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Study 3 – “Fruit from a fractious family”
How God deals with the Jacob in all of us
“How God deals with
the Jacob in all of us”
The Sons of JacobReubenSimeonLeviJudahDanNaphtaliGadAsherIssacharZebulunJosephBenjamin
Leah
Leah
Bilhah
Zilphah
Rachel
Dinah
Reuben about 32 at birth of Benjamin in the Land –
Simeon and Levi about 31
and 30 at slaughter of
Shechemites. Joseph
between young boy and early
teens.How God deals with the Jacob in all of us
The Development of Leah's FaithGen.29:31-35
Reuben – “See a son!” - Leah's victory cry in recognition of Yahweh’s intervention on her behalf to secure Jacob’s love.
Simeon – “Hearing” – Leah’s declaration that despite Jacob's failure to respond, Yahweh had heard her call for help. Perhaps Jacob might also “hear”!
How God deals with the Jacob in all of us
The Development of Leah's FaithGen.29:31-35
Levi – “Joined” - Hopeful expression that three sons would convince Jacob to turn to her - but no mention of God.
Judah – “Praise” - Disappointed by man, Leah turns to Yahweh alone. Her faith in God provides compensation for the failure of Jacob's love, hence she “left bearing”.
How God deals with the Jacob in all of us
Leah’s Mandrakes - Gen. 30:14The Fruit of Envy and Jealousy in
Jacob's HouseMandrakes were the apples of the Mandragora, a herb resembling the Belladonna, with a root like a carrot having white and reddish blossoms of a sweet smell (S.S. 7:13), and with yellow odoriferous apples which ripen from May to July. To these oriental superstition attributes still a sexual power. Not so much an aphrodisiac as an aid to ensure conception.
(Unger)How God deals with the Jacob in all of us
Timeline of Leah’s troubles
Jacob receives two wives – Leah and Rachel – within one week – aged 64.
Jacob has 11 sons and 1 daughter on leaving Haran 33 years later aged 97.
Rachel dies – Jacob around 101. Jacob buries Isaac – aged 120. Jacob buries Leah before reaching 130. Approx. period of acceptance – 15-20 years.
Married 4 sons
7 yrs 26 yrs
6 sonsDinah
Racheldies
Leahdies
4 yrs? 20 yrs?LeavesHaran
How God deals with the Jacob in all of us
Jacob blesses his
sons– Gen. 49
Prophecies of the latter days in which the work of God in Christ is prominent
How God deals with the Jacob in all of us
The sons of Jacob
1. Reuben (Leah)2. Simeon (Leah)3. Levi (Leah)4. Judah (Leah)5. Dan (Bilhah - R)6. Naphtali (Bilhah - R)7. Gad (Zilpah - L)8. Asher (Zilpah – L)9. Issachar (Leah)10. Zebulun (Leah)11. Joseph (Rachel)12. Benjamin (Rachel)
1. Reuben (Leah)2. Simeon (Leah)3. Levi (Leah)4. Judah (Leah)5. Zebulun (Leah)6. Issachar (Leah)7. Dan (Bilhah - R)8. Gad (Zilpah - L)9. Asher (Zilpah – L)10. Naphtali (Bilhah - R)11. Joseph (Rachel)12. Benjamin (Rachel)
Order of Birth Order of Blessing
How God deals with the Jacob in all of us
Jacob – A Prince with God
Southern section for the residential city housing worshippers – Ezek. 48:15-17;31-35.
The Holy Oblation
The
Tem
ple
Yahweh Shammah
– Lit. “from thence unto Yahweh”. Bro. Sulley says meaning is “Yahweh thither” or “to Yahweh from this place”.
16 kms square
About 35 kms
Leah’s place in Yahweh ShammahNORTHReubenJudahLevi(all sons of Leah)
SOUTHSimeonIssacharZebulun(all sons of Leah)
EASTJosephBenjamin(sons of Rachel)Dan (Bilhah)
WESTGadAsher(sons of Zilpah)Naphtali(Bilhah)
Naphtali
Asher
GadL
evi
Jud
ah
Reu
ben
Joseph
Benjamin
Dan
Sim
eon
Issa
char
Zeb
ulu
n
Yahweh Shamma
h
4,500 reedsHow God deals with the Jacob in all of us
Jacob’s death and burial Gen. 49 & 50
Gen. 49:29 – Faith shown in final request – Gen. 50:5.
Gen. 49:30 – Machpelah (“folded together”) – Awaiting resurrection and eternal life.
Gen. 49:31 – Buried alongside Leah his true (and God-given) wife.
How God deals with the Jacob in all of us
There is a reward for
faithfulness and loyalty
under severe and enduring
trials
How God deals with the Jacob in all of us
An Allegory of Two WomenRACHEL
= Natural Israel – Mic. 4:6-10 (Jer.
31:15)
Both of her sons type Christ – Mic.
5:2-3How God deals with the
Jacob in all of us
LEAH= Spiritual Israel –
Matt. 21:43 (Isa. 65:1; Rom. 10:17-
21)(Rests with the Patriarchs in
Machpelah – Finally accepted as Jacob’s
true wife)
The trees of Jacob’s rods - Gen.30:37 "green poplar" - libneh - some sort of whitish
tree, perhaps the storax. Roth. - "young storax". Grows to about 7 metres. Leaves are white on lower surface and it bears a wealth of white blossoms. Thus is described as a white tree. Cp. Laban = "whitish" (from same root).
"hazel" - luwz - a nut tree, perhaps the almond. "chesnut tree" - armown - the plane tree. (Rt. to
bare.) - from its smooth bark which if scratched shows white. Grows to 30 metres with base 3 metres in diameter. When bark is shed the white smooth trunk is revealed.
How God deals with the Jacob in all of us
Jacob’s Device Not Syrian magic, but based on
contemporary practices – It was his contrivance.
“This artifice was founded upon a fact frequently noticed, particularly in the case of sheep, that whatever fixes their attention in copulation is marked upon the young.” (K&D)
Gen. 31:7-13 – Proof that dream came after Jacob had initiated his scheme.
It did not work! God intervened.How God deals with the
Jacob in all of us
Experience of 6 years Gen. 30:37-43 - Wages changed 10
times until Jacob realises his own contrivances did not work.
Two breeding cycles a year = 12 in all during 6 years of service.
Once Laban realised what was happening he changed Jacob’s wages after every lambing.
How God deals with the Jacob in all of us
The love of money…
Changing Attitudes in 6 Years Gen. 30:27 – “learned by experience” –
nachash - to practice divination, divine, learn by experience, diligently observe. Root of word for “serpent”. Ygs. Lit. - “I have observed diligently”.
Gen. 31:2 – “countenance” – paneh – face. Ygs. Lit. – “and Jacob seeth the face of Laban, and lo, it is not with him as heretofore.”
“For the love of money is the root of all evil” – 1 Tim. 6:10
How God deals with the Jacob in all of us
This is how God deals with the
‘Jacob’ in all of us!
How God deals with the Jacob in all of us
