Daily Bible Portion (Saturday)
Daily Bible Portion - 7 of 7
"AND HE DEPARTED"
(Weekly Reading>>Genesis 28:10-32:3, Hosea 11:7-12:12, John 1:43-51)
Jacob’s Sheep
Haran was the birthplace of the tribes of Israel, except for Benjamin. The two houses or kingdoms came from the two wives of Jacob, Leah and Rachel and their surrogates. The jealousy that existed between the two sisters during this time has continued to this day between the two Houses of Israel. When Leah and Rachel’s children recognize their identity and heritage in the Covenant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and those who have been renewed in the Messiah, then the jealousy will end and they will start acting as a united people (Ephesians 2:14).
After the birth of eleven sons Jacob asked Laban to let him return to his homeland. They discussed Jacob’s due wages and agreed that all the marked or colored sheep, lambs and goats would be Jacob’s. This is a reference to Yahweh’s sheep who are a multi colored people.
Jacob journeyed three days to separate his flocks from Laban’s. This is a reference for us as believers to be a separate and set-apart people. We are told not to mix clean with unclean or holy with unholy. Not only did Jacob care for his own sheep during this time but Laban’s also. Jacob’s flock increased by Jacob placing fresh stripped branches of poplar, almond and plane trees in all the watering troughs (Genesis 30:37). Jacobs superior knowledge of tending the sheep resulted in an increase in his flock. This is a reference to being obedient to Torah and receiving the blessings that flow when honoring the Word of Yahweh.
Jacob increased and grew exceedingly prosperous with an abundance of flocks, maidservants, menservants, camels and donkeys. Seeing this, Laban’s household started talking slanderously against Jacob. Laban listened to them and his attitude toward Jacob changed. It takes just one maligned statement against another to turn a whole people against the innocent.
Depending on which tree a believer eats from; when lashon hara (gossip and slander) challenges Yahweh’s people they can either succumb to it or rise above it and be overcomers. Yahweh will judge those who slander. If we come to understand God is with us to encourage us tests are there to promote His people and help draw them closer to Him. Challenges introduce us to a greater responsibility in His Kingdom and to help teach and promote a deeper impartation of God’s indwelling power within our lives.
According to the Book of James in the New Testament/Brit Chadasha, challenges in our lives are to be considered pure joy in order that perseverance might finish its work in us to perfect us to maturity, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4). If we choose to walk in Yeshua’s ways and persevere through the challenges, His Holy Spirit activates within us, as He is faithful to His Covenant over us.
The Separation - Genesis 31
Continuing with Jacob’s story in Genesis 31, the time had come for him to separate from Laban’s ever changing demands. Yahweh commanded Jacob to leave Haran, to depart from the growing contempt and jealousy toward him and return to his native land. Rachel and Leah saw how their father had treated them showing no love or respect, wanting to sell them or use them as barter. Through Jacob’s life example and kindness they saw the real truth and learned to put their faith in Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 31:18).
Do married couples leave their fathers and mothers today and cleave to each other? A healthy relationship with parents and in-laws is great and encouraged; but when a spouse has a co-dependent relationship with one or both parents or carries an inherited iniquity from past generations into the marriage, they have not truly left their parents and cleaved to their spouse. In a sense they have instead brought the parent’s spiritual baggage and abuse with all its characteristics into the marriage. This brings contamination, encumbering the young couple desiring to become one with each other. This can weaken a marriage and in some cases bring death to it. Looking at your spouse through the eyes of your parents or continuing to operate in generational curses can lead to an imbalance, unhealthy marriage that will also affect the children. While married couples need to have a healthy respect for their own parents, they also must get on with the business of creating a healthy relationship and family identity, one that is directly focused on Yeshua and His word. He alone has the plan and purpose for our lives and only He can guide us (Genesis 2:24).
The Return
While packing for their journey, Rachel stole her father’s pagan household gods; she did not obey Yahweh by leaving her family. In stealing her father’s household gods she essentially took her father’s identity (idolatry and adultery) with her. This very act brought a curse upon her that eventually led to her death (Genesis 31:19).
Without saying good-bye to Laban, Jacob gathered up his family and left. The flocks went before them as they made their way to the land of Canaan and back to Jacob’s father, Isaac. On their third day traveling, Laban was told of their leaving. It took seven more days for him to catch up with them. Warned in a dream not to speak lashon hara (slander) of Jacob, Laban confronted Jacob for leaving without allowing him to say good-bye to his daughters and grandchildren. As the story unfolds we find what seemed more important to Laban were his idols which he quickly inquired after. The impression is Laban held his gods in higher priority than his family. Jacob was so sure of the purity and loyalty of the camp that he told Laban if anyone had stolen Laban’s gods, the guilty party would not live. Then he allowed Laban to search through his tents. The vow Jacob pronounced was irrevocable; he had pronounced a curse over his beloved wife Rachel. He had no idea she had taken her father’s idols. When Rachel married and left with her husband for Canaan, she did not leave her father behind her, but invited Laban and his pagan ways into the camp and into their marriage. These idols contaminated their marriage and eventually the whole community (Genesis 31:22-35).
Jacob stood up to Laban’s dominance and intimidation. Laban in turn saw it was time for him to let Jacob and his family go. They made a covenant, and the next morning Laban kissed his family good-bye and returned home minus his gods (Genesis 31:36-55).
Jacob now prepared to meet his brother Esau. Messengers of Yahweh met him along the way and when Jacob saw them he said, “This is the camp of Yahweh!” So he named that place Mahanaim meaning Two Camps.
continues tomorrow...
"AND HE DEPARTED"
(Weekly Reading>>Genesis 28:10-32:3, Hosea 11:7-12:12, John 1:43-51)
Jacob’s Sheep
Haran was the birthplace of the tribes of Israel, except for Benjamin. The two houses or kingdoms came from the two wives of Jacob, Leah and Rachel and their surrogates. The jealousy that existed between the two sisters during this time has continued to this day between the two Houses of Israel. When Leah and Rachel’s children recognize their identity and heritage in the Covenant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and those who have been renewed in the Messiah, then the jealousy will end and they will start acting as a united people (Ephesians 2:14).
“Ephraim's jealousy will vanish, and Judah’s hostility will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim” (Isaiah 11:13).
After the birth of eleven sons Jacob asked Laban to let him return to his homeland. They discussed Jacob’s due wages and agreed that all the marked or colored sheep, lambs and goats would be Jacob’s. This is a reference to Yahweh’s sheep who are a multi colored people.
Jacob journeyed three days to separate his flocks from Laban’s. This is a reference for us as believers to be a separate and set-apart people. We are told not to mix clean with unclean or holy with unholy. Not only did Jacob care for his own sheep during this time but Laban’s also. Jacob’s flock increased by Jacob placing fresh stripped branches of poplar, almond and plane trees in all the watering troughs (Genesis 30:37). Jacobs superior knowledge of tending the sheep resulted in an increase in his flock. This is a reference to being obedient to Torah and receiving the blessings that flow when honoring the Word of Yahweh.
Genesis 30:40 “Jacob set apart the young of the flock by themselves, but made the rest face the streaked and dark-colored animals that belonged to Laban. Thus he made separate flocks for himself and did not put them with Laban's animals.”
Jacob increased and grew exceedingly prosperous with an abundance of flocks, maidservants, menservants, camels and donkeys. Seeing this, Laban’s household started talking slanderously against Jacob. Laban listened to them and his attitude toward Jacob changed. It takes just one maligned statement against another to turn a whole people against the innocent.
Depending on which tree a believer eats from; when lashon hara (gossip and slander) challenges Yahweh’s people they can either succumb to it or rise above it and be overcomers. Yahweh will judge those who slander. If we come to understand God is with us to encourage us tests are there to promote His people and help draw them closer to Him. Challenges introduce us to a greater responsibility in His Kingdom and to help teach and promote a deeper impartation of God’s indwelling power within our lives.
According to the Book of James in the New Testament/Brit Chadasha, challenges in our lives are to be considered pure joy in order that perseverance might finish its work in us to perfect us to maturity, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4). If we choose to walk in Yeshua’s ways and persevere through the challenges, His Holy Spirit activates within us, as He is faithful to His Covenant over us.
The Separation - Genesis 31
Continuing with Jacob’s story in Genesis 31, the time had come for him to separate from Laban’s ever changing demands. Yahweh commanded Jacob to leave Haran, to depart from the growing contempt and jealousy toward him and return to his native land. Rachel and Leah saw how their father had treated them showing no love or respect, wanting to sell them or use them as barter. Through Jacob’s life example and kindness they saw the real truth and learned to put their faith in Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 31:18).
Do married couples leave their fathers and mothers today and cleave to each other? A healthy relationship with parents and in-laws is great and encouraged; but when a spouse has a co-dependent relationship with one or both parents or carries an inherited iniquity from past generations into the marriage, they have not truly left their parents and cleaved to their spouse. In a sense they have instead brought the parent’s spiritual baggage and abuse with all its characteristics into the marriage. This brings contamination, encumbering the young couple desiring to become one with each other. This can weaken a marriage and in some cases bring death to it. Looking at your spouse through the eyes of your parents or continuing to operate in generational curses can lead to an imbalance, unhealthy marriage that will also affect the children. While married couples need to have a healthy respect for their own parents, they also must get on with the business of creating a healthy relationship and family identity, one that is directly focused on Yeshua and His word. He alone has the plan and purpose for our lives and only He can guide us (Genesis 2:24).
The Return
While packing for their journey, Rachel stole her father’s pagan household gods; she did not obey Yahweh by leaving her family. In stealing her father’s household gods she essentially took her father’s identity (idolatry and adultery) with her. This very act brought a curse upon her that eventually led to her death (Genesis 31:19).
Without saying good-bye to Laban, Jacob gathered up his family and left. The flocks went before them as they made their way to the land of Canaan and back to Jacob’s father, Isaac. On their third day traveling, Laban was told of their leaving. It took seven more days for him to catch up with them. Warned in a dream not to speak lashon hara (slander) of Jacob, Laban confronted Jacob for leaving without allowing him to say good-bye to his daughters and grandchildren. As the story unfolds we find what seemed more important to Laban were his idols which he quickly inquired after. The impression is Laban held his gods in higher priority than his family. Jacob was so sure of the purity and loyalty of the camp that he told Laban if anyone had stolen Laban’s gods, the guilty party would not live. Then he allowed Laban to search through his tents. The vow Jacob pronounced was irrevocable; he had pronounced a curse over his beloved wife Rachel. He had no idea she had taken her father’s idols. When Rachel married and left with her husband for Canaan, she did not leave her father behind her, but invited Laban and his pagan ways into the camp and into their marriage. These idols contaminated their marriage and eventually the whole community (Genesis 31:22-35).
Jacob stood up to Laban’s dominance and intimidation. Laban in turn saw it was time for him to let Jacob and his family go. They made a covenant, and the next morning Laban kissed his family good-bye and returned home minus his gods (Genesis 31:36-55).
Jacob now prepared to meet his brother Esau. Messengers of Yahweh met him along the way and when Jacob saw them he said, “This is the camp of Yahweh!” So he named that place Mahanaim meaning Two Camps.
Hosea 12:2-5 “Yahweh has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds. In the womb he grasped his brother's heel; as a man he struggled with God/Elohim. He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there Yahweh our God Almighty, Yahweh is his name of renown!”
continues tomorrow...