Monday, April 9, 2007

Gen29-30/Matt 19

Tomorrows Reading: Gen 31-32/Matt 20: 1-16

Jacob takes his wife Rachel and Jesus speaks to giving it all up for him...

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C. Scott Baker said...

Chap29:1-28
Jacob meets daughter of Laban, Rebekah’s niece Rachel at the well – they go back to house of Laban for ‘reunion feasts’ and Jacob tells his story, why he was there. Jacob promises to work for 4 years (Gods perfect number) in exchange for Rachel’s hand in marriage. After the 7-years, Laban tricks Jacob and gives him his older daughter Leah… a little ‘right back atcha’ on being deceitful – wonder if Esau ever knew this happened and laughed a little. Now Jacob must server another 7-years to get the one he truly loved… Rachael.

Leah has 4 sons by Jacob, even though he didn’t love her; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah. We’re going to read a lot later about ‘the land of Judah’, the ‘Levites’, etc.. so this is a ‘book mark’ moment. Rachael was barren. Gen30:1-24 speaks to Rachael’s despite attempt to ‘have kids’ thru her maidservant Bilhah…(Dan, and the Land of’ later) Leah’s maidservant Zilpah (Gad, and the Land of’ later). God gives Jacob/Rachael a boy named Joseph.

Jacob is convinced to stay longer by Laban because he [Laban] realizes how greatly his flocks have increase thru the blessings of Jacob. Jacob agrees and ‘works the system’ to his advantage – somewhat revenge for Laban deceiving Jacob with older daughter Leah, not Rachael…. Causing him an additional 7-years of labor. I’m not sure I get the whole tree-bark thinking and how this ‘marked’ the animals.

Matthew
19:1-12 talks about divorce – anybody want to dissect this for us? In vv13-15, I’m thinking this was such a great moment for the parents of those children. To have the ‘hand of God’ be upon your kids is every parents dream, I’d say.

In vv16-30, a rich man is seeking the rewards of heaven but leaves empty handed because of his greed. Good memory verse from this chapter 23-24:
23Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." And v30; 30But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

April 9, 2007 at 7:21 AM

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