Committing Himself To God

Jacob had done everything he could think of to protect himself if Esau was still angry over his cheating twenty years before.  He had divided his property into two groups so that if Esau attacked the first group the second could possibly escape.  In addition, he had sent a number of bribes ahead to placate any anger that still existed, making a special point that he would not be dependent on Esau.  Later that evening, he had one more idea.  He sent his wives and children across the Jabbock while he remained on the other side, in hopes that seeing them would soften Esau’s heart before he met Jacob, as Genesis 32:22-23 describes.  “And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.  And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.” 

He had done everything he could think of to placate Esau, but if he was still so angry he brought four hundred men to make sure they killed Jacob none of those things might be enough,  It was the lowest point in Jacob’s life, and he could see no way out.   It was at this point God appeared to him again.  The first time, at Bethel, in Genesis 28:20-22, Jacob had tried to manipulate God by offering to serve him if he would do what Jacob wanted.  “And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.”  He took the approach he was doing God a favor by letting him be his God. 

This time he is desperate for God’s help.  His response is not just a quick easy mental assent, but a deep down desire, as we see in Genesis 32:24-30.  “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.  And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.  And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh.

And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

And he said unto him, What is thy name?

And he said, Jacob.

“And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name.

And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.  And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” 

This time, Jacob was willing to do whatever it took to get God’s blessings, even though it meant he would be a cripple for the rest of his life.  He was not just looking for an easy way out of his problems, but has made a definite commitment. Regardless of the cost.  In the teachings in Luke 14:25-33, Jesus makes the point that a person who is not willing to make such a commitment to Christ cannot be his disciple, literally that they cannot be save,    

As a result, of his commitment to God, Jacob was given a new name, Israel, ‘a prince with God,’ rather than Jacob, ‘the cheat.’  The new name implies there has been a change in Jacob’s nature.  II Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  Although he remembered it vividly, the experience at Bethel produced no such change.  He would not come to God until twenty years later.  That new name is critical.  Revelation 2:17 tells us those who are committed to God receive a new name. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”  Revelation 20:15 tells us that those who have not had that new name recorded will face eternal judgment.  “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”      Without it, we cannot enter into heaven. 

Living With A Guilty Conscience

Twenty years before, Jacob had left Canaan to escape Esau’s wrath for having been cheated.  When things got bad between him and Laban, he decided to go back, assuming Esau will not be as angry as he was at first.  He knew that Esau had moved into Edom, the region south east of the Dead Sea, closer to his wives’ families, but not too far from Isaac.   Still carrying a guilty conscience, he made a point that he had his own livestock and property to reassure Esau they would not be in competition, in Genesis 32:3-5.  “And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.  And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now: And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.” 

Jacob had hoped the reassurances would eliminate any lingering anger.  When the messengers returned, saying Esau was bringing a four hundred man army, Jacob panicked, as Genesis 32:6-tells us.  “And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.  Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.”

Jacob could not be sure whether Esau was bringing such an army to protect against raiders or if they were coming to wipe him out.  He could not possibly defeat such a force, and began figuring a way to protect some of his property ad family, dividing them into two separate groups, hoping that if Esau attacked one group the other would be able to escape unnoticed.  Fearing it wouldn’t be enough, he prayed, asking God’s protection, in Genesis 32:9-12.  “And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.  Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.   And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.”  He acknowledged he did not deserve anything from God, but was just asking him to keep his promise. 

When he stopped for the night, Jacob had another idea.  He would try to buy off Esau’s anger with a series of bribes.  Genesis 32:13-21 gives the details.  “And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother; Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,  Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.  And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.  And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?  Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.  And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.  And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.  So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.”

Though he had prayed for God’s help, Jacob was still depending on his own efforts to protect himself.  By sending the bribes in advance, he hoped to alleviate Esau’s anger if he was still mad.    His guilty conscience will not let him just trust God.  Why should God bless him when he had done evil things? 

Still Doing Things His Way

Jacob and his wives were in agreement about leaving Haran.  When Laban went to shear his sheep. Jacob slipped away, knowing he would be gone for several days, as we see in Genesis 31:17-21.  “Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels; And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.  And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.  And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.  So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.” 

Jacob owned the cattle and was married to both Rachel and Leah. He had every right to take them where ever he chose.  Sneaking away like he did left the impression he was trying to get by with something.  Laban was offended at the way he did it, according to Genesis 31:22-30.  “And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.  And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.  And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.  And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?  Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?  And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.  It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.  And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?”

Jacob got three days head start, and it took Laban seven days to catch up.  Obviously, Jacob was pushing his livestock very hard to get as far away as possible.  Laban pointed out Jacob’s actions indicated some kind of criminal activity.  The fact that Rachel had stolen his idols only reinforced the impression.   It would have been far better to have left openly, allowing everyone to say goodbye.   Laban had the power to wipe out Jacob and his family, but God had forbidden him to take any sort of action.   He asked why Jacob had done things the way he had. 

God had just shown Jacob that it was not Jacob’s efforts that protected him but what God did.  Instead of trusting God to care for him, Jacob had lapsed into his old habit of trying to make things happen himself, as he explains in Genesis 31:31-32,  “And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.  With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.”  Not knowing Rachel had stolen the idols, Jacob promised to execute whoever had stolen them if they found them.   

Laban searched each of the tents, in Genesis 31:33-35.   “And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.  Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.  And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images.”  Rachel lied to her father, and sitting on the idols and pretending she was menstruating as an excuse for not getting up.  As a result, Laban didn’t find the idols. 

While no one likes being falsely accused, people with a guilty conscience tend to get even angrier than innocent people.   Jacob got really angry with Laban over his accusation, reviewing all the times when Laban had taken advantage of him, in Genesis 31:36-42.  “And Jacob was wroth, and chided with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?  Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.  This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.  That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.  Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.  Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.  Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.”   

Jacob said only the fear of God and Isaac’s retribution had kept them from taking everything away from him.  Laban was forced into a defensive position, claiming he had a right to all those things but was unable to claim them.  He asked that they agree not to fight over it, in Genesis 31:43-44.  “And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?  Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.” 

The Glory Belongs To God

Laban had deliberately cheated Jacob, substituting Leah ofr Rachel so he could lock Jacob into serving him for another seven years, and had agreed to give the off colored cattle to Jacob, believing he coud use the principles of genetics to limit how much Jacob earned.  Jacob, the cheat, had spent the last seven years trying to cheat Laban by trying to change the color of the babies using an old wives tale.  Jacobs herd had grown dramatically and Laban and his sons began feel Jacob was cheating them.  Finally the conflict became unbearable, and God directed Jacob to leave in Genesis 31:3.  “And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.”

Jacob expqlained why they should leave to his wives in Genesis 31:4-9.  “And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.  And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.  And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.  If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstreaked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstreaked.  Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.”

Jacob had taken good care of Laban’s livestock, but Laban had continually tried to take advantage of Jacob, periodically changing what color or pattern would be Jacobs to the least common one in an effort to minimize Jacob’s pay.   Despite the efforts to cheat him, God had protected Jacob, and gradually transferred the herds to him.  Laban was very upset that his efforts to cheat had failed, and believed Jacob must be cheating even more to have come out ahead. 

An old wives tale had developed that what a mother saw would be imprinted on her child, probably as a result of a child having a birthmark and some priest or doctor attributing it to something the mother saw.  Far too often people assume that because two things happened at about the same time one caused the other.  Sometimes it is true that one caused the other, sometimes both were caused by something else, and sometimes the two events are totally unrelated.  False assumptions as to the cause can lead to superstitions such as this old wives tale, which persists even to the present time. 

Jacob had believed the old wives tale and had deliberately tried to use it to cheat Laban.  God showed him that the results had nothing to do with his efforts to cheat, but were completely natural.  God had caused the livestock to mate with males of the color That Laban had assigned to Jacob, despite Laban’s efforts to prevent it from happening, as he explains in Genesis 31:10-13.  “And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstreaked, speckled, and grisled.  And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.  And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstreaked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.  I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.”

For six years, Jacob had convinced himself that it was his efforts that were making him rich.  In fact, God had simply been keeping the promise he made at Bethel in Genesis 28:13-15.   All Jacob’s efforts had been wasted.  God didn’t need or even use them.  Unfortunately, many Christians today are making similar mistakes, thinking they are blessed because of their efforts to make things happen rather than simply trusting God.   For example, many people believe that people get saved because of the evangelist’s skill in presenting the message and invitation.  John 6:44 tells us, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him…”  It has nothing to do with the preacher’s skill, but only with God’s working in his heart.   If they come because of an emotionally moving sermon or skillfully presented invitation, they are still lost.  In John 12:32, Jesus said,  “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”  Instead of planning how to get people to the altar, we need to lift up Jesus and let God draw them.     

Men and women think differently, and as a result different things influence their judgment.  Rachel and Leah were more concerned that their father had spent their dowry so that there would be no advantage to staying  in Haran if something happened.  They encouraged Jacob to follow God’s direction in Genesis 31:14-16.  “And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?  Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.  For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.”

The fact that Rachel and Leah were feeling the same need for leaving, for different reasons was confirmation this was God’s will.  God had prepared them as well.  If only Jacob was feeling the need to leave, leaving would have probably caused conflict with Rachel and Leah.  The harder we have to try to convince our mate, or force our idea on them, the more likely it is that the idea is not from God.    When we let God do things his way, he gets the glory.  It’s not about what we did but about what he did. 

Conflict With His Inlaws

Jacob finished out his second seven year term with Laban, fulfilling his contact for marriage to Rachel.  After fourteen years away from home, he wanted to return and see his parents.  He stated his intentions in Genesis 30:25-26.  “And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.   Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.” 

Laban didn’t want Jacob to leave.  For fourteen years he had a top hands services for little more than the cost of feeding him.  If Jacob left, he would lose both the free labor and Jacob’s expertise.  He would also be separated from his daughters and grandchildren.  In an effort to prevent this, Laban offered Jacob a paying position, in Genesis 30:27-28.  “And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.  And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.”

Jacob realized he had been taken advantage of repeatedly, He decided to see if he couldn’t make up for some of those times.  People had been raising livestock for over two thousand years, and it was well known that the offspring almost always had coloration similar to their parents.  Jacob thought he had found a way to change that and cause a greater percentage to be born that were off color.  Genesis 30:29-33 describes what he offered to do.  “And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.  For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?

And he said, What shall I give thee?

And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock.  I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.  So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.”

Having a partial understanding of genetics, Laban didn’t see any way he could lose on such a deal.  It was even sweeter because it had been Jacob’s own idea.  He quickly agreed, and they separated out all the ones of different colors, turning them over to Laban’s sons to prevent any possibility of cross breeding resulting in a greater number of off color offspring, as Genesis 30:34-36 describes.  ”And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.  And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstreaked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.  And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.”  Three days travel between the herds would make it nearly impossible for them to crossbreed. 

Jacob had apparently heard the old wives tale that what the mother saw during pregnancy would affect the baby.  Genesis 30:37-39 describes Jacob’s efforts to cheat, by changing what the mothers saw.  “And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut tree; and pilled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.  And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.  And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstreaked, speckled, and spotted. “ 

It seemed to work, so Jacob carried it a little further, trying to ensure that he got only the best cattle while Laban got the worst, according to Genesis 30:40-43.  “And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstreaked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle.  And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.  But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.  And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.”

Jacob continued this for six years, and his herds outgrew those of Laban.  Laban and his sons began to feel Jacob was ripping them off, despite repeated efforts to prevent it, as Genesis 31:1-2 tells us.  “And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory.  And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.”  They had been sure Jacob would lose everything thanks to the deal and instead he became rich.  As usually happens when people attempt to cheat others and their plans fail, Laban and his sons became angry.  They were convinced he had to have cheated more than they did to win when they were cheating.  It was the same attitude the Democratic Party had after Trump won the presidential election. 

God will use the conflict to get Jacob to go back to where He wanted him to be.   As long as it wasn’t too bad, Jacob was content to stay and make as much as he could.  The conflict made staying unacceptable.

Jacob Gets Married

After meeting with God at Bethel, Jacob went on to Haran where he met his Uncle Laban and his cousins, Leah and Rachel.  After a short time, Laban offered Jacob a job, in Genesis 29:15.  “And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?” 

Isaac had told Jacob to find a wife when he met Laban, and he saw the opportunity in Laban’s offer, In Genesis 29:16-18.  “And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.  Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.  And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.” 

Jacob offered to serve seven years as a way of paying a dowry for Rachel.  Originally, the dowry was like an insurance policy to be held in trust so that if something happened to the husband, his wife would have something to live on.  Unfortunately, many families just viewed the dowry as extra money in their account and forgot about keeping it for their daughter.  Laban agreed to Jacobs offer, and Jacob fulfilled his contract, In Genesis 29:19-21.  “And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.  And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.  And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.” 

When Laban’s sister agreed to marry Isaac, Laban had been excited about how much they might make from Abraham’s servant, and he was still greedy.  While Leah had soft sweet eyes, guys were not drawn to her like they were to Rachel, and no one had offered a large dowry for her.  Laban decided tos witch the girls.  That way he would still have the possibility of selling Rachel for a larger price, even if Jacob refused to work for him anymore.  Genesis 29:22-24 describes his deceit.  “And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.  And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.  And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.”

Thanks to the darkness, the wedding veils and the fact that he had spent very little time with Rachel while working for her father, Jacob didn’t realize the girls had been switched until the next morning.  He was quite upset that Laban had broken his contract, In Genesis 29:25-27.  “And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.  Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.  And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.  And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.”

Laban used the excuse that the customs of the area did not allow the younger daughter to get married before the older one to justify his actions.  He offered to let Jacob marry Rachel as well if he would work another seven years for her.  When Jacob agreed, he was allowed to marry Rachel as well, and kept his part of the agreement, as Genesis 29:30 tells us.  “And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.” 

God Speaks To Jacob

Jacob had been forced to leave his parent’s home to escape his brother’s anger as a result of his actions.  The first night, he came to a place called Luz by the Canaanite people, near where Abraham had built an altar when he first came into Canaan.  Because it was late, he spent the night there, as Genesis 28:10-15 describes.  “And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.  And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.  And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”

It was a time of emotional upheaval in Jacob’s life, and God used a dream to speak to Jacob, reminding him of the promises to give that land to Abraham and Isaac’s descendants.  He also promised to protect him and bring him back to the land safely.  While he had heard about his father and grandfather talking with God, it was the first time Jacob had experienced a personal contact himself, and it frightened him, according to Genesis 28:16-17.  “And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.  And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” 

Nearly every time someone saw a vision of God for the first time in scripture, their reaction was the same, as they recognized his holiness and power.   Today many who claim to have seen God or had a near death experience describe a a great sense of peace and comfort that leaves one wondering if they actually saw the Lord, or if they saw Satan posing as God.  The vision had a great impact on Jacob. 

Genesis 28:18-22 tells us, “And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.  And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.  And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” 

Jacob set up a memorial to remind himself of that vision and what God had promised, renaming it Bethel, the “House of God.”  Unlike Abraham in Genesis 15:6 Jacob did not simply believe God would keep his promise.  Instead, he tried to make a deal with God, promising that if God kept his promise then he would allow God to be his God, making the Bethel a place of worship and giving God a tithe of what he was blessed with.   It is not a statement of faith but a conditional promise in response to emotional effects of the moment.   It would be another twenty years before he made a commitment to God in faith.   Sadly, many times such an emotional response is frequently mistaken for real faith and people are assumed to have been saved.  Many times they later turn away, because they are like the seed that fell on rocky ground in Matthew 13:20-21, which respond dramatically, but have no root in themselves to carry them past conflicts and trials.    

Actions Have Consequences

Humans speak or act without thinking about how it will impact other people.  Both Rebekah and Jacob had been concerned about what Isaac would do if he found out about their deceit before it was too late, but neither had thought about the impact on Esau.  Genesis 27:41 tells us, “And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.”  Esau’s feelings were so hurt he decided to murder his brother , but he didn’t want to hurt his father’s feelings so he chose to wait until his father died. 

Learning of Esau’s plan, Rebekah panicked, knowing that she might lose both her husband and one of her sons at the same time.  She advised Jacob to go away until Esau’s anger cooled off, in Genesis 27:42-46.  “And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.  Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?” 

Not wanting to reveal her part in the affair or the problems it had caused, she reminded Isaac how bothered they were about Esau’s having married two Hittite girls and asked that Jacob be sent to Haran to find a more satisfactory wife, in Genesis 27:46.  “And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?”  If Jacob married one of the Hittite girls and turned away from God like Esau had, she felt like her entire life would have been wasted. 

Isaac shared her concern about Jacob and Sent Jacob to Rbekah’s brother to find a wife, in Genesis 28:1-5.  “And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.  Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.  And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.  And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.”  It hadn’t seemed like a very big thing to fool Isaac into giving the blessing to Jacob instead of Esau, but it would cost them twenty years of living with a guilty conscience and fear. 

It also caused Esau some concerns as Genesis 28:6-8 tells us.  “When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan; And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram; Ge 28:8 And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.”  In an effort to win his parent’s approval, Esau married one of Ishmael’s daughters.  That only compounded the problems with Esau eventually moving to Seir, southeast of the Dead Sea to establish his own home base in what would later become Edom. 

Trying To Make God’s Promises Happen

A frequent problems for Christians is trying to make thing happen rather than trusting God to accomplish his purpose.  Abraham’s efforts resulted in the birth of Ishmael and four thousand years of conflict between the Jews and Arabs.   His efforts to protect himself from the Egyptians led to being expelled from Egypt.   Rebekah didn’t trust God to keep his promise in Genesis 25:23 so she attempted to make it happen, in Genesis 27:1-41.

   

“And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.  And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.  And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death.  Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.  Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.

And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.

And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.

And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved.  And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?  And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.

And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me.  And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.  And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.  And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.  And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.  And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank.  And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.  And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed: Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.  And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.

And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.  And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.

And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.  And he said, Thy brother came with subtlety, and hath taken away thy blessing.

And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?

And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?

And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.”

Romans 14:23 warns, “…whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”  Rebekah’s sin in not trusting God led to lying and deceiving Isaac, and to such hatred between Esau and Jacob that Esau had every intention of murdering Jacob.      

Isaac’s Treaty With The Philistines

Isaac had moved into the Philistine territory as a result of drought producing a famine.  The micro climate of the area around Gerar resulted in more rainfall than other areas, farther inland, so that it was less affected by the drought.  Isaac remained in the area for a considerable period, as Genesis 26:12-16 tells us.  “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.  And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.  For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.”

Abraham had dug a number of wells in order to graze livestock in areas that otherwise were unusable.   After Abraham moved to Beersheba, the Philistines had refilled many of those wells, losing the use of much of their grazing land as a result.  Isaac repaired some of the wells, so his herds grew,  As a result, the Philistines became jealous of his success.  Finally, the Philistine king asked Isaac to move further away to prevent conflicts, as Genesis 26:16-22 describes. 

“And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.  And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.  And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.  And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.  And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.  And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.” 

When Isaac moved farther away, the Philistines claimed the wells he dug, even though they had not been able to use the land.  Rather than fighting them, Isaac moved further away.  Eventually he got far enough away, they no longer bothered him, at Rehoboth.  Eventually, he returned to Beersheba, where Abraham had established his main base, making it his home as well.  God was pleased with his attitude and actions, reminding him again of the promises to Abraham, in Genesis  26:23-25.  “And he went up from thence to Beersheba.  And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.  And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.” 

The Philistines recognized that God was protecting Isaac, and didn’t want to fight him.  Genesis 26:26-31 tells us they wanted a treaty with him.  “Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.  And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?

And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;  That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD.  And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.  And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.”  As Proverbs 16:7 tells us, “When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”  The treaty was almost the same as the one they had made with Abraham nearly a hundred years before, in Genesis 20.

Shortly after the Philistine departed, Isaac servants came witht eh news that they had struck water in the well they were digging, In Genesis 26:32-33.  “And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.  And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day.”  It was the seventh well he had dug, so it became known as Beersheba or well number seven.   Striking water at that particular time seemed like a confirmation of God’s approval.   The name stuck, appearing in Israel’s history for centuries. 

Just Like His Father

Thanks to Abraham’s obedience to god, and his relationship with the people around him, Isaac had never had to move to new lands or face most of the temptations and dangers Abraham had faced, but as Matthew 5:45 tells us, God “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” God’s people experience the same events other people experience.  Weather patterns tend to repeat themselves periodically, and over a hundred years after Abraham went to Egypt to escape a famine, there was another famine, as Genesis 26:1-5 describes. 

“And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.  And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. “

God told Isaac not to go to Egypt but to remain in the land, and trust him to provide for them.  He had promised Abraham’s descendants that land, and he would give it to them as he had promised as a result of Abraham’s obedience.  Stayed in the area, but moved to Gerar, because the water sources there were more dependable, as Genesis 26:6-7 tells us.  “And Isaac dwelt in Gerar: And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon. “ 

Though he had been protected from the temptations Abraham faced, Isaac had developed some of the same attitudes he learned from Abraham, even though Abraham had not intended for him to learn this pattern.     Sometimes we get frustrated when our kids repeat our mistakes, but we need to realize we may have taught them to have that attitude that resulted in the action.   When questioned about his wife, Isaac responded exactly the same way Abraham had responded in both Gerar and Egypt, telling them she was his sister rather than his wife.  Fortunately, the Philistines in Gerar had learned from their experience with Abraham, and though they were interested in Rebekah, they were cautious and did not immediately try to seduce her.  Eventually, they learned the truth as Genesis 26:8-11 describes. 

”And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.  And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister?

And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.

And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.  And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.” 

After seeing Isaac making out with Rebekah, Abimelech confronted Isaac, reminding him that his lie had placed the entire Philistine nation in danger of experiencing God’s judgment for a sin they knew nothing about.  He gave strict orders that anyone who bothered either Isaac or Rebekah was to be executed.

To prevent our children making the same mistakes we made, we need to make a special effort to allow the Holy Spirit to change our attitudes so that our children don't develop the same attitudes.  

Choosing One’s Own Attitude

After several years of marriage, Isaac became concerned that Rebekah had not had children, as Genesis  25:20-21 tells us.  “And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.  And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.” 

Finally, after twenty years, she became pregnant.  It was not an easy pregnancy, and she became concerned that something was wrong, in Genesis 25:22-23.  “And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD.  And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.”

God told her she was going to have twins and that they would be very different, becoming two separate nations, with the younger becoming the stronger nation.  When they were born they were very different, as Genesis 25:24-28 tells us.  “And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.  And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.  And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.  And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.   And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.” 

The boys were different both physically, and in their interests.  Esau was a rugged outdoorsman, a man’s man, who loved hunting and camping out.  Jacob was a homebody who liked fixing things around the house and working with the livestock.   The differences were accentuated by the fact their parents played favorites, with Jacob preferring Esau and Rebekah preferring Jacob.  As is to be expected, thei resulted in competition and jealousy between the boys. 

Genesis 25:29-34 describes one such incident.  “And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.  Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.”

Jacob was cooking a mess of lentils, a sort of small bean.  Esau had been unsuccessful hunting and demanded that Jacob give him some of the lentils.  Jacob said he wanted Esau’s birthright in exchange.  In that day, the oldest son automatically inherited all the father’s property, except for what the father specifically designated to the other children.  In this case, that also included all the promises God had made to Abraham and Isaac. 

Like many young men after a strenuous workout, Esau felt like he was dying of starvation.  If he died, the birthright wouldn’t mean anything to him anyway, so he agreed to trade it for a serving of the lentils.  At first, Jacob thought he was kidding and insisted he make the promise official, in effect putting it in writing.  Concerned only with how he felt at the moment, Esau made it official that Jacob would receive the birthright, in effect saying the birthright and God’s promises were worth less than a bowl of beans to him.   Jacob valued them very highly and gladly gave Esau the food he wanted in exchange. 

Though both boys had the same parents, and had been raised the same way, they had chosen different values that led to making different life styles.   Those choices would impact their relationship with God, and the lives of their descendants.  Each person chooses their priorities and thus influences what happens in their lives.  Unfortunately most people choose by default, simply going along with their feeling of what matters at the moment and not considering the long term effect of their choices.  For example, they can get so focused on a short term promotion or award, that they neglect their marriage or their children.  Later they often blame others when they lose the marriage or the children, rather than recognizing it was their decision that led to the problem.  Esau provides a valuable illustration of what happens.