Genesis 27: "Jacob's Stolen Blessing" (Jacob's Spiritual Life)
Genesis 28: "Jacob's Dream" (Jacob's Spiritual Life)
Genesis 29-30: "Jacob's Wives and Children" (Jacob's Family Life)
Genesis 31: "Jacob's Quick Exit" (Jacob's Family Life)
The heart of today's passage lies in Genesis 27 and 29.
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| Thanks to http://gardenofpraise.com/bibl83s.htm for this image |
Overview:
Jacob, whose name means "deceiver," certainly lived up to his name. He schemes with his mother to steal his brother, Esau's blessing. This was something he did not need to do. God had already foretold that Abraham's blessing and Covenant would continue through Jacob's line, even though he was the younger brother. But because of his deception, Jacob had to flee Esau's wrath and went to Laban.
During his twenty year stay, Jacob works for seven years to wed Rachel. However, Laban tricks Jacob into marrying Leah instead. Jacob does not find out until the next morning. After a total of 20 years, Jacob has married both Leah and Rachel, and also has sons by two of their maids. When he leaves Laban, Jacob has 11 sons, one daughter, and many flocks.
Daily Walk:
God used Laban to build Jacob's character. Despite Jacob's scheming, God still had great plans for him. However, if Jacob had only trusted God to fulfill His promises, he would have spared himself years worth of grief. God uses discipline to help cultivate spiritual maturity.
What will I do the next time I feel like rushing ahead of God?
- First, I have to recognize that I am trying to force my own timing instead of waiting on God's.
- I should devote time to prayer and listen for God's response before taking hasty action.
- Then, I need to let go of things and trust God to answer my prayers and guide my actions.
- God designed marriage to be between one man and one woman.
- One man (Jacob) and two wives (Leah and Rachel) created so much jealousy, bickering, scheming, and competition.
"The man said, 'This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man.' For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh."
1 Kings 11:1-11 - Multiple Wives Creates Multiple Problems
"King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.
As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done.
On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.
The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command. So the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates." 1 Kings 11:1-11
My Interpretation of this passage:
- Multiple wives (700 plus 300 concubines!) causes big problems.
- Solomon married pagan women, which God had specifically warned against.
- These pagan women turned Solomon from God.
- Solomon built pagan idols and alters for his wives.
- Because Solomon did these things, and did not keep the Covenant with God, God would tear the kingdom away from Solomon and his line.
One of the focuses of today's study was waiting for God's timing. Do you ever feel impatient when you feel as though God hasn't answered your prayers? How do you cope? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Disclaimer: These are just my thoughts and insights from my own time studying the Bible. I hope to encourage others to spend time reading the Bible every day. I am not trying to teach, instruct, or push my thoughts on others. Please feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions.
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