·
Gen. 30:8: Hebrew has (at least) 2 words for “wrestle.” The one here is used of the struggle between
Leah and Rachel, the struggle to be a blessing to Jacob by having sons. The other is in Ger. 32:24-25, used of the
struggle between Jacob and God, a struggle where God prevailed (Hosea 12:4) and
gave Jacob the name “Israel.” There is
some question of the meaning of “Israel.”
The Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon gives the meaning “God prevails.” Gesenius defines it as “contender” or “soldier
of God.” Both agree with the context of
the name’s origin, that of Jacob’s wrestling with God. You can see that both definitions have a
certain similarity, relating the name to contending and prevailing. My thought is that the name and the story say
something about the Nation: they regularly contend with God and God always prevails.
·
Gen. 30:13: The meaning of names in the OT is
always good to note. What a great name
this is: Asher/blessing.
·
Gen. 30:17: The context speaks of this
competition between the women. But the
fact is: God is the One who is providing!
Note that, unlike the custom of the day, God does not count the two
children of Leah’s handmaid, Zilpah, with Leah’s total. As in the case of Sarah and Hagar, God
recognizes each mother.
·
Gen. 30:27,30: Jacob is such a bargainer. He sees a weakness in Laban and jumps on
it. Except that, all of this is God’s
doing. In v43 it may sound like Jacob’s
scheming is working; but again, the point is that God promised to provide for
Jacob at Bethel (28:15), and He is keeping His word.
·
Gen. 31:24,29: Again, God speaks to someone in a
dream, a “someone” who is not part of the family of Messiah. Here it is “Laban, the Syrian.” Earlier it was Abimelech, king of Gerar (20:3). Later, it will be the baker and butler of
Pharaoh in Egypt (40:5), and then Pharaoh himself (41:1).
·
Gen. 31:36ff: You can speak with authority when
you know God has your back.
·
Gen. 32:7: This is the issue of faith for Jacob. He needed to remember God’s promise at
Bethel (to provide for him and bring him home safely) and the fact that God was
the One who commanded him to return home now. But Jacob still struggles with simple
faith. The temptation to trust himself
was strong. Jacob makes a plan (dividing
up the livestock and family); then he prays; but then he goes back to making a
plan again. 32:20: “I will appease him.”
·
Gen. 33:5: Jacob says these are the children God
“graciously” gave him. He is
correct. This is the Hebrew term for “grace”
(channan) meaning favor, pity.
Jacob knows he did not deserve God’s blessing.
·
Gen. 33:8: Jacob calls Esau “lord” (Heb. adown;
also used of God). He is saying, “I
respect you Esau.” In 33:10 he speaks of
finding “favor” in Esau’s sight. This is
similar to the term for “grace” in v5; he is saying that seeing Esau is like
seeing God.
·
Gen. 33:9-14: Jacob lies to Esau. What’s he supposed to say? “No. We’ll stay in the land that I got from
Dad when I tricked him and got your blessing.” We mention all these things that Jacob said,
and how he approached Esau, to show his fleshly attempt to prevail in the
situation. What he fails to recognize is
that God has already solved the situation; He has caused Esau to get over his anger. Jacob is fighting a battle God has already
won. Does that sound familiar, brother
and sister in Christ?
· Gen. 33:20: El Elohe Israel! Jacob still needs to grow; but in giving this name to God, identifying Him as the God of Jacob/Israel, it shows He is seeing that God is truly working in the situation and keeping His word.
· 33:17,30; 33:17: Succoth. 1) This is Jacob’s first home upon returning from Padan Aram. It is east of Shechem, in the Jordan Valley. 2) Jud. 8:13-16: They refused to help Gideon as he chased the Midianites; so Gideon punished their leaders with whips of briars. 3) 1 Kings 7:46: It was in Succoth that Solomon made materials for the temple. It’s interesting that today, in that area, there are vendors of clay pots and yard ornaments. They are still making things of value.
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