Why The Account Of Esau's Family Line? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 36:1,

"This is the account of the family line of Esau (that is, Edom)."

Esau was Jacob's twin brother and son of Issac and Rebecca. We are provided various accounts of Esau, especially in relationship to Jacob. I suspect most familiar is the account of when Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew. Genesis 36 is devoted to providing the family line of Esau.

The writer of Hebrews observes that Esau was a godless man, Hebrews 12:16. In Romans 9:13, Paul quotes Malachi 1:2-3 where it is written, "'Was not Esau Jacob's brother?' declares the Lord. 'Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.'"

Since Esau was viewed as a godless man, a man whom the Lord hated (in Malachi it is not just Esau, but also the descendants of Esau that God claimed to hate, while he loved Israel) and that the progeny of Esau became bitter enemies of the nation of Israel in succeeding generations, why does the Bible spend time on his family line? It is precisely these kinds of observations and questions that provide me with the absolute certainty that the Bible is not what its critics claim it to be. It is heard on occasion that the Bible was written by men who intended to subjugate people to "the elites" of the day, to invent or reinvent religion,  to bring about revivals and reforms, etc. Such criticism is best aimed at the Qur'an and other false religious literature.

It seems to me that no one would showcase the "bad guys" as Genesis 36 does if the Bible had such an origin. And, not just that, but, not only are we presented with the account of Esau's family line in Genesis, which demonstrates the Genesis accounts are not spun out of thin air - but historically well-documented, it also presents us with the failings of the "good guys." Abraham's lying and deception, Jacob's lying and deception, Judah's procurement of temple prostitutes, and on and on.

The authenticating material of historical documentation is one of the Scripture's very strong points, and lays to rest the many attacks by less-informed critics.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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God Manipulates Regional Perceptions - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 35:5,

"Then they set out, and the terror of God fell upon the towns all around them so that no one pursued them."

This comment is made by Moses after he gave the account of Simeon and Levi slaughtering the men of Shechem. Keil and Delitzsch call this a "supernatural terror that came upon the cities round about, so that they did not venture to pursue the sons of Jacob on account of the cruelty of Simeon and Levi." Here is an example of God setting or bringing about an outlook, a perspective, a perception, a "mood" for an entire region.

Another example of this is in the book of Joshua where Rahab admitted to the Israeli spies that fear had overcome the inhabitants of Palestine because of what the Lord had done, Joshua 2:9-11. In Exodus 9:16 God has Moses tell Pharaoh, "I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." God had hardened Pharaoh's heart so that the events became so dramatic it ensured the story would reach Palestine and still be an active story forty years later, when Joshua would lead Israel across the Jordan to take possession of the Promised Land. Paul observes this in Romans 9 and quotes Exodus 9:16. Paul's point is that God uses who he wants in order to effect what he desires, even the wicked.

I find it just fascinating how God can and will influence perceptions, thought, and reactions over entire regions in order to carry out his agenda. With Pharaoh we see an artful manipulation by God to set the stage for Israel's conquest of Palestine. Looking to their own strength relative to the challenge, the Israelites missed what God had done, his contribution to the effort, and it cost them severely.

I wonder from time to time how often we find ourselves in situations that God might have crafted or manipulated for his purposes to further his agenda in the world today. It is just intriguing to me to see how he works.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Exploiting the Things of God - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 34:13-17,

"Because their sister Dinah had been defiled, Jacob's sons replied deceitfully as they spoke to Shechem and his father Hamor. They said to them, 'We can't do such a thing; we can't give our sister to a man who is not circumcised. That would be a disgrace to us. We will enter into an agreement with you on one condition only: that you become like us by circumcising all your males. Then we will give you our daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We'll settle among you and become one people with you. But if you will not agree to be circumcised, we'll take our sister and go.'"

This is one wild story! Dinah, the sister of the twelve brothers that became the twelve tribes of Israel, was raped by a local named Shechem. Shechem loved her and sought to get her as his wife and so he and his father approached Jacob and his sons to get her. Her brothers were enraged their sister had been raped and when approached, the above was how they responded.

But it was a ruse. Shechem approached the men of the town and somehow got them to agree to get circumcised with the promise of looting Jacob and all he had at a later date, "Won't their livestock, their property and all their other animals become ours? So let us agree to their terms, and they will settle among us." Verse 23.

Consequently, after the men of the town got circumcised and they were still yet in pain, Jacob's sons came into town and slaughtered them all as they were unable to defend themselves! They exploited circumcision, the rite God commanded Abraham and his descendants as a sign and seal of the covenant they had entered into with God.

Although I admire their creativity and craftiness, circumcision was not given by God for that purpose. Jacob was unhappy his sons had done it, but his unhappiness had to do with the trouble it would create for him, "You have brought trouble on me by making me obnoxious to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land. We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed." Verse 30.

I wonder how God felt about it… it brings to mind how some things of God are used for that which is unintended in our day.

I'll bet you can come up with a few observations of how the things of God are exploited.  I know I can.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.

--

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

"It is to one's honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool is quick to quarrel." Proverbs 20:3

God Teaches Us To Rely On His Promises - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 33:1-4,

"Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants. He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept."

This takes place as Jacob returns to his homeland after twenty years spent with his uncle Laban, acquiring wives, children and wealth. When he had left his home it was to flee from Esau, whose blessing, intended by their father, Isaac, was deceitfully taken by Jacob through trickery. Now Jacob heads for home and hears that his brother Esau is coming to meet him with four hundred men. Upon hearing of it we are told that Jacob was "in great fear and distress", 32:7. Jacob pours out his heart to the Lord in 32:9-12 asking the Lord for deliverance, that the Lord would spare him, his wives and children.

Jacob sends gifts ahead as he approaches Esau and when they meet there is a tearful reunion as our text says. The Lord makes good on his promise, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you", 31:3. I note that the way the events unfolded Jacob was left in his "great fear and distress" that had the effect of turning Jacob's reliance on God himself which drove him to his knees in his heartfelt prayer for deliverance.

And, so, I recognize in my own life that at times trouble and distress will come and that these will come as the Lord is busy in my life, teaching me to rely on him, on his wisdom and on his strength. He teaches me to reach out for his grace to grapple problems that I may find overwhelming at times. He teaches me to trust in his promises, to recognize his goodness to me when he delivers me and to recognize his great love for me when he expresses it. "Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead." 2 Corinthians 1:9.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.

God Is In This Place: He Sends His Angels To Do His Bidding - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 32:1-2,

"Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, 'This is the camp of God!' So he named that place Mahanaim."

The name "Mahanaim" means two camps. As Joseph leaves Laban following their confrontation over Jacob's deceitful flight from Laban and the oath they took not to harm one another, Jacob encounters this camp of angels. We are not told how many angels there were, just that there was an encampment of them. What were they doing there? Was their primary mission to meet Jacob as he was facing an encounter with his brother Esau, whose ire he also raised through deceit? Or were they about some other business and took the opportunity to meet with Jacob? The details are pretty sketchy.

My assumption is that if it were important for us to know further details of this encampment of angels more detail would be provided. But, as in other passages, it raises my interest and curiosity. Were the angels of Mahanaim there on business or pleasure? Was Jacob their primary assignment if business was what brought them there? Did they break camp after their encounter with Jacob or did they remain for other purposes? These seem like silly questions but the answers might help me with something I know little about: encountering angels. I sometimes wonder if maybe I might have had an encounter with an angel. In Hebrews 13:2 we read, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." From this I suspect some of us very well may have had angelic encounters. From the verse in Hebrews it makes it sound as though they may look like any of us and go undetected.

Whatever the answers are to these questions there are a few things I do know. God is very engaged and active on earth. He sends his angels to do his bidding and they have been encountered from time to time. Any of us might possibly have had encounters with them. It leaves me astonished at a whole reality that I am quite certain surrounds us and in which we live our lives largely unaware of.

God is in this place and sends his angels to do his bidding.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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'Money for Nothing'? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 31:38-42,

"I [Jacob] have been with you [Laban - Jacob's uncle and his wives (Leah's and Rachel's) father] for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks. I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night. This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes. It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times. If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you."

Here is Jacob's response to his father-in-law, Laban, as to why he secretly ran off with his wives (Laban's daughters) and children. Jacob had left his parents to go find a wife for himself at his father's [Isaac] direction to go to Laban to get a wife. Now, Jacob wanted to return after having spent 20 years away from home.

Another complaint Jacob surely could have made in his explanation to Laban was that Laban had deceived him by substituting his older daughter, Leah, for Rachel after having promised Rachel to him (the deceiver got deceived!). Jacob had worked seven years to pay Laban for Rachel and as a result had to work an additional seven years after being swindled by Laban in order to get Rachel.

During this 20 year period, Jacob increased his wealth immensely. He prospered in everything he did. Here we see the importance of Isaac's blessing of Jacob at work. It was consequential in that it brought God's assistance in all he did.

However, what this passage reveals is that although Isaac's blessing of Jacob resulted in God prospering him greatly, it did not come easy. Look at the hard work, the years of labor and of difficulty that Jacob endured as he reaped God's blessing!

I am reminded that God's blessing does not always come without hard work, effort, and maybe even some suffering. We live in a day where these kinds of lessons often seem to be lost. In the church today too many people measure God's blessings by how much money, how much stuff, how much success comes a person's way with no effort. It seems to be that if no effort is exerted, and yet a person receives much, that is how we measure a blessing. That is not what is always reflected in the Scriptures.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.