The Crow's Nest

Friday, July 7, 2023

The Twins (Part III)

Part II recap. Jacob has deceived Isaac by disguising himself as Esau. This makes Isaac give Jacob his blessing.

Part III.

No sooner has Jacob received the Blessing from Isaac, Esau returns. Esau came in to his father Isaac and tried to feed his father venison. Isaac was now very puzzled. You are a bit late Esau, your brother Jacob has fooled me and I gave him everything. I don’t have anything left for you.

Esau is very upset about this. He told Isaac that Jacob had stolen his birthright and now his blessing. In fact, this is not totally true. Esau had sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentils. The birthright is connected to the blessing, the final word on who would be the sovereign over the other.

Needless to say, Esau was not happy about it. Esau, although Isaac gave him a secondary blessing, planned to kill Jacob. Rebekah told Jacob to flee at least long enough to let Esau calm down.

Isaac goes a step further with Jacob, “And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother.

And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;

And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.

And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.” (Genesis 28:1-5)

Esau was also told to not marry Canaanites. Esau was using the commands of his father to atone for any wrong he had done. God does not measure good works to atone for bad behavior. If you steal someone’s cow and after being caught you give them 12 sheep, the problem is not the value of the cow or the sheep. The value is the act of theft. Esau spent little time with God.

Jacob on the other hand not only feared God, but he trusted God to look over him. On the trip to Padanaram, Jacob found himself in the dark with no shelter. He arranged stones to be a pillow for him. Sleeping in the open was a dangerous thing. Any manner of animal could come by and eat him. Jacob didn’t have a physical person to look out for him. Jacob trusted that the LORD would protect him. (Genesis 28:10-15)

Jacob and Esau have gone in different directions, but they will meet again.

Thursday, July 6, 2023

The Twins (Part II)

To recap Part I of The Twins. Isaac and Rebekah had twin boys who were physically and emotionally different from each other. Esau, the first born, was a man of the field and talented hunter. Jacob, the second, was a homebody better at staying near the women. Isaac loved Esau most of all. Rebekah loved Jacob over Esau.

God had revealed to Rebekah that Jacob would rule over Esau. Instead of waiting for God to work on the relationship between Esau and Jacob, Rebekah helped Jacob use his skills to get Esau to sell his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentils.

Esau was not interested in control of the family and leading them in the way of the LORD. Esau was only interested in short term physical gratification.

And now for Part II.

Isaac was old and blind. Esau, Jacob and Rebekah knew Isaac’s time was short. The race was on to receive Isaac’s blessing. A Blessing is more than a transfer of physical wealth from a father to a son. It is a spiritual transfer of God’s blessings to Abraham to the future leadership of the family. It was a transfer of the Birthright. Although Isaac could give a blessing to everyone in the family. The first blessing is the most important.

Isaac called Esau to him and told him that he wanted Esau to go hunting and bring him venison, and receive his blessing. Rebekah had overheard Isaac’s commands to Esau.

Rebekah told Jacob to follow her instructions closely, “Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:

And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.” (Genesis 27:9-10)

Jacob told his mother that in order to deceive his father, that his brother Esau was a hairy man and Jacob is smooth. Jacob brought his mother the goats and Rebekah used the skins of the goats to make Jacob appear to be hairy. She also took Esau’s good clothes and put them on Jacob. The deception had been set.

Jacob worried that if his father caught him in this deception he would be cursed instead of blessed. Rebekah put his fears to rest by saying she would take the curse instead of Jacob.

Jacob went in to see his father, bringing the savory meat and dressed as his brother Esau. Jacob told his father he was Esau.

Isaac is puzzled. Isaac didn’t think he sounded like Esau’s voice, and it seemed as if Esau had not taken very long to hunt and prepare venison for him. Isaac did his best to make sure. He touched Jacob’s hands and they felt hairy. He smelled Jacob’s clothes and they smelled like Esau. Isaac was convinced.

Isaac gave Jacob this blessing, “Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:

Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.” (Genesis 27:28-29)

As soon as Isaac had finished giving Jacob the blessing, Jacob left the room and returned to his mother.

Jacob not only had Esau’s birthright, but he had the blessing from Isaac. No matter what happened next Jacob is the rightful leader of the family and servants of Isaac.

Stay tuned for part III

The Twins

Isaac was blessed with a beautiful wife who loved the LORD. Isaac inherited Abraham’s belongings. What follows is a complex family relationship.

Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah. Rebekah, just like Sarah was barren and Isaac prayed to God for a child. It would take another 20 years for Rebekah to conceive.

Rebekah felt a struggle inside of her womb and asked the LORD what is happening here? If you think of it in modern terms you would go see a doctor. A doctor would tell you, “Oh its just the babies kicking.” God didn’t stop with a simple explanation. He told her what was going on and how it would continue into the future.

Genesis 25:23 “And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.”

Rebekah knew that there were two babies who would be different from one another. One would be stronger. But which one? Rebekah may have assumed that since the elder would serve the younger, then the younger would be stronger. Was she right? Read on.

Isaac was 60 years old when the twins were born. The first came out Red and Hairy. Like a child in a coat. His name was Esau. The second child came out with his hand on the heel of his brother.

As the brothers grew Esau became a cunning hunter and man of the fields. Jacob was plain and stayed close to the tents. Twins but completely different.

Isaac loved Esau, not just because he was the first son, but also because he was the strongest son. Rebekah love Jacob. Was this because the LORD had told her that Jacob would lead Esau? Read on.

Esau came in from the fields, was tired, and starving. Jacob had made a delicious meal. Esau begged Jacob for some food. Jacob hatched a plan. Sell me your birthright and you can eat. Esau didn’t want a birthright, so he sold it to Jacob.

That is not how birthrights work. A birthright is given to the first born male. It is more than possessions, it is the right to lead the family. The lie is between Esau and Jacob. Rebekah will be involved in the lie.

Isaac and Rebekah were godly parents and had taught their children of the covenant between Abraham and God. Abraham’s seed would possess Canaan and bring a savior to the world. Esau did not believe this covenant. When he was done eating he left without a care about the birthright.

Jacob was not mister squeaky clean. He had swindled Esau out of his birthright, and now he had to swindle his father.

Esau married two women at the same time, they were Canaanites that were condemned to Noah’s curse. Esau did not ask his parents permission to marry in such a way, and cared only for his own pleasures. He was removed from God and full of the wicked world.

Stay tuned for Part II.

The Temptation of Abraham

Abraham had a close relationship with God. He had built altars to worship God. He had spoken directly to God. He listened to God’s lessons. But Abraham was not perfect.

Abraham had lied to kings. Abraham’s fear was that he would be killed because his wife Sarah was beautiful. Abraham understood the lust in people’s heart. God understood the fear in Abraham’s heart and as Abraham grew old God knew he had faith to give birth to a Son, he called Isaac.

God’s covenant with Abraham was much more than a nation, but a promise to all nations that there would be another Son born to save the peoples of the world.

God tempted Abraham with a lesson, not just a lesson for Abraham but a lesson for us all. God wanted a sacrifice. He had Abraham take his only son Isaac into the mountains. Isaac had to carry the wood for the altar up the mountain. Abraham, in his heart believed that God’s plan was to sacrifice Isaac on the altar.

Isaac knew how sacrifices were done. Isaac asked his father where was the lamb? Abraham answered, “God will provide a lamb.”

Abraham laid Isaac on the altar and raised his knife. The angel of the LORD stayed Abraham’s hand. Abraham saw behind him a ram caught in the bushes. A sacrifice had been provided.

God knew what was going to happen, Abraham didn’t. Abraham now realized that to follow God’s commands his family would grow in numbers and might. God was also speaking to us.

Just as God would provide his only son as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. Abraham leads to Jesus.

Lot’s Dilemma

God has spoken with Abraham and told him of the coming destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Gen 18:20-33)

Lot lived in the city of Sodom. The population there could be thousands. What is known was the city was vile and full of evil. However, God gave Lot, because he was righteous, a way out. The Angels of the LORD came to Lot to rescue him.

Lot’s dilemma is; When do I leave, where do I go, what does my future hold?

But Lot didn’t follow the directions at first. He waited, but the Angels were not going to wait, and neither were the evil people in Sodom. Lot’s family, his son’s son’s in-law, wife, and daughters were not willing to leave.

Lot and his family recognized the danger posed to the Angels and his family. Lot, though faithful, was still scared of the unknown future. He tried to stall. However, he knew the Angels were real when they blinded the evil men attempting to push their way into Lot’s home.

The Angels told Lot to take his family and take refuge in the mountains. Lot did not want to hide in the caves. Instead, he asked the Angels if he could go to the “very small” town of Zoar, The Angels agreed.

That morning the Angels led Lot, his wife, and daughters out of Sodom and told them to not look back. As they fled Lot’s wife looked back at the destruction of Sodom. She was turned into a pillar of salt.

Lot’s faith got him out of Sodom, but he lost his wife. Her turning back demonstrated not only a lack of faith, but the desire to stay in such a sinful place. Lot’s wife did not fear God and in breaking God’s command she suffered the consequence. Lot knew enough that staying in Zoar was a bad idea. So he ran to a cave.

Lot’s daughters used wine to get their father drunk and they slept with him. The heart of humans is deceitful. Lot’s daughters wanted babies to improve their lives. It doesn’t. Lot took the wine, but could he control his drinking, No.

To quote Matthew Henry, “From the silence of the Scripture concerning Lot henceforward, learn that drunkenness, as it makes men forgetful, so it makes them to be forgotten.”

The Story of Lot at Sodom is found in Genesis Chapter 19.

I Will Be

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deuteronomy 6:4-5

When Moses asked God who he should tell the Children of Israel what God’s name is God said “Yahweh…”(Ex 3:15) Yahweh is the Hebrew verb “He Will Be”, The personal name of the God of Israel.

The name Yahweh shows up over 6000 times in the Old Testament. In order to show honor to the name the Hebrews used the Jewish word “Adonai”. In English, Adonai translates to LORD.

The translation from the Jewish Bible did not want people to actually say God’s name. So, they made up a word. They did this by taking the YHWH from Yahweh, and then added the AOA from Adonai, which created the word “YAHOWAH”. No Israelite ever said the word Ya-Ho-Wah, the made up word was meant as a visual device to say Adonai.

When the English translations began no one knew that YAHOWAH was a made up word. And pronouncing the word became JEHOVAH. Regardless of the name you use; God, Yahweh, Yahowah, Adonai, or LORD, the name means the same.

Sodom and Gomorrah

Genesis 18:20-21 “And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.”

The created Angels left Abraham and Jehovah. Jehovah stayed with Abraham to tell Abraham what was about to happen.

Jehovah does not punish the sinner in their time, but he does it in his time. He gives people the chance to repent as individuals. Jehovah loves the sinner and wants them to love him. There comes a time when punishment for sin sends a message. Listen.

Jehovah gave Abraham the opportunity to learn the ways of God. Abraham prays to Jehovah to spare 50, 45, 40, 30, or 10 righteous people in the city. Jehovah’s message is that he will spare the righteous. But not the unrighteous.

The Angels of Jehovah arrive at Sodom.

Abraham and His Visitors

“And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,” (Gen 18:2)

Abraham saw the three men and ran to meet them. Abraham offered to wash their feet and feed them. Abraham had Sarah make bread and a servant dress a calf. He served the three with bread, butter, milk, and the dressed calf.

Abraham stood by then three as they ate. Then one of the men asked where Sarah was. Abraham told them that she was in the tent.

The Lord said to Abraham, “…I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.” (Gen 18:10)

Abraham and Sarah were beyond the normal stage of life where they could have children. When Sarah heard the Lord say she would have a son, she laughed at the idea that someone as old as her could do such a thing.

The Lord asked Abraham, why did Sarah laugh? The Lord said, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son” (Gen 19:14)

Instead of being honest, Sarah feared the Lord and denied laughing. Sarah laughed because she lacked Faith. She sinned because she thought she could hide her laughter from the Lord.

Abraham is blessed to be the father of a nation. The family dynamic will be difficult.

ABRAHAM

“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” (Gen 17:1)

“4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.”

Abram meant the father as head of his family. God changed his name to Abraham, which meant the Father of a Nation. God also changed the name of Sari, which meant My Princess to Sarah, which means the Princess of a Nation.

God’s covenant with Abraham was to make him and Sarah the patriarchs of a great nation. God will make Abraham’s nation fruitful and give them the land of Canaan. God also stipulated that they must all be circumcised. Not just Abraham’s family, but also everyone in his house to include the servants.

Abraham would father the Kings of Israel and Jesus Christ.

SHEMA

Shema is the ancient Hebrew word for Listen. Listen, has many meanings.

Listen can mean the mechanical ability to hear sound.

Listen can mean to understand something. Simple things like an alarm, a dog barking, on someone crying, or more complex levels of understanding.

Listen can mean to obey. A dog might hear what you say and have no idea what you mean. When you teach a dog it will learn to obey commands they hear and understand.

God talks to us everyday. We must learn to Shema.