I am still following Jacob. I've known him in our reading as a boy. I get to see him as a man now. We are privileged. We get to see the whole picture, at least as much as God allows...
Things that came to my attention today...
- Laban was an idol worshipper and apparently his daughter, Rachel, was into idols also. And she had a bit of her father in her... stealing.
- Even an idol worshipper (Laban) knows when he hears from God!
- Jacob tells Laban the truth about how he was treated by Laban with no embellishment!
- Laban, on the other hand, when confronted with the truth, feigned being wronged, and changed the facts to his way of thinking. (I don't want to be like Laban! When truth confronts me I want to be humble and repent!)
- I've not seen Rachel in a good light in the readings from past few days. Jealousy and one upmanship with her sister, selling Jacob's affections for a mandrake... and then her latest stunt was to steal her father's idols and hide them in her camel's saddle and sit on it using the "monthly" excuse not to get up. She was beautiful, but a handful!
- Jacob was afraid of Esau. I would be too in that scenario. He sent a notice to his brother that he was coming with his family and livestock and that he hoped his brother would be friendly to them. Jacob wanted to go home really badly knowing he would probably face his brother's wrath!
- Now Jacob sends his entire family over the river in front of him. Doesn't that seem strange? He is fearful of Esau... so he sends his wives and kiddos ahead and stays on the other side of the river for the night? Hmmm...
- Jacob was all alone in the camp and "a man" came and wrestled with him until dawn. When the "man" saw He could not win the match He struck Jacob's hip and knocked it out of joint at the socket. The "man" then asked to be released for it was dawn... and Jacob told him not until He blessed him. So the "man" asked Jacob his name and then changed his name to Israel. Then Jacob asked what His name was. He was not answered. He just blessed Israel. Then Israel named the place "face of God" and then limped on to his family on the other side of the river. That is the facts.
- But lets delve into the facts... we know from Jacob's past that he is strong! He moved the heavy stone away from the well so Rachel could water her father's flocks, he worked hard for years for Laban, and now he fights ALL night long with this "man". We also know that Jacob was scared of meeting up with his brother. Apparently just before dawn Jacob knew that the "man" was not a "man" as he asked for God's blessing. The "man" asked Jacob's name. Yes, He knew Jacob's name, but He wanted Jacob to realize what his name meant. "Trickster"! Then the "man" changed Jacob's name to Israel, which I just found out means "one who struggles with God". Interesting information. Anyway, Jacob asks this "man's" name and was not answered. He already knew. The "man" was God! God blessed Israel and Israel limped back to his family a new man... the physically strong man was gone... the spiritually strong man came to life!
- He was in front when he met up with his brother. He humbled himself before Esau. He was Israel... the man who fought God and man and was spared. The man who built an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel... "God, the God of Israel".
- From now on we will see Israel.
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