Genesis 31:10-13

2009.Feb.13 17:00

Dream No. Two

Read Genesis 31:10-13 | Full Chapter

"In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted. The angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob.' I answered, 'Here I am.' And he said, 'Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.' "
(Genesis 31:10-13, NIV)

I think this is Jacob’s second “Yahweh” dream described, although I may not remember that correctly. The first was the Jacob’s Ladder dream. This dream is a bit less dramatic. Jacob sees an illustration of all this business with coloration as the distinguishing element between Laban’s and Jacob’s flocks. Based from this illustration, Yahweh tells Jacob that he is aware of how Laban has been cheating Jacob, or at least trying trying to. Then Yahweh gives Jacob some context about Yahweh himself; he is the God of Bethel, that is, the God of the stairway dream, who reiterated to Jacob his promise to Abraham of many descendants and possession of Palestine. Then Yahweh tells Jacob to return home.

Okay, then. Let’s talk first about continuity. From what I know and that’s not a lot, there’s not much evidence for monotheism prior to Moses (and not strictly even then). But Genesis, while acknowledging that other gods are being worshipped shows a single God, Yahweh–if not known as such at this time–working in the lives of each of the patriarchs, reiterating promises, keeping the family generally in Palestine (for all of what will be four generations, admittedly). That his work has continuity through generations is reassuring in my own life, knowing that his work in me will not fail, regardless of time.

A second theme touched on here is the return to the promised land. It’s never something fun that causes members of Israel or its patriarchs to leave Palestine. Indeed, it’s always something that looks like the opposite of promise. And yet Yahweh’s faithfulness as he brings them back is evident, even in the life of Jesus (Matthew 2:13-23). So, then, as Jacob is now telling his wives, Yahweh has told him that it’s time to return.

Genesis 33:12-20

2009.May.08 17:00

Good to See You…Bye, Now.

Read Genesis 33:12-20 | Full Chapter

Then Esau said, "Let us take our journey and go, and I will go before you." But he said to him, "My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds which are nursing are a care to me. And if they are driven hard one day, all the flocks will die. "Please let my lord pass on before his servant, and I will proceed at my leisure, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord at Seir." Esau said, "Please let me leave with you some of the people who are with me." But he said, "What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord."
(Genesis 33:12-15, NASB)

As best I can gather, the main point of this whole passage is that Esau invites Jacob to join him in Seir (Edom, I believe), where Esau has taken up residence and whose later occupants will be oft referred to as descendents of Esau. What I gather is that Jacob has no intention of heading to Seir, south of Canaan, whence he left, to which he is returning.

I guess.

Anyway, there’s this back and forth with Jacob saying Esau should go on and Esau saying they should travel together. This could just be some sort of diplomatic/politeness ritual. Eventually, Esau agrees to hit the road.

So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built for himself a house and made booths for his livestock; therefore the place is named Succoth. Now Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram, and camped before the city. He bought the piece of land where he had pitched his tent from the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for one hundred pieces of money. Then he erected there an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
(Genesis 33:16-20, NASB)

So, Jacob has survived, perhaps to his surprise, encounters with both Laban and Esau. And life is good. He’s returned to Canaan and for maybe the first time in his life isn’t at odds with anyone. He’s not perhaps “settled”, but he could certainly be very comfortable at this point. What a journey!

Now, we’re going to start seeing his kids more, especially his sons, the at least nominal patriarchs of the tribes of Israel. And we’ll also get to see what’s not apparent at this moment of relative ease, how Jacob’s playing favorites and allowing the growth of jealousies within his family has affected those children and their future. Ultimately, Yahweh’s going to jump in and work out a lot of this stuff, but the road is going to be much more painful than is immediately apparent at this point.