He took her

Genesis 34: 1, 2: “And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.”

This section gives us an insight into the lawless times of the Old Testament patriarchs. There were times when Abraham told Sarah to pretend that she was his sister and this gives us the reason why. He was afraid that someone would bring violence on him and he would not be able to defend himself. Of course, at another time, when Lot was captured in Sodom Abraham was able to take his men and save Lot from a life of captivity. Before the Lord gave the Law to Israel the world was a lawless place. Kings did whatever they wanted and the only way they could be stopped was by force of arms. We can thank the Lord and the Law that He gave to Israel for the concept that we call “the rule of law” today. This gives us a sense of security in our lives and in the integrity of our countries. This however, is the smallest part of what God has done for us. Not only do we have the rule of law, we also have access to everlasting life, which the Lord purchased for us by giving up His only begotten Son. Surely God has done wonderful things for us.

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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He erected an altar

Genesis 33: 18-20: “And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city. And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money. And he erected there an altar, and called it Elelohe-Israel.”

Jacob stayed in Succoth for a while but then he moved on. When Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac, he told the servant that he wasn’t to take his son back to his father’s homeland under any circumstances. The Lord had sent him away from that Land and had promised a new Land. The Land of Canaan, that is, the Promised Land. Jacob decided to move to the Promised Land because God had promised him that the future lay in the Promised Land. Not only did he pitch his there, he also bought some land so that he would have a stake in the Promised Land. When he had done all this he built and altar and called it “God, the God of Israel. When Jacob left the Land to get his wife (he ended up with more than he set out to get) he had a vision and promised the Lord that if the Lord brought him back to his father’s house in peace then the Lord would be his God (Gen 28: 19-21 “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:”) Jacob was back and he kept the promise that he had made all those years before.

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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And built him an house

Genesis 33: 13 -17: “And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.”

Now that Jacob felt confident that Esau didn’t want to kill him any more, he thought about his own family and the flocks and herds. He may be excused for wanting to make sure that he protected himself first so that he would then be in a position to protect his family for if he were dead what would happen to them. Of course, before he married Rachel she was looking after her father’s stock so she may have been able to manage his property. The other wives would also have some skills so maybe he should have shown more courage and fought to protect his family. Jacob was commended in Hebrews 11: 21 (“By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.”) It is interesting to note that he wasn’t commended for what he achieved in life but for the fact that he understood that there was a future in God’s hands. He blessed his grandsons knowing that God would continue to keep His promise to bless Abraham’s descendants. Jacob went from this meeting to a place called Succoth where e built a house and made stalls for his stock. Jacob had spent at least twenty years wandering around but now he was ready to settle down. Jacob met with God and knew that he could rest in God’s promises. He chose to settle in a fertile place on the eastern side of the Jordan valley Joshua 13: 27 9 “And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward.”)tells us that Succoth was in the area that two and half tribes chose for their inheritance (see the rest of Josh 13.). We learn that this land was good land for stock (see Numbers 32: 4, 5 “Even the country which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle: Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.”) Jacob was a wealthy man and the Lord gave him a good place for his herds and flocks and He gave him rest as well. Anyone who submits to the Lord and trusts in Him can find rest for their souls (compare Jer 6: 16, 17 “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”)

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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God hath graciously given

Genesis 33: 5-12: “And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it. And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.”

Life is always influenced by the way we perceive things. This is not always just a simple matter of choosing what perspective we have because we are conditioned by our circumstances as well. Some people tend to see things from the “glass half empty” perspective while others tend to see things from the “glass half full” perspective. There are voices inside our heads that repeat things that we were told during our childhood and it is very hard to turn these voices off. Our mother’s mental state at the time of our birth and the first few months of our lives can also affect the way we look at life; depression can run in families. This fact is illustrated here: Jacob looked at his life and his possessions and saw that he had been badly treated and was lucky to have the few things that he had even though he had to fight very hard to get anything at all. Esau saw Jacob’s entourage and possessions and thought that he had done very well for himself. However, Jacob did understand one very important fact of life, God had graciously given him everything that he had. The Lord God made each one of us and understands the way we work, as a creature made in His own image and individually. He knows that some people have a dark perspective on life while others don’t. However, He had made it possible for every person, who trusts in God, to rise about their mood and find peace and joy. In Isaiah 26: 3 (Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”) and Phil 4: 6, 7 (“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”) We have our Maker’s instructions to give us a clue. If we focus on God and all the things that He has done for us; from making us, to saving us from our sins, to promising to come back to take us to be with Him for ever. We can have the peace of God which passeth all understanding keeping our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. This way the glass is always completely full.

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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Esau ran to meet him

Genesis 33: 4: “And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept” 

Jacob did everything that he possibly could to make sure that he was in complete control of the situation. He thought of every possible outcome except for the final outcome. He didn’t dream that his twin brother would be happy to see him. How many times in our lives do we worry and scheme to make sure that we can control the outcome but when the events take place we find that we were not in control at all and were surprised. Psalm 118: 8 (“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”) is the middle verse in the English Bible and it gives us the core message of the Bible. This includes trusting ourselves and our ability to manipulate situations for our own advantage. If we trust in God, and this is harder than just about anything else, then He will always work for good in every situation. (See Rom 8: 28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”) It is a good time to note that the Lord chose Jacob over Esau, not because Jacob was better than Esau but to establish a pattern for the Bible. This is not the first or only case of the person less qualified being chosen. The fact that we are chosen, for everlasting life (say), places the emphasis on God and His goodness rather than on anything that we have to offer to God. No one has anything to boast about before God. (Compare Eph 2: 8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”)

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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He passed over before them

Genesis 33: 1-3: “And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.”

We can see Jacob’s priorities in this section: he sent his handmaids first and then Lead and lastly Rachel with Joseph. He divided the other sons among the rest of his wives. Jacob before them and then was obsequious before his brother hoping to escape any fallout for himself. This is probably and appropriate time to compare Jacob with the Lord Jesus Christ and the history related in John 18: 3-5 (“Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.”) Judas was accompanied by a group of 600 soldiers (that is the meaning of the word “band”, one tenth of a legion). We also know that his disciples had two swords with them (Luke 22: 38 “And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.”) Peter also proclaimed that he was ready to die with the Lord (Luke 22: 33 “And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.”) The people who came to take the Lord Jesus Christ away were afraid of the people, that is why they took the soldiers (see Matt 26: 5 “But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.”) The Lord Jesus Christ was proactive at that time, if He had let his disciples take charge there would have been a blood bath and all of them would have been killed. What else could you expect from thirteen men with two swords fighting against 600 soldiers? The Lord Jesus Christ did exactly the opposite to Jacob and He saved us all from our sins and offered the opportunity to have everlasting life.

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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See God’s face

Genesis 32: 27-32: “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. And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.”

Jacob finally had his name changed from “cheat” to “one who fought with God and men and prevailed”. This is an important issue in his life. The name Israel went on to be the name of the nation that descended from Jacob. Image a nation called “Jacob” rather than “Israel”? The name does signify the ability of this nation to survive despite opposition throughout the ages. They went down to Egypt and spent a few hundred years as slaves then they spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness but managed to survive as the nation Israel. Later, they were taken to Babylon for seventy years but managed to survive and return to their Land. Much later, the nation was destroyed by the Romans and all Jews were forced to leave the Land on pain of death but after many centuries, and a concerted attempt at genocide, Israel was again numbered among the nations of the world. This nation, more than any other, has struggled with men and prevailed. God knew what He was talking about all those years ago. This passage also reminds us of Luke 18: 1 (“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”). If we follow Jacob’s example and never give up then we will see God’s face.

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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