Monday, January 31, 2011

Genesis 32:1-6 Heavenly Campers

"Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him." (Genesis 32:1 NIV)

I love how the writer of this verse mentions Jacob's heavenly visitors so casually, as though all of us were used to having angels accompany us on our journeys!  In fact, angels may be there far more often than we realize, but in this instance, Jacob is able to see them.  Previously, in Genesis 28:12, Jacob had seen these angels in his dream, but now they seem to be right before him.  No wonder Jacob cries out in wonder and delight, "...'This is the camp of God!' So he named that place Mahanaim." (Genesis 32:1-2 NIV)  Mahanaim means "two camps" -- I suppose referring to his own group and the group of angels.

Jacob had just settled things with a somewhat hostile Laban, and now he contemplates facing his twin brother Esau after twenty years.  As you may remember, Jacob had fled his homeland after deceiving their father Isaac and stealing his brother's blessing by pretending to be Esau.

Esau had always been an outdoor type of guy, but Jacob used to enjoy remaining around the tents.  However, the past twenty years or so, Jacob probably spent most of his time outdoors tending Laban's flocks.  This no doubt had strengthened him physically, but he probably still dreaded meeting Esau.  After all, before Jacob had fled to Laban's homeland, Esau had been comforting himself by planning how he would kill him!  Also, now it was not just his own life that he was responsible to protect, but also the lives of his wives and children.  Jacob was probably very worried about the outcome of this reunion.  God sent His angels to reassure him that this situation, too, was under His control.  After all, God had told  him to return to Canaan.

Of course, Jacob cannot help but make some preparations of his own, too:

"Jacob sent messengers ahead of  him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.  He instructed them:  'This is what you are to say to my master Esau: "Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now.  I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, menservants and maidservants.  Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes."
(Genesis 32:3-5 NIV)

  When these messengers return from Esau, they have disturbing news of their own:  "...'We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him' " (Genesis 32:6 NIV)

I wonder if Jacob started anxiously looking around and counting angels!  Actually, by now the heavenly visitors were probably no longer visible to his sight, although they were still nearby and ready to do God's bidding at a moment's notice.  Usually when God gives these types of appearances, it is only to comfort or strengthen us, and then things go back to 'normal'.  Hopefully, Jacob took comfort knowing that God had already known about the welcome committee from Esau which awaited him.

Let me just pause a second and remind myself to trust in this God who knows the future way before I do, and whose marvelous wisdom is orchestrating all the details, even when things happen which look bad or impossible to me.  I guess that is what walking by faith is all about.

Although Jacob was "in great fear and distress", as the following verse indicates (v.7), he kept making preparations to continue towards Canaan.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Genesis 31:43-55 Jegar Sahadutha/Galeed/Witness Heap

“Laban answered Jacob, 'The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks. All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne? Come now, let's make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.” (Genesis 31:43-44 NIV)

At first glance, this looks like a fairly positive outcome for the situation between Laban and Jacob. Laban appears to be a concerned father and grandfather, and he seems to be making a conciliatory gesture toward Jacob by wanting to make a covenant with him. However, I can't help but notice that Laban still seems to think that the flocks which Jacob worked for six years to obtain (v. 41) actually belong to him. There also seems to be a touch of resentment that Jacob is taking his daughters and his children with him, even though Jacob worked for Laban for fourteen years to obtain these wives. ( v.41) Jacob also graciously does not make the point that one of these wives is his only because of Laban's deception.

“So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. He said to his relatives, 'Gather some stones.' so they took stones and piled them in a heap, and they ate there by the heap. Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.” (Genesis 31:45-47 NIV) Both words mean 'Witness Heap', in Aramaic and Hebrew respectively, according to the NIV Study Bible. (pg. 53, note on 31:47)

“Laban said, 'This heap is a witness between you and me today.' That is why it was called Galeed. It was also called Mizpah [watchtower], because he said, 'May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.'” (Genesis 31:48-49 NIV) I can't help but think of the watchtowers that people would build to be able to keep watch over their fields to protect them from predators or thieves. I think that aspect is much more similar to Laban's way of thinking about this matter. Although this may sound like a beautiful prayer that the Lord would keep watch over the two men while they are apart, Laban's true attitude is one of mistrust. This is revealed by the next few verses:

“...'If you mistreat my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.' Laban also said to Jacob, 'Here is this heap, and here is this pillar I have set up between you and me. This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap and pillar to my side to harm me.” (Genesis 31:50-52 NIV) Aside from his mistrust, Laban may also be a bit worried that Jacob will use his relationship with God to return later and harm Laban or to steal his flocks. At any rate, this is no parting benediction.

It is interesting to see how Laban concludes this agreement. “May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” (Genesis 31:53 NIV) There is another possibility that the last part of this verse reads “...the gods of their father”, indicating a polytheistic outlook. We already know that Laban worshipped other 'gods', and Joshua 24:2 indicates that Terah, the father of both Abraham and Nahor, worshipped other gods as well. So Laban may be swearing by those 'gods'.

I also wonder if this is not a veiled snipe at Jacob as well, by implying that he no longer worshipped the gods which his forefathers had worshipped.

For his part, Jacob “...took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac. He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there. Early the next morning, Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.” (Genesis 31:53b-55 NIV)

Jacob seems to want to draw a clear line between his own worship of the true God and the worship of his polytheistic relatives. He takes his oath in the name of the true God, the One his father Isaac feared.

However, there is no animosity between himself and his relatives. They conclude the covenant with a meal together, as was customary, and spend the night. Laban even blesses his daughters and grandchildren before he leaves.

I wonder if they ever saw each other again. The distance was significant, but not impossible. However, when you have flocks and herds to care for, it would no doubt be difficult to leave for the amount of time that such a journey would require. Servants could tend these flocks, I suppose, but again, an owner would probably be reluctant to leave his wealth in the hands of others for too long a period of time.

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Note:  Did you ever see jewelry in the form of a heart, with Genesis 31:49 inscribed on it?  Often it is a heart which can be broken apart, and the couple each wear one half of the heart.  This is a popular Valentine's Day gift, but I wonder if the people who buy jewelry with Genesis 31:49 inscribed on it realize that the context of this verse was one of distrust and suspicion, rather than a romantic sentiment!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Technical Difficulties, Sprained Foot, and Stolen Car

Sorry about the lack of posts lately.  I am using a different laptop and having some difficulties in getting certain functions to work.  There are few things more frustrating for a blogger than to work for a long time on a post, only to have it disappear except for the last three lines!  So now I am writing my posts on Open Office and then copying them here.  So far, though, the posts are not cooperating.  I wrote this post directly on blogger, but only because it will be short.  I'm not losing a whole post again.

Also, I sprained my foot and am hobbling around.

Then our car got stolen.

On a happier note, the car was recovered a day later.  (Kudos to the Newark Police Department, who were not only very professional, but also very helpful on the day I limped in to there to obtain a release paper to get my car back.)  Then it was off to the towing service and about $250 dollars later, I was driving back home, using a screwdriver as a key.  The thieves broke the ignition, took the radio, speakers, and some other valuables, but most of the car is intact and, after my husband did some work on the ignition, is back on the road again.

Yes, I do think it is ironic that this all happened right after posting about that article which I had found by Rev Goettsche, about trusting the Lord to be working in the midst of unfair or frustrating circumstances.  Nobody ever said God didn't have a sense of humor.

On another humorous note, the thieves also took three bags of clothes which I was getting ready to donate to whoever needed them.  Thanks for saving me a trip.  I hope you needed the clothes.

I also hope that you come to know God someday.  No matter what happens, I will be all right because He is watching over me and working out everything for His own purposes.  Right now, you don't seem to have that treasure.  I hope you find Him...or, rather, that He finds you.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Genesis 31:36-42 Jacob Unloads on Laban

After Laban's unsuccessful search of Jacob's family's tents, it is now Jacob's turn to unload.  Twenty years of frustration come out in one long blast.  I assume that Laban's relatives are still standing nearby, or at least that they would be able to hear Jacob's indignant outburst:

"...'What is my crime?' he asked Laban.  'What sin have I committed that you hunt me down?  Now that you have searched through all my goods, what have you found that belongs to your household?  Put it here in front of your relatives and mine, and let them judge between the two of us.
     I have been with you for twenty years now.  Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks.  I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself.  And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night.  This was my situation:  the heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes.  It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household.  I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times.  If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed.  But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you."  (Genesis 31:36-42 NIV)

Notice that Jacob still refers to God as "the God of my father."  His personal relationship with God is still in its infancy.  We will see it take a great leap forward in Genesis chapter 32.  Right now, though, I am glad to see that Jacob at least gives God the credit for the positive outcome of this situation with Laban.


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Note:  I came across this great article/sermon while researching this passage.  It is called  "Living With Integrity"  (Genesis 30-31) and is by Rev. Bruce Goettche and dated 9/19/99.  At the beginning of the New Year this article is a good way to assess our own integrity.  It also speaks of trusting that God  is still at work in situations where the way people are treating us seems unjust.  I do not know anything about Rev. Goettsche, but this is an interesting and thought-provoking article.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Genesis 31:25-35 Laban Unloads on Jacob

"Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there too."  Genesis 31:25 (NIV)  Can you imagine the tense scene that was?  Laban was probably dying to get revenge upon Jacob, but the thought of Jacob's God restrained his hand.  However, Laban did open his mouth and give Jacob a piece of his mind:

"...'What have you done?  You've deceived me, and you've carried off my daughters like captives in war.  Why did you run off secretly and deceive me?  Why didn't you tell me, so that I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of tambourines and harps?  You didn't even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye.  You have done a foolish thing.  I have the power to harm you; but last night the God of your farther said to me, "Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad."  Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father's house.  But why did you steal my gods?' (Genesis 31:25-30 NIV)

Laban's questions reveal his frustration and are also an attempt, no doubt, to look good in front of his relatives.  He does have one point, though.  Jacob did deceive him.  Even Scripture agrees with Jacob about his fleeing being a deception. (see Genesis 31:20)  However, the rest of Laban's statements are a farce.  He claims that he would have thrown a party for the departing family, and kissed them goodbye like a doting father, but somehow his words ring hollow.  I don't believe that Laban would even have let them go if he could have prevented it!  We will see later that Jacob doesn't believe it either.  "I have the power to harm you," cries Laban, yet he and we both realize that Jacob's God is obviously much more powerful than Laban and his relatives.  Laban also tries to make Jacob's departure look like it occurred because Jacob was homesick, rather than any other reason, such as his own continued cheating on Jacob's wages or his changed attitude towards Jacob.

Finally, Laban tops it all off with another accusation -- that Jacob has stolen his gods.  Unknown to Jacob, his wife Rachel really has stolen Laban's gods.  However, Jacob doesn't know this.  It is insulting to have Laban automatically think that Jacob had been the thief.

Jacob admits that he had fled because he was afraid Laban would try to take his wives away from him by force. (v.32)  However, he makes a rash statement:  "...'But if you find anyone who has your gods, he shall not live.  In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it.'  Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods." (Genesis 31:32 NIV)

I think it is interesting that Jacob calls Laban's relatives "our relatives". (v.32)  With these simple words, Jacob both reminds these relatives that he is 'family' and assures them that he has nothing against them personally.

Laban searched everyone's tents, but found nothing.  Rachel had concealed the 'gods' in her camel's saddle, and was sitting upon it.  She asked Laban's forgiveness for not rising in his presence, claiming to be having her menstrual period.  This claim also conveniently discouraged Laban from searching the saddle.  (v.33-35)  Whether Laban saw through her ruse is unclear, but he left without demanding to search the saddle.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Genesis 31:22-24 Laban Pursues Jacob

"On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled.  Taking his relatives with him, he pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.  Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, 'Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.' " (Genesis 31:22-24 NIV)

The first impression I had when reading this text was that Laban must have been pretty angry to chase after Jacob and his family for seven days.  Seven days!  I can see that Laban would be angry at first.  But maintaining that 'chase mode' for a week?! We know why Laban is upset.  His son-in-law Jacob is gone -- the one who had once helped him increase his wealth.  Now most of that wealth has become the property of Jacob, and Laban is probably left about where he was before Jacob came, wealth-wise.  Even his daughters and grandchildren are gone, and the way they left would not make him look good in the community.  People talk -- and it would be very hard to explain why your own family felt it was necessary to flee from you!  I can see Laban gathering his relatives and rushing off to try to change the situation, or at least express his anger.  Perhaps he also thought he could force Jacob to give back some of those flocks which God had given him!

Fortunately, Jacob's God continued to uphold His promise to be with Jacob and to protect him.  God warns Laban not to say anything -- good or bad -- to Jacob.  Whether God meant that Laban should not even talk to Jacob is uncertain, but I believe He just meant 'don't argue or even try to reason calmly with Jacob about these matters.'  As far as God was concerned, Jacob's return to Canaan was a done deal -- and Laban had better not get in the way of His plan.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Genesis 31:1-21 Changed Faces

"Jacob heard that Laban's sons were saying, 'Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.'  And Jacob noticed that Laban's attitude toward him was not what it had been.  [The Hebrew for this word 'attitude' literally reads 'face', i.e., Jacob could even tell by looking at Laban's face that his thoughts about Jacob had changed.]   Then the Lord said to Jacob, 'Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.' " (Genesis 31:1-3 NIV)

It is kind of funny how wealth can change people's attitudes toward someone.  Once, when I was working with a church youth group, one member's relative won a significant amount of money in the lottery.  It was amazing to hear about relatives suddenly coming out of the woodwork, people he had seldom or even never met, all wanting a piece of the action.  Wanting? I should say that they were demanding to share in this person's unexpected wealth.  When he eventually had to draw the line on how much he could share with them, there was plenty of resentment to go around.

In these verses, it is amazing to see that Laban's sons apparently have no idea about why Laban had any wealth in the first place.  It is only because God is blessing all that Jacob does that their father's wealth began to increase!  However, I doubt that even Laban is still appreciative of this fact, even though he once recognized it to be true.  (Genesis 30:27)  In the New Testament, Romans 1:21 (NIV) echoes the same thought:  "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened."

Jacob calls Rachel and Leah to come out to him in the fields so that they can discuss this matter more privately. (v.4) Several things needed to be made clear:

"He said to them, 'I see that your father's attitude toward me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me.  You know that I've worked for your father with all my strength, yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times.  However, God has not allowed him to harm me.  If he said, "The speckled ones will be your wages," then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, "The streaked ones will be your wages," then all the flocks bore streaked young.  So God has taken away your father's livestock and given them to me.'  (Genesis 31:5-9 NIV)

Jacob also relates to the women a dream he once had, in which all the male goats which were mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted.  [Note:  This dream may be the source of Jacob's rather strange breeding methods for his flocks.]  In the dream, the angel of God told Jacob that he had seen all that Laban had been doing to him. (v. 10-12)  "I am the God of Bethel, where you annointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me.  Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land." (Genesis 31:13 NIV)

Rachel and Leah are quite happy to leave their father's household and go with Jacob to Canaan.  In their opinion, Laban now regarded them as foreigners, and had sold them and taken for himself all of what might be considered their dowry, that is, the results of Jacob's years of labor.  All of the wealth that God had taken away from Laban and given to Jacob they considered the property of themselves and their children anyway.  So they are willing to have Jacob do all that God had told him to do. (v.14-16)

Jacob loses no time in putting his family upon camels and driving all his livestock ahead of him.  He also took any goods which were his and headed toward his father Isaac's home in Canaan. (v.17-18)  Laban was apparently away shearing his sheep, and Jacob did not tell him that he was leaving. (v. 19-20) Unknown to Jacob, Rachel took advantage of Laban's absence by stealing his household gods and bringing them along as well.  Commentators differ regarding why Rachel may have done this.  Some claim that by having these items, Rachel could hang onto some inheritance rights.  Others believe that Rachel may not have entirely let go of all of her pagan background yet and feared that Laban could use these idols to determine exactly where the family had fled.  Others think that the idols were made of valuable material, or that Rachel was rebuking her father for his use of them.  At any rate, I think we can all agree that Rachel was not pleased with Laban and was making some type of statement by taking his idols.

"So he fled with all he had, and crossing the River, he headed for the hill country of Gilead." (Genesis 31:21 NIV)  Gilead was a good place for livestock to graze. (Numbers 32:1)  Perhaps Jacob planned his route so that his animals would not be decimated by the long journey.

Three days later, Laban received some unpleasant news.  His son-in-law, daughters and grandchildren, along with all of Jacob's flocks, had left for the land of Canaan.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Max's 25 Words of Wisdom for 2011




Max's 25 Words of Wisdom for 2011

  1. Snacks make everyone's day brighter. (Hint. Hint.)
  2. Naps are one of God's best inventions.  Use them wisely.
  3. A half-hour walk a day keeps people and animals healthy and happy.
  4. Don't just chase your tail.  You will get dizzy and bang your head on the wall.  Have a plan.
  5. Stay away from skunks.  Skunks can make everything stink.  Skunks come in many forms.  Some are humans.
  6. Don't eat things if you are not sure what they contain.  You will throw up.
  7. It is ok to relax in the sun once in a while.
  8. Don't leave your mess for others to clean up.
  9. Greet family members enthusiastically when they return.  Everyone likes to be appreciated.
  10. Take some risks.  Chase a cat.  Or a woodchuck.  Don't chase things which can eat you.
  11. Eat a snowball.  Not a yellow one, though.  Know the difference.
  12. If it smells bad, leave it alone.
  13. Look out the window often.  Opportunities walk by every day.
  14. Know who lives on your block.
  15. Keep an eye on visitors until you are sure that they are friends.
  16. Don't let anyone mess with your people.
  17. Be tolerant of little people.  Sometimes they just don't know any better yet and may pull your tail or rub you the wrong way or even poke you in the eye a little bit.  Little people are not necessarily toddlers.
  18. Investigate strange noises.
  19. Bark at intruders.
  20. Baths are necessary.  Take one at least several times a year.
  21. Eating Christmas trees gives you evergreen breath.  And makes you throw up.
  22. Don't eat peoples' socks.  Neither of you will be happy in the end.
  23. Couches are perfect napping places.
  24. It is ok to run to your people if it is thundering outside.  Everyone is afraid of something.
  25. Remember your Creator.
Have a happy 2011!

xxx,
 Max

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Genesis 30:37-43 Jacob's Breeding Scheme

Laban apparently does not realize who he is dealing with when he attempts to thwart the increase of Jacob's flocks.  Jacob, it seems, has a plan of his own.  Whether this scheme developed in response to Laban's not-so-benevolent move of relocating Jacob's flock three days away (so that there was less of a chance of those speckled and striped ones mating with his own flocks) or not is unclear.

"Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches.  Then he placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs, so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink.  When the flocks were in heat and came to drink, they mated in front of the branches.  And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted."  (Genesis 30:37-39 NIV)

Whether this method actually had any effect upon the production of animals which were striped or speckled or streaked is unknown.  Striped, speckled and streaked animals were born, but this could be merely because God was blessing Jacob as He had promised.  Hopefully Jacob was using his branches in a scientific and not a magical way.  I think he was actually thinking that this method had some merit, for he goes through an awful lot of manipulating of branches and animals otherwise.

Not only did Jacob employ his 'branches' method of breeding, but he also separated his flocks from Laban's and used the stronger animals to breed with his own flocks.  Eventually, the stronger animals were regularly going to Jacob's flocks and the weaker animals were left for breeding with Laban's flocks.  (v.40-42)

"In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys." (Genesis 30:43 NIV)
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Note:  Jacob himself admits that it is God who has increased his flocks. (Genesis 31:9)
Also, the process of Jacob becoming wealthy took six years of hard work. (Genesis 31:41)  From that verse we also see that Laban was actively trying to thwart this increase.  Laban was no match, however, for the plans of God.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy New Year!

I hope that you all have a blessed and happy New Year!  Thank you for reading Kaleidoscript.  On January 12th, it will be the one year anniversary of the blog....blogaversary?  Anyway, thanks for your patience as I learn more about this blogging business.  I want to continue to learn more from God's Word this year and also to apply what I learn to my life.  I also hope to explore many new aspects in 2011 as I continue this blogging journey.

Please feel free to comment, make suggestions or ask questions.

                                                                     
Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers."