365 Day Bible Catch Up (Jacob)

Genesis 28 (starting in verse 10)

Jacob's ladder story happens here. Jacob calls it 'the House of God' and 'the Gate of Heaven'. God continues his covenant with Abraham through Jacob, stating "Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring" (28:14). Not only will Jacob's descendants be blessed through God's covenant with Abraham, but all peoples of the earth.

Jacob's vow has always perplexed me. "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking... then the Lord will be my God". That doesn't sound like the faith of Abraham.

Genesis 29

- Jacob arrives in the area of his uncle, Laban and meets Rachel. He greets her enthusiastically.
- Jacob ends up working for Laban for seven years in return for the hand of his daughter, Rachel. But when the time came to be married, Jacob slept with Leah (Rachel's older sister). When Jacob found out, this is of course after having slept with Leah, he asked Laban why he had deceived him. Laban gave a cultural response and gave Rachel to Jacob for another seven years of work. After the week long ceremony with Leah, Jacob was married to Rachel as well. "Jacob lay with Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years" (29:30).

First, how in the world did Jacob not know who he was sleeping with? Was he drunk?

- The Lord saw that Leah was not loved and opened her womb and she gave birth to four sons - Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah

Genesis 30

- Rachel was now the jealous one. She gave Bilhah (her servant) to Jacob to sleep with so that Rachel could have a family as well. Bilhah gave birth to Dan and Naphtali.

Napthali means 'my struggle'. Rachel names her son (through Bilhah) Napthali because 'I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won'. What incredible jealousy!

- Now the pendulum had swung back and Leah was jealous. Leah gave her servant, Zilpah to Jacob to sleep with. Zilpah had Gad and Asher for Leah's side of the family.

- Reuben, the oldest goes out during harvest time and brought some mandrake plants back to Leah that he had found. Rachel asked for some and when Leah brushed her off, Rachel traded a night with Jacob for the mandrakes. "So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. 'You must sleep with me,' she said. 'I have hired you with my son's mandrakes.' So he slept with her that night." (Genesis 30:16). That's a very funny verse. But God gave Leah a son through this affair, Issachar. Leah then had a sixth son, Zebulun and then a daughter, Dinah.

- Finally after Leah had bore Jacob six sons, Bilhah had bore him two and Zilpah had bore him two, ten  sons in all, God remembered Rachel and she gave birth to Joseph. (11 sons).

- Jacob wishes to leave, but Laban asks him to stay because he has learned through divination that he has been blessed through Jacob. (That's another one of those things that I just noticed that others are getting blessed just by being in proximity to Abraham. Think Lot and Abimelech.)

- Jacob gets his wages from Laban to stay and becomes exceedingly wealthy by breeding his flock with the stronger females and the weaker females offspring went to Laban.

Genesis 31

Laban's sons become jealous of Jacob because his wealth was waxing and theirs was waning. Laban's attitude changed as well towards Jacob. The Lord instructed Jacob to return to the promised land and Jacob gathered his wives, children and household to flee without telling Laban. But, Rachel stole her father's household gods.

Laban pursued Jacob and when he was about to catch up the Lord appeared to Laban and warned him not to say anything good or bad to him. Laban finally says to him "Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father's house. But why did you steal my gods?" (Genesis 31:30).

Jacob makes a pretty rash response about the stolen gods. He says that if anyone has the gods of Laban they shall not live. He didn't know Rachel had stolen the gods. Rachel sat on them and lied saying that she couldn't stand because she was on her period.

Jacob and Laban made a covenant not to harm one another by crossing the spot where they piled rocks to fight. Laban then kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them before returning home.

Genesis 32

Jacob sent men out to meet Esau, and when they returned they informed him Esau was coming with 400 men to meet him. Jacob panicked and split his group into two so that if Esau attacked one group, the other could escape. In fear Jacob prayed to God.

32:10-11 "I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children". This is a stark contrast to how Jacob spoke in chapter 31. In chapter 31 he is righteously indignant with Laban, lambasting him for the way he treated him, talking about his toil and his hard work. Now, when he talks to God, he is humble and admits that all his gains are because of the Lord's blessing, in spite of his unworthiness. It's an interesting contrast.

Jacob sends out a big gift of goats, sheep, camels, cows and donkeys to Esau ahead of him in the hopes of pacifying Esau.

Jacob then has an encounter with God where he wrestles him. Jacob won't let go until the man blessed him. The man (God) changed Jacob's name to Israel because Jacob had struggled with God and with men and overcame it.

Genesis 33

Jacob meets Esau and expecting the worse he bows down, but Esau embraces him.

Genesis 34

Dinah, Jacob's daughter by Leah was violated by Shechem, the son of the local ruler, Hamor. Hamor came to Jacob and his sons to ask for Dinah to be married to Shechem. They lied and said they would agree if all the men were circumcised. After the men of the city were circumcised Simeon and Levi (the brothers of Dinah) killed all the men of the city while they were still in pain and looted the city, carrying off the livestock, women and children of the city. Jacob rebuked his sons, but they asked 'should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?'

Genesis 35

Jacob was told by God to go to Bethel. Jacob told his house to get rid of their foreign gods, which he buried and went to Bethel, safely because God had filled all the people with terror of them.

Jacob was visited by God at Bethel and renewed his covenant. Jacob built an altar to God there and renamed the place Bethel (it was called Luz).

Rachel then died in childbirth, giving birth to Benjamin (the twelfth of Jacob's sons).

Reuben then slept with Jacob's concubine Bilhah.

They met with Isaac and Isaac died at 180 years old. Jacob and Esau buried him.

Genesis 36

Esau had three wives, two Canaanites and the daughter of Ishmael. His descendants became the Edomites and the rulers of Edom.

365 Day Bible Catch Up (Isaac)

Genesis 25 (starting at verse 19)

-Isaac was 40 when he married Rebekah, who was barren. Isaac prayed to God and Rebekah became pregnant with twins. The twins jostled inside of her and Rebekah asked the Lord why this was happening and the Lord explained that two peoples were struggling inside of her and that the older would serve the younger.
-Esau was born first, covered in red hair. Jacob came second grabbing onto the heel of Esau. Esau became a hunter and was loved by Isaac. Jacob was quiet and loved by Rebekah.
-One day Esau came home from a hunt and asked Jacob for some of the stew he was making because he was hungry. Jacob said he'd give him some stew if Esau sold him his birthright. Esau did so "so Esau despised his birthright".

Genesis 26

- During a famine Isaac went down to the land of the Philistines and met with King Abimelech and pulled the old 'my wife is my sister trick' and when Abimelech saw Isaac caressing Rebekah from his window he called Isaac out on his trickery. But, Isaac was blessed by God and became very wealthy until he was envied by the Philistines. Abimelech then told Isaac to move away from them because he had become too powerful.
-After being visited by the Lord, Isaac built an altar to the Lord. Like Lot, Isaac was blessed for the sake of Abraham (Genesis 26:24).
-Like Abimelech had done with Abraham, he came to Isaac with a request of a non-aggression treaty.
-Esau married a couple of Hittite women who were a "source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah"

Genesis 27 - 28:9

- Rebekah devises a plan to have Jacob receive the blessing of Isaac before his death. Jacob dresses up like Esau and steals the blessing. Esau then came in and Isaac realized the deception and has no real blessing for Esau other than when Esau grows restless he will throw the yoke of Jacob off his neck.
- Esau then plotted to kill him. Rebekah plotted to send Jacob to her brother Laban's until Esau was no longer angry. Rebekah went to Isaac and claimed that Esau's wives were driving her into misery. Isaac told Jacob not to marry a Canaanite woman but go to Laban's to find a wife.
- When Esau realized how much his Canaanite wives were displeasing to his parents he went to Ishmael and married one of his daughters.

Brief Notes on I Chronices 1-21

(Originally Written June 5, 2008 in the Journal)

Lord I am so feeble and weak. My soul is in anguish. My temper flares and I hurt from longing. Why has she forsaken me? Why would you cause this to happen? What must I learn from you? Do I not trust you? Do I not bless your name? Where is the easy yoke? Lord may your will be done and may the whole world come to see that you are just and good. Lord I struggle, but I thank you for the struggle. For if I die, I will be with you and if I live I will be even stronger in you for it. May you restore my wife to me or otherwise show me your plan for me. You have my heart, my soul, my mind, my all. 'Tis a small offering I know, but what I have is yours. Comfort me in the readings today. Do not look on me in anger or disgust, but deliver me from my anguish. Thank you Lord for all you have done. May the whole world praise you ceaselessly. May every tongue sound of the Holiness of the one true God. Thank you for your love and care.

Notes on I Chronicles

Chapter 1 - Genealogy from Adam to the Edomites

Chapter 2 - Genealogy of the sons of Israel, that is Jacob

Chapter 3 - The line of David

Chapter 4 -

The sons of Judah

Jabez prayed to the Lord, "oh that you may truly bless me and extend my boundaries! Help me and make me free of misfortune, without pain!" The Lord answered his prayer.

The sons of Simeon

The sons of Reuben

Reuben, though firstborn, lost his birthright to Joseph. The king came from Judah because Judah was powerful.

The sons of Gad.

The sons of East Manasseh.

These men angered God by idolatry and were deported to Assyria.

The sons of Levi

Chapter 6 - The descendants of Aaron

Chapter 7

The sons of Issachar
The sons of Benjamin
The sons of Dan, Naphtali and Manasseh
The sons of Ephraim
The sons of Asher

Chapter 8 - The sons of Benjamin

Chapter 9 -

Judah had been carried away into Babylon as exiles.
Jerusalem still had some Israelites in it from Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh and also some Levites dwelled in Jerusalem.

The Genealogy of Saul

Chapter 10

Saul and his three sons were killed in battle by the Philistines because Saul rebelled against the Lord.

Chapter 11

David was made king of Israel.
David conquered Jerusalem.

Chapter 12 - David gathered many warriors around him

Chapter 13 - David brought the Ark to Jerusalem

Chapter 14 -

David settled in Jerusalem, took wives and had sons.
David conquered the Philistines who attacked him. The Lord made all nations fear David.

Chapter 15 -

David danced in the streets and his wife Michal, daughter of Saul, despised him for it.

Chapter 16

"Glory in his holy name; rejoice, o hearts that seek the Lord" (I Chronicles 16:10, New American Bible).

"Sing to the Lord, all the earth, announce his salvation, day after day" (I Chronicles 16:23, New American Bible).

Chapter 17

Nathan had a vision that David's son would build the temple of the Lord and David rejoiced at this.

Chapter 18

David subdued the Philistines and the Moabites. He defeated the king of Zobah and the Arameans.

Chapter 19

David defeated the Ammonites for shaming ambassadors he sent them. David then crushed the Arameans for aid the Ammonites.

Chapter 20

David went to battle with the Philistines again and the Israelites defeated three giants that were sons of the Rephaim.

Chapter 21

David then sinned and took a census of Israel. David was given three choices of punishment and chose pestilence. 70,000 men died on account of David's sin.

Notes on Genesis 29-30

(Originally written May 3, 2007 in Book 16)

Notes on Genesis

29:1 Jacob went eastward on his journey
29:2 He saw three flocks of sheep lying beside a well. The well was covered by a large stone
29:3 When all the flocks were gathered there the shepherds would roll away the stone and then put it back on when they had finished
29:4 Jacob asked them where they came from
29:5 The replied from Haran
29:6 Jacob asked if they knew Laban and they replied, yes.
29:7 Jacob told them it isn't time for the animals to be gathered together he said to water the sheep and re-pasture them
29:8 They replied they couldn't because they had to wait for the stone to be moved
29:9 While Jacob was speaking to them Rachel and her father's sheep came down
29:10 When Jacob saw Rachel and Laban's sheep he rolled the stone away and water her sheep.
29:11 Jacob kissed Rachel and wept
29:12 Jacob told Rachel who he was and she ran and told her father
29:13 Laban ran out to Jacob and kissed him and brought him to his house
29:14 Jacob told Laban everything and stayed with a month
29:15 Laban asked Jacob what his wages should be
29:16 Laban had two daughters: Leah, the older and Rachel, the younger
29:17 Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful
29:18 Jacob said let me serve you for 7 years for the hand of Rachel
29:19 Laban agreed
29:20 Jacob served the seven years but it seemed to be only a few days because of his love for Rachel
29:21 Jacob asked for Rachel because his time was complete
29:22 Laban gathered all the men of the place and prepared a feast
29:23 Laban took Leah to Jacob and he went into her
29:24 Laban gave his maid Zilpah to Leah
29:25 In the morning Jacob found that it was Leah and asked Laban why he had deceived him
29:26 Laban said it was custom that the older marry before the younger
29:27 Laban said that he would give him Rachel for another seven years of service
29:28 Jacob did so, he completed the week-long ceremony and then married Rachel
29:29 Laban gave his maid Bilhah to Rachel
29:30 Jacob went into Rachel. He loved Rachel more than Leah. He then served Laban for 7 years.
29:31 When the Lord saw that Leah was hated He opened her womb and closed the womb of Rachel
29:32 Leah bore Jacob a son and named him Reuben
29:33 She bore another son and named him Simeon
29:34 She bore another son and named him Levi
29:35 She bore another son and named him Judah

30:1 Rachel envied Leah and told Jacob to give her children or she will die
30:2 Jacob became angry with Rachel
30:3 Rachel gave Jacob Bilhah to bear her children
30:4 Jacob went into Bilhah
30:5 Bilhah bore Jacob a son
30:6 Rachel said God has judged and heard me and named the boy Dan
30:7 BIlhah conceived another son
30:8 Rachel named him Naphtali
30:9 When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children she gave Jacob Zilpah
30:10 Zilpah bore Jacob a son
30:11 Leah named him Gad
30:12 Zilpah bore him another son
30:13 Leah named him Asher
- recap:
Jacob & Leah - Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah
Jacob and Bilhah - Dan, Naphtali
Jacob and Zilpah - Gad and Asher

30:14 Reuben found some mandrakes and gave them to his mother Leah. Rachel asked for some mandrakes
30:15 Leah said is it not enough that you have taken my husband away you now want to take away my son's mandrakes. Rachel said Leah could sleep with Jacob that night for some mandrakes.
30:16 When Jacob came home Leah told him that he must sleep with her because she had hired him with Reuben's mandrakes
30:17 She conceived another son
30:18 She named him Issachar
30:19 Leah conceived again
30:20 She named this son Zebulun
30:21 She then had a daughter she named Dinah
30:22 God remembered Rachel and opened up her womb
30:23 She bore a son and said God has taken away my reproach
30:24 She named him Joseph
30:25 When Joseph was born Jacob said to Laban send me back home to my own country
30:26 He said give me wives and my children and let me go
30:27 Laban said that he had learned by divination that the Lord had blessed him because of Jacob
30:28 Laban said name your wages and stay
30:29 Jacob said you know how I have served you well
30:30 He asked when will I provide for myself
30:31 Laban asked what he could give him and Jacob said you can give me nothing if you will just do this for me.
30:32 Jacob said let me take the speckled goats and black sheep and that will be my wages
30:33 He said he would only take the speckled ones
30:34 Laban agreed
30:35 Jacob took his pay and gave them to his son's to tend
30:36 He traveled for a three day distance away from Laban and fed the rest of Laban's flock
30:37 Jacob peeled the bark off some trees
30:38 He set them where they came to drink and breed
30:39 The flocks conceived many striped and speckled animals
30:40 He then separated the flocks of Laban and his own
30:41 Whenever the stronger flocks were breeding Jacob lay the striped tree rods before them
30:42 But he did not do so for the feeble flocks. Jacob's flocks grew strong
30:43 Jacob grew to be very wealthy.

Notes on Genesis 27-28

(Originally written May 1, 2007 in Book 16)

Notes on Genesis

27:18 Jacob went to and called to his father. Isaac asked who he was.
27:19 Jacob said he was Esau and told him to eat and bless him.
27:20 Isaac asked how he had got the game so quickly and Jacob said that he had been blessed by the Lord
27:21 Isaac told him to came close so he could touch him so he could know if it was Esau or not
27:22 Isaac felt him and said it is the voice of Jacob, but the feel of Esau
27:23 He did not recognize that it was Jacob so he blessed him
27:24 He asked Jacob if he was really Esau and Jacob replied he was
27:25 So Isaac told him to bring him the food and he ate and drank
27:26 Isaac told him to come close and kiss him
27:27 Isaac smelled his garments and blessed him. He said the small of my son is the smell of a field the Lord had blessed.
27:28 He said may God give you the dew of heaven, the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine
27:29 He said let the peoples serve you and stations bow down to you. He said cursed be whoever curses you and blessed be all that bless you
27:30 As soon as Isaac was done Jacob left and Esau came in from hunting
27:31 Esau prepared the food and took it to Isaac to get the blessing
27:32 Isaac asked him who he was and he answered, I am Esau
27:33 Isaac trembled violently and asked who came before him because he had blessed him.
27:34 Esau cried out and begged for a blessing also
27:35 Isaac said that Jacob had stolen his blessing
27:36 Esau exclaimed that Jacob had stolen his birthright and his blessing. He asked if Isaac had some blessing for him
27:37 Isaac said I have made him your lord and blessed him with wine and grain and servants. He asked what can he give him
27:38 Esau wept and pleaded for some blessing
27:39 Isaac gave a little blessing saying away from the fatness of the earth and from the dew of heaven will you dwell
27:40 By the sword shall you live and shall serve your brother, but when you break loose you will break Jacob's yoke from your neck
27:41 Esau hated Jacob for this and planned to kill him after mourning Isaac
27:42 Rebekah learned of Esau's plans and told Jacob
27:43 She told Jacob to go and hide with her brother Laban in Haran.
27:44 She said to stay there until Esau's anger fades
27:45 She told him that she would send for him when Esau's fury had passed
27:46 Rebekah said to Isaac that she was tired of the Hittite women and did not want Jacob to marry one
- There is so much deceit in Abraham - Isaac - Jacob/Esau. Abraham lied about his wife. Isaac lied about his wife. Jacob lied about who he was. Could the punishment be a continuance of lies?

28:1 Isaac told Jacob not to marry a Canaanite woman.
28:2 He told him to go to Laban's house and find a daughter of his to marry
28:3 He blessed him and told him to multiply
28:4 He said may God give you the blessing of Abraham and fulfill his promise to Abraham through your descendants
28:5 So Jacob went to Laban's house
28:6 Esau saw that his father had done this
28:7 He saw that Jacob had left for Laban's house
28:8 Esau saw that Canaanite women did not please his father
28:9 So Esau went to Ishmael and took his daughter Ma'haloth
28:10 Jacob left Beer-Sheba and headed for Heron
28:11 He camped out in a certain place for the night
28:12 He dreamed that there was a ladder from earth to heaven and the angels of the Lord were ascending and descending
28:13 The Lord spoke saying, I am the Lord, God of Abraham, God of Isaac
28:14 He said your descendants will be like the dust of the earth
28:15 He said he will not leave Jacob until he had fulfilled his promise
28:16 Jacob woke and exclaimed that the Lord is surely in this place
28:17 He said this place is the house of God and the gate of Heaven
28:18 Jacob took the stone he used as a pillow and poured oil on it
28:19 He called the place Bethel (the house of God). The city was called Luz at first.
28:20 Jacob said if God is with me and will keep me...
28:21 then the Lord will be my God
28:22 He exclaimed that he will give one tenth of all the Lord gave him to God.

Notes on Genesis 26-27

(Originally written April 30, 2007 in Book 16)

Genesis

26:1 There was a famine so Isaac went to Gerar to see Abimelech, the king of the Philistines.
26:2 The Lord told him not to go to Egypt, but to where he showed Isaac
26:3 The Lord said that he would bless him and his descendants if he stayed in the land
26:4 The Lord reiterated that he would make his descendants as numerous as the stars and that by Isaac's descendants all the nations of the earth would bless themselves.
26:5 The Lord said he would do this because Abraham obeyed his commandments and Law
26:6 Isaac dwelt then in Gerar
26:7 Isaac told then that Rebekah was his sister so that the people of Gerar would not kill him
26:8 Abimelech called to Isaac and asked why he said Rebekah was his sister. Isaac said so that no one would kill him for her.
26:10 Abimelech scolded Isaac because if some one would have laid with her it would have brought guilt on us
26:11 Abimelech warned al the people that whoever touches Isaac or Rebekah would be put to death
26:12 Isaac sewed in Gerar and reaped a hundredfold because the Lord blessed him
26:13 Isaac became very wealth
26:14 The Philistines soon envied him
26:15 The Philistines filled all of Abraham's old wells.
26:16 Abimelech ordered Isaac to leave because of his wealth and might
26:17 Isaac departed and camped in the valley of Gerar
26:18 Isaac re-dug a springing well
26:20 The herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with them over the well so it was named Esek (contention)
26:21 They dug another one and the herdsmen quarreled over it as well. This is called Sitnah (Enmity)
26:22 They dug another one and the herdsmen did not quarrel over it so it was called Reho'booth
because the Lord had made room for them
26:23 From there Isaac went to Beersheba
26:24 The Lord appeared to Isaac and promised to bless him for Abraham's sake
26:25 Isaac built an altar there and pitched his tent
26:26 Abimelech went to Isaac with Ahuz'zath his adviser and Phicol
26:27 Isaac asked why he who hates him came to see him
26:28 They replied that we can see that the Lord is with you and we want to make an oath with you
26:29 They wanted to make a covenant that we will do no harm to you and you do no harm to us
26:30 Isaac prepared a feast and they all ate and drank
26:31 They woke and made the oath in the morning and Isaac sent them on their way
26:32-33 Then Isaac's servants told him that they had found water so they named the place Shibah
26:34 Esau took Judith, daughter of Be-e'ri the Hittite and Bas'emoth, daughter of Elon the Hittite for his wives when he was 40.
26:35 They made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah

27:1 When Isaac was old he called to Esau. Isaac was now blind
27:2 Isaac told Esau that he was old and did not know the day of his death
27:3 He told Esau to go and hunt game for him
27:4 He told him to bring the food to him as he loved so that he could eat and bless him
27:5 Rebekah was listening to Isaac as he told Esau this
27:6 She told Jacob about it
27:7 She told Jacob what Isaac had said
27:8 She finished telling Jacob what Isaac commanded Esau
27:9 She told Jacob to go to the flock and get two young kids so she could prepare them for Isaacthe way he liked.
27:10 She told him that Jacob could bring them to him and receive the blessing
27:11 Jacob replied that Esau was hairy and he was not
27:12 He was afraid that Isaac would curse him if he would found out
27:13 She said that she would receive the curse, but listen to her and obey
27:14 Jacob got the goats and Rebekah prepared them the way Isaac liked
27:15 Rebekah took Esau's clothes and put them on Jacob
27:16 She put the goat skins on Jacob's hands and neck
27:17 She gave Jacob the food.

Notes on Genesis 24-25

(Originally written April 28, 2007 in Book 16)

Notes on Genesis

24:1 Abraham was old and the Lord had blessed him in all things
24:2 Abraham had his servant place his hand on his inner thigh
24:3 He made him swear that he would not take a wife for Isaac from the Canaanites
24:4 He made him swear to go to his father's land and find a wife for Isaac
24:5 The servant asked what if the woman won't follow him back to this country
24:6 Abraham commanded that the servant not take Isaac back to Ur
24:7 Abraham assured him that all will go well because the Lord told him it would
24:8 He said if the woman is unwilling then you are free of this oath, but do not take Isaac back there
24:9 The servant swore the oath under Abraham's thigh
24:10 The servant left and took all sorts of gifts and went to Nahor in Mesopotamia
24:11 He waited by a well
24:12 He cried out to God to grant him success
24:13 He said to God that he is waiting by a well where the daughters of the men at the city are coming to
24:14 He asked for sign that the woman who offers him water be the wife of Isaac
24:15 Before he was even done speaking Rebekah, granddaughter of Abraham's brother Nahor come out
24:16 Rebekah was good looking and a virgin. She drew water from the well
24:17 The servant asked for a drink
24:18 Rebekah gave him a drink
24:19 She drew water for the servant's camels
24:20 She emptied her jar and drew water again
24:21 The servant looked at her to learn whether or not the Lord had provided
24:22 The servant produced a gold ring and two gold bracelets for Rebekah
24:23 He asked her if their was room for him and her parent's house to stay
24:24 She said I am the son o Bethu'el, son of Nahor
24:25 She told them there was room for them and their animals at her father's house
24:26 The servant bowed and worshipped the Lord
24:27 He thanked the Lord for blessing Abraham and for leading him to his master's relatives
24:28 Rebekah saw and told her mother about the guests
24:29 Rebekah's brother Laban ran out to meet the servant of Abraham
24:30 He had seen the jewelry on Rebekah and ran out to meet the man that give it to her
24:31 Laban told them to come inside
24:32 Laban took care of the camels and gave water to the man to wash his feet
24:33 He gave food to the man
24:34 He told Laban that he was Abraham's servant
24:35 He told how the Lord had blessed Abraham
24:36 He told them how Sarah had bore a son to Abraham in old age
24:37 He told them about the oath he swore to Abraham
24:38 He told him that he swore to get a wife for Isaac from Abraham's kinsmen.
24:39 He told him how he was scared that the woman would not follow him
24:40 He told him that an angel would prepare the way
24:41 Then he told them that he would be free of the oath
24:42 He told him how he prayed to God at the well
24:43 He told Laban what he prayed
24:44 He told him that the wife of Isaac would give water to him an his camels
24:45 He told him that Rebekah had appeared before he was even done praying
24:46 He told him how Rebekah gave him a drink
24:47 He told him that he asked who was Rebekah's father and she replied Bethel, son of Nahor.
24:48 He told him that he bowed and worshipped the Lord
24:49 He asked them to deal loyally and true with him and Abraham
24:50 Laban and Bethel answered that his comes from the Lrod and they cannot speak bad or good.
24:51 Bethel told him to take Rebekah as Isaac's wife as the Lord had spoken.
24:52 Abraham's servant bowed before the Lord.
24:53 Abraham's servant gave jewelry to Rebekah, her brother and her mother.
24:54 He ate and spent the night there and asked to be sent back to Abraham
24:55 Rebekah's brother and mother asked for the girl to be left with them for 10 days
24:56 Abraham's servant said not to delay him because the Lord had prospered him
24:57-58 They called for Rebekah and asked if she would go with Abraham's servant and she said yes
24:59-60 They blessed Rebekah and sent her with Abraham's servant
24:61 The servant took Rebekah and went away
24:62 Isaac was dwelling in Negev
24:63 Isaac went out to meditate in the field and saw camels coming
24:64-65 Rebekah saw Isaac coming and covered herself
24:66 The servant told Isaac all that had happened
24:67 Isaac took Rebekah into his tent and she became his wife. He loved her and was comforted after his mother's death.

25:1 Abraham took another wife, Ketu'rah
25:2 Ketu'rah bore Abraham Zimron, Jokshawn, Medan, Ishbak and Shuah
25:3 Joskahn was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The song of Dedan were Asstiu'rim, Letu'shim, and Le-umimim
25:4 The sons of Mid'ian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abi'da, and Elda'ah
25:5 Abraham gave all he had to Isaac
25:6 He gave gifts to his sons by his concubines and sent them eastward away from Isaac
25:7 Abraham lived 175 years
25:8 Abraham died
25:9 Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelath
25:10 This was the field Abraham had purchased. He was buried with Sarah
25:11 After the death of Abraham God blessed Isaac and he dwelled in Beer-La'Hai-roi
25:12 These are the descendants of Ishmael
25:13 Neba'ioth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam
25:14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa
25:15 Hadid, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Ked'emah
25:16 These are the twelve princes according to their tribes
25:17 Ishmael lived 137 years
25:18 They dwelt from Havilah to Shur and conquered the people there
25:19 These are the sons of Isaac
25:20 Isaac was 40 when he married Rebekah
25:21 Isaac prayed to the Lord because she was barren and Rebekah conceived
25:22 The children struggled inside her an she prayed to God
25:23 The Lord said two nations are in your womb and these two nations will struggle against one another. The elder will serve the younger
25:24 When she delivered she had twins
25:25 The first to come was very hairy, Esau
25:26 Jacob came next holding the heel of Esau. Isaac was 60 years old
25:27 Esau grew up a hunter and Jacob grew up quiet
25:28 Isaac loved Esau, Rebekah loved Jacob
25:29 Jacob was once boiling soup and Esau came in an said he was starving
25:30 Esau said let me eat some of that
25:31 Jacob said sell me your birthright
25:32 Esau said I am about to die, what do I need my birthright for
25:33 Jacob had Esau share to him
25:34 Jacob gave Esau bread and soup. Esau despised his birthright.

Image of God, Salvation & Predestination

(Originally written April 21, 2006 in 3 Subject)

Historic Christian Belief

Theosis - the way of the East

The Eastern Orthodox makes a distinction between the image of God and in the likeness of God.
The image of God - the capacity to relate to God
The likeness of God - an unbroken union with God

The Fall resulted in the damage of the image of God in humanity, but is still retained. The Fall however resulted in a complete loss of the likeness of God. The likeness of God can be restored to those in Christ to a significant degree however.

Three Categories of Divine Election

1. General Election
2. Corporate Election
3. Particular Election

General Election
-Election in History
-God chooses nations and individuals to play a particular role in history: to glorify God
Romans 9:6-13 (Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob over Esau in the blessing), Romans 9:16 (Pharaoh)

Corporate Election
-God foresees who will believe in Christ
-Ephesians 1:3 - chosen in Him from before the creation of the world
-Those chosen = a corporate entity, the believers in Christ
-Christ is God's 'chosen [elect] one, all others are chosen in Christ (John 3:16, 1 Timothy 2:5, Romans 8:29, 1 Peter 3:9)

Particular Election
-Augustine, Calvin
-Monergism - salvation brought about through spiritual regeneration without willingness from the saved (irresistible grace)
-God has chosen individuals out of the whole of fallen humanity
-Election is one aspect of predestination, Election (salvation & glory), Reprobation (judgment)
-Predestination: Election & Reprobation (John 6:44, Acts 13:48, Ephesians 1:5 and Romans 8:29)
-Romans 8:29 is actually used by Calvinism & Arminianism