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Category: Through the Bible Page 4 of 46

The Sons of Jacob :: Joseph (and Jesus Christ)

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On August 29, 2017

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Joseph was eleventh born of the sons of Jacob. He was born as Jacob’s first son through Rachel. The Bible records that God remembered Rachel and hearkened unto her and opened her womb and she conceived and bore Jacob, her son Joseph saying that The Lord shall add to her another son. She also expressed that God had taken away her reproach (disgrace or shame of being barren).

From the birth of Joseph, we learn a few truths that may not be explicitly evident.
First, God remembered Rachel, teaching us that God does not forget.
Second God hearkened to Rachel, teaching us that God is a listening and prayer answering God. This also informs us that Rachel was praying to God. Earlier we see that Rachel has bartered her husband Jacob for some mandrakes which she superstitiously thought would have made her fertile. Now we see that she is seeking of the Lord and not resort to some lore, folklore. The superstitious Rachel becomes a supplicating Rachel.
Third, God opened Rachel’s womb, teaching us that it is only the Lord God who can produce life and remove all barrenness.
Fourth, God had taken away her reproach.
Fifth, The Lord shall add to Rachel another son, teaching us that God can add. It also speaks to us about Rachel’s faith and trust in the Lord.

Points to ponder:
Jesus remembered us while we were still sinners and unproductive and did not forget us. (Romans 5:8)
Jesus listens to our prayers and he is a prayer answering God (John 14:13). Let us believe and hope in the Lord than hope on some false lore.
Jesus is the only one who can make us productive for we can do nothing without him. (John 15:4)
Jesus’ grace takes away our disgrace as sinners and turns us into saints. As believers and followers of Jesus, we have nothing to be ashamed of, for he was shamed on the cross to take away our shame. (Isaiah 49:7; Isaiah 50:6-8; Hebrews 12:2; Colossians 2:13-15)
Jesus, the Son of God, was made the Son of man so that God can bring many sons to glory i.e., add us all as sons (and daughters) into his family, for to all who believe in Jesus and who have received him, they are given the power to be called the sons of God (John 1:12)

Are you a son/daughter of God?

Genesis 30:22-24 (KJV)
22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.
23 And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:
24 And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.

The Daughter of Jacob :: Dinah (and Jesus Christ)

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On August 28, 2017

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Dinah was the only daughter of Jacob and her name is mentioned only once in the Bible (Genesis 30:21). She was born to Leah as Leah’s seventh child and Jacob’s eleventh child. She was the last born of Leah and Jacob and her name Dinah means “avenged” or “judged”. Dinah is the feminine form of Dan and both have their roots in the Hebrew word “din” which means to “judge” or “plead”.

It is plausible that Leah may have so named her daughter, Dinah, for she may have felt avenged by the Lord as her husband Jacob did not love her as much as he did love Leah’s sister, Rachel. Later we shall see how Dinah was avenged for the crime of Shechem the Hivite against her, wherein her brothers, Simeon and Levi took matters into their own hands.

Points to ponder:
God is judge. It is he who avenges. When life seems to unjust to us, let us rely on him to avenge and not take matters into our own hands. Jesus is the Judge over all for the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son (John 5:22) and we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; so that every one will be “judged” according to what we have done; good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). Those who have walked according to the Spirit of God and not according to the flesh, to them who are in Christ Jesus, to them there is no condemnation when Christ the Judge judges (Romain 8:1).

Genesis 30:21 (KJV)
21 And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.

John 5:22 (KJV)
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

2 Corinthians 5:10 (KJV)
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Romans 8:1 (KJV)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The Sons of Jacob :: Zebulun (and Jesus Christ)

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On August 25, 2017

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Zebulun was tenth born of the sons of Jacob. He was born as Jacob’s sixth son through Leah. Zebulun means “dwelling” or “habitation” or “home” and he was so named by Leah because she said, now that I have borne Jacob six sons, he (my husband Jacob) will dwell with me.

Points to ponder:
Unlike Leah, who hoped that her husband Jacob, would dwell with her, we the Church, the bride of Christ Jesus can be assured that he would dwell with him. He has already done so once for the Bible records that the Word (Jesus Christ) was in the beginning with God and was God and the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us (John 1:14) and has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Jesus willingly came to dwell amongst men so that man could dwell with God. The important question then is have you and I made the Most High God our habitation, our dwelling place, for the one who does so, is protected from all evil and plagues, for he shall give his angels to charge over them to keep them in all their ways (Psalm 91:9-11).  Is Jesus Christ, God Most High, your/my Zebulun?

Genesis 30:19-20 (KJV)
19 And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.
20 And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

John 1:14 (KJV)
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Psalm 91:9-11 (KJV)
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Two Wives Tales

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On August 24, 2017

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 30:14-18 records an interesting account of a transaction that takes place between two sisters, Leah and Rachel, who were the two wives of Jacob, the son of Isaac.

Leah’s firstborn son, Reuben, finds mandrakes in the field, during the days of a wheat harvest and brings it to his mother Leah. Rachel, her sister, who was barren, pleads with her sister for the mandrakes, which was believed to be a aphrodisiac with the power to make a barren womb fertile (Song of Solomon 7:13). Mandrakes are Mediterranean plants that have a forked fleshy root which supposedly resembles the human form and was formerly used in folklore medicine and magic as it has stimulating elements and a narcotic smell. Leah responds with some degree of animosity, wherein she questions her sister, asking “Is it a small small that you have taken my husband, Jacob and now want my son’s mandrakes too?” Driven by the desire to bear a child, Rachel does not answer Leah questions, but instead respond by bartering her husband to sleep with Leah that night in exchange for Reuben’s mandrakes. When Jacob returns from the field in the evening, Leah goes out to meet with Jacob and tells him that he must lie with her that night for she had hired him. Jacob obliges.
The Bible then records that God hearkened to Leah and she conceived and bore Jacob her fifth son, whom she named Issachar, meaning “hire”.

While this whole account, out of context may seem preposterous to us in this monogamous day an age, but instead of focusing on its absurdity, let us focus on some hidden truths that surface, with deeper inspection.
First – it is not the mandrakes or for that matter any object that can make anyone fertile, except God himself. Therefore, we must not succumb to superstitions but instead submit to the Sovereign God for being productive.
Second – Jacob, who should have loved both his wives impartially failed in his duty as a Godly husband, for he loved Rachel more than he loved Leah, which was akin to hating Leah (Genesis 29:30-31); but God is impartial and just and he hearkens to Leah’s prayer.
Third – God hearkened to Leah means that Leah was a prayerful women seeking God to be her problem solver, unlike Rachel who resorted to old wives tales, instead of God to help her.
Fourth – The one who gave is the one who receives. Leah gave away her son’s mandrakes to Rachel and it she who is blessed by the Lord with another son.

Points to ponder:
Let us not succumb to old wives tales but instead submit to the Sovereign, Just and Righteous God by praying to him and seeking him to be our problem solver. He is the only One who can remove the barrenness in our lives and make us productive. Let us be willing to give and give up (even that which may seem is beneficial to us), for it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Genesis 30:14-18 (KJV)
14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son’s mandrakes.
15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son’s mandrakes.
16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son’s mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.
17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.
18 And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

The Sons of Jacob :: Issachar (and Jesus Christ)

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On August 23, 2017

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Issachar was ninth born of the sons of Jacob. He was born as Jacob’s fifth son through Leah. Issachar means “for hire”. He was so named by Leah because of the event that occurred which led to his birth. What may seem absurd is that Leah had hired her husband from Rachel her sister by giving Rachel the mandrakes, that her first born son Reuben had found.

Points to ponder:
Jacob the deceiver was bought with mandrakes that was believed to be an aphrodisiac which functioned as a fertility agent to produce life (make a woman conceive). Jesus bought us from the penalty of death with his blood which gives new life to all who believe in him. Jesus came to do the will and work of God the Father, which is to pay the wages of sin (death).

Genesis 30:14-18 (KJV)
14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son’s mandrakes.
15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son’s mandrakes.
16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son’s mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.
17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.
18 And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

The Sons of Jacob :: Asher (and Jesus Christ)

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On February 3, 2017

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Asher was eightborn of the sons of Jacob. He was born to Zilpah, Leah’s servant and Jacob. Asher  means “blessed or happy”. He was so named by Leah at his birth for she was happy.

Points to ponder:
The Bible tells us that those who are in Christ Jesus are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). Jesus was born on earth (his own creation) so that we could be born again into heaven. Are you blessed? Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose hope the LORD is (Jeremiah 17:7).

Genesis 30:12-13 (KJV)
12 And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a second son.
13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (KJV)
7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.
8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

The Sons of Jacob :: Gad (and Jesus Christ)

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On February 1, 2017

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Gad was seventhborn of the sons of Jacob. He was born to Zilpah, Leah’s servant and Jacob. Gad  means “A troop comes”. He was so named by Leah.

Points to ponder:
Gad means a troop comes and from him arose the tribe of Gad.

When Jesus comes back to rule and reign, he will come with his troop – with his army of mighty angels. Are you ready to face Christ return as King with his host (troops)? We can only face Christ as King, if we accept him now as our Savior and be accepted into his kingdom now. Are you be willing to be in Jesus’ troop?

Genesis 30:9-11 (KJV)
9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.
10 And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a son.
11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.

The Sons of Jacob :: Napthali (and Jesus Christ)

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On January 17, 2017

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Napthali was sixthborn of the sons of Jacob. He was born to Bilhah, Rachel’s servant and Jacob. Napthali  means “my wrestle”. He was so named by Rachel as she expressed that God had seen her wrestling with her sister who had borne Jacob four sons while she was barren and now she had prevailed.

Points to ponder:
Napthali means to struggle or wrestle. In Jesus Christ, we have a high priest who was tempted in every way (Hebrews 4:14), who struggled with the decision to have his own will, yet he submitted to God fully (Luke 22:42) and who prevailed against all his struggles without sin (Hebrews 4:14-15).

Most importantly Jesus struggled on the Cross, both physically (thirsting) and spiritually (forsaken by his Father), and he prevailed over death and sin.

Jesus wrestled death and sin for you and me and prevailed. What is your struggle? Why do many wrestle to accept and believe in him? Are you wrestling against God? Believe in Jesus and accept him today.

Genesis 30:7-8 (KJV)
7 And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.
8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

The Sons of Jacob :: Dan (and Jesus Christ)

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On January 12, 2017

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Dan was fifthborn of the sons of Jacob. He was born to Bilhah, Rachel’s servant and Jacob. Dan  means “judged”. He was so named by Rachel who expressed that with his birth, God had heard her plea and given her a son and she now felt that we was vindicated (proved right or justified) by God.

Points to ponder:
Rachel felt that God had judged her and found her justified (proved right) for he gave to her through her servant Bilhah, a son. God gave the world his Son to justify and prove right the world that had fallen due to the sin of man. The sinless became sinful so that the sinless can become sinless for God made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be vindicated i.e., made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Additionally, God has entrusted his Son, Jesus Christ, the absolute authority to judge (John 5:22) all men. It is only by faith in Christ Jesus – believing that he is the Son of God, sent by God, to save and reconciling all mankind back to God, who paid the penalty (wages) of our sins by his death, and was raised by God – that anyone can be made just/righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21; Habakkuk 2:4).

Rachel felt that she was proved right? Do you? In other words, if Christ Jesus was to judge you and me today, would he find us vindicated / justified / proved right / righteous? In other words, do you believe in Jesus?

Genesis 30:3-4 (KJV)
3 Then she said, “Here is Bilhah, my servant. Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and I too can build a family through her.”
4 So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife. Jacob slept with her, 5 and she became pregnant and bore him a son. 6 Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son.” Because of this she named him Dan.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)
21 For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The Source of Life

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On January 11, 2017

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When Rachel was barren, she said unto her husband Jacob “Give me children, or else I die.” This angered Jacob who in his anger questioned Rachel and said “Am I in God’s stead to withhold the fruit of the womb?” What this establishes is that, it is only God who can bring forth life for children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward (Psalm 127:3). The source of life is God.

Points to ponder:
A child who is born into a family is a reward i.e., life is the result of the favor of God. In like manner and more importantly, a child who is born again into the family of God by believing in Jesus is solely because of the grace of God. God is the only source of not only life but eternal life. Physical and ephemeral life is solely by the favor of God. Spiritual and eternal life is solely by the grace of God. God alone is the source of life – physical and spiritual; ephemeral and eternal.

Are you assured of eternal life after your physical life has passed? In other words, are you assured of living eternally? If not, tarry no longer but believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, acknowledging his Lordship and confessing our sins for everyone who believes in Christ Jesus will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Jesus Christ alone is the source of Life – life that matters – eternal life.

Genesis 30:1-2 (KJV)
1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
2 And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

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