of Benjamin for fear that his loss would kill their father for grief.

Judah's plea in verses 18 to 30 is one of the most passionate in the entire Old Testament. The brothers stood united and would not leave Benjamin but would become slaves with him, as well Still, they could not come out and tell the real truth of what happened to their brother Joseph -- not knowing it was Joseph that they were pleading to.

While this episode could show Joseph as getting even with his brothers, it seems more likely that it was God working through Joseph to teach us all a lesson on the importance of love, truth, loyalty and how quickly we could all lose ourselves with one moment of wrong behavior.

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Genesis 43

The Second Visit with His Brothers

Again Israel's family used up the grain they were given by Joseph. Still they did not know who Joseph was, but just referred to him as "the man." When Israel told his sons to go back to Egypt and get more grain, they refused unless the youngest son, Benjamin, also went because this was a demand from "the man."

Israel at last agreed and told his sons to take back the 20 pieces of silver the man had sent to Israel with the first batch of grain bags. In the past, the brothers sold Joseph into slavery for 20 pieces of silver. But of course, Israel did not know this.

They were invited to eat the noon meal at Joseph's house. When Joseph saw Benjamin (his true brother from his own mother) he wept for joy! Then they ate the meal and Benjamin was served the most food.

Genesis 42

Joseph's Brothers Bow Before Him

Jacob learned that Egypt was selling grain so he sent his sons (except Benjamin, his youngest and only remaining son of his beloved Rachel) to Egypt.

Upon arrival, Jacob recognized his brothers but they did not recognize him -- he spoke through an interpreter so as not to reveal that he spoke Hebrew. The brothers bowed to Jacob, thus completing Jospeph's previous dream that his brothers would all bow to him.

Joseph spoke harshly to them, as the Master of Egypt, and clearly put his brothers on the defensive. He accused them of being spies and put them all in prison for three days until they agreed to send one of them back to retrieve Benjamin so as to confirm the truth of their story -- that they ten were brothers of one family, one of their brothers was back at home in Cannan and the other brother "was no more."

Joseph then called them from prison and told them he would give them enough grain to take home but he would keep one brother in Egypt as a hostage to assure that the other brothers would return with Benjamin. Simeon was bound and put back in prison while the rest of the brothers were given sacks of grain to take back home.

When they arrived back home, they discovered that the sacks contained both the grain and the money (which Joseph had returned). This made the brothers fear that they would be accused of being thieves as well as spies. They told Jacob of the Egyptian Master's demand to return with Benjamin. Jacob balked at this, not wanting to lose his youngest son on such a dangerous mission.

 

Genesis 41

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams; Saves Land from Famine

Joseph is in his second year in prison -- long forgotten by the butler for whom he interpreted a dream and who was now out of prison. Then the cupbearer was called in with other wise men to help interpret a series of the Pharaoh's recent dreams. None of them could interpret the dreams and the cupbearer then suddenly remembered Joseph and his ability to interpret dreams.

Pharaoh sent for Joseph and told Joseph of his dreams.

Joseph said that only God was able to interpret these dreams. He then said that God was telling Pharoah that there would be seven great years followed by seven years of famine.

Pharoah asked if there was a man who had the Spirit of God who could save the kingdom. To God's plan, Pharoah put Joseph in charge of his palace and gve him a wife -- Aseneth and they had two children. Diring the seven years of abundance, Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain. Then the famine began, just as God had planned. Joseph began releasing the stored grain to feed the people and he sold the grain to other countries who were also in famine.

God was working through Joseph to save the people from disaster -- even his own family that had turned on him. Through it all, Joseph had to endure many similar events to those that Jesus would later have to experience.

Genesis 40

The Cupbearer and the Baker

Both the cupbearer and the baker offended Pharaoh and they were sent to prison and put under Joseph's watch.

They each had dreams on the same night. Joseph could see that they were sad the next morning and he was concerned for them. Instead of being filled with self-pity about his own imprisonment, Joseph had compassion for others.

God enabled Joseph to see into the future and thus to correctly interpret these dreams.

Frequently in the Bible, God speaks through dreams. Scripture show this (Genesis 20:3; 28:12; 31:11; 31:24; Numbers 12:6; 1 Samuel 28:6; Joel 2:28; Matthew 1:20; 2:13; 2:22). But we should not leap to conclusions that every dream we have is a revelation from God. Dreams can come also be a result of overactive minds or daily events: A dream comes through much activity . . . For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity (Ecclesiastes 5:3, 7).

But as we will see Joseph had insights from God as to what dreams meant ... and this will come to his advantage when he interprets Pharaoh's dreams in Chapter 41. In this case, Joseph was, in fact, guided by God to see the meaning of the dreams of his fellow prisonmates: the cupbearer would get his job back with Pharaoh but the chief baker would be killed. This is exactly what happened. When the cupbearer got his job back, he quickly forgot about Joseph ... who once again suffered at the hands of selfish people.

While Judah was unfaithful to God (Chapter 37), Joseph remained fiercely loyal to God. Judah was punished and Joseph was rewarded. God will be with us, even when we are impatient. He has a plan and a time for that plan that are both outside our knowledge. What we can count on is his grace, mercy, forgiveness and love. God is truly our friend.

Genesis 39

Joseph in Pontiphar's House

God was with Joseph and enabled him to achieve great success for the Pharaoh's Captain of the Guard. Soon Joseph was responsible for managing all of Pontiphar's assets.

Pontiphar's wife tried several times to temp Joseph to have sex with her, but Joseph remained faithful to God's law. In all events, Joseph chose to be obedient to God.

In anger, for his refusal to have an affair with her, Pontiphar's wife lied to her husband and accused Joseph of forcing her to have sex.

And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.” So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”

For this, Joseph was sent to prison. While in prison, God was still with Joseph and the Warden put Joseph in charge of the prison and again Joseph had great success.

Genesis 38

The Sons of Israel Corrupted by Caanites

If you touch dirt, you will get dirty. Somehow this did not stop Joseph's brother Judah from going wrong with his life. And God made a defiant point that wickedness would be punished. Judah was the one who suggested selling Joseph into slavery.

Judah, the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, married a Caanite woman called Shua. They had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. The first son, Er, married Tamar but he was so evil that God allowed him to die. Onan then refused to care for Er's childless widow, and for this sin of selfishness, he also died. Shelah was too young to marry Tamar and provide her with children so Judah sent Tamar back to her father until Shelah was old enough to marry her. It seems that Judah was hesitant to allow yet another son to marry Tamar since the other sons had died. But Judah was not faithful in his duty to provide a husband for Tamar who was bound to the headship of her father-in-law Judah, and he had to give her a husband. Judah alone could determine whom and when she could marry. His failure to care for Tamar was wrong according to their culture.

Judah's wife died.

Tamar plotted to make Judah do what he was held to do -- provide her with sons to care for her.

She sat along a road she knew Judah would pass, and posed as a prostitute. He took the bait and had sex with Tamar, who then had twin sons: Perez and Zerah. This apparently was God's plan because Perez was in the line through whom King David and Jesus Christ were born. God works in mysterious ways ... the ancestral line of Jesus includes Judah's failed family.

Genesis 37

Jacob's Favorite Son -- Joseph Sold into Slavery

Joseph's story covers about a century in which God and people are actively fulfilling God's plan, whether they knew it or not. God allows Joseph to be sold into slavery by his own brothers who were jealous of Joseph. Jacob (now called Israel) made it clear that he loved Joseph most because he was his son with Rachel. Israel made an ornamental robe, perhaps one that was passed down throught the generations signifying the passing of priesthood for Joseph, and this preferential act enraged his brothers.

Joseph had two dreams where sheaves of wheat and where the stars in the sky were bowing before him. Again, the brothers interpreted this as ultimate arrogance that they would have to bow to him.

Israel sent Joseph into the field to check on his brothers who were grazing the family flocks. When they saw him coming, the quickly plotted to kill him. One of the brothers (Reuben) pleaded that they not kill Joseph. At the last minute, God sent along a caravan of Ishmaelites, to whom they sold Joseph to these Ishmaelites.

The brothers returned to Israel and showed him Joseph's ornamental robe, soaked in goat's b lood. Jacob  seeing this believed Joseph was killed by a wild beast. (See the illustration of the brothers showing the bloodied robe to Israel. Nothing anyone did could bring comfort to the grieving Israel.

As Israel was grieving Joseph's death, the Ishmaelites sold Joseph to the Egyptian Pharaoh's captain of the guard, Pontiphar.

Genesis 36

Esau is Denied a Role in God's Redemption

Esau (also known as Edom) had three Canaanite wives who gave him a large family. As Jacob's family moved to Bethel, Esau knew the Promised Land was not his. Both Esau and Jacob had large families and herds; too large to live close to one another. So Esay took his leave and resettled at Mount Seir.

They were an important family and neighbors to Israel and were mentioned 130 times in the Bible.

When the Israelites came through the wilderness to the Promised Land in the time of Moses, the Edomites refused them passage through their land (Numbers 20:21). This was a source of great discouragement for the nation (Numbers 21:4). Even so, God commanded special regard for the Edomites among Israel: You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother (Deuteronomy 23:7).

The kings and leaders among the descendants of Esau show clearly what God meant when He said, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated" (Malachi 1:2-3 and Romans 9:13). Esau was obviously a blessed man, but he was rejected for any critical role in God’s plan of redemption. That redemption would come from Jacob's lineage.

Genesis 35

Jacob Returns to Bethel as God Asked; Isaac and Rachel Die

The whole massacre at Shechem is a sad story. It could all have been avoided if Jacob obeyed God's direction to go insteat to Bethel, a safer place to raise his family. Instead, his daughter was violated and his sons committed murder. How often do we go where we know God would not want us to go -- to drugs, to people who will drag us down, to gangs that will cause us to do evil, to another man or woman who leads us to adultery. Place is important because it leads us directly to good or evil.

Fathers and mothers have a huge responsibility. If we are not with God then our children will almost certainly fall away, as well.

Jacob finally, it seems, got right with God. He commanded all the households he had captured to get rid of their gods (idols) and their clothing ... a new start, a born again relationship with God was underway. It is amazing that God just did not leave Jacob in his sins and find someone else more capable of leading his family and the Hebrew nation to righteousness. But God saw something in Jacob worthy of working on, molding him like sculpting in clay. We can all take comfort in God's grace and mercy; when we fail, He lifts us back up.

When Jacob returns to Bethel and builds an altar to God, the relationship is reestablished. Born Again.

Now the story turns sad again. Rachel, the woman he loved from first sight, dies in childbirth. The child, Benjamin, lives but Jacob must bury his true love.

The story saddens again when while Jacob is away, Reuben (Jacob's first son) has sex with Jacob's concubine. This now left Jacob with Simeon, Levi and now Reuben who have failed God's love. It will be the fourth son (not the first) who carries the nation forward.

And again the story saddens. Jacob returns one last time to be with his father Isaac, who is old at about 180 years, and dying. He takes his last breath. Jacob and Esau, now brought back together by God's hand, buried their father.

Rachel’s tomb has been mentioned by Jewish travelers since about 1300 CE. The actual tomb consists of a rock with 11 stones; one for each of the sons of Jacob. Over the centuries, the rock was covered by a dome supported by four arches. In 1841, Sir Moses Montefiore was granted permission by the occupying Ottoman Turkish empire to restore the tomb. He funded the construction of the large two room building seen today.

Genesis 34

The Massacre at Shechem

In this chapter, we see the price Jacob pays for not following God's direction to take his family to Bethel, instead choosing to live near an area of evil people. Jacob's daughter went unsupervised into the city which was known for its wickedness and she was raped by Shechem, son of Hamor, the ruler of the area. Hamor went to talk with Jacob and stated that Shechem was in love with Dinah and wanted to marry her.

Jacob strangely shows no outrage toward a man who violated his daugher. But because Shechem had defiled Dinah, her brothers decided unwisely to trick the Canaanites and said this marriage was possible if all of Hamor's people agreed to be circumsized like themselves. Hamor, driven by greed and not by love, convinced his people to be circumsized so they too could find wives in Jacob's family.

While they were all incapacitated by pain form being circumsized, Simeon and Levi killed all the males, including Hamor and Shechem. They took all the women, children and animals.

Jacob finally waking up to his failure at leading his family properly and allowing his sons to sin in vengance, warned that this action would bring trouble down on their household. Simeon and Levis answered back: "Should they have been treated Dina as a prostitute?" The whole story is filled with self-centered actions instead of actions to please God. As a result, eventually the tribes of Simeon and Levi were scattered throughout Israel.

Genesis 33

Jacob's Reconciliation with Esau

Esau came to Jacob in brotherly love and greeted Jacob's family, even though Jacob expected Esau to wage war with him.  Esau invited Jacob to come to his land. Jacob offered a gift to Esau as a sign of asking forgiveness and Esau accepted the give indicating all was forgiven.

Jacob expressed concern that his children and animals move fast enough so he asked Esau to give them time to travel at a slower pace.

Instead Jacob settled in Sechem in Canaan, where for 400 pieces of silver he purchased the land from the sons of Hamor. It is good Jacob came to the Promised Land, and he settled there. But he falls short, because it seems God directed him to return to Bethel (Genesis 31:13).

Genesis 32

Jacob Wrestles All Night and Ends up with a Permanent Limp

As Jacob approached his home land he b egan to fear that Esau would attack. Jacob took some defensive measures to protect his people and possessions. He sent his wives and children across a stream and was left alone waiting for Esau.

A man appeared and to protect his family, Jacob wrestled with this man who was a pre-incarnate Christ or an angel from God, or perhaps, even God Himself.

They fought over Jacob's desire to be "above God" and in control.

They wrestled all night as God essentially allowed Jacob to feel like he was winning. As daybreak neared, God touched the socket of Jacob's hip and wrenched his hip out of joint so as to end the struggle before daylight enabled Jacob to see God's face.

Jacob insisted on a blessing before allowing the struggle to end. God blessed him by changing his name to Israel. This is when Jacob was reborn. From that day, Jacob walked with a limp -- so it clearly was a real physical struggle and not a dream.

How do we struggle with God? Why is God willing to allow us to wrestle with Him?

Genesis 31

God is Faithful in His Presence with Jacob; Protects Jacob from Laban's Envy

Jacob, Leah and Rachel leave Laban to return to Isaac as God has asked them to do. God repeats several times that He has always been with Jacob and that He will always be with him. Thus we can be assured of God's continual present in our lives.

Laban's sons were convinced that Jacob was stealing Laban's herds even though this was the agreement that had been made. It was envy working on the sons and they made Laban envious, as well. Evil is often done in the name of envy.

As they were leaving Laban, Rachel was angry with her father and stole his household gods. God warned Laban not to harm Jacob. Laban followed Jacob looking for his household gods (female figurines). Rachel hid the idols under her while she sat on her camel so Laban cound not find them. Jacob professed his innocence and cursed whoever did take the idols ... not knowing he had put a curse on his beloved Rachel.

She expressed utter contempt toward her father. Both daughters knew that Jacob had been honest and patient and had worked hard for Laban.

Jacob and Laban made a mutual non-aggression treaty. Laban kissed his grandchildren and daughters and left. He is not mentioned again in Scriptures.

 

Genesis 30

Jacob Marries Rachel; Jacob Takes His Family to His Homeland

In his marriage with Rachel, there were no children. Rachel became jealous of Leah and so she offered Jacob her own maidservant Bilhah and they had a son named Dan. A second some was Naphtal.

When Lean realized she was no longer becoming pregnant, she too offered Jacob her maidservant Zilpah who had a son called Gad and another named Asher. Leah then had a fifth son, Issachar, a sixth son named Zebulan and then a daughter named Dinah.

Finally God broght favor to Rachel and she had a son named Joseph.

The two sisters, one beautiful but without children and one plain but bearing children, were each centered on their own plights. Leah realized that Jacob loved Rachel more -- in fact he loved her so much that he was willing to work 14 years at no salary just to have her as his wife.

Where there should have been love between the sisters, instead there was jealousy and hatred -- all because of Laban's trickery. The sisters used their children as a way of defeating one another. This confirms God's plan that a husband should have only one wife.

Everyone in this family had their focus was on themselves instead of on God.

At this time, Jacob asked Laban to let him return with his family to his homeland.

Laban bargained and offered more. Jacob reminded Laban how well he had cared for Laban's flocks and again asked that he be allowed to start his own household. Jacob asked Laban permission to keep all the spotted livestock as his wages ... pointing out that any animal born in the future that is not spotted should be considered stolen.

Laban agreed but immediagely set out to cheat Jacob by himself removing the spotted livestock. But Jacob was aware and mated the livestock in his favor and his herds grew in size and quality.

 

Genesis 29

Jacob Meets Rachel but is
Tricked into Marrying her Sister Leah

Jacob arrived in Haran. Laban's youngest daughter Rachel was arriving at the well to water her sheep. Jacob explained who he was and she was aware of his family. It was love at first sight.Rachel returned home to tell Laban of Jacob's arrival.

Laban's oldest daughter was Leah and she was quiet. Rachel was beautiful. Laban realized he could take advantage of Jacob who accepted Laban's offer to work as Laban's servant for 7 years in exchange for marriage to Rachel.

After the 7 years, when Jacob asked for marriage with Rachel, Laban tricked him and married him to Leah who apparantly was wearing a heavy veil that kept her face from view until the wedding was completed. Was this repayment for the trick Jacob played on Esau when he took Esau's birthright in the dark when Isaac could not see well?

Laban then demanded another 7 years of labor to get Rachel. Leah began to give Jacob many children: Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. But there was much saddness in the marriage because Jacob made it clear that he loved Rachel and Rachel loved Jacob. Leah, though she was neglected by Jacob and despised by Rachel, had a great purpose in God’s plan. The two greatest tribes came from Leah, not Rachel: Levi (the priestly tribe) and Judah (the royal tribe). And most importantly, the Messiah came from Leah, the uglier sister, who was neglected and despised, but learned to look to the Lord and praise Him.

Genesis: 28

Jacob Sees The Ladder to Heaven

Again, the pattern of deception from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob has persisted. Why does God reward those who sin against Him? Why do we take the easy way out of difficulty by lying about daily situations -- such deceptions desroy credibility. God must wonder at times how we are made in His image.

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were a three-part story. But of the three, less is written about Isaac.

Isaac blessed Jacob  and commanded him not to marry a Canaanite woman. Go to your grandfather's home (Bethnel in Paddan Aram) and find a wife from Laban's daughters. Laban was Rebekah's brother so his daughters would be Jacob's cousins.

Esau was angry when he heard his father bless Jacob and warn him not to marry a Canaanite woman. So Esau deliberately went to Ishmael's family (son of Abram and Hagar) and married Ishmael's daughter Mahalath in addition to the heathen wives he had already married.

On his way to Laban's family, Jacop put a stone under his head and slept. He had a dream from this stone there was a staircase that extended into heaven, and God's angels were going up and down the stairs. At the top stood God who promised this land to Jacob. When he woke up, Jacob used the stone as an altar to God and committed himself to follow God.

Genesis: Chapter 27

Isaac was old and near death. He asked his oldest son Esau to go out into the country and kill some wild game and to fix for him a tasty meal. Rebekah overheard this and after Esau left, she plotted with Jacob to trick Isaac into giving his blessing to Jacob instead of Esau. When Esau returned, he realized that Jacob had stollen Isaac's blessing. He asked his father to fix the situation but Isaac stood with his word. Thus Esau was to be subserviant to Jacob and hated his brother for this deception.

Jacob believes God wants him to have the birthright and will justify a sinful lie in the pursuit of the birthright, saying he is standing for righteousness. It seems to have been missed in all this intrigue that blessings come from God and not man. It is as if God intended this path to come about, but Esau fell for it.

Genesis: Chapter 26

Isaac and Abimelech

 

A famine came upon the land where Isaac and his family lived -- in Gerar under King Abimelach. God asked Isaac to stay despite the famine. Isaac and his people were successful in digging up wells and their herds grew. Isaac did as his father Abraham had done -- he pretended his wife Rebekah was his sister.  Abililech discovered the lie and orderd on one to hurt Isaac or his people.

But Abimilech's people were not happy about Isaac's successful wells so the plugged them up. Soon Isaac moved further into the valley, away from these people. Again, he was successful and his herds and wealth grew. Isaac wasn't looking for a fight however. He just kept moving until he found, not only water, but peace.

Now Abimelech saw the need to arrange a treaty with Isaac so they would not attack each other. Isaac's enemies also realized (i.e. were given to realize) that they should make peace with Isaac ("We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee"), a lesson that applies to anyone who genuinely obeys the LORD. When a nation truly obeys the LORD, rather than arrogantly claiming to be the LORD's people on their own rebellious "it's right if we say it is" terms, their borders and their people will always be safe and secure.

Isaac built an altar to God and was faithful. When Esau was 40 years old he married Judith, a Hittite, and also married Basemate. They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.

A pattern has emerged through Genesis where humans place great value on "first-borns" but God puts more value on "second-borns" who seem to have learned from life to be less arrogant and more moral.

Genesis: Chapter 24

The Marriage of Rebekah and Isaac

 

Abraham asked his servant to return to the homeland to find a wife for Isaac so that Isaac would not marry a Caanite woman. The servant went to the town of Nahor in Mesopotamia -- over 500 miles away.

When the servant Eliezer arrived at a well in Nahor, he prayed to God for a successful journey. The prayer included a very specific sign that the right woman would be found -- she would offer him a drink and alsot to watter 10 camels.

A woman came to the well and followed the spedific sign. Eliezer gave her a nose ring and gold bracelet. She ran to her mother's home to tell her family. They all agreed that she would go to Isaac and they were married before Sarah. Soon after, Sarah died.

In Reflections of Genesis, blogger Carol writes: God truly does honor very specific and sincere prayers. His beautiful provision to Eliezer’s prayer left no doubt that God was also answering one of Abraham’s last prayers for the future of his son. If you have not tried praying in the specific state, next time you pray give God some details to work with. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at His response. Intimate details are God’s specialty. Get intimate with God, go ahead ... He’s waiting for you! .

Genesis: Chapter 23

Sarah Dies and is Buried

 

Abraham’s beautiful and beloved wife, Sarah, died when Isaac was 37 years old. God had granted her a son in her old age (90), and had given her time to raise him and enjoy the privilege of seeing him grow into a man of God, like his father. God is so good, His timing so perfect.

Abraham asked the people of Hittite to let him purchase a cave to bury his wife. The people offered to give him the burial site so that they would still own the land.

Abraham rejected this and negotiated with Ephron for ownership. Ephron agreed and sold the land at a much higher price that it was worth. Of all the land in Canaan that God gave to Abraham, this one tract was all the he ever took legal title to. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would also be buried in this place with Sarah, when they reached the end of their lives.

Genesis: Chapter 22

The Offering of Issac

 

God came to Abraham and asked him to sacrifice Isaac on an alter as a burned offering. Without questioning, Abraham took Isaac to the appointed mountain and strapped Isaac on top of a wood pile. Just as Abraham was about to kill Isaac, God's angel stopped him. God then knew for sure that Abraham's love for God was greater than his love for anything on earth. A substitute ram was sacrificed.

What strikes me is that Abraham must surely have known God or he could not possibly consider killing his son. I would consider myself crazy if I heard such a command. But Abraham followed the instructions right up to the last minute. God rewards Ab raham for his absolute love. In the same place, I would have substituted myself and would have expected God to prefer this because a parent should always protect his children -- even if it costs one's life. In this case, God knew what He was doing and would not have allowed Abraham to hurt his son,

Wikipedia notes that many Christian Biblical commentators hold this whole episode to be an archetype of the way that God works; this event is seen as foreshadowing God's plan to have his own Son, Jesus, die on the cross as a substitute for humanity, much like the ram God provided for Abraham. And Abraham's willingness to give up his own son Isaac is seen, in this view, as foreshadowing the willingness of God the Father to sacrifice his Son; also contrasted is Isaac's submission in the whole ordeal with Christ's, the two choosing to lay down their own lives in order for the will of God to be accomplished, as no struggle is mentioned in the Genesis account. Indeed, both stories portray the participants carrying the wood for their own sacrifice up a mountain.

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Genesis: Chapter 21

The Birth of Isaac

 

As promised, Sarah had a son and they named him Isaac. Abraham's slave Hagae had a son Ishmael and Sarah demanded they be sent away and not to share in the inheritance.

So while he was worried about his son, he sent Hagar and the boy from their land. Hagar and the boy wandered in the desert until the water Abraham was gone. God heard the boy crying and conforted Hagar by telling her that this son would make a nation. Then God provided a well for them to drink from. The boy grew up in the desert of Parah and became an archer.

Isaac means "he laughs" but it was Abraham and Sarah who were laughing at the good fortune of having a son so late in their lives. Since God chose Isaac's name this indicated God likes also to laugh. We are made in His image.

In the New Testament (Galatians 4:22-33) Paul turns this event into an allegory. According to Biblegate.com, Paul's view was used to link Hagar to Judaism, on the basis that the slave Hagar represented bondage to the "old law", which the Christian dispensation had supplanted. In this respect Jews were seen, spiritually speaking, as descendants of Hagar, not Sarah. The equation of Jews with descendents of Hagar was also used to justify the subordination of Jews in medieval Christian kingdoms, and even their expulsion, on the model of the subjection and expulsion of Hagar.

"In the Scriptures we learn that Abraham had two sons. The mother of one of them was a slave, while the mother of the other one had always been free. The son of the slave woman was born in the usual way. But the son of the free woman was born because of God's promise. All of this has another meaning as well. Each of the two women stands for one of the agreements God made with his people. Hagar, the slave woman, stands for the agreement that was made at Mount Sinai. Everyone born into her family is a slave. Hagar also stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and for the present city of Jerusalem. She and her children are slaves. But our mother is the city of Jerusalem in heaven above, and she isn't a slave. The Scriptures say about her, "You have never had children, but now you can be glad. You have never given birth, but now you can shout. Once you had no children, but now you will have more children than a woman who has been married for a long time."

My friends, you were born because of this promise, just as Isaac was. But the child who was born in the natural way made trouble for the child who was born because of the Spirit. The same thing is happening today. The Scriptures say, "Get rid of the slave woman and her son! He won't be given anything. The son of the free woman will receive everything." My friends, we are children of the free woman and not of the slave.

Genesis: Chapter 20

Abraham and Abimelech

 

The tapestry shown here depicts the fateful first meeting between the patriarch Abraham and Abimelech, king of Gerar (left) and it is is fraught with tension. Though he may not show it, Abraham is actually fearful the king will kill him to get to his beautiful wife, Sarah (in those days what the king wanted, the king usually received). And so, Abraham introduces her as his sister, thinking this might spare his life. It does, but the king promptly summons Sarah to his bedchamber.

Luckily for Abraham and Sarah, God appears to Abimelech in a dream and tells him the truth. The king is not too pleased to have been lied to, but Abraham has one more card up his sleeve – he reveals that he wasn't really lying as Sarah is both his half-sister and his wife.

As a mark of respect, he gave to Abraham valuable gifts, and offered him a settlement in any part of his country; while at the same time he delicately and yet severely rebuked him for having practiced a deception upon him in pretending that Sarah was only his sister.

Among the gifts presented by the king were a thousand pieces of silver as a “covering of the eyes” for Sarah; i.e., either as an atoning gift and a testimony of her innocence in the sight of all, or rather for the purpose of procuring a veil for Sarah to conceal her beauty, and thus as a reproof to her for not having worn a veil which, as a married woman, she ought to have done.

A few years after this Abimelechvisited Abraham, who had removed southward beyond his territory, and there entered into a league of peace and friendship with him. This league was the first of which we have any record. It was confirmed by a mutual oath at Beer-sheba(Gen. 21:22-34).