Israel A Living Epistle of Jesus Christ

Israel A Living Epistle
of
Jesus Christ
And the LORD God
formed man of the
dust of the ground,
and breathed into
his nostrils the breath
of life;
and man became a
living soul. (Gen 2:7)
The Lord had prepared
the earth for the
coming of Man.
The Lord God created man
with the dust of the
ground.
The physical part of
man is formed of
the dust of the ground.
But man is more than
the dust of the ground.
God breathed into his
nostrils and man became
a living soul.
God gave man life
that is physical flesh.
God also gave man life
that is spiritual .
Man has in his
capacity for God.

And the LORD God
commanded the man, saying,
Of every tree of
the garden you may
freely eat: (Gen 2:15-16)
But of the tree of
the knowledge of good
and evil,you shall
not eat of it: for
in the day that you
eat thereof you shall
surely die. (Gen 2:15-17)
Man was to take care
of God's garden of
Eden. God placed
a condition on man.
Life comes from God.
Our source of life
comes from God. Death
is separation from God.
When Adam ate the
fruit from the tree
of knowledge of good
and evil, he was
slowly choke to death by
the forbidden fruit.
The evil fruit separated man
from God who is man's
source of life.
Without God's source of
spiritual life, man survives
for a while like the
wild beasts and dies.
And the LORD God said,

GOD'S PLAN FOR
MAN'S SALVATION

And they heard the
voice of the LORD God
walking in the garden
in the cool of the day:
and Adam and his wife
hid themselves from the
presence of the LORD God
amongst the trees of
the garden. (Gen 3:8)
Religion separates man from
God.
Religion separates you from
God.
You can not approach
God from religion.
Adam was separated from
God. Adam was lost.
It was God who was
seeking man. And it
was not man seeking God.
A lost man can never
find God. Neither can
a lost man find himself.
And the LORD God called
unto Adam, and said
unto him, Where are you?
(Gen 3:9)
The Lord knew where Adam was.
Where are you in
relationship with the
Lord God ?
Are you a believer ?
Or are you a lost
unbeliever ?
God is the reference
point.
If you have the
Lord as your God,
you will know where
you are in relationship
with the rest of the
world.
If you have the
Lord as your God,
you are able
to forgive all the
other people's trespasses
against you. God is
able to give you more
than what the other
people can take from
you.

And he said,
I heard thy voice
in the garden, and
I was afraid, because
I was naked;
and I hid myself.
And he said,
Who told you that
you were naked? Have
you eaten of the tree,
whereof I commanded thee
that you should not
eat? And the man said,
The woman whom you
gave to be with me,
she gave me of the
tree, and I did eat. And
the LORD God said unto
the woman, What is this
that you have done?
And the woman said, The
serpent beguiled me, and
I did eat.(Gen 3:10-13)
Where are you Adam ?
Where are you spiritually ?
Have you lost your
godly spiritual ? Have you
fallen to the level
of wild beasts ? There
was no confession of
sin on their part.
There was no repentance .
Adam passed the blame
to the woman.
He blamed the woman
for his own sin. The
woman also passed the
blame. The woman blamed
the serpent for her sin.

The knowledge of good
and evil can not save
a sinner. A sinner
cannot work for his own
salvation. The price
of sin is too high, The
wages of sin is death.
THE GRACE OF GOD

It is impossible for
the sinner to paid
for his sin. Only
God is pay for man.
God has prepared life
for man through His Son
the Lord Jesus Christ.

For God so loved the
world that He gave His
only begotten Son so that
whosoever believes in him
should not perish but
everlasting life.
This was God's plan from
the very beginning.

The wages of sin death.
The Lord is a merciful God.
The Lord provided a
way for man
to regain his fellowship
with God.

Unto Adam also and to
his wife did the
LORD God make coats
of skins, and clothed
them.(Genesis 3:21)
The coats of skins that
God made for them
points to the Son of
God the Lord Jesus
Christ. Christ made us
righteous and acceptable
to God .The Lord Jesus
Christ is the acceptable
offering to God.
The believer worships the
Lord in spirit and truth.

And the LORD God said,
Behold, the man is
become as one of us,
to know good and evil:
and now, lest he put
forth his hand, and take
also of the tree
of life, and eat,
and live for ever:
Therefore the LORD God
sent him forth from
the garden of Eden,
to till the ground
from whence he was taken.

As the result of their
disobedience, man lost his
innocence and experienced
the knowledge of good and
evil.
The knowledge of good and
evil rejects God as
the Ruler. Man rejected
God as the ruler .
When man rejected God ,
man turned off the
Light for himself.
When man rejected God ,
man turned off the
spiritual power for himself.
Man is dead in the spirit.
Now man walks in darkness.
So man was expelled
from the garden of Eden.

So He drove out
the man; and He
placed at the east of
the garden of Eden
Cherubims, and a
flaming sword which
turned every way, to
keep the way of the
tree of life.
( Gen 3:21-24)

The flaming sword is
the Truth.
The flaming sword is
God's guiding Light
to life.
The Lord Jesus Christ
is the Light of
world.
The Lord Jesus Christ
is the only Way
to everlasting Life.
Jesus said,
I am the way,
the truth, and the
Life.
No man comes to
the Father ,
except by me.
(John 14:6 )
Jesus is the door
to everlasting life.
Jesus is the same
yesterday, today,
and forever.

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 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 most of
his life 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.

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.

ESAU AND JACOB
(Genesis 25:19-28)

And these are the
generations of Isaac,
Abraham's son:
Abraham begot Isaac:
And Isaac was forty
years old when he took
Rebekah to wife,
the daughter of Bethuel
the Syrian of Padan-aram,
the sister to Laban
the Syrian.
And Isaac intreated
the LORD for his wife,
because she was barren:
and the LORD was intreated
of him, and Rebekah his
wife conceived.
(Genesis 25:19-21)
Because Rebekah had no
children , Isaac prayed
to the Lord for her.
The Lord answered his
prayer, and Rebekah conceived.

22 And the children struggled
together within her;
and she said,
If it be so,
why am I thus?
And she went to
inquire of the LORD.
23 And the LORD said
unto her,
Two nations are in
your womb, and two
manner of people shall
be separated from your
bowels; and the one
people shall be stronger
than the other people;
and the elder shall
serve the younger.
24 And when her days
to be delivered were
fulfilled, behold,
there were twins in
her womb.
25 And the first came
out red, all over
like an hairy garment;
and they called his
name Esau.
26 And after that came
his brother out, and
his hand took hold on
Esau's heel; and his
name was called Jacob:
and Isaac was threescore
years old when she
bare them.
(Genesis 25:22-26)

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 their 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 .
The Lord Jesus Christ
has defeated death.
Death is only a shadow
for the believers of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Shadow can not hurt
the believers.
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
the righteousness 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
spiritually dead in sin.
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.
All men inherited death
from Adam.
All men are born
spiritually dead because of
Adam's sin.
The unbeliever is spiritually
dead.
The believer is born again.
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 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.

Israel A Living Epistle of Jesus Christ

GOD'S PLAN FOR MAN'S SALVATION

THE GRACE OF GOD

Jacob Wrestles with the Lord

ESAU AND JACOB

THE BIRTHRIGHT

THE STOLEN BLESSING

JACOB'S LADDER

JACOB'S ROMANCE

THE DECEIVER IS DECEIVED

JACOB'S CHILDREN

JACOB'S FLOCKS INCREASE

JACOB LEAVES LABAN

GENESIS 31

JACOB PREPARES TO MEET ESAU

JACOB WRESTLES WITH THE LORD

JACOB MEETS ESAU

GENESIS 33

THE RAPE OF DINAH

GOD BLESSES JACOB AT BETHEL

GENESIS 35

THE DEATH OF RACHEL

JOSEPH

JOSEPH THE RULER

JOSEPH , A MAN OF MERCY

JACOB BLESSES EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH

THE LAST WORDS OF JACOB

THE DEATH OF JACOB

THE GOD OF JACOB