ISRAEL

Jacob and Isaac were the heirs of the same promise that the Lord gave to Abraham. Jacob and Isaac were to share the same promise with Abraham . God gave Isaac and Jacob the same promise. By faith Abraham , when he was called to go out unto a place which he should after receive for
an inheritance, obeyed; And he went out, not knowing where he was going. Abraham trusted in God. All of the promises of God are conditional. We can only claim God's promises by faith.
This is what God promised to Abraham. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you , and make your name great ; and you shall be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you; and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:2-3) When God took Abraham from his people, God promised to make him the father of a great nation. Abraham is the father of the Jews. But he is also the father of God's spiritual Israel. That is all those people who have put their faith in the Lord.(Romans 4:12-13)
Abraham was to be blessed. Obedient believers shall inherit blessings from God. Abraham's name was made great because he was faithful to God. Abraham was a blessing to others. Through Abraham would all the families of the earth be blessed. This promise of God was fulfilled in Jesus, one of Abraham's descendants. (Matt 1:11) God will bless those that bless Abraham. God will curse those people who curse Abraham. God said that Abraham and his seed would eventually possess the promised land. (Gen12:5-7;13:14-15;15:18-21)
God's commands are always accompanied by promises, expressed or understood. We can understand more easily the promises, though sometimes the reason for the commands might confuse us. It is easier to understand the promises of God. It requires faith to claim the promises of God. You must claim it, believe in God's word and act upon the promise.
God wants us to trust only in Him. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember in the Lord in everything you do, and He will show you the right way. Abraham was a separated man. Abraham was separated from his native land and kins folks. Abraham was separated from Lot. Abraham was separated as a pilgrim and stranger, from the people of the strange land. Abraham was separated from his own human efforts and human methods of securing a fulfilment of the promises of the Lord. Abraham was separated to the fellowship in thoughts and plans with God. Abraham's separation is not to merit anything, but because his heart has seen the vision of God.

Jacob wrestles with the Lord

(Genesis 32:22-32).

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
And he said,
Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel:
for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men,
and hast prevailed. (Gen 32:24-28 )

Give the Lord all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength. It was late for Jacob to come completely to the Lord. Jacob was in danger of getting lost. Jacob was still trying to walk with the Lord with his natural man's strength. Jacob was still trying to walk with the Lord with his natural man's mind. He was not yet giving all his mind to the Lord. The Lord was still not the Shepherd of his mind. Jacob was still trying to walk with the Lord with his natural man's heart. He was not yet giving all his heart to the Lord. The Lord was still not the Shepherd of his heart. Jacob was still trying to walk with the Lord with his natural man's soul. Jacob was not yet giving all his soul to the Lord. The Lord was still yet not the Shepherd of his soul. Jacob was still not giving all his mind, all his heart, and all his soul to the Lord. Jacob could not give all his strength to the Lord. His strength was wasted. The Lord was still not the Shepherd of Jacob's strength. Jacob was not walking with the Lord. Jacob was not walking God's way. Jacob was walking away from the Lord. Jacob was walking man's way. Jacob's mind struggled with the Lord. Jacob's heart struggled with the Lord. Jacob's soul struggled with the Lord. Jacob's strength struggled with the Lord. Jacob desired to have the blessing of the Lord. Desire is not enough. Our Father Who is in heaven. Hallowed be His name. His kingdom come. His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. What is the will of God ? For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever will believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life. The Lord sees Jacob's sad situation. Man's plan for the salvation of man will end in failure. Jacob's human plan for man's salvation will end in failure. It was man's achievement. It was man's effort and man's work. Jacob was walking in the wrong direction. By the amazing grace of God, the Lord came forward to save Jacob. Jacob was walking away from the Lord with his natural man's strength. It pains the Lord to touch the hollow of Jacob's thigh. The Lord has to stop Jacob from walking away from Him. The Lord has to guide Jacob in the path of righteousness . And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. Jacob's thigh was out of joint. Now he can not walk away from the Lord. By the amazing grace of God, the Lord took away Jacob's strength. Then Jacob behold that the Lord is the Giver of man's strength. The Lord is the Bread of life . The Lord is the Light of world. Jacob was once blind. And now Jacob can see. Jacob was once lost. Now the Lord has found Jacob. Jacob was once dead. Now the Lord has restored Jacob's soul. Now Jacob is alive in spirit and truth. The Lord has taught Jacob an important lesson. Trust in the Lord with all your mind Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Trust in the Lord with all your soul. Trust in the Lord with all your strength. Trust not in your own understanding. Trust not in man's wisdom. Man's wisdom is foolishness to God. Trust in the wisdom of the LORD . Trust in the Lord for all your needs. The Lord will provide. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Abraham behold this promise of God. Isaac also behold this same promise of God. Jacob can not work for the Lord's blessing. The Lord's blessing is a gift. To receive the blessing of God , Jacob has to accept it with faith in the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ is the gift of God. The Lord Jesus Christ will come from the seed of Jacob. Love never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1Corinthians 13:8-13) We can see and understand only a little about God now , as if we were peering at his reflection in a poor mirror ; but someday we are going to see God in his completeness, face to face. Now all you know is hazy and blurred, but someday you will see everything clearly, just as clearly as God sees into your heart right now. And we shall see God in our pure heart. And now these three lives in us : faith, hope, and love. And the greatest these is love. The life of Jacob is a prophecy.
God uses the life of Jacob as a prophecy to reveal what will
happen to the children of Israel.
Jacob wrestles with the Lord until the Lord blesses him.
Jacob has power with God and with men.
And Jacob has prevailed.
The children of Israel wrestle with the
Lord until the Lord blesses them.
The children of Israel has power with God and with men.
And the children of Israel will prevailed.
And the Lord said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Jacob's thigh was broken. Jacob was a broken man. Jacob can not work for his blessing . He behold that he has to believe in the Lord to provide for Him .He was lost. Now of the Lord has found him. He was blind. Now Jacob can see.He sees that the blessing of the Lord is a gift of the Lord. This is the amazing grace. 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. (Gen 32:24-28 )

The life of Jacob is a prophecy.
God uses the life of Jacob as a prophecy to reveal what will
happen to the children of Israel.
Jacob wrestles with the Lord until the Lord blesses him.
Jacob has power with God and with men.
And Jacob has prevailed.
The children of Israel wrestle with the
Lord until the Lord blesses them.
The children of Israel has power with God and with men.
And the children of Israel will prevailed.

THE BIRTHRIGHT

(Genesis 25:27-34) And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. (Genesis 25:27-28) It was a custom in those days , the father who was the head of a family, would divide his property among his sons in equal parts with another portion for himself. At the death of the father, the father's portion would go to the eldest son. Therefore the eldest son would receive twice what his brother would get. Esau was Isaac's eldest son, and therefore should have had the birthright. One day Esau was very hungry. He asked Jacob to give him some of his pottage. And Jacob cooked pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray you, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day your birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he swore unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 25:29-34) That was all Esau cared about his right as the first born son. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. (Hebrews 12:14-17) Esau was a slave of his senses. He was willing to buy pleasure at any price. Esau was a profane person. Esau lived entirely for bodily pleasures of the moment. He had a very poor sense of values. Esau showed no interest in spiritual things. The birthright is not worldly prosperity. Esau lost it but he had abundant of fortune. Esau had hundreds of servants and was wealthy in material things. The birthright was not worldly prosperity. The birthright was a spiritual heritage. The person who had the birthright, had the right to be the priest of the family or clan. Jacob believed in the Lord. Jacob believed in the Lord to fulfill His promise that was made to Abraham. Jacob believed that the children of Abraham would one day take possession of the promised land. Jacob believed the children of Abraham would one day take possession of the promised land. Jacob valued these above all things because he believed in the Lord. But Jacob was wrong when he sought to get it by crooked courses of taking advantage of his brother's needs. Isaac was a rich man who had much worldly things. Could Esau be dying in hunger in Isaac's house ? What was Esau saying when he said that he was dying of hunger ? Esau did not care about the future. Esau did not believe in the Lord. Esau had no faith in the Lord. Esau did not think that he could ever live to inherit Canaan , or any of those future blessings. What he was saying was he did not that care about the future and reality. Esau was a selfish man. Esau lived only for the moment . He did not want to leave anything behind when he would be dead and gone. He survived like the wild beasts. Esau was not living. Spiritual people are living. Carnal people survive like the wild beasts. Esau cared only for the pleasure of this world. Esau was profane and had contempt for his birthright. The natural man despised his birthright. Many people in this present world have contempt for their birthright. They despised their birthright. Our birthright is in God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Many people foolishly sold their birthright for riches, honours, and pleasures of this world. It is a terrible bargain as he who sold a birthright for a dish of pottage . Esau ate and drank, satisfied his belly. Then he went on his way without any regrets about the bad bargain he had made. Esau despised his birthright, People are ruined ,not so much by sinning, as by sinning and not repenting of it. Jacob behold the meaning of the birthright with all the spiritual treasures. The birthright is a spiritual heritage. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. We also have birthright. You are born again in spirit and in truth. Your birth gives you the right to leave the kingdom of death . Your birth gives you the right to enter into the kingdom of God's dear Son. Your birth gives you the right to claim the Holy Spirit. Your birth gives you the right to be forgiven and to be saved. The birth gives you the right to be children of God. Your birth gives you the right to be join-heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ of all that is His. Your birth gives you the right to stand with the Lord Jesus Christ in His glory. This may be your heritage. This may be yours if you have faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord. Hold fast that which you have , that no man takes your crown

THE STOLEN BLESSING

(Genesis 27:1-46) And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Now therefore take, I pray you, your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless you before I die. And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. (Genesis 27:1-5) What happened to Isaac ? What happened to the Isaac , the submissive boy who carried the altar wood , and wondered about the lamb, and submitted meekly to be a sacrifice on the altar ? Was it prosperity that choke off spiritual growth ? 12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. 13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: 14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. (Genesis 26:12-14) Was it a lust for pleasures of the eating table ? Isaac said to Esau, Make Savoury meat, such as I love The man who is near death ,still lusts after venison , is not likely to shine as a brilliant star in the heavens. Rebekah was aware of her husband's weakness for food , when she said, I will make for your father savoury meat such as he loves Eating too much is harmful to the spirit. Gluttony is harmful to the body and spirit. eat more than it is good for them. Eating in too much is very harmful. Greedy and habitual indulgence in food will blunt ad harm a person's spiritual life. Don't be a slave of gluttony. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 11:28-30) There are some good things in Isaac's character. Isaac has faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaac believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that whosoever believe in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Isaac believed in God's promise that a Saviour of the world will come from his family. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for , the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1) For by faith , Isaac won God's approval. For by faith Isaac obtained a good report. The Lord has called Abraham to found a nation for the reason of one day bringing a Savior to mankind.
Within that nation Christ the Savior would
come. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he has prepared for them a city. (Heb 11:13-16) By faith Isaac was preparing to bless his son And Rebekah spoke unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard your father speak unto Esau your brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless you before the LORD before my death. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command you. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for your father, such as he loves: And you shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, and that he may bless you before his death. And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. And his mother said unto him, Upon me be your curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. (Genesis 27:6-14) By faith Isaac was preparing to bless his son. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 28-30) And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who are you, my son? And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau your firstborn; I have done according as you asked me: arise, I pray you, sit and eat of my venison, that your soul may bless me. And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord your God brought it to me. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray you, that I may feel you, my son, whether you be my very son Esau or not. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him. And he said, Are you my very son Esau? And he said, I am. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless you. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed: Therefore God give you of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve you, and nations bow down to you: be lord over your brethren, and let your mother's sons bow down to you: cursed be every one that curses you, and blessed be he that blesses you. (Genesis 27:15-29) And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that your soul may bless me. And Isaac his father said unto him, Who are you? And he said, I am your son, your firstborn Esau. And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that has taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before you came, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. And he said, Your brother came with subtilty, and has taken away your blessing. And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he has supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he has taken away my blessing. And he said, Have you not reserved a blessing for me? And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto you, my son? And Esau said unto his father, Have you but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, your dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; And by your sword shall you live, and shall serve your brother; and it shall come to pass when you shall have the dominion, that you shall break his yoke from off your neck. (Genesis 27:30-40) Esau could not undo what he had done. It was too late. Esau had so long despised his birthright. God had taken Esau at his words, and had taken from the spiritual birthright. Then When Esau saw this , he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry. Esau sought to get back his blessings. There was no way to change his father's decision even though he begged him with tears. It was his own fault , because he had no faith in the lord. He did not believe in the Lord. Esau did not believe in the Lord's promise of a Savior for mankind. Esau had despised the birthright . Esau was a profane man who had a very poor sense of value. Esau lived entirely for bodily pleasure of the moment. Esau walked not in the way of the Lord. Esau showed no interest in spiritual life. And Esau lost his birthright. And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, your brother Esau, as touching you, does comfort himself, purposing to kill you. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee you to Laban my brother to Haran; And tarry with him a few days, until your brother's fury turn away; Until your brother's anger turn away from you, and he forget that which you have done to him: then I will send, and fetch you from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day? (Genesis 27:41-45) And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me? (Genesis 27:46) And Isaac agreed to send Jacob to Laban so that Jacob could get a suitable wife who is pleasing to the Lord . The Word God does not hesitate to describe the failures and weaknesses of the people of the Scriptures. The love of the Lord is not determined by what is found in man. God loves, not because we are good. God loves us because He wants to make us righteous. God is not surprised by the evil that He finds in us. His love for us is not turned away by our sin. God's love for us is dated not in time but in eternity. God's love for us did not begin because of what we were. God's love for us will continue in spite of what we are. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (Titus 2:12)< /b> And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. (Hebrews 12:5-6) It is great comfort to find that people of God in the Scriptures were men of like passion with ourselves. If the Lord was able to shape materials so rough into vessels so wonderful, there is hope that He will work a miracle in us also. Jacob was plain man living tents. Jacob was like ourselves. His failings and weaknesses speak to us. Jacob took advantage of his brother. And Jacob deceived his father. He stole his brother's blessings from his father. Jacob was men ,crafty ,and weak. But who is there that does not have weaknesses and failings ? Jacob was not always a saint. Jacob sinned and murmured, and rebelled just as we have done. Jacob was made of the same material as we are made of. The great men and women of God were once obscure un-named people of no better texture than ourselves. we came from the dust of the same earth that God has created. It is comfort to see what God can do. If God was able to take a man as Jacob and make him a prince, surely God can do as much also for you. Do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by Him. For the Lord disciplines him whom He loves, and chastises every sons whom He receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God disciplined us for our good , that we may share His holiness. For the moment all disciplines seem painful rather than pleasant. Later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. All eternity shall praises the Lord who raises up the poor folks and lifts up the simple folks , and makes them kings and priests unto God. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:11-14) So God's discipline came to Jacob. God's love for Jacob was true, not for Jacob's comfort, but for his everlasting blessedness. There was election here. God called Jacob. 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. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:28-31) (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calls;) (Romans9:11) God choose to bless Jacob , but not Esau. And the Lord said this before the children were born, before they had done anything either good or evil. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbids. For he said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (Romans 9:13-15) So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but God who shows mercy. God does what He has decided from the beginning . It was not because of what the children did but because of what God wanted and choose. God gives His blessings to whosoever He will.

JACOB'S LADDER

(Genesis 28:1-22) In spite of his failings, Jacob had respect for the Lord. Jacob wanted to do what was righteous in God's eyes. And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father; and take you a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban your mother's brother. And God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be a multitude of people; And give you the blessing of Abraham, to you, and to your seed with you; that you may inherit the land wherein you are a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padan-Aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padan-aram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan; And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padan-aram; And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father ; Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife. And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon you lie, to you will I give it, and to your seed; And your seed shall be as 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 in your seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with you, and will keep you in all places whither you go, and will bring you again into this land; for I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken to you of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that you shall give me I will surely give the tenth unto you. (Genesis 28:1-22) When a person is willing to be taken up by the Lord, there need be no further anxiety . If a person yields and gives himself to the Lord, he is in the good hands of the Lord. The Lord takes all responsibility and provides for the person's needs. But the person has to obey the Lord. Seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. If you look after the Lord's business , the Lord shall make yours His care. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:29-30) You can find peace only in the Lord. Hand over all your worries, anxieties, and cares to the Lord, and find rest in the Lord Jacob had fears. He was afraid that his brother might kill him. He was afraid of the unknown. Perhaps wild beasts and robbers might attack him. The presence of the Lord keeps us safe wherever we are. The Lord tells us, Fear not The Lord is my helper; and I will not fear what man shall do unto me (Hebrews 13:6) The ladder that Jacob saw was Christ. The Ladder is the Lord Jesus Christ. And he said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. (John 1:51) The Lord Christ Jesus is the ladder into heaven. Even angels needs to ascend and descend upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way. No man comes unto the Father except by Jesus. Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6) Jesus is the only way to our heavenly Father. In Christ we have access to God the Father. Jesus is the truth. Jesus is the truth concerning everything. In Christ we have personified the righteous standard of the way. Jesus is the true way for living. Christ Jesus is the true way for us to live. Wild beasts survive only. Wild beasts do not live. Unbelievers do not live. Unbelievers survive like wild beasts. God's breath are not found in the unbelievers. When God created man, God breath life into man. When Adam sinned , Adam lost the everlasting life. The Holy Spirit left Adam. And Adam is now no better than the dust of the earth. Adam was no better the wild beasts. Adam had to survive in the wilderness against the wild beasts. The Holy Spirit lives in the believer. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Christ Jesus (John 1:17) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4) Jesus said, I am come that they might have life, and that they night have it more abundantly (John 10:10). God works only through Christ, for He is the only way to the Father. no person can come unto the Father except by perceiving the Truth and participating in the life which is revealed to men in His Son, the lord Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

JACOB'S ROMANCE

(GENESIS 29:1-14) Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place. And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be you? And they said, Of Haran are we. And he said unto them, Know you Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter comes with the sheep. And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water you the sheep, and go and feed them. And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep. And while he yet spoke with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them. And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father. And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. And Laban said unto Jacob, Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall your wages be? And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. (Genesis 29:1-20)

THE DECEIVER IS DECEIVED

(Genesis 29:15-30) And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this you have done unto me? did not I serve with you for Rachel? wherefore then have you beguiled me? And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfil her week, and we will give you this also for the service which you shall serve with me yet seven other years. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

JACOB'S CHILDREN

(Genesis 29 - Genesis 30) 31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD has looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD has heard that I was hated, he has therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing. And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb? And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. And Rachel said, God has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan. And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali. When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son. And Leah said, A troop comes: and she called his name Gad. And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son. And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher. And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray you, of your son's mandrakes. And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that you have taken my husband? and would you take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with you to night for your son's mandrakes. And Jacob came out of the field in the evening , and Leah went out to meet him, and said, You must come in unto me; for surely I have hired you with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night. And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son. And Leah said, God has given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar. And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son. And Leah said, God has endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun. And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah. And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God has taken away my reproach: And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

JACOB'S FLOCKS INCREASE

(Genesis 30:25-43) And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country. Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served you, and let me go: for you know my service which I have done you. And Laban said unto him, I pray you, if I have found favour in your eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake. And he said, Appoint me your wages, and I will give it. And he said unto him, You know how I have served you, and how your cattle was with me. For it was little which you had before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD has blessed you since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also? And he said, What shall I give you? And Jacob said, You shall not give me any thing: if you will do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep your flock. I will pass through all your flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire. So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before your face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me. And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to your word. And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons. And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks. And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink. And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted. And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle. And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods. But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

JACOB LEAVES LABAN

(Genesis 31:1-55)

GENESIS 31

And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob has taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's has he gotten all this glory. And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before. And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of your fathers, and to your kindred; and I will be with you. And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. And you know that with all my power I have served your father. And your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. If he said thus, The speckled shall be your wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be your hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked. Thus God has taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. And the angel of God spoke unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. And he said, Lift up now your eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban does unto you. I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, and where you vowed a vow unto me: now arise, get you out from this land, and return unto the land of your kindred. And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house? Are we not counted of him strangers? for he has sold us, and has quite devoured also our money. For all the riches which God has taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God has said unto you, do. Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels; And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padan-aram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan. And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's. And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled. So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead. And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled. And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead. And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that you speak not to Jacob either good or bad. Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead. And Laban said to Jacob, What have you done, that you have stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword? Wherefore did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and did not tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp? And have not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? you have now done foolishly in so doing. It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spoke unto me yesternight, saying, Take you heed that you speak not to Jacob either good or bad. And now, though you would needs be gone, because you sore longed after your father's house, yet wherefore have you stolen my gods? And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure you would take by force your daughters from me. With whomsoever you find your gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern you what is your with me, and take it to you. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them. And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent. Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not. And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before you; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images. And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued after me? Whereas you have searched all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge between us both. This twenty years have I been with you; your ewes and your she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of your flock have I not eaten. That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto you; I bare the loss of it; of my hand did you require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. Thus have I been twenty years in your house; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your cattle: and you have changed my wages ten times. Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely had sent me away now empty. God has seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked you yesternight. And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that you see is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born? Now therefore come you, let us make a covenant, I and you; and let it be for a witness between me and you. And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap. And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed. And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and you this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed; And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another. If you shall afflict my daughters, or if you shall take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness between me and you. And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast between me and you; This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you shall not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm. The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac. Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount. And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.

JACOB PREPARES TO MEET ESAU

(Genesis 32:1-21) And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Your servant Jacob said thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now: And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and women servants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in your sight. And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to your brother Esau, and also he comes to meet you, and four hundred men with him. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape. And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which said unto me, Return unto your country, and to your kindred, and I will deal well with you: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which you have showed unto your servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. Deliver me, I pray you, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. And you said, I will surely do you good, and make your seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother; Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams, Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals. And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove. And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meets you, and asks you, saying, Whose art you? and whither go you? and whose are these before you? Then you shall say, They be your servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us. And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall you speak unto Esau, when you find him. And say you moreover, Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me. So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.

JACOB WRESTLES WITH THE LORD

(Genesis 32:22-32).

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
And he said,
Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel:
for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men,
and hast prevailed. (Gen 32:24-28 )

Give the Lord all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength. It was late for Jacob to come completely to the Lord. Jacob was in danger of getting lost. Jacob was still trying to walk with the Lord with his natural man's strength. Jacob was still trying to walk with the Lord with his man's mind. He was not giving all his mind to the Lord. The Lord was still not the Shepherd of his mind. Jacob was still trying to walk with the Lord with his natural man's heart. He was not giving all his heart to the Lord. The Lord was still not the Shepherd of his heart. Jacob was still trying to walk with the Lord with his natural man's soul. Jacob was not giving all his soul to the Lord. The Lord was still not the Shepherd of his soul. Jacob was still not giving all his mind, all his heart, and all his soul to the Lord. Jacob could not give all his strength to the Lord. His strength was wasted. The Lord was still not the Shepherd of Jacob's strength. Jacob was not walking with the Lord. Jacob was not walking God's way. Jacob was walking away from the Lord. Jacob was walking man's way. Jacob spent his entire live struggling with God. Jacob's mind struggled with the Lord. Jacob's heart struggled with the Lord. Jacob's soul struggled with the Lord. Jacob's strength struggled with the Lord. Jacob desired to have the blessing of the Lord. Desire is not enough. Our Father Who is in heaven. Hallowed be His name. His kingdom come. His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. What is the will of God ? For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever will believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life. The Lord sees the Jacob's sad situation. Man's plan for the salvation of man will end in failure. Jacob's plan for man's salvation will end in failure. It was man's achievement. It is man's effort and man's work. Jacob was walking in the wrong direction. By the amazing grace of God, the Lord came forward to save Jacob. Jacob was walking away from the Lord with his natural man's strength. It pains the Lord to touch the hollow of Jacob's thigh. The Lord has to stop Jacob from walking away from Him. The Lord has to guide Jacob in the path of righteousness . And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. Jacob's thigh was out of joint. Now he can not walk away from the Lord. The Lord has taught Jacob an important lesson. Trust in the Lord with all your mind Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Trust in the Lord with all your soul. Trust in the Lord with all your strength. Lean not in your own understanding. Trust not in man's wisdom. Man's wisdom is foolishness to God. Trust in the wisdom of the LORD . Trust in the Lord for all your needs. The Lord will provide. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Abraham behold this promise of God. Isaac also behold this same promise of God. Jacob can not work for the Lord's blessing. The Lord's blessing is a gift. To receive the blessing of God , Jacob has to accept it with faith in the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ is the gift of God. The Lord Jesus Christ will come from the seed of Jacob. Love never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1Corinthians 13:8-13) We can see and understand only a little about God now , as if we were peering at his reflection in a poor mirror ; but someday we are going to see God in his completeness, face to face. Now all you know is hazy and blurred, but someday you will see everything clearly, just as clearly as God sees into your heart right now. And we shall see God in our pure heart. And now these three lives in us : faith, hope, and love. And the greatest these is love. The life of Jacob is a prophecy.
God uses the life of Jacob as a prophecy to reveal what will
happen to the children of Israel.
Jacob wrestles with the Lord until the Lord blesses him.
What is God's blessing for Israel ? GOD'S blessing for Israel is the Lord Jesus Christ. Every breath of Israel comes from the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is a gift from God to man. Israel has power with God and with men.
And Israel has prevailed.
The children of Israel wrestle with the
Lord until the Lord blesses them.
The children of Israel has power with God and with men.
And the children of Israel will prevailed.

JACOB MEETS ESAU

(Genesis 33:1-18)

GENESIS 33

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. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with you? And he said, The children which God has graciously given your 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 you 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 you have unto yourself. And Jacob said, Nay, I pray you, if now I have found grace in your sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen your face, as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. (Genesis 33:1-10) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loves God love his brother also. (1 John 4:11-21) Jacob told Esau, Take, I pray you, my blessing that is brought to you; because God has 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 you. And he said unto him, My lord knows 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 you, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goes 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 you some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needs 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. And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; 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 El-elohe-Israel. (Genesis 33:11-20)

THE RAPE OF DINAH

(Genesis 34:1-51) 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. And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spoke kindly unto the damsel. And Shechem spoke unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife. And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come. And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him. And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done. And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. And make you marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you. And you shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade you therein, and get you possessions therein. And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what you shall say unto me I will give. Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as you shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife. And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister: And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us: But in this will we consent unto you: If you will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised; Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. But if you will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone. And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son. And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father. And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised. Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us. And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field, And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house. And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, You have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house. 31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot? (Genesis 34:1-31)

GOD BLESSES JACOB AT BETHEL

(Genesis:35:1-15)

GENESIS 35

And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him. And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother. But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth. And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, Your name is Jacob: your name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be your name: and he called his name Israel. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of you, and kings shall come out of your loins; And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to you I will give it, and to your seed after you will I give the land. And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel.

THE DEATH OF RACHEL

(Genesis 35:16-21) And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; you shall have this son also. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day. And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar. And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun: The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin: And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali: And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padan-aram. And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned. And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years. And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

JOSEPH

(Genesis 37-41)
And Jacob lived in the land
 wherein his father was a 
stranger, in the land of Canaan.
Joseph , being seventeen years old , was feeding the flock
with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah
and with the sons of Zilpah , his father's wives. And
Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Now
Israel loved Joseph more than all his children , because he
was the son of his old age. And he made Joseph a coat of
many colours. And when his brothers saw that their father
loved Joseph more than all his brothers, they hated him. And
they could not peacefully with him.
Joseph brought unto his father their deeds. Love covers
multitude of sins. The same time because Joseph loved his
brothers , he had to expose their sins. If they were
permitted to go on in sin , they would become more evil.
And they would die in their sin.
They had already made the family name to stink among the
inhabitants of the land .

Joseph told the truth concerning his brothers to his father.
Everyone that does evil hates the light.
Jesus said,
The world cannot hate you, but me it hates, because
I testify of it, that its works are evil.

Joseph was not a tale-bearer. His purpose was not to sow
discord. Joseph was a faithful brother who loves his
brothers.
In Joseph we can see something of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The good qualities in Joseph that God approved are found in Christ. This is because the Spirit of God was working
in Joseph's life.
And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers.
And they hated him yet more. And he said unto them that in his dream they were all in
the field tying up sheaven of wheat , when Joseph's sheaf
got up and stood straight. His brother's sheaves of wheat formed a circle around his and bowed down to it.
His brothers did not like the idea of Joseph reigning over them. And they hated him yet more for his dreams and for
his words.
Then Joseph had another dream and told his brothers .In
his dreams he saw the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars
bowing down to him. Joseph also told the dream to his
father . And his rebuked him, and said unto him,
what is this dream that you have dreamed ? Shall I and your mother and your brothers come to bow down
And his brothers envied him ; but his father observed the
sayings. Joseph's brothers were jealous of him. But his
father kept thinking about the whole matter. Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the eart ourselves to you to the earth ?

There is a deeper meaning of their hatre and hostility and enmity.And the Lord God said to the serpent in the garden of Eden.
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and
between your seed and her seed.

This conflict between the children of God and the children of the devil has been going on since then. It broke out
between Cain and Abel. And this conflict also raged around Joseph.
One day when Joseph's brothers had gone to Schechem to take care of their father's flock, Jacob told Joseph to see if
his brothers were safe and if the flock was alright.
On arriving at Shechem, Joseph learned that his brothers
had moved on to Dothan. Were their brothers disobeying
their father by going to Dothan ? They were suppose to
feed the flock at Schechem. What were they doing in Dothan ?
Were they doing something wicked ? So Joseph went after them and found them at Dothan.
When the brothers saw Joseph in the distance , and before he reached them, they plotted against him. And they decided to kill him.They didn't like dreamers. They wanted to kill him, and cast him into some pit . Then they would explain to their father that some evil beast had devoured him. Then they wanted to see what will become of his dreams. The wicked people did not realize that it was God
who gives dreams. They were fighting against God.
And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands . And he said,
Let us not kill him.
Reuben told them to shed no blood, but to cast him into this pit. He said this because he was planning to save
Joseph from them and to send him back to his father.When Joseph came up to his brothers, they undressed Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him. And they took him , and cast him into an empty pit. Joseph's dream came from the Lord. While his brothers tried to defeat it, they were themselves the instruments accomplishing it.The Pharisees understood what Christ
said about Himself. And they determined that Christ should not reign over them. They murdered Jesus. And by His crucifixion , they made way for the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ they had tried to prevent. Jesus said,
And I , if I be lifted up from the earth , will draw
all men unto me. (John 12:32)

Jesus was in the world , and the world was made by Him.And the world knew Him not. He came unto His own , and His own received Him not.
Joseph was betrayed by His brothers. Jesus was betrayed
by one of His own disciples. Joseph was sold for money.
Jesus was also sold for money.
while Joseph was starving in the pit , his brothers
sat down to eat bread. And they lifted their eyes and looked. They saw a company of Ishmaelites who came from
Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh . They were carrying them down to Egypt.And Judah said unto his brothers,
What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood ? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites,
and let not our hand be upon him ; for he is our brother and our flesh.

And the brothers were content. They drew and lifted up
Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And
they brought Joseph into Egypt.

JOSEPH THE RULER

(Genesis 41-50) When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he told them to go to Egypt to buy grain.
Soon Joseph's brothers were bowing before Joseph, though, they had no idea that the Egyptian governor was their long
lost brother. Joseph recognized his brothers immediately, but pretended to be an Egyptian and spoke to them through an interpreter.
He spoke to them roughly and charged them of being spies. Then they told Joseph that they were twelve brothers, the
son of one man in the land of Canaan and that the youngest brother was still with their father and one was not.
Joseph demanded , as proof of their honesty, that they
bring the younger brother Benjamin, from Canaan to him.
Joseph first put them in jail , but three days later he allowed them to leave, except for Simeon who had to stay
in Egypt for surety.
Joseph was hard upon his brothers not from a spirit of revenge, but to bring them to repentance. The brothers were frightened at this turn of events. The brothers remembered their quilt concerning Joseph's disappearance.
They felt that God was going to punish them. And when they found that their money had been returned in the sacks of corn which they brought, the brothers were even more upset.
The brothers came to buy corn. And they were given corn .And every man had his money given back. Christ Jesus gives out supplies of blessings without money and price. The poorest are invited to buy without money. The gift of eternal life is free. The gift of our Lord's living water
is free. Come and drink the living water.

JOSEPH , A MAN OF MERCY

Joseph recognized the Lord in his life. Joseph acknowledged the hand of God in every circumstance. Because he was keenly aware of God's mercy to him, Joseph showed mercy
and compassion in his dealing with his brothers. We should show mercy to others because we have experienced the greater revelation of God's love and mercy in forgiveness
and cleansing of all our sins through the Lord Jesus Christ. At first Jacob refused to let Benjamin go into Egypt. But
famine forced Jacob to give in and let his son go. Joseph tested his brothers . The tests calculated to give Joseph
a clear picture of their hearts. When they set out to return to Canaan they were pursued by Joseph's servants who
charged them of the theft of a cup belonging to Joseph.
They were so sure of their innocence that they agreed that whosoever was found with the cup should be a slave in Egypt. They were extremely upset when they discovered that
their money had been returned in their sacks and that, in addition, the precious cup was in Benjamin's sack.
They pleaded for Benjamin's release. Judah threw himself
helplessly on Joseph's mercy, and offered to take
Benjamin's place as a slave.
They thought that Benjamin had brought them into all this
trouble. Had they not loved him and his father, they would have abandoned him to his fate as a slave.
If you forgive not men their trespass , neither will
your Heavenly Father forgive you.

But they forgave the lad, showing tender love for the old,
father's sake and for the lad's sake.
Thus Joseph's object was attained. Joseph could see that
there was no hatre in their hearts and that they had
learned from their mistakes.
Then Joseph could not act any longer. He told all his
servants to leave the room. And there stood no man with
him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brothers.
And he wept aloud. And the Egyptians and the house of
Pharaoh heard.
And Joseph said unto his brothers,
I am Joseph . Is my father still alive ?
But when his brothers heard this , they were so terrified
that they could not speak.
This was what Joseph told his brothers.
I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved , nor angry with yourselves, that
you sold me here. It was God who sent me ahead of you to
save people's lives This is only the second year of famine
in the land. There will be five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor reaping . God sent me ahead of
you to rescue you and to make sure that your descendants survive. So it was not really you who sent me here, but God sent me here. God has made me the king's highest official.
I am in charge of this whole country. I am the ruler of all Egypt.
Now hurry back to my father and tell him that God has made Joseph ruler of all Egypt and that Joseph wants you to come
to him without delay.
And we know that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.(Romans 8:28) So Jacob came to live with his son Joseph in Egypt. And so
many years went by. When Jacob died all was bright. So he
went to bury his father in the land of Canaan. All
the king's officials, the elders of the land of Egypt, and all the houses of Joseph, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, and all the houses of Joseph, and his brothers, and
his father's family, all went with him. Men in chariots and men on horseback also went with him. It was a very great
company.

JACOB BLESSES EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH

(Genesis 48:1-21) And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, your father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, your son Joseph comes unto you: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed. And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, And said unto me, Behold I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people; and will give this land to your seed after you for an everlasting possession. And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto you in the land of Egypt before I came unto you into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. And your issue, which you begot after them, shall be your, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance. And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem. And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these? And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray you, unto me, and I will bless them. Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see your face: and, lo, God has showed me also your seed. And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him. And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put your right hand upon his head. And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. And he blessed them that day, saying, In you shall Israel bless, saying, God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

THE LAST WORDS OF JACOB

(Genesis 49:1-33) And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear, you sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed; then defiled you it: he went up to my couch. Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not you into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not you united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-willed they dug down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. Judah, you are he whom your brethren shall praise: your hand shall be in the neck of your enemies; your father's children shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, you are gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute. Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that bites the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. I have waited for your salvation, O LORD. Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. Naphtali is a hind let loose: he gives goodly words. Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) Even by the God of your father, who shall help you; and by the Almighty, who shall bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. Benjamin shall ravineth as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil. All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spoke unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.

THE DEATH OF JACOB

(Genesis 49:29-50:14) And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying place. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth. And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people. And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel. And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days. And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have dug for me in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me. Now therefore let me go up, please , and bury my father, and I will come again. And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury your father, according as he made you swear. And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company. And they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days. And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan. And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them: For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a burying place of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre. And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father. (Genesis 50)

THE GOD OF JACOB

God's love for us is not determined by what God finds in man. God loves us because God wants to make us righteous. The Lord is not surprise by the evil He finds in man. His loving kindness is not turned away by our sin. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. It is comforting to discover that the saints of the Scriptures were of like passions with ourselves. It is a great comfort to find that in many parts of the Scriptures God calls Himself the God of Jacob. God is not ashamed to link His holy nature with one of the meanest of men. There similarities between Jacob and ourselves. Jacob had to give himself completely to the Lord before he could become Israel. We too must give ourselves completely to the Lord. We must give the Lord all our heart, all our mind , all our soul, and all our strength. This is faith in the Lord. We trust completely in the Lord. We love the Lord with all our heart , with all our mind , with all our soul , and with all our strength. And so God is not ashamed to be called their God. (Hebrews 11:16) And God is not ashamed to be called our God.

JACOB'S ROMANCE

(GENESIS 29:1-14) Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place. And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be you? And they said, Of Haran are we. And he said unto them, Know you Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter comes with the sheep. And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water you the sheep, and go and feed them. And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep. And while he yet spoke with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them. And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father. And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. And Laban said unto Jacob, Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall your wages be? And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. (Genesis 29:1-20)

THE DECEIVER IS DECEIVED

(Genesis 29:15-30) And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this you have done unto me? did not I serve with you for Rachel? wherefore then have you beguiled me? And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfil her week, and we will give you this also for the service which you shall serve with me yet seven other years. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

JACOB'S CHILDREN

(Genesis 29 - Genesis 30) 31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD has looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD has heard that I was hated, he has therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing. And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb? And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. And Rachel said, God has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan. And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali. When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son. And Leah said, A troop comes: and she called his name Gad. And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son. And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher. And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray you, of your son's mandrakes. And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that you have taken my husband? and would you take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with you to night for your son's mandrakes. And Jacob came out of the field in the evening , and Leah went out to meet him, and said, You must come in unto me; for surely I have hired you with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night. And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son. And Leah said, God has given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar. And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son. And Leah said, God has endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun. And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah. And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God has taken away my reproach: And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

JACOB'S FLOCKS INCREASE

(Genesis 30:25-43) And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country. Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served you, and let me go: for you know my service which I have done you. And Laban said unto him, I pray you, if I have found favour in your eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake. And he said, Appoint me your wages, and I will give it. And he said unto him, You know how I have served you, and how your cattle was with me. For it was little which you had before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD has blessed you since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also? And he said, What shall I give you? And Jacob said, You shall not give me any thing: if you will do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep your flock. I will pass through all your flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire. So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before your face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me. And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to your word. And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons. And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks. And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink. And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted. And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle. And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods. But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

JACOB LEAVES LABAN

(Genesis 31:1-55)

GENESIS 31

And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob has taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's has he gotten all this glory. And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before. And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of your fathers, and to your kindred; and I will be with you. And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. And you know that with all my power I have served your father. And your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. If he said thus, The speckled shall be your wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be your hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked. Thus God has taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. And the angel of God spoke unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. And he said, Lift up now your eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban does unto you. I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, and where you vowed a vow unto me: now arise, get you out from this land, and return unto the land of your kindred. And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house? Are we not counted of him strangers? for he has sold us, and has quite devoured also our money. For all the riches which God has taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God has said unto you, do. Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels; And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padan-aram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan. And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's. And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled. So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead. And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled. And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead. And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that you speak not to Jacob either good or bad. Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead. And Laban said to Jacob, What have you done, that you have stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword? Wherefore did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and did not tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp? And have not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? you have now done foolishly in so doing. It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spoke unto me yesternight, saying, Take you heed that you speak not to Jacob either good or bad. And now, though you would needs be gone, because you sore longed after your father's house, yet wherefore have you stolen my gods? And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure you would take by force your daughters from me. With whomsoever you find your gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern you what is your with me, and take it to you. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them. And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent. Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not. And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before you; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images. And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued after me? Whereas you have searched all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge between us both. This twenty years have I been with you; your ewes and your she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of your flock have I not eaten. That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto you; I bare the loss of it; of my hand did you require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. Thus have I been twenty years in your house; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your cattle: and you have changed my wages ten times. Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely had sent me away now empty. God has seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked you yesternight. And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that you see is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born? Now therefore come you, let us make a covenant, I and you; and let it be for a witness between me and you. And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap. And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed. And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and you this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed; And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another. If you shall afflict my daughters, or if you shall take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness between me and you. And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast between me and you; This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you shall not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm. The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac. Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount. And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.

JACOB PREPARES TO MEET ESAU

(Genesis 32:1-21) And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Your servant Jacob said thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now: And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and women servants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in your sight. And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to your brother Esau, and also he comes to meet you, and four hundred men with him. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape. And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which said unto me, Return unto your country, and to your kindred, and I will deal well with you: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which you have showed unto your servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. Deliver me, I pray you, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. And you said, I will surely do you good, and make your seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother; Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams, Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals. And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove. And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meets you, and asks you, saying, Whose art you? and whither go you? and whose are these before you? Then you shall say, They be your servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us. And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall you speak unto Esau, when you find him. And say you moreover, Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me. So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.

JACOB WRESTLES WITH THE LORD

(Genesis 32:22-32).

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
And he said,
Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel:
for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men,
and hast prevailed. (Gen 32:24-28 )

Give the Lord all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength. It was late for Jacob to come completely to the Lord. Jacob was in danger of getting lost. Jacob was still trying to walk with the Lord with his natural man's strength. Jacob was still trying to walk with the Lord with his man's mind. He was not giving all his mind to the Lord. The Lord was still not the Shepherd of his mind. Jacob was still trying to walk with the Lord with his natural man's heart. He was not giving all his heart to the Lord. The Lord was still not the Shepherd of his heart. Jacob was still trying to walk with the Lord with his natural man's soul. Jacob was not giving all his soul to the Lord. The Lord was still not the Shepherd of his soul. Jacob was still not giving all his mind, all his heart, and all his soul to the Lord. Jacob could not give all his strength to the Lord. His strength was wasted. The Lord was still not the Shepherd of Jacob's strength. Jacob was not walking with the Lord. Jacob was not walking God's way. Jacob was walking away from the Lord. Jacob was walking man's way. Jacob spent his entire live struggling with God. Jacob's mind struggled with the Lord. Jacob's heart struggled with the Lord. Jacob's soul struggled with the Lord. Jacob's strength struggled with the Lord. Jacob desired to have the blessing of the Lord. Desire is not enough. Our Father Who is in heaven. Hallowed be His name. His kingdom come. His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. What is the will of God ? For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever will believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life. The Lord sees the Jacob's sad situation. Man's plan for the salvation of man will end in failure. Jacob's plan for man's salvation will end in failure. It was man's achievement. It is man's effort and man's work. Jacob was walking in the wrong direction. By the amazing grace of God, the Lord came forward to save Jacob. Jacob was walking away from the Lord with his natural man's strength. It pains the Lord to touch the hollow of Jacob's thigh. The Lord has to stop Jacob from walking away from Him. The Lord has to guide Jacob in the path of righteousness . And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. Jacob's thigh was out of joint. Now he can not walk away from the Lord. The Lord has taught Jacob an important lesson. Trust in the Lord with all your mind Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Trust in the Lord with all your soul. Trust in the Lord with all your strength. Lean not in your own understanding. Trust not in man's wisdom. Man's wisdom is foolishness to God. Trust in the wisdom of the LORD . Trust in the Lord for all your needs. The Lord will provide. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Abraham behold this promise of God. Isaac also behold this same promise of God. Jacob can not work for the Lord's blessing. The Lord's blessing is a gift. To receive the blessing of God , Jacob has to accept it with faith in the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ is the gift of God. The Lord Jesus Christ will come from the seed of Jacob. Love never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1Corinthians 13:8-13) We can see and understand only a little about God now , as if we were peering at his reflection in a poor mirror ; but someday we are going to see God in his completeness, face to face. Now all you know is hazy and blurred, but someday you will see everything clearly, just as clearly as God sees into your heart right now. And we shall see God in our pure heart. And now these three lives in us : faith, hope, and love. And the greatest these is love. The life of Jacob is a prophecy.
God uses the life of Jacob as a prophecy to reveal what will
happen to the children of Israel.
Jacob wrestles with the Lord until the Lord blesses him.
What is God's blessing for Israel ? GOD'S blessing for Israel is the Lord Jesus Christ. Every breath of Israel comes from the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is a gift from God to man. Israel has power with God and with men.
And Israel has prevailed.
The children of Israel wrestle with the
Lord until the Lord blesses them.
The children of Israel has power with God and with men.
And the children of Israel will prevailed.

JACOB MEETS ESAU

(Genesis 33:1-18)

GENESIS 33

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. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with you? And he said, The children which God has graciously given your 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 you 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 you have unto yourself. And Jacob said, Nay, I pray you, if now I have found grace in your sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen your face, as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. (Genesis 33:1-10) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loves God love his brother also. (1 John 4:11-21) Jacob told Esau, Take, I pray you, my blessing that is brought to you; because God has 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 you. And he said unto him, My lord knows 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 you, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goes 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 you some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needs 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. And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; 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 El-elohe-Israel. (Genesis 33:11-20)

THE RAPE OF DINAH

(Genesis 34:1-51) 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. And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spoke kindly unto the damsel. And Shechem spoke unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife. And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come. And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him. And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done. And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. And make you marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you. And you shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade you therein, and get you possessions therein. And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what you shall say unto me I will give. Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as you shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife. And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister: And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us: But in this will we consent unto you: If you will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised; Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. But if you will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone. And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son. And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father. And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised. Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us. And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field, And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house. And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, You have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house. 31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot? (Genesis 34:1-31)

GOD BLESSES JACOB AT BETHEL

(Genesis:35:1-15)

GENESIS 35

And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him. And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother. But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth. And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, Your name is Jacob: your name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be your name: and he called his name Israel. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of you, and kings shall come out of your loins; And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to you I will give it, and to your seed after you will I give the land. And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel.

THE DEATH OF RACHEL

(Genesis 35:16-21) And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; you shall have this son also. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day. And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar. And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun: The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin: And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali: And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padan-aram. And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned. And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years. And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

JOSEPH

(Genesis 37-41)
And Jacob lived in the land
 wherein his father was a 
stranger, in the land of Canaan.
Joseph , being seventeen years old , was feeding the flock
with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah
and with the sons of Zilpah , his father's wives. And
Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Now
Israel loved Joseph more than all his children , because he
was the son of his old age. And he made Joseph a coat of
many colours. And when his brothers saw that their father
loved Joseph more than all his brothers, they hated him. And
they could not peacefully with him.
Joseph brought unto his father their deeds. Love covers
multitude of sins. The same time because Joseph loved his
brothers , he had to expose their sins. If they were
permitted to go on in sin , they would become more evil.
And they would die in their sin.
They had already made the family name to stink among the
inhabitants of the land .
Joseph told the truth concerning his brothers to his father.
Everyone that does evil hates the light.
Jesus said,
The world cannot hate you, but me it hates, because
I testify of it, that its works are evil.

Joseph was not a tale-bearer. His purpose was not to sow
discord. Joseph was a faithful brother who loves his
brothers.
In Joseph we can see something of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The good qualities in Joseph that God approved are found in Christ. This is because the Spirit of God was working
in Joseph's life.
And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers.
And they hated him yet more. And he said unto them that in his dream they were all in
the field tying up sheaven of wheat , when Joseph's sheaf
got up and stood straight. His brother's sheaves of wheat formed a circle around his and bowed down to it.
His brothers did not like the idea of Joseph reigning over them. And they hated him yet more for his dreams and for
his words.
Then Joseph had another dream and told his brothers .In
his dreams he saw the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars
bowing down to him. Joseph also told the dream to his
father . And his rebuked him, and said unto him,
what is this dream that you have dreamed ? Shall I and your mother and your brothers come to bow down
And his brothers envied him ; but his father observed the
sayings. Joseph's brothers were jealous of him. But his
father kept thinking about the whole matter. Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the eart ourselves to you to the earth ?

There is a deeper meaning of their hatre and hostility and enmity.And the Lord God said to the serpent in the garden of Eden.
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and
between your seed and her seed.

This conflict between the children of God and the children of the devil has been going on since then. It broke out
between Cain and Abel. And this conflict also raged around Joseph.
One day when Joseph's brothers had gone to Schechem to take care of their father's flock, Jacob told Joseph to see if
his brothers were safe and if the flock was alright.
On arriving at Shechem, Joseph learned that his brothers
had moved on to Dothan. Were their brothers disobeying
their father by going to Dothan ? They were suppose to
feed the flock at Schechem. What were they doing in Dothan ?
Were they doing something wicked ? So Joseph went after them and found them at Dothan.
When the brothers saw Joseph in the distance , and before he reached them, they plotted against him. And they decided to kill him.They didn't like dreamers. They wanted to kill him, and cast him into some pit . Then they would explain to their father that some evil beast had devoured him. Then they wanted to see what will become of his dreams. The wicked people did not realize that it was God
who gives dreams. They were fighting against God.
And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands . And he said,
Let us not kill him.
Reuben told them to shed no blood, but to cast him into this pit. He said this because he was planning to save
Joseph from them and to send him back to his father.When Joseph came up to his brothers, they undressed Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him. And they took him , and cast him into an empty pit. Joseph's dream came from the Lord. While his brothers tried to defeat it, they were themselves the instruments accomplishing it.The Pharisees understood what Christ
said about Himself. And they determined that Christ should not reign over them. They murdered Jesus. And by His crucifixion , they made way for the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ they had tried to prevent. Jesus said,
And I , if I be lifted up from the earth , will draw
all men unto me. (John 12:32)

Jesus was in the world , and the world was made by Him.And the world knew Him not. He came unto His own , and His own received Him not.
Joseph was betrayed by His brothers. Jesus was betrayed
by one of His own disciples. Joseph was sold for money.
Jesus was also sold for money.
while Joseph was starving in the pit , his brothers
sat down to eat bread. And they lifted their eyes and looked. They saw a company of Ishmaelites who came from
Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh . They were carrying them down to Egypt.And Judah said unto his brothers,
What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood ? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites,
and let not our hand be upon him ; for he is our brother and our flesh.

And the brothers were content. They drew and lifted up
Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And
they brought Joseph into Egypt.

JOSEPH THE RULER

(Genesis 41-50) When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he told them to go to Egypt to buy grain.
Soon Joseph's brothers were bowing before Joseph, though, they had no idea that the Egyptian governor was their long
lost brother. Joseph recognized his brothers immediately, but pretended to be an Egyptian and spoke to them through an interpreter.
He spoke to them roughly and charged them of being spies. Then they told Joseph that they were twelve brothers, the
son of one man in the land of Canaan and that the youngest brother was still with their father and one was not.
Joseph demanded , as proof of their honesty, that they
bring the younger brother Benjamin, from Canaan to him.
Joseph first put them in jail , but three days later he allowed them to leave, except for Simeon who had to stay
in Egypt for surety.
Joseph was hard upon his brothers not from a spirit of revenge, but to bring them to repentance. The brothers were frightened at this turn of events. The brothers remembered their quilt concerning Joseph's disappearance.
They felt that God was going to punish them. And when they found that their money had been returned in the sacks of corn which they brought, the brothers were even more upset.
The brothers came to buy corn. And they were given corn .And every man had his money given back. Christ Jesus gives out supplies of blessings without money and price. The poorest are invited to buy without money. The gift of eternal life is free. The gift of our Lord's living water
is free. Come and drink the living water.

JOSEPH , A MAN OF MERCY

Joseph recognized the Lord in his life. Joseph acknowledged the hand of God in every circumstance. Because he was keenly aware of God's mercy to him, Joseph showed mercy
and compassion in his dealing with his brothers. We should show mercy to others because we have experienced the greater revelation of God's love and mercy in forgiveness
and cleansing of all our sins through the Lord Jesus Christ. At first Jacob refused to let Benjamin go into Egypt. But
famine forced Jacob to give in and let his son go. Joseph tested his brothers . The tests calculated to give Joseph
a clear picture of their hearts. When they set out to return to Canaan they were pursued by Joseph's servants who
charged them of the theft of a cup belonging to Joseph.
They were so sure of their innocence that they agreed that whosoever was found with the cup should be a slave in Egypt. They were extremely upset when they discovered that
their money had been returned in their sacks and that, in addition, the precious cup was in Benjamin's sack.
They pleaded for Benjamin's release. Judah threw himself
helplessly on Joseph's mercy, and offered to take
Benjamin's place as a slave.
They thought that Benjamin had brought them into all this
trouble. Had they not loved him and his father, they would have abandoned him to his fate as a slave.
If you forgive not men their trespass , neither will
your Heavenly Father forgive you.

But they forgave the lad, showing tender love for the old,
father's sake and for the lad's sake.
Thus Joseph's object was attained. Joseph could see that
there was no hatre in their hearts and that they had
learned from their mistakes.
Then Joseph could not act any longer. He told all his
servants to leave the room. And there stood no man with
him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brothers.
And he wept aloud. And the Egyptians and the house of
Pharaoh heard.
And Joseph said unto his brothers,
I am Joseph . Is my father still alive ?
But when his brothers heard this , they were so terrified
that they could not speak.
This was what Joseph told his brothers.
I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved , nor angry with yourselves, that
you sold me here. It was God who sent me ahead of you to
save people's lives This is only the second year of famine
in the land. There will be five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor reaping . God sent me ahead of
you to rescue you and to make sure that your descendants survive. So it was not really you who sent me here, but God sent me here. God has made me the king's highest official.
I am in charge of this whole country. I am the ruler of all Egypt.
Now hurry back to my father and tell him that God has made Joseph ruler of all Egypt and that Joseph wants you to come
to him without delay.
And we know that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.(Romans 8:28) So Jacob came to live with his son Joseph in Egypt. And so
many years went by. When Jacob died all was bright. So he
went to bury his father in the land of Canaan. All
the king's officials, the elders of the land of Egypt, and all the houses of Joseph, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, and all the houses of Joseph, and his brothers, and
his father's family, all went with him. Men in chariots and men on horseback also went with him. It was a very great
company.

JACOB BLESSES EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH

(Genesis 48:1-21) And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, your father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, your son Joseph comes unto you: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed. And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, And said unto me, Behold I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people; and will give this land to your seed after you for an everlasting possession. And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto you in the land of Egypt before I came unto you into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. And your issue, which you begot after them, shall be your, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance. And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem. And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these? And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray you, unto me, and I will bless them. Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see your face: and, lo, God has showed me also your seed. And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him. And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put your right hand upon his head. And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. And he blessed them that day, saying, In you shall Israel bless, saying, God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

THE LAST WORDS OF JACOB

(Genesis 49:1-33) And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear, you sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed; then defiled you it: he went up to my couch. Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not you into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not you united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-willed they dug down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. Judah, you are he whom your brethren shall praise: your hand shall be in the neck of your enemies; your father's children shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, you are gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute. Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that bites the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. I have waited for your salvation, O LORD. Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. Naphtali is a hind let loose: he gives goodly words. Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) Even by the God of your father, who shall help you; and by the Almighty, who shall bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. Benjamin shall ravineth as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil. All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spoke unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.

THE DEATH OF JACOB

(Genesis 49:29-50:14) And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying place. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth. And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people. And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel. And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days. And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have dug for me in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me. Now therefore let me go up, please , and bury my father, and I will come again. And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury your father, according as he made you swear. And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company. And they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days. And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan. And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them: For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a burying place of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre. And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father. (Genesis 50)

THE GOD OF JACOB

God's love for us is not determined by what God finds in man. God loves us because God wants to make us righteous. The Lord is not surprise by the evil He finds in man. His loving kindness is not turned away by our sin. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. It is comforting to discover that the saints of the Scriptures were of like passions with ourselves. It is a great comfort to find that in many parts of the Scriptures God calls Himself the God of Jacob. God is not ashamed to link His holy nature with one of the meanest of men. There similarities between Jacob and ourselves. Jacob had to give himself completely to the Lord before he could become Israel. We too must give ourselves completely to the Lord. We must give the Lord all our heart, all our mind , all our soul, and all our strength. This is faith in the Lord. We trust completely in the Lord. We love the Lord with all our heart , with all our mind , with all our soul , and with all our strength. And so God is not ashamed to be called their God. (Hebrews 11:16) And God is not ashamed to be called our God. www.peoplebible.com ................................... Title : Israel , A Prince With God ISBN 10 0-921947-00-3 Author : Anthony Ing Publisher : Good News Publishing Publication Year : 1987 Format : paperback , 54pages