Journal Through the Bible: Week 8 Saturday

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Genesis 27:41-28:22 

Dysfunctional families certainly are nothing new! Actually, they go all the way back to the Garden of Eden, but the story of Isaac and Rebekah and their twin sons, Jacob and Esau, is surely a prime example of one.

But in the midst of it all we see Jacob's salvation experience when he meets Almighty God at the place he calls Beth-el (house of God). Notice in this passage that Jacob then acknowledges that God will be his God and that he will give a tithe of everything to Him. Faith inspires work.

Does God make any promises in this passage?
The promise made to Abraham is extended to Jacob, first by the instructions that Isaac gave to him prior to sending him to Padanaram, and then by God Himself.


Are there any references to Jesus?
Yes, in a very unlikely place: the obedience of Jacob, who obeyed his father and mother by going to Padanaram to obtain a wife from his mother's side of the family. On the other hand is Esau, who tried to obtain favor by taking a wife from his father's family. This is a wonderful illustration of contrast between those who obtain God's favor through grace (the undeserved blessing the sinner receives through the obedient Son, Jesus Christ) and those who try unsuccessfully to obtain favor through their own good works.

Jesus is the seed (singular) through whom all families of the earth are blessed. (28:14)

Are there any references to End Time or eternal events?
God promised Jacob that He would not leave him until He had fulfilled all that He promised Jacob. God is still with Jacob because He has not completed His promise to him yet. Part of the promise will be fulfilled in the reign of Christ and even then God will not leave Jacob. In other words, the promise made to Jacob is an eternal one.

Does God issue any commands?
God does not make any demands of Jacob. He only offers blessing. God's blessings upon Jacob were not dependent upon any work that Jacob did or could do and were totally undeserved. Such is grace!