Jan 21: Genesis 27-29

Jan 21, Genesis 27-29

Genesis 27. Isaac is getting old and wants to give his final blessings. Isaac wants to eat Esau’s game and sends him out to hunt, cook, and feed him. Then Isaac will bless him. Rebekah was listening to their conversation and told Jacob to pretend to be Esau to get the blessing. Here was the scheme: Rebekah would cook the food. Jacob would wear Esau’s best clothes (Isaac was almost blind in his old age) and put the skin of goats on Jacob’s arms (That dude must have been hairy!). Rebekah had it all figured out, and even accepted the curse on her own head if it goes bad. Jacob went in to his father and presented the food his mom had made. Jacob lied to his father after some discourse and ended up getting the blessing of the first born. Jacob leaves and Esau walks in to present his game and get his blessing, only to find out that Isaac was deceived by the younger brother! The blessing that Isaac gave to Jacob was a big deal - it was the Abrahamic blessing, and additionally it stated that all (including Esau) would serve Jacob. Isaac’s left over ‘blessing’ for Esau is really not a blessing at all, but more of a hard life is promised to him. As you can imagine, this seems to be the last straw, as Esau hates his brother because of this. Esau is livid and threatens to kill his little brother. So, Rebekah tells Jacob to flee to her brother Laban’s house until Esau cools down. Remember how God works… even in our sin and deceit - God is orchestrating things for His good and for future events. 

Genesis 28. Isaac does a final blessing on Jacob and directs him strictly to not marry a Canaanite woman. Jacob is sent away from his family. Esau heard his Dad telling his brother not to marry a Canaanite, so Esau, most likely trying to please his father, went and married an Ishmaelite (remember Hagar and Ishmael?) besides the wives he already had. Jacob is on his way towards his uncles place and lays down to rest and he put a stone under his head. While he was sleeping God gave him a dream (famously called Jacob’s ladder) affirming the Abrahamic promises were now being passed onto Jacob. As we learn, Jacob has a personal experience with God, that changes him and his ideas about this God of Abraham. And from now on, Yahweh will be his God. Jacob’s heart was for the Lord now more than ever and promises to be loyal to God.

Genesis 29 is another example of God supernaturally lining up people and events for His purposes. The story has similarities to Abraham’s servant getting a wife for Isaac. Jacob inquired to some shepherds about Laban and he meets Rachel, a shepherdess and Laban’s daughter. Jacob is overwhelmed with emotion as he is reunited with family again! Laban met up with Jacob and offers him a job. What does Jacob want for payment? He wanted to marry Rachel because he loved her. The arrangement between Jacob and Laban - Jacob works for 7 years for Laban in exchange for Rachel’s hand in marriage. On the wedding night, Laban puts Leah, the older sister, in Jacobs tent instead of Rachel, and Jacob slept with her to consummate the marriage, not knowing it was not Rachel (pry really dark at night with no artificial lighting). Jacob confronted Laban about the deceit and Laban flat out said that in their country the younger daughter is never given in marriage first (what a scandalous man - he could have told hi before if he was a man of integrity). So Jacob served another 7 years for the hand of Rachel and married her. He loved Rachel more than Leah. But, God saw that Leah was hated, God opened her womb. Leah hoped that having kids would help Jacob to love her. It didn't help. Before the end of the chapter she cranks out 4 kids! Rachel couldn't have kids. My guess - Jacob and Rachel probably didn't like Leah because of the tricks and sins of Laban. 

To sum it all up:

• God is in control of all things and uses our sinfulness. 
• God is able to change people from the inside out - has He changed you? Can you tell?