The Crow's Nest

Sunday, July 9, 2023

Joseph.

“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.” (Genesis 37:3)

As I had said in “The Wives. The Story of Jacob Part II” family relationships are tough, and when there is more than one wife it gets tougher. Our children learn from us and it is common for a couple to have arguments in front of their children. The Children listen and take away bad examples they don’t understand. It is obvious that both Rachel and Leah harbored jealousy between them. This would also extend to Bilhah and Zilpah.

Jacob loved his children, but he favored Joseph the most. Going so far as to make a coat that had many colors. What colors? We don’t know, but we do know it was a coat made to be special for Joseph.

Joseph’s brothers were jealous of how Jacob treated him better than he did them. Keep in mind that at this same time Dinah was off having fun with her friends. The parents in this story are distracted by their own problems and now the problems of their children.

Jacob wanted his son Joseph to go to where his brothers were working and then return a report to him about their activities. Joseph was not being a tattle tale he was doing what his father told him to do.

Joseph had dreams that showed him future happenings. So, he told his brothers of a dream he had.

“For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.” (Gen 37:7)

Needless to say, Joseph’s brothers hated him, now they hated him more since his dream said that his brothers would bow down to him. He dreams again.

“And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.” (Gen 37:9)

This time he told the dream to his father and brothers. Jacob asked him “Shall I and your mother bow to you?” Jacob paid attention to the dream, but Joseph’s brothers hated him even more.

His brothers hating him sounds a lot like Cain and Able. Cain hated Able because he thought God loved Able the most.

Jacob sends Joseph once more to check on his brothers to make sure they are OK. Joseph’s brothers see him coming.

“And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” (Gen 37:19-20)

Reuben, Jacob’s first son stopped his brothers. Reuben did not want to kill him and knew he would need Jacob to come and settle the argument. Reuben suggested they put him in a pit, then Reuben would go get Jacob.

While Reuben was gone the brothers continued to discuss whether to kill him or not. While eating they saw a caravan of Ishmeelites, this gave Judah an Idea.

“And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.” (Gen 37:26-27)

Judah and his brothers took Joseph out of the pit and sold him to Midianite merchants for 20 pieces of silver. To cover up the disappearance of Joseph they dip his coat of many colors into goats blood and show it to Jacob.

Jacob falls into great sorrow for his son Joseph has been killed by a wild beast and devoured. All of Jacob’s sons and daughters tried to console Jacob, but he wept for many days over the loss of his son.

“And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.” (Gen 37:36)

To be continued….

ISRAEL. The Story of Jacob Part IX

“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:” (Genesis 35:2)

Jacob had some changes to make. He had failed to pay attention to all that his wives, sons, and servants had been up to. He needed a reformation of his family. God was his purpose.

Jacob told them all to put away their gods. Idols that were taking hold in their minds to steal the future. These gods were just objects, but people often worship an object since it is more important than God.

Jacob told them to be clean. Not just bodily clean, but spiritually clean. If we strive to be clean then we will not follow the example of Dinah.

Jacob told them to change their garments. How we are seen both outwardly and spiritually is the example of worshiping God.

Jacob took all of their idols and earrings and buried them at Shechem. The place where Simeon and Levi had deceived the people at Shechem and killed all of the men. It was time for a new beginning.

Jacob and his family journeys on. Canaan is a place full of people, they easily outnumber Jacob and his family. However, the people of Canaan are having problems with each other and this keeps them from chasing after Jacob.

God didn’t have to kill those who might hurt Jacob, God only had to make them fear the things around them.

God appeared to Jacob and once again told him, “…Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.” (Gen 35:10)

An interesting name to say the least. In Hebrew the beginning of that name is “Ysr” in Hebrew which means Struggles. When combined with “a” and “El” it means Struggles with God. Jacob has been struggling with God since he was born. Israel has been struggling with God ever since.

God once again tells Jacob of the covenant that he promised Abraham. Jacob will continue to mourn. His mother’s nurse, Deborah dies at Bethel and is buried under an oak tree. They continued on and Jacob’s beloved wife Rachel dies while giving birth to the 12th son of Israel.

Jacob finally arrives in the city of Hebron to see his father Isaac. Then Isaac at the age of 180 dies and is buried by Jacob and Esau.

“Bethel” The Story of Jacob Part VIII

“And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.” (Genesis 35:1)

People who read the Bible are often confused by language. In fact, many who study the Bible miss the meaning of words. Names given to locations in the Bible does not mean anyone can locate where that place may be. The place name “Bethel” is a very common name.

I grew up in North Carolina. There were many churches named Bethel and a road to go with it. There are thousands of places and organizations in nearly every country that use the name Bethel. Unfortunately, Bethel is not exactly how it is pronounced. In Hebrew it is pronounced Beth-El. Not really a big deal, but what it means is important.

Beth-El means, “The House of God”. Jacob had met God at this very place and Jacob had built an altar there. On this second arrival to Beth El, Jacob changes the name to El-Beth-El, which means “The God of the House”. There is a difference between “The House of God” and “The God of the House”.

“The House of God” can mean an altar, church, temple, or any place you designate to be holy. “The God of the House” means a group of people, who can reside anywhere. Jacob, when he changed the name of Beth-El to El-Beth-El, he also changed the meaning from a place that God dwelt in, to a people that God dwelt with. You don’t have to go to a place to meet God. God will meet you anywhere you are.

If it be a prison or a lofty palace God is with you ALWAYS.

“The Young Guns of Israel” The Story of Jacob Part VII

“And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.” (Genesis 34:1)

Imagine that you are at the top of a very steep hill on your bike. You are with your friends and they are all trying to decide the best way to ride down the hill.

You have started down the hill, using your brakes to slow the descent. About a quarter of the way down your brakes no longer slow you. You look behind you and see most of your friends are following you.

Some of them start to pedal their bikes to go faster down the hill. You do the same. It is now a race to the bottom of the hill. You are not afraid, this is fun. Because everyone with you is smiling and having a good time.

You can now see the bottom of the hill. What once appeared to be a solid road is actually a bridge that has been removed. Some of your friends crash their bikes into the soft grass on either side of the road. Some of your friends pedal faster thinking they can jump the bridge.

This is what Dinah had become involved with. She was enjoying the life of the Canaanite women. Dressing, wearing makeup, fixing her hair, and dancing like the Canaanites. She was not with these women to see them, she wanted to be seen. And Dinah was seen.

“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 spake kindly unto the damsel.

And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.” (Gen 34:2-4)

Poor Dinah. Just like a modern boy or girl at a concert or club; Dinah has a road with a broken bridge in front of her.

Hamor, Shechem’s father went out to make a deal with Jacob and Jacob’s sons. The deal is, Hamor will share his daughters with Jacob, and in-turn Jacob will share his daughters. It is a, you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours type of thing.

Jacob knew full well that this was not a possibility. God had commanded Jacob to not marry Canaanites. Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi had another plan.

Simeon and Levi told Hamor that they could not let their sister marry an uncircumcised man. Hamor agrees to have all the men be circumcised.

“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.” (Gen 32:25)

Those of us circumcised at birth have no memory of this, but now imagine you are a full grown adult circumcised in the ancient way. Simeon and Levi brought their swords down and killed every man. They took all of their goods, livestock, women, and children; then trashed the places they lived. Hamor and Shechem were also killed.

Jacob was angry with Simeon and Levi. They should have let God work this out.

“And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye 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.” (Gen 32:30)

Falling into sin is like riding a bike down a steep hill. At first it is all pleasure and fun. Hamor’s family died in the ravine at the bottom of the hill. Jacob’s family gets a safety net from God. Stay tuned to find out what God did.

“Wrestling With An Angel.” The Story of Jacob Part VI

“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.”(Gen 32:24)

Jacob had sent his wives, sons and all of his belongings to the other side of a brook. Jacob stayed behind and sat alone. He wasn’t sleeping, or having a dream. He was obviously praying about the fear he had.

Prayer is not confined to asking God for something, or praising God for something. We can speak to God as in a conversation. God had already told Jacob that he would be protected but, just as someone saying they will give you something, we always want more detail. Jacob would have been in the same prayer. He had faith that he would be protected but, what about his family? What about his livestock? What exactly would Esau do to him? And this is where the mysterious man appears to Jacob.

Jacob wrestles with the man all night long. Wrestling is a tough fight. They grappled to achieve dominance over each other. Jacob discovered that this man had put Jacobs hip out of joint. A painful way to win. As day break was near the man asked Jacob to let him go. Jacob refused to let the man go unless he gave Jacob a blessing.

“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 32:28)

Had Jacob just beaten an Angel? No, Jacob had prevailed over fear and doubt. He was faithful that God would provide him the power to prevail over men with the power of God.

Jacob wanted to know the man’s name and the man refused to give it. Jacob didn’t need his name. Jacob already knew that this was God in the flesh. Jacob had met God face to face.

Jacob and Esau Meet. The Story of Jacob Part V

“And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.” (Gen 32:1)

The story of Jacob, as with many stories in the Bible, uses terms that can confuse people. When Genesis 32:1 says “…the angels of God met him.” it is not just an accidental meeting, or Jacob said “Hi guys”. It is more like the angels joined with Jacob to protect and prepare a way for him. Jacob is being used by God to prepare away for the future messiah. And that brings us to the meeting of Jacob with Esau his brother.

Jacob knew that Esau was angry with him and in Jacob’s mind Esau would probably kill him. Jacob, under God’s guidance came up with a two pronged defense.

Firstly, he sent out messengers to to tell Esau that Jacob had been living and working with Laban and now he had oxen, asses, livestock men servants, and women servants. And Jacob wishes to find grace with you.

This message has two meanings. The first was Jacob’s worth, in terms of goods. The second is that Jacob wishes a friendly meeting and he will provide gifts to placate Esau.

The second part of Jacob’s plan is to divide his people into two groups. If either group meets Esau, then the other group can escape. In many military operations dividing your forces often meets with disaster. However, there are times when leaving a force behind buys enough time to live another day.

God gave Jacob a plan. But God’s plan is not for Jacob to win a delaying battle with Esau, but to see the power of God’s will and protection. Jacob will meet a much more difficult battle.