Covenants in Genesis Part 2

With my last post in mind, below I have looked at the various covenants in Genesis and tried to fit the pieces together into the form of a ancient Near Eastern covenants (note that I didn't do this for the marriage covenants in Genesis). Again, while each has the elements that fill out the form of many covenants in ancient Near Eastern culture, it seems that these covenants weren't recorded with a specific order or structure in mind. There is continuity and discontinuity in the form of each of them. I have found it helpful to look for the various elements in them, partly because it has helped me see the continuity and discontinuity more clearly.

This is merely my attempt to fit some of these things together. First, this is by no means perfect, and I'm open to suggestions for how it could be better. Second, much more could be said for each one of these, and for each of the various categories. That said, hopefully I've put enough information down to show some of my thought process. For my purposes, I'm just covering things at a fairly high level so I can get back to blogging through the rest of Genesis.

Lord willing, tomorrow I'm going to post a brief summary of the four covenants between God and men in Genesis from Michael Lawrence's book Biblical Theology:

I. God's Covenant with Adam also called "Adamic Covenant" or "Covenant of Creation" (see Hosea 6:7 and Romans 5)

Genesis 2:15-17 
"15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, 'You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.'"

Parties of the Covenant: God and Adam (with implications for all mankind)
Type of Covenant: Covenant of Works

1. Preamble ~ The "LORD God" (Gen. 2:15).
2. Historical Prologue ~ Pre-fall: God put Adam in the garden of Eden (Gen. 2:15). Post-fall: God didn't kill them. 
3. Stipulations ~ Pre-fall: Keep garden, eat of any tree but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:16-17). Post-fall: The creation mandate for mankind doesn't change, but because of their sin God punishes them by making their roles more difficult (Gen. 3). Further, their works will not be enough to reconcile them to God (see the next covenant below, the Covenant of Redemption).
4. Document Clause ~ Implied by the fact it's contained in the 1st book of the Pentateuch (Deut. 17:18; Psalm 1:1-2 etc.). Evidenced by the fact that we still have a record of it.
5. Blessings ~ Pre-fall: Implied that they will not die or be separated from God's pleasure (Gen. 2:17). Post-fall: Implied that though they die, through Eve's seed a messiah will come (Gen. 3:15).
6. Curses ~ Pre-fall: They would surely die (Gen. 2:17), and their creation roles would be more difficult (see God's punishment in Gen. 3). Post-fall: Though we die an eternal second death will be faced.
7. Oath/Sacrifice ~ Pre-fall: God's act of creating them, the oath is established by giving them His image, and giving them flesh, blood, and life. Post-fall: God's extension of life to people to be able to come to a knowledge of Yahweh by not immediately killing Adam and Eve, and by His continued provision for mankind, even after the fall. The blood sacrifice that shows this is when the Lord killed animals to cloth Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:21).

II. God's Covenant of Redemption

Genesis 3:15 (see Jim Hamilton's article on this)
"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” 

Psalm 48:7-8,
"7 No man can by any means redeem his brother or give to God a ransom for him - 8 for the redemption of his soul is costly and he should cease trying forever[.]"

Isaiah 53:10
"Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand." 

Luke 24:27,
"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself."

Luke 10:18-19,
"18 And He said to them, 'I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you[.]'" 

Romans 16:20
"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your [the church in Rome's] feet[.]” 

Parties of the Covenant: All 3 persons of the 1 God, to save believing mankind
Type of Covenant: Covenant of Works (Intra-Trinitarian) / Grace to undeserving beneficiaries

1. Preamble ~ God will give a son to Eve (Jesus Christ) who will crush Satan's head (Gen. 3:15).
2. Historical Prologue ~ The entire Old Testament through the gospels (Note especially Luke 3:21-38, Jesus is the seed/son of Adam that was promised in Gen. 3:15).
3. Stipulations ~ He will be crushed to save His people (Isaiah 53:5, 10; Matt. 1:21; etc.).
4. Document Clause ~ Implied by the fact it's contained in the 1st book of the Pentateuch (Deut. 17:18; Psalm 1:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:16-18; etc.).
5. Blessings ~ Salvation for those who repent and believe in Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15; Rom. 10:9-10; etc.).
6. Curses ~ Eternal damnation for those who reject the Son (Psalm 2:12; Matt. 25:41; etc.).
7. Oath/Sacrifice ~ The death of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53; Rom. 3:22-26; Gal. 3:13-14; Matt. 26:28; 1 Cor. 11:25;  represented in the New Covenant life of the church in/through the Lord's Supper.

III. God's Covenant with Noah also called "Noahic Covenant"

Genesis 6:18
"But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you." 

Genesis 8:20
"Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar." 

Genesis 9:8-17
"8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 'Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.' 12 And God said, 'This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.' 17 God said to Noah, 'This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.'" 

Parties of the Covenant: God and Noah (and Noah's family and every living creature)
Type of Covenant: Covenant of Grace

1. Preamble ~ God is the king establishing this covenant (Gen. 6:18).
2. Historical Prologue ~ Genesis 7-8 (not to mention Gen. 1-6).
3. Stipulations ~ The only stipulation is what God has established for Himself (Gen. 9:15-16).
4. Document Clause ~ Implied by the fact it's contained in the first book of the Pentateuch (see Deuteronomy 17:18; Psalm 1:1-2, etc.). Evidenced by the fact that we still have a record of it.
5. Blessings ~ This is a covenant of common grace which promises blessing to all by virtue of being part of the creation (Gen. 9:8-17). In this sense it is a covenant of common grace to all.
6. Curses ~ This appears to be a promise to withhold the curse of death to the entire world until the end of time, but there is no curse for disobedience stipulations of this covenant. This is a one way covenant from God to the creation.
7. Oath/Sacrifice ~ The sign and seal of this covenant isn't primarily a sacrifice in blood but a bow in the clouds (Gen. 9:12-13), as if God were laying down His weapon. That said, Noah's sacrifice (Gen. 8:20) seems to be in response to God's promise of a covenant (Gen. 6:18). Also, the blood shed in God's judgment through the flood could definitely be seen as part the sacrifice given in order to seal/establish this covenant (Gen. 6:17; 9:15).

IV. Abram Part 1: Initiation of the "Abrahamic Covenant" 

Genesis 15:1-20
"1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: 'Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.' 2 But Abram said, 'O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?' 3 And Abram said, 'Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.' 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: 'This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.' 5 And he brought him outside and said, 'Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.' Then he said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.' 6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. 7 And he said to him, 'I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.' 8 But he said, 'O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?' 9 He said to him, 'Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.' 10 And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then the LORD said to Abram, 'Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.' 17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.'"

Parties of the Covenant: God and Abraham (and his posterity that God chooses)
Type of Covenant: Covenant of Grace. This is a self-maledictory oath (compare verse 17 with Jeremiah 34:17-20 especially 34:18)

1. Preamble ~ The LORD, Yahweh (Gen. 15:1).
2. Historical Prologue ~ Yahweh brought Abram out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give him the land of Canaan to possess it (Gen. 15:7).
3. Stipulations ~ Believing the LORD (Gen. 15:6). It appears though that God's going to give Abram the gift of belief anyway though, and God's choosing of Abram isn't dependent upon his believing in God. God's choosing of Abram produces the fruit of belief in Abram.
4. Document Clause ~ Implied by the fact it's contained in the first book of the Pentateuch (see Deuteronomy 17:18; Psalm 1:1-2, etc.).
5. Blessings ~ An heir for Abram (Gen. 15:4), offspring as numerous as the stars (Gen. 15:5), counting belief in Him as righteousness (Gen. 15:6). The land of Canaan as a possession for Abram's offspring (Gen. 15:18-21). God prophesies of Israel's slavery in Egypt of 400 years and that God will deliver them in accordance with His choosing of Abram (Gen. 15:13-14).
6. Curses ~ These aren't detailed, but the implication is that for those who reject faith in God in Abram's lineage will not be counted as the people of God (i.e. Ishmael, Esau, etc. Also, see Jer. 34:18).
7. Oath/Sacrifice ~ Sacrificing a heifer, female goat, and a ram (all 3 years old). The Lord cut them in half and laid them across from each other, and then Yahweh passed through the pieces, swearing an oath on Himself. Also, a turtledove and a young pigeon were sacrificed (but He didn't cut the birds in half). (Gen. 15:9-10).

V. Abram Part 2: Re-affirmation/Re-establishment of the "Abrahamic Covenant" 

Genesis 17:1-21
"1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.' 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 'Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.' 9 And God said to Abraham, 'As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.' 15 And God said to Abraham, 'As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.' 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, 'Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?' 18 And Abraham said to God, 'Oh that Ishmael might live before you!' 19 God said, 'No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.'"

Parties of the Covenant: God and Abraham (and his posterity that God chooses)
Type of Covenant: Covenant of Grace

1. Preamble ~ God Almighty is making the covenant (Gen. 17:1).
2. Historical Prologue ~ Genesis 15-17 (not to mention Genesis 1-14).
3. Stipulations ~ To walk before God blamelessly (Gen. 17:1), and to circumcise the all those who are part of the household, not just family (Gen. 17:14).
4. Document Clause ~ Implied by the fact it's contained in the first book of the Pentateuch (see Deuteronomy 17:18; Psalm 1:1-2, etc.).
5. Blessings ~ That Abram would be the father of a multitude of nations (Gen. 17:5), and the promised land of Canaan (Gen. 17:8), a child, Isaac, at their old age, and that Yahweh would be the God of their offspring. (Gen. 17:8). The chosen line will be Isaac, not Ishmael (Gen. 17:19, 21).
6. Curses ~ To be cut off from the people of God (Gen. 17:14).
7. Oath/Sacrifice ~ The change of Abram's name to Abraham (Gen. 17:5) and Sarai's name to Sarah (Gen. 17:15), also circumcision (Gen. 17:10-12).

VI. Abraham & Abimelech

Genesis 21:22-34
"22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, 'God is with you in all that you do. 23 Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned.' 24 And Abraham said, 'I will swear.' 25 When Abraham reproved Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech's servants had seized, 26 Abimelech said, 'I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today.' 27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. 28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. 29 And Abimelech said to Abraham, 'What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?' 30 He said, 'These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well.' 31 Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath. 32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army rose up and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines."

Parties of the Covenant: Abimelech and Abraham

Type of Covenant: Covenant of Works

1. Preamble ~ Abimelech and Phicol with Abraham (Gen. 21:22).
2. Historical Prologue ~ God is with Abraham in all he does, so they wanted to make a covenant with him so that he would deal kindly with them as they had with him (Gen. 21:22-23).
3. Stipulations ~ Deal kindly with each other (Gen. 21:22-23), in other words not steal wells, etc. (Gen. 21:25-26).
4. Document Clause ~ Implied that they would keep record of this somehow (orally or written).
5. Blessings ~ Peace (the entire passage alludes to this).
6. Curses ~ War/strife (implied).
7. Oath/Sacrifice ~ Abraham gave Abimelech livestock as a witness to the covenant (Gen. 21:27-31).

VII. Isaac & Abimelech

Genesis 26:26-33
"26 When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army, 27 Isaac said to them, 'Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?' 28 They said, 'We see plainly that the LORD has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.' 30 So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths. And Isaac sent them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. 32 That same day Isaac's servants came and told him about the well that they had dug and said to him, 'We have found water.' 33 He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day."

Parties of the Covenant: Abimelech and Isaac
Type of Covenant: Covenant of Works

1. Preamble ~ Abimelech, Ahuzzath, and Phicol with Isaac (Gen. 26:26).
2. Historical Prologue ~ The LORD has been with them, that they would not do them harm just as they have not harmed them (Gen. 26:28-29).
3. Stipulations ~ Not do each other harm (Gen. 26:28-29).
4. Document Clause ~ This is implied to be done (either orally or written, and by virtue of the fact it's in Genesis today shows this was done).
5. Blessings ~ Peace
6. Curses ~ War/Strife 
7. Oath/Sacrifice ~ The covenant was sworn to and the oath was established in the context of a meal/feast. The sacrifice may be seen as the animals that were killed for the feast (Gen. 26:30-31).

VIII. Jacob & Laban: 

Genesis 31:44-54 
"44 'Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I. And let it be a witness between you and me.' 45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. 46 And Jacob said to his kinsmen, 'Gather stones.' And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. 48 Laban said, 'This heap is a witness between you and me today.' Therefore he named it Galeed, 49 and Mizpah, for he said, 'The LORD watch between you and me, when we are out of one another's sight. 50 If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.' 51 Then Laban said to Jacob, 'See this heap and the pillar, which I have set between you and me. 52 This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, to do harm. 53 The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.' So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac, 54 and Jacob offered a sacrifice in the hill country and called his kinsmen to eat bread. They ate bread and spent the night in the hill country."

Parties of the Covenant: Laban and Jacob
Type of Covenant: Covenant of Works

1. Preamble ~ Laban with Jacob (Gen. 31:44).
2. Historical Prologue ~  Genesis 28-31.
3. Stipulations ~ When out of sight, Jacob is to not mistreat Leah and Rachel (Gen. 31:49-50), and to not pass over the pillar of stones to harm one another (Gen. 31:52).
4. Document Clause ~ This is implied, but the heap of stones seems to fill out this function too (Gen. 31:46-52). As if it were a stone of remembrance.
5. Blessings ~ Peace/prosperity.
6. Curses ~ War/strife (implied).
7. Oath/Sacrifice ~ God is called to witness their oath (Gen. 31:49, 50, 53), and Jacob offered a sacrifice and he called his kinsmen to eat bread together (Gen. 31:53-54). The heap of stones seems to have acted as a visible marker of their pledge as well (Gen. 31:46-52).

Covenants in Genesis Part 1

"Covenant" is one of the central themes of Genesis. So, it's appropriate to spend a few posts thinking about what a covenant is in Genesis. In a book that was just published, How to Read the Bible Through the Jesus Lens, Michael Williams writes that the theme of Genesis is, "God separates out one through whom he would bless all nations." (p. 13) The way that God separates His people is by choosing them and entering into a covenant with them.

What is a Covenant?
Here's a brief definition of what a covenant is: "A solemn commitment, guaranteeing promises or obligations undertaken by one or more parties, usually between a being with more authority and someone with less authority." In ancient Near Eastern culture this was most commonly seen between great kings and vassal kings. In essence a covenant functions similar to a contract, but it encompasses much more. When a covenant is taking place between men in Genesis it includes a third party witness, namely God. If it is a covenant made with God, it comes from God to the man (with implications for his familial posterity or society in general). Further, if the covenant is between God and man it is God who initiates and establishes the covenant.

Covenants are not merely made, but the verb enacting the covenant is actually "to cut" (karat = cut; berit = covenant). Covenants were forged through the cutting of flesh and the shedding of blood. This affirms and bears witness to a covenant's solemnity and finality.

"[A] covenant is not merely a 'contract' or a 'promise' as we understand such things. Rather, it's a bond that establishes an all-encompassing relationship. A covenant is not merely a financial obligation or a military treaty. It's a claim on someone's total loyalty and allegiance . . . it's generational. When Israel entered the covenant, they did so for the generations yet to come." (Lawrence, 57)

Covenants can even be accompanied by a "self-maledictory oath", which in essence means the initiator says, "may what has happened in the slaughter, cutting, and dividing of these animals happen to me if I do not fulfill my end of the covenant." Further, when God makes covenants with people it may issue in a name change. A person's very identity as an individual can be changed because of a covenant with God.This is serious stuff.

2 Kinds of Covenants
Generally speaking, in the Bible there are two kinds of covenants: (1) Works and (2) Grace. The covenant of works requires obedience to the stipulations that are laid out. The covenant of grace requires nothing of the vassal king, it's the forging of a legal relationship out of generous love, goodness, and benevolence.

Ancient Near Eastern Structure of a Covenant 
Here are the elements that are included in many ancient Near Eastern covenants, which are shown in different ways in the covenants of Genesis (see Michael Lawrence, p. 56):

1. Preamble ~ This identifies the king who authors the covenant.
2. Historical Prologue ~ Outlining the kings past grace to the vassal king serving as a foundation for the vassal king's obedience.
3. Stipulations ~ Outlining what is expected of the vassal king.
4. Document Clause ~ This required that each king keep the record of the covenant and read it from time to time.
5. Blessings ~ The good things that would happen if they were obedient to the covenant.
6. Curses ~ The bad things that would happen if they were disobedient to the covenant.
7. Oath/Sacrifice ~ After all these terms were fulfilled in some way the covenant would be ratified by an oath that involved the shedding of sacrificial blood.

Note that this is a structured covenant form of a covenant was not necessarily detailed out in the formation of God's people in Genesis. We'll see later in the Pentateuch that the Mosaic covenant exhibits these marks more clearly. 

I have attempted to fit the covenants of Genesis into this scheme, and to be honest they are a little awkward, so I'm not so certain that the covenants of Genesis were following a prescribed order. However, I think its clear that many of the marks of what would later become a systematized structure are either implied or actually seen in the accounts.

In my next post I'll show how I've fleshed this out in various covenants in Genesis.

All Covenants Point to Jesus
The covenants all foreshadow and point straight at Jesus Christ, the guarantor of a better covenant (Heb. 7:22), which is built on better promises (Heb. 8:6, c.f. 12:24). All previous covenants (in fact all covenants period, marriage or otherwise) point to the covenant that was forged in Jesus' blood for the forgiveness of sins. All mankind carries the covenant obligation to be holy as God is holy. All mankind carries the obligation to live a perfect life. This is a daunting thought, because we can't do it. And we need to come to this sober realization, that everyone's relationship to God is in part a legal one. It's much more multi-faceted than just this, but our lives say something about God, and we are bound by virtue of our existence and nature to obey God's commands and be perfect as He is perfect. This is the case, because we all bear His image. If we don't fulfill our obligations as His image bearers we will be objectively/forensically and legally evaluated, and God's just ruling will be that we "miss the mark". This aspect of the covenant points to the bad news of the Bible. We are all under the condemnation of God because of our inherited and willful rebellion against Him.

This then gives way to the good news of the Bible. By virtue of the covenant God has made through Jesus Christ we have the opportunity to become part of God's family by adoption as sons! The "covenant of grace" we have witnessed beginning in Genesis 3:15 has found it's full completion and consummation in the New Covenant in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Messiah that would come to crush the head of God's enemy. Jesus was the perfect man that Adam never could have been. Jesus not only consummated the "covenant of grace" to our benefit, but He even fulfilled the "covenant of works" on our behalf. Jesus even fulfilled the just punishment that should be credited to our account because of our sin. The covenant God has made is forged by the power of Jesus' indestructible life. Now, through Jesus Christ we can be God's chosen people of the covenant, only through Jesus Christ. There is no other way that we can be justified before the legal demands of God's law.

The promise of covenant blessings that come because of faithfulness to the covenant obligations can now assuredly be ours by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. Genealogy, ethnicity, and works no longer have a bearing on who is marked out as the chosen covenant people of God. It is only in Christ that anyone can be saved into a covenant relationship with God, case closed. And what is the covenant promise and blessing that we can be certain to have through Jesus Christ? God Himself! We can be reconciled to God, not bearing the weight of God's wrath, but we can be freed through Jesus Christ to walk in uninhibited relationship and access to Yahweh, in His perfect joy, holy delight, all-powerful love, incomprehensible beauty, and incorruptible goodness.

Genesis Chapter 31 ~ Jacob's Departure and Cutting a Covenant

Genesis Chapter 31 

Laban's sons were saying that Jacob had taken their fathers wealth and possessions. Further, Jacob could see that Laban didn't care for him. Then Yahweh said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you." (31:3) Jacob didn't just decide to leave, he was commanded to leave. He tells Rachel and Leah about their circumstances and how Laban had cheated him by changing his wages ten times (31:7). He confessed though, that God did not permit Laban to harm him.

Next Jacob recognizes that nothing he had done brought him prosperity, it was God's choosing: "Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me." (31:9) Then Jacob described his interaction with an "angel of God" to Rachel and Leah. The angel said, "I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred." (31:13) Rachel and Leah responded recognizing their father's sin in basically selling them and cheating them. Then they affirmed what the angel said by saying, "All the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do." (31:16) So Jacob set his family on camels and left with all his possessions and livestock that he acquired in Paddan-aram to go back to Canaan to his father Isaac. While packing up Rachel stole Laban's household gods, and Jacob tricked Laban by not telling him he and his family were leaving. So they fled and crossed the Euphrates headed toward the hill country of Gilead (31:21).

Three days later Laban was told that they fled and he pursued them for seven days into the country of Gilead. God came to him in a dream and said, "Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad." (Gen. 31:24) Laban caught up with Jacob accused him of harshly driving his daughters away and accused him of tricking him and not letting him kiss his family farewell. He said that because of this it was in his power to harm Jacob (v. 29), but God told him not to. Then he asked why Jacob stole his gods. Jacob told him the reason they left secretly was because he was afraid and thought he'd take Rachel and Leah from him. He also said that anyone who is found in his camp to have the gods shall not live (he didn't know Rachel took them). So, Laban's party looked through everyone's things and couldn't find them. Rachel hid them under her saddle and sat on them, and she told him that she couldn't get up because, "the way of women is upon me." (31:35). After this Jacob berated Laban telling him all the grievances he had against him. In the midst of this, he accused Laban changing of Jacob's wages similar to what we saw in Genesis 30 and in his description to Leah and Rachel in 31:7: "I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times." (31:41) After this he described how God was on his side and that's why God rebuked him the night before (31:42).

Laban and Jacob's Covenant
As a response Laban proposed that they make/cut a covenant (31:44) saying, "let it be a witness between you and me." Jacob then took a stone and set it up as a pillar, and he told his kinsmen to gather stones, so they made a heap of the stones and they ate there. Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha (Aramaic for "the heap of witness"), and Jacob called it Galeed (Hebrew for "the heap of witness"). So Laban called it Galeed and Mizpah (Hebrew for "watch-post"). Laban then set the terms of the covenant:

"The LORD watch between you and me, when we are out of one another's sight. If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, God is witness between you and me." (31:49-50) 

And further:

"See this heap and the pillar, which I have set between you and me. This heap is a witness and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, to do harm. The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us." (31:51-53) 

Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac, and he offered a sacrifice in the hill country and called his men to eat bread. Then early in the morning Laban arose and kissed his grandchildren and daughters and he blessed them. Then Laban returned home.

Reflections on Chapter 31
When you read this chapter it’s hard to miss how God is meticulously in control of everything. First, it’s clear that Jacob was leaving Laban because he was afraid, and yet, he was also leaving because God told him to. Further, this chapter says that all of Jacob’s prosperity came to him because of God’s choosing. It wasn’t a superstitious belief in laying down sticks from poplar, almond, and plane trees. It was because of God. Second, God spoke to Laban in his dream while he was in hot pursuit of Jacob, and basically told him not to charge him of anything and to leave him alone: “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.” (Gen. 31:24) It’s pretty clear that God is on Jacob’s side here, and not because of anything Jacob did, but because of God’s sovereign choice (31:42).

Then they made or “cut” a covenant (keep your eyes open for the next post over-viewing the way covenants are referred to in Genesis). In this covenant Jacob swore by the Fear (capital “F”) of his father, Isaac (see Genesis 31:42 and 31:53). What was this fear? The only answer can be the fear of the LORD. "Fear" here can also be translated, "the Awesome One of Isaac." This is the fear that he learned from His grandpa, Abraham. There are at least three references to this “Fear” in Genesis. First, in Genesis 9:2 the “fear and dread of [God]” is foundational to God’s covenant with Noah, and it’s foundational faith. Second, in Genesis 20:11 the “fear of God” is not in the non-believing king Abimelek’s house. Third, in Genesis 22:12 God stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac saying, “Do not lay a hand on the boy...Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” So Isaac’s “Fear” is his faith, and belief in the one true and living God, Yahweh. It’s interesting that he doesn’t swear on his own fear though.

This should draw our affections and appreciation to Jesus Christ more and more. God is in control of all things, and because of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, fear of God is no longer shaped primarily by His wrath against His people for eternity, but by His wrath poured out on Jesus in our place. If a person is outside of Christ their fear is primarily one of wrath, but a believer's fear of God is rooted in Christ’s work on our behalf, and it is an humble awe and reverence because of His great power and might. It is a trembling in His presence because He has chosen weak and broken people just like us to be His sons if we would only repent and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Hallelujah, all praise to Yahweh!

Genesis Chapter 30 ~ Family Growth Through Rivalry and Jacob's Prosperity

Genesis Chapter 30

Family Growth through Rivalry
Rachel envied Leah because she was able to have kids, so she went to Jacob and said, "Give me children, or I shall die!" (30:1) This made Jacob angry and he said, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?" (30:2) He clearly understood that God was in control of Rachel's infertility. She then asked if he would be intimate with her servant, Bilhah, and he agreed. Bilhah bore a son and Rachel named him Dan, and said, "God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son." (30:6) Bilhah bore another son and Rachel named him Naphtali, and said, "With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed." (30:8)

Competition ensued. Leah gave Zilpah, her servant, to Jacob as a concubine (30:9) to do what Rachel had done with Bilhah. Zilpah then bore a son and Leah named him Gad, and said, "Good fortune has come!" (30:11) Then Zilpah bore a second son and Leah named him Asher, and said, "Happy am I! For women have called me happy." (30:12) In some translations what I have as "as a concubine" (30:9) has been translated as "as a wife". The Hebrew can be translated either way, but considering the context of the passage I think "concubine" is more appropriate. There's more that could be said, but I'll leave it at that. Jacob was a polygamist in marrying Rachel and Leah, but not necessarily marrying Bilhah and Zilpah.

During the wheat harvest Reuben found mandrakes and brought them to his mom, Leah. Rachel asked for some of them, and Leah responded with a sharp tongue of how Rachel took Jacob from her and now wanted her son's mandrakes too! So, Rachel said Leah could lay with Jacob that night in exchange for some of Reuben's mandrakes. Later in the evening Jacob came into the field and Leah went to meet him and told him that he must be intimate with her because she had "hired" him with Ruben's mandrakes. He was intimate with her that night, and Leah bore another son named Issachar, and said, "God has given me my wages because I gave my servant to my husband." (30:18) She bore another son as well and named him Zebulun, and said, "God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons." (30:20) Then she bore a daughter named Dinah. (30:21)

After all of this the Bible says, "Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb." (30:22) She bore a son named Joseph, and said, "God has taken away my reproach," and, "May the LORD add to me another son!" (30:23-24)

Here are all the names of the children born in chapter 30 and what the names mean:

6. Dan (son of Rachel's servant Bilhah) - "God has vindicated me"

7. Naphtali (son of Rachel's servant Bilhah) - "with the struggling for God, I have struggled"

8. Gad (son of Leah's servant Zilpah) - "what good fortune" or "luck has come"

9. Asher (son of Leah's servant Zilpah) - "women will call me happy" or "I am to be envied"

10. Isaachar (son of Leah) - "He rewards" or " God has rewarded me"

11. Zebulun (son of Leah) - "God has presented me with a gift" combined with "my husband will acknowledge me as a lawful wife"

12. Dinah (daughter of Leah) - no definition is given (note that Jacob has more daughters later in 46:7)

13. Joseph (son of Rachel) - "May the LORD add to me another son"

Jacob's Desire to Leave and Growth in Prosperity
After all of this Jacob told Laban to send him back to his home country (Beersheba) with his wives (Leah & Rachel) and children, because he finished out his seven year service. Laban said he learned by divination that he was being blessed because of Jacob, and he asked him to name his wages and stay. Jacob affirmed that the prosperity had come because of him, but came back to his original question again and asked to be sent away. Laban responded dodgingly again by asking what Jacob would take in order to stay. Jacob then responded explaining how he would take care of the flock and the (1) speckled and spotted sheep, (2) every black lamb, and (3) every spotted and speckled goat would be his wages (30:32-33). The rest would be Laban's. Jacob claimed to be doing this to prove his honesty, and Laban said, "Good! Let it be as you have said." (30:34) Then we have a contrasting conjunction "but" that indicates Laban was plotting against any prospect of increasing Jacob's prosperity. It says, "But that day Laban removed the [(1)] male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the [(2)] female goats that were speckled and spotted, [(3)] every one that had white on it, and [(4)] every lamb that was black." (30:35) He put those sheep under the charge of his sons, not Jacob, and he set a three days' distance between Jacob and his flock. He basically made it impossible for the flocks to mix and for Jacob's "chances" of prosperity to come true.

Then Jacob took fresh sticks of poplar and almond and plane trees. He peeled white streaks in them and exposed the white of the sticks. Then he set them in front of the flocks in the troughs where they came to drink. The flocks bred in front of the sticks and their offspring were striped, speckled, and spotted (vs. 39).

Jacob separated the lambs by themselves and made the flocks face toward the striped and all the black of the flock of Laban. It seems the "flocks" in this passage is a general term that includes both the sheep and goats, not necessarily the goats in contrast to the sheep (as Waltke pg. 420 seems to indicate from 30:38). Also, from this little description it appears that either Laban changed the terms of their agreement and is now taking some of the striped, speckled, and black, or Jacob is giving Laban more than he is required by their agreement. Jacob basically made two flocks: his own and Laban's. (vs. 40)

Whenever the stronger animals were in heat (mating season) Jacob put the poplar, almond, and plane sticks in the troughs before the eyes of the flock so they'd breed among the sticks. When the weaker of the flock would mate he wouldn't lay the sticks there. So Jacob's flock became stronger, and Laban's weaker, and Jacob increased greatly and had large flocks, male and female servants, camels and donkeys.

Some Thoughts on Genesis 30

It's amazing that around every turn of the narrative in Genesis the sin of man is attempting to put God's purposes to bless His people by bringing them a Messiah in jeopardy. This all in vain though. Yahweh is unstoppable! Here we see all kinds of depravity in Leah and Rachel's competition for children and Jacob's affection. We see the distortion and perversion of the use of sex and children; having their servants lay with Jacob, and then also Leah's "hiring" Jacob by letting Rachel have some of Rueben's mandrakes. We also see the abuse of a husband who puts his wife in the position of having to "hire" him out just to be intimate with her (intimacy in marriage is a "right" as we see later in Moses, Exod. 21:10, and the Apostle Paul, 1 Cor. 7:3). We see Laban and Jacob's schemes to take advantage and "one-up" each-other. In all of this we see the attempt to harness superstitions and the supposed "wisdom of men" in order to benefit their own self-interest (the mandrakes and poplar, almond, and plane trees to increase fertility; divination; etc.). We see deception that is meant to benefit self at the expense of others. We even see the gloating of man when things seemingly work out in his favor, boasting that, "things are better for me than they are for others, and that everyone should envy my blessed condition." We see a lot of self-interest here.

This is the most glaring thing I see in Genesis 30; man's sin and how it works to hurt everyone else for the purpose selfish gain. This is definitely the kind of thinking Christians should avoid. There is a difference between being shrewd (i.e. Luke 16:1-13), being wise (i.e. Matt. 10:16), and being greedy for dishonest gain (1. Tim. 3:8, Titus 1:7). This is just like our hearts as well, isn't it? So often we pursue what we think would be best in the ways we think would be quickest and easiest. Sometimes being tempted to turn to divination like Laban, or putting our hope in medicine, or superstitions to bring us what we think would be the most blessed condition - doing what we want, in the way we want, so that we can get whatever it is that we want. Can you see how arrogant and selfish this is? Wouldn't it be better to find joy and peace in the hands of the Almighty God who is meticulously sovereign over everything in existence. Do we think that if we reject, or put Yahweh off to the side, that our lives would be so much better? Trust me, in the end it will only bring eternal misery. I'm not saying that medicine or human wisdom is always void of the recognition and the power of God. In fact modern medicine is a miracle created by the very hand of God. But how much hope do we put in this stuff? And if we put hope in these things in the place of God, and do it to the detriment of others as well, we may become responsible for the stuff that nightmares are made of (the destruction of human embryos comes to mind, or some of the advances in modern science through the horrors of the Nazi's). Can you see the horrors of human sin; both in the human heart and behavior? Can you see this in your heart and actions?

Even among all of this sin we see that God at work too (30:17, 22). We know from Jacob's comment in verse 2 and from chapter 29 that God is sovereign over the womb. While illustrating much sin, we also see that this chapter is also about fertility. We even see God's sovereign work through what appears to be superstitious thoughts about the power of mandrakes and poplar, almond, and plane trees (boosting fertility, and/or having an effect on the color of the animals). Even when we think we are acting freely from the providence, intentions, and meticulous sovereignty of God, He is still at work. God is working even in this sinful family to create a people for Himself, to bring a Messiah in Jesus Christ, and ultimately to satisfy His wrath so that those of us who turn to Jesus would be saved.

Genesis Chapter 29 ~ An Unexpected Wife and Family

Genesis Chapter 29

So, Jacob set off and came back to the land of the people of the East. He saw a well in the field and 3 flocks of sheep around it, it's where they were watered from. He asked the shepherds there where they were from, and they said from Haran. He asked if they knew Laban, and they did. He asked, "Is it well with him?" and as they answered, "Yes," Laban's daughter Rachel came up (Gen. 29:6). He suggested to them to take the sheep out to the field and they basically said they couldn't, because many were drinking from the well. It appears that they didn't pick up on his wanting to be with Rachel alone. I like how Victor Hamilton describes this, "Get rid of the unwanted company - the shepherds!" (Hamilton, 253) Bruce Waltke writes similarly, "[The shepherds'] presence is the proverbial fly in the ointment. The man in quest of a bride from his relatives at Haran wants to converse alone with the girl who has already caught his attention." (Waltke, 400)

While speaking Rachel came with Laban's sheep, she was a shepherdess. Jacob rolled the stone from the well's mouth so her sheep could drink. Then he kissed her and wept aloud, and he told her who he was. She ran to tell Laban after this. When Laban heard about Jacob he ran to meet him, embraced him, kissed him, and brought him to his home. Jacob told Laban what had happened, and Laban said, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh!" so Jacob stayed with Laban a month (Gen. 29:14).

Laban told Jacob that because he is family Jacob shouldn't serve him for free and asked him what he would like to be paid. Jacob loved Rachel (the younger daughter who was beautiful in appearance) instead of Laban's older daughter Leah (who had weak eyes). Jacob said he'd serve Laban 7 years for Rachel. Laban agreed. Then we have this beautiful phrase, "So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her." (Gen. 29:20)

After the 7 years Jacob told Laban to give him his wife so he could know her intimately. It appears that the conditions for the establishment of their marriage were completed (Gen. 29:21). So, Laban prepared a feast with all the people there, but in the evening he gave Leah, his older daughter, to Jacob and Jacob was intimate with her. Laban also gave his female servant Zilpah to Leah to be her servant. In the morning Jacob was surprised to see it was Leah he was with!

Jacob told Laban the wrong he had committed, because he served 7 years and 1 month for Rachel, not Leah. Laban described that it was their custom in Haran not to marry the younger before the older. He told Jacob to complete the week with this one (Leah). Laban was simply asking him to wait out the "marriage week" or "bridal week" (referred to in 29:22) before he could marry Rachel (see Kidner, 172; Waltke, 406, and Hamilton, 264). He gave Rachel in marriage to him and then he served Laban another seven years (29:27-28). Laban gave Bilhah to be Rachel’s servant, and Jacob loved Rachel more than he loved Leah.

When Yahweh saw that Jacob loved Rachel more he opened Leah’s womb, and Rachel was barren. Leah then had a son, Reuben, and said, “Because Yahweh has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” (29:32) She then had another son, Simeon, and said, “Because Yahweh has heard that I am hated , He has given me this son also.” (29:33) She then had a third son, Levi, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” (29:34) Then she bore a fourth son, Judah, and said, “This time I will praise Yahweh.” (29:35) Then she ceased bearing children.

Here is the basic meaning of each of their names:

1. Reuben - "The LORD sees" or "see, a Son!"
2. Simeon - "The LORD hears"
3. Levi - "My husband will be attached to me"
4. Judah - "I will praise the LORD" or "May God be praised"

This is an ironic chapter, because the deceiver, Jacob, is deceived himself. Laban deceptively sets him up with his older daughter, Leah. It may appear that Jacob passively becomes a polygamist here, but that is far from the truth. Yes, he's deceived into marrying Leah, but he still pursues polygamy in marrying Rachel one week after Leah. Leah is no concubine, she is fully Jacob's wife. Later, in Leviticus 18:18 clearly denounces this act both on Laban's part and Jacob's part as sinful: "And you shall not take a woman as a rival wife to her sister, uncovering her nakedness while her sister is still alive." Just because this behavior happens here does not mean that God is pleased with it.

We also see some of the further fruit of sin in the pain women experience in bearing children in this chapter. Leah is able to have children, while Rachel is not. God is in control of the womb here too. The text shows this clearly in expressing Leah's fertility, "[He] opened her womb." (29:31) It simply says of Rachel, "but Rachel was barren." We've already seen God's power over the womb in Genesis 20:18 when God closed the wombs of the house of Abimelech, and we'll see more of His sovereignty in childbirth later as well.

One of the amazing things about this chapter is that despite the fact that Leah was the "less loved" of Jacob she was chosen by Yahweh, the LORD of the universe, to be the one through whom He would continue to bless all nations in fulfillment of the promise of a Messiah in Genesis 3:15, and in fulfillment of the promise of making Abraham a blessing to all nations. In Leah's children we have the lineage through whom God would most clearly reveal His plan of redemption through the future nation of Israel's sacrificial system. Through the tribe of Levi God clearly foreshadows the need for atonement and redemption through the shedding of blood. It will be through the Levites that Yahweh would show how Christ, the husband, would be attached to the Church, the bride of Christ. Also, it's through the tribe of Judah that God would then bring about the sacrifice that would ultimately fulfill what the sacrificial system foreshadowed, namely the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ would be the perfect sacrifice making atonement for His people. This is the true fulfillment of the name Judah. Indeed, "I will praise the LORD!" And how appropriate that the LORD would bring the fulfillment of His promises for a Messiah to save His people from their sin through a woman who was least loved? God chose humble means to bring about the fulfillment of His promises.

This is encouraging to those of us who often feel useless; those of us who by all worldly perceptions appear to have no reason to hope. God is still at work in and through humble people. Despite appearances, God is at work, even in the humblest circumstances. Not unlike the Moabite woman named Ruth, God here chose a humble woman through whom He would bring a humble Savior-king. Jesus Christ is the most complete picture of humility, "Behold, your king is coming to you , humble, and mounted on a donkey , on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden," (Matt. 21:5) and, "but [Jesus] emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name." (Phil. 2:7-9) In spite of the sin of Laban in deceiving Jacob, the sin of Jacob taking a second wife, the hopelessness of Leah in her pursuit of her unloving husband, and Rachel's trial of infertility; we see that God is working to fulfill His promises in Genesis 29 to bring us a Savior in Jesus Christ.

Genesis Chapter 28 ~ Jacob Sets out for a Wife and Sees a Ladder

Genesis Chapter 28

Before Jacob left to stay in Paddan-aram with Laban, Bethuel the Aramean's son, his father Isaac told him to take a wife from the daughters of Laban, not the Canaanites. Then he blessed him saying, "God Almighty [El Shaddai] bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!” (Gen. 28:3-4) So he went to Laban's, his mother Rebekah's brother.

Esau saw Isaac bless Jacob and send him away to get a wife from Paddan-aram, and he saw that Jacob obeyed Isaac and Rebekah. So he went to Ishmael and took Mahalath, his daughter as a third wife. She was also Nebaioth's sister.

Jacob went from Beersheba to Haran, and he came to a place and stayed the night laying with a stone under his head. He dreamed and saw a ladder on the earth and the top reached to heaven that angels of God were ascending and descending on. The LORD stood above it and said the following:

"I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (Gen. 28:13-15)

Jacob woke up and said that the LORD was in that place and he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." (Gen. 28:17) So he rose early in the morning and set the stone up for a pillar and poured oil on it, and he called the place Bethel (meaning "House of God"). Prior to all this it was called Luz. Then Jacob made a vow:

"If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” (Gen. 28:20-22)

Reflections on this chapter:

Esau takes a third wife. He was already committing polygamy with his two wives, Judith and Basemath. It's difficult to tell if he marries Mahalath, daughter of Ishmael, to spite Abraham or because he thinks the marriage will put him in a better position in his father's eyes. Either way, he just further digs a whole of sin. To my eyes it seems like he's doing this as a reaction to Isaac's urging of Jacob to take a wife from Rebekah's family line. Keeping in line with Esau's past actions and character it seems that he is doing this in rebellion to spite Isaac. Some commentator's think he does this to redeem himself with his folks, but it doesn't quite seem that way to my reading. It could go either way though.

Here we see another example of the "tithe". Tithe simply means 10%. This can be applied to money or goods. We saw the introduction of this 10% gift in Genesis 14 when the then Abram gave Melchizedek 10% of everything he had willingly. So here we see a little more of the concept of tithing fleshed out. First, the tithe was voluntary before it became a mandate later in Israel's history. Second, notice that Jacob sees this tithe in the proper perspective. God Almighty (El Shaddai) owns everything and he simply gives back to God 10% of everything He has given him. Third, it appears to be an act of worship as one who is chosen or elected into God's covenant.

As New Testament believers there are a few passages that speak to us about our giving for the sake of God's kingdom in worship. First consider 1 Corinthians 16:2, "On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come." Christians gather on the Lord's day weekly, the first day of the week when Jesus rose from the grave...Sunday. And as part of their gathering they give back to God an unspecified amount of what He has given them. Another passage to consider is 2 Corinthians 9:7, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." So Christians are not to give out of compulsion but out of joy or good cheer. Christians don't necessarily tithe by giving 10% of what they own on the Lord's day, the first day of the week, Sunday; however, 10% is a good starting point in giving. If we are giving for the support of the ministry and the spread of the gospel to all nations we should consider how we can bump that up to an even larger percentage, don't you think?

In this chapter we see God confirming and further establishing of His covenant with Jacob. He had done this with Abraham and then Isaac. First, we see Isaac give the covenant blessing to Jacob saying may God almighty (El Shaddai) bless you, and now here we see God Himself establishing this covenant to fulfill the covenant He began with Abraham through him. This isn't the first we've seen this name of God, El Shaddai or God almighty. Back in Genesis 17:1 we saw it too when God calls Himself this name and based on the unchangeableness of this name, the full trustworthiness of this God, Abraham is called in covenant to Him. This name is also associated with the giving of the covenant sign of circumcision in Genesis 17. So now, this will be the trustworthy God of the covenant with Abraham and Isaac that will sustain and covenant with Jacob, and that's just what we see.

Lastly, we see the revelation of God in Jacob's dream with angels going into heaven and coming down again on a ladder. The LORD stood above this this ladder and affirmed and extended the covenant to Jacob. What should we make of this? Well, it is through Jacob that God will continue His covenant promise to bring the Messiah that was promised in the "covenant of salvation/redemption" to Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:15). He is keeping His promise. Since it is God Almighty (El Shaddai) making this covenant with Jacob there is included a wonderful accompanying promise that He will never leave him or forsake him. We saw this promise to Isaac in Genesis 26:3 as well. When Jacob is in isolation, all alone, and miserable he can know that God will be with him when no one else is. We also see that God promises to watch over Jacob and that He will bring Jacob back. This promise will no doubt be sustenance for Jacob in the future. We see this covenant promise of God to His people in the New Testament as well in the "Great Commission". Specifically, as we go into all the world to make disciples He will never leave nor forsake us! (Matt. 28:18-20)

Let's come back to the ladder though. This can also be translated as a "stairway". What is this? It brings to mind what Jesus said in John 1:51 where Jesus said to Nathanael, "And he said to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.'" God's promise to bring a Messiah through His covenant with Jacob is perfectly fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Despite our sin, and the utter hopelessness we have in life and death we can have hope. This world is fallen and countless trials accompany a life here. God's wrath is bearing down on us, stored up for us, and yet here in Jesus Christ we see that reconciliation with Yahweh is possible. As the rest of the book of John shows, Jesus Christ would become the perfect fulfillment of Jacob's ladder by being hung on a tree and bearing the eternal wrath of His Father for sinners like you and me. Jesus is the only mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5), and similar to the angels ascending and descending on the staircase/ladder to heaven we can enjoy Yahweh's eternal pleasure and joy for eternity through Christ. He is our ladder! We can escape God's wrath through the blood of Christ. We must turn from our sin and believe in this Messiah!

In this covenant God is making with Jacob we see the promise of the Messiah carrying on. Jacob is in awe of God at this event and sets the stone that he was laying on up as a pillar and anoints it with oil saying this is the "house of God" or Bethel. By pouring oil on the stone he consecrates it and sets it apart for God, and he commits himself to God. This doesn't quite seem like bartering (vs. 20-22), but rather a statement of trust that he is taking God at His word. He's saying that if God holds to His covenant with him, he will too. As we see through the entire Bible, God upholds His covenant and is the one true and living God, God Almighty "El Shaddai". We can be reconciled El Shaddai and come into covenant with Him through Jesus Christ! Praise be to God.

Genesis Chapter 27 ~ Jacob Deceives, is Blessed, and Flees

Genesis Chapter 27

Isaac is now old, and there is a descriptor here that his eyes were dim, so he couldn't see so well. He asked Esau to get him some delicious meat so he could eat delicious food since he could die any day, and so that he could bless Esau before he died. Rebekah overheard this, and when Esau went to hunt for food she told Jacob about Isaac and Esau's conversation. She told Jacob to go and kill some of their livestock so that she could make some of the food Isaac loved. Then she told him to bring it to Isaac. Jacob was concerned that he would be found out because Esau is hairy (and smelly as we'll see) and he was "smooth". He was concerned that if he was found out that Isaac would curse him instead of blessing him. It's interesting to note that Jacob had no problem with the deception and lies. He was more concerned about getting away with it! Jacob did what his mother, Rebekah, asked. So she made the food Isaac loved, and she put Jacob in some of Esau's best garments that she had at her place. She also put the skins of the young goats they had killed for the meat on Jacob's hands and neck, and she gave Jacob the food.

So Jacob went to Isaac and pretended to be Esau, he even said, "I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me." (Gen. 27:18) Isaac was suspicious and asked him a question, and then asked to feel him. So Jacob went forward and Isaac felt him then said, "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau," (Gen. 27:20) and he didn't recognize him, because his hands were hairy. Isaac asked Jacob if he was Esau at this point and Jacob lied saying, "I am." (Gen. 27:24) So he asked him to bring the food to him so that he could bless him. Jacob did this and Isaac ate and drank wine. Isaac then said, "Come near and kiss me, my son," (Gen. 27:26) and Jacob complied. As he came near Isaac smelled Esau's smell on Jacob's clothes. Remember if Esau was always in the fields and hunting he probably would have been a smelly, sweaty man. I could be wrong, but I doubt they had deodorant in those days. Smelling Esau's odor was the final impetus he needed to then bless him. This is what Isaac said to Jacob:

“See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed! May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!” (Gen. 27:27-29)

After this, Jacob left and shortly after Esau came to Isaac. He prepared a meal too and brought it to him to eat and then bless him. Isaac said, "Who are you?" and he answered, "I am your son, your firstborn, Esau." (Gen. 27:32) Then Isaac trembled very violently asking who the earlier person was who came to him and whom he blessed. Esau heard this and cried out with a great bitter cry and begged for a blessing too, but Isaac said, "Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing." (Gen. 27:35) Esau responded telling of how Jacob's name is fitting because he cheated him two times: Jacob (1) took his birthright and (2) his blessing. Esau asked again if Isaac had a blessing for him, and Isaac said, "I have made him lord over you, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?" (Gen. 27:37) Esau begged for a blessing though, and lifted his voice and wept. So Isaac said:

“Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be, and away from the dew of heaven on high. By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; but when you grow restless you shall break his yoke from your neck.” (Gen. 27:39-40)

Esau hated jacob because of the blessing he stole, and Esau said, "The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob." (Gen. 27:41) These words were told to Rebekah, so she relayed the message to Jacob of what Esau said, and said to flee to her brother Laban in Haran and stay there until Esau's fury turned away, and he forgets what Jacob had done to him. Her reasoning was, "Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?" (Gen. 27:45) Then Rebekah said to Isaac that she loathed her life because of the Hittite women (daughters of Heth), and that if Jacob married a Hittite woman her life will not have been of any good.

The layers of deception and sin in this chapter are many. First, there's almost no doubt that Isaac was aware of what the LORD said about who would be the heir of their house and of the covenant with God. Remember Genesis 25:23 when the LORD spoke to Rebekah, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger"? Yet, Isaac still played favorites by loving Esau more than he loved Isaac. We even read at the end of Genesis 26 that Esau and his wives Judith and Basemath, both Hittites, made life miserable for Isaac and Rebekah. Then here in our chapter for today we see that Isaac still was showing partiality to Esau. He most likely knew that God's favor was going to pass to Jacob, and yet he tried to do what he preferred.

Second, notice that Isaac wasn't the only one showing favoritism to one of their twin boys. Rebekah loved Jacob more than she loved Esau. Her preference was in line with the son that God was choosing to continue His covenant with, but this doesn't justify the actions and seeming intentions in them. She almost certainly had mixed/sinful motives in all of these events, but they seem more defensible because they are in alignment with what the LORD spoke to her when she was still pregnant. As I mentioned in commenting on Genesis 25 this kind of favoritism is not justifiable in a family.

While Isaac appears to take it upon himself to go against God's revealed will, Rebekah takes it upon herself to fulfill what God has clearly revealed. Both actions appear to be coming from a position of unbelief. These sins are so much like what we so often do. We either outrightly disagree with God's will and we actively seek to fulfill the plan that we think would be better, just like Isaac was trying to do with Esau; or we discount that the LORD can accomplish His will through righteous means, yet we take it upon ourselves to fulfill God's plans through deceptive and sinful means.

Third, notice Jacob's involvement in all of this. He willfully goes along with what Rebekah asks him to do in order to receive Esau's blessing from Isaac. He outrightly lies multiple times as he stands before Isaac. The text makes it clear that Isaac was deceived to believe he was actually Esau; however, it almost seems like he knew what was going on. He was probably suspicious because he knew of what God said about the boys and their future. We know, at least, that he was suspicious of him when he mentioned it was Jacob's voice, but it was Esau's hands. When we heard God's pre-determined will for Jacob and Esau in Rebekah's womb that the younger would rule over the older, we (the readers) had no clue that it would be brought about through the muck and mire of these many layers of sinful intentions and actions. God's pre-ordination is unstoppable, and by His grace He even works through our sinful means to accomplish His will.

Fourth, Esau, while clearly the victim here, is not merely innocent. He despised his birthright, remember? He showed dishonor to God and the role it would be to be the heir of the covenant. He showed contempt for the restriction to not marry women from Canaan, and for God's design for marriage to one woman (he married Judith and Basemath). Yes, he probably knew of the concubines his grandfather Abraham had, but he took it a few steps further and seems to actually have contracted two marriages independently, and further to Canaanites. Further, he made life bitter for Isaac and Sarah as we saw in chapter 26.

One question lingers from all of this, why didn't Isaac just take back the blessing he inadvertently gave to Jacob and bestow it on Esau? Taking it back really isn't an option to Isaac, because his blessing seems to be function very much like an oath in the presence of the almighty God (Gen. 27:7). His blessing wasn't just between him and his son, but before the LORD. This blessing in many ways is a prophetic oracle and he understands that this is in alignment with God's will and is made in the presence of God; it must not be rescinded. Genesis 27:37 shows that he understands this to be unrevocable. A few other passages regarding oaths come to mind (I saw these in Victor Hamilton, 226 in footnote 25).

First, Numbers 30:3-5:

“If a woman vows a vow to the Lord and binds herself by a pledge, while within her father's house in her youth, and her father hears of her vow and of her pledge by which she has bound herself and says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand, and every pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand. But if her father opposes her on the day that he hears of it, no vow of hers, no pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand. And the Lord will forgive her, because her father opposed her."

One is bound by his or her oath, and it seems that Isaac understands that the LORD, his heavenly Father, is in agreement with his prophecy. Therefore, it must stand.

Second, the story of Jephthah's vow in Judges 11:30-35 comes to mind. This is when he vows to kill whomever is the first to come to his door, and it is his daughter. I don't like that story at all, but it tells us of how binding an oath may be. Also, it appears that Jephthah believes that his LORD is in agreement with his oath (but this is never really specified, although He may be because in His providence He allows it to come to pass).

You can see that this is another reason why Jesus spoke so strongly about swearing oaths in Matthew 5:33-36:

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil."

Well, Isaac's oath/prophecy/oracle/blessing made in the presence of the LORD to Jacob is binding, and cannot be revoked. Unlike the meaninglessness of so much speech these days, and the promises we often make and never seek to fulfill, these words could not be retracted, and the weight of the promise of salvation and the fulfillment of God's promises lay in them. These words were a big deal, and Jacob knows it (Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau do too!). It's as if he gives up going against God by preferring Esau at this point (after the truth of Jacob's deception comes to light), and sees that in God's providence the covenant blessings have passed on to Isaac in spite of his desires and best efforts to do otherwise.

So God's covenant promises now pass on to Jacob.