Toldot - These are the Generations (תּוֹלֵדוֹת) (tô·lē·ḏôṯ) Audio Podcast Dec 3, 2022
Pastor Omar Portillo
B'reisheet - 2022-2023 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 3:20:35
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This Torah Portion:
Gen 25:19 - 28:9
Introduction
Introduction
In the previous Torah portions we talked about God calling Abraham out of his country and family
We talked about the tests that Abraham faced - tests which are not passing or failing tests, but a benefit to us
We also heard last two weeks how Messiah appears to Abraham and therefore to us to help us “accept the Sovereignty of God” as the Goal of Man in this world
We also heard how God also uses his daughters to do this. Last week: Sarah - Abraham’s wife
This week we will also examine the role of another daughter of the Lord and her impact on the Generations of God’s People
We before we do this we must consider the whole book of the Bible is about the generations that belong to the Lord
Toldot
This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,
Toldot
These Are the Generations
The account of the generations continues in our Torah portion for today.
This Torah Portion:
Gen 25:19 - 28:9
Presentation
Presentation
This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac.
Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian.
Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
According to the Law at the time, in that part of the world, a man could take on other wives if his first wife had not given him an offspring as an heir
This is what happened to Abraham with Sarah, one of the reasons for Sarah to allow him to have children with Hagar
In addition to the belief that if a man leaves his country, God will not give him an her
But Isaac, instead of looking for help from man, he turns to the Lord and presents his supplication to the Lord
For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
This is only Torah Portion that starts with Isaac as an independent adult
It presents the descendants of Isaac
His Family History
These are the generations is a link to Messiah -
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
Parallel of the Hebrew of our Torah Portion
Matthew 1:1 does more than introducing Yeshua. It introduces a family history
It was a common practice in ancient times for records to omit some family members in order to prove a point. This is what Matthew does
Matthew builds the family history on the bases of the number 14
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.
Why is the number repeated three dimes: 14 is the numeric value of David’s name. 14 spells the name of David
David = דןד (dalet, vov, dalet)
ד = value of 6
ו = value of 4
14 when added together
Proving the Yeshua was a descendant of David.
Yeshua was a legitimate son of David.
Not only a distant descendant but also Messiah
And one day He will sit in David’s thrown
Strong connection between this Torah portion and Messiah
Toldot establishes Isaac is the son of Abraham.
The Almighty assures us that the blood line of Abraham is pure for the sake of the covenant.
Many cynics of that generation have tried to assert Sarah conceived from Abimelech, the Philistine king, since he brought Sarah into his harem about a year before Isaac’s birth.
However, Toldot reaffirms Isaac was Abraham’s son. There are records that indicate that he even looked like his father.
Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah. After 10 years of marriage, still without a child.
Ancient practices required a man who was childless after 10 years to take a second wife to fulfill the commandment to be fruitful and multiply
But Isaac, instead of following this, he turned to the Most High and prayed fervently.
Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
All matriarchs of Israel: Sarah, Rebekah and Rachael were barren at some point in their marriages.
This proves that the existence of Israel was a miracle.
God Almighty had to change the rules of nature for them.
He modified His creation - from barren to fruitful
Rebakah has not only one son but two. And she asked: why me?
God said:
And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”
This is staggering because since then the world has been in the same struggle as Esau and Jacob
Two peoples
Two mentalities
Twins in the inner man
Let us consider first: Esau
Esau
Let’s trace the Generations from Esau
And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau.
שֵׂעָר (śē·ʿār):
Hair
8552 שֵׂעָר (śē·ʿār): n.masc.; ≡ Str 8181; TWOT 2274a—LN 8.12 hair, i.e., a collective of slender, thread-like outgrowth on the skin of an animal or human (Ge 25:25; Lev 13:3, 4, 10, 20, 21, 25, 26, 30, 31, 32, 36, 37; 14:8, 9; Nu 6:5, 18; Jdg 16:22; 2Sa 14:26; 2Ki 1:8; Ezr 9:3; Ps 68:22[EB 21]; SS 4:1; 6:5; Isa 7:20; Eze 16:7; Zec 13:4+), note: for products of the body, see LN 8.70–8.771
1 James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
Red and Hairy (Seir) [seyer]
Word play because Seir also means Red
Esau is the same as Seir =
And command the people, saying, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brethren, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. Therefore watch yourselves carefully.
ESAU
עֵשָׂו (ʿē·śāw)
6916 עֵשָׂו (ʿē·śāw): n.pr.; ≡ Str 6215;—LN 93-pers. 1.(male) Esau: son of Isaac-Rebekah (Ge 25:22) 2. (gent.) a people descended from 1, inhabiting the area of Esau(Dt 2:4), see 6916.5
עֵשָׂו (ʿē·śāw): n.pr.; ≡ Str 6215;—LN 93-place (loc.) Esau: area S of the Dead Sea, also known as Edom or Seir (Jer 49:10), see also 121.5, 6916, 85411
1 James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
He was also called Edom = Red
And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom.
137 אָדֹם (ʾā·ḏōm): adj.; ≡ Str 122; TWOT 26b—LN 79.26–79.38 red, i.e., pertaining to the color which varies from deep wine-grape juice to a more brownish red dirt color, varying according to the object described (Ge 25:30; Nu 19:2; 2Ki 3:22; Isa 63:2; Zec 1:8; 6:2+); ruddy, i.e., a tone of the skin considered attractive and healthy (SS 5:10+)
אָדֹם (ʾā·ḏōm) BDB: see 1311
1 James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
Esau was intensely drawn to red
The Talmud explains this is the day that Abraham died on that day and that Jacob was preparing a meal to mourn: with red lentils
But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”
And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?”
Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Jacob did not steal Esau’s birth right
A birthright cannot be stolen - it can only be given
Esau exchanged the legacy of the generations for the comfort of food
There was no shortage of food for Esau - he was a hunter -something his father loved
And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
GAME = צַיִד (ṣǎ·yiḏ)
7473 I. צַיִד (ṣǎ·yiḏ): n.masc.; ≡ Str 6718; TWOT 1885a, 1886a—1. LN 4.1–4.37 wild game, i.e., animals, as the object of the hunter’s pursuit, which must be hunted in contrast to domestic animals (Ge 25:28; 27:3, 5, 7, 19, 25, 31, 33; Lev 17:13; Pr 12:27+), note: for Ge 27:3 Q, see 7476; 2. LN 44 hunting, i.e., the act. of pursuing wild game (Ge 10:9; 25:27; 27:30+)1
1 James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
Game does not mean meat. It means prey.
Esau killed like Nimrod (rebellion)
He had blood in his hands
Affinity with blood
He settled in Edom - red soil
Esau is the grandfather of Amalek
The sons of Esau were Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah.
Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau’s son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife.
Chief Korah, Chief Gatam, and Chief Amalek. These were the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They were the sons of Adah.
The Amalekites the first group to become hostile against Jacob.
The first group to attack Jacob in the wilderness
“Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt,
how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God.
Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt.
Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”
Even God sworn He will have war with the Amalekites
for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
The conflict between Esau and Jacob did not end there.
It continued for millennia.
At the time of King Saul of Israel, the king of the Amalekites was a fierce enemy of Israel.
Saul’s refusal to totally annihilate the Amalekites costs him his kingdom.
It is the most serious sin = rebellion
Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”
He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.
Haman was promoted to prime minister in the Persian empire, during the reign of King Ahasuerus (also known as the persecutor of the Jews),. Haman is a descendent of Esau, as he is a descendant of king Agag.
After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.
He drafted a decree to kill all descendants of Israel.
Jacob’s descendants
But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai.
Most famous Edomite, descendant of Esau, King Herod The great . Herod (400- 1 BC)
Rebuilds the temple: The Fortress of Antonia
known for the cruel treatment of the Hebrew people.
He is the person from where the Herodians come from.
Herod compromises with Rome
Roman empire arrives in Israel in 63 BC with the Roman general Pompey - 135 years later the temple is in ruins.
The Macabees had been successful until this time, and after their revolt in 165 BC
Jewish had enjoyed the victory over Greece.
Although Hellenism remained highly influential over Jewish culture.
The Hasmonean dynasty was in complete dysfunction.
The Romans came and introduce pagan worship in the temple.
2 Decades later a man by the name of Herod appears. Although a Jew, his father was an Adomite.
To make sure there was no issue with the Hasmoneans, he went into a killing spree: His wife, mother in law, two sons, and the Hasmonean king Hyrcanus II.
Herod pushed the ideal of Hellenism - and promoted the Greek culture.
Assimilation was eminent.
He was a builder too.
The only thing standing of what he built is the wall in Jerusalem.
The Herodians were also known as the Boethusians.
Theologically they were in agreement with the Sadducees, but politically they were more pro-Herodian than the Sadducees.
While the Pharisees looked for a cataclysmic messianic kingdom to remove the present Herodian rule1
1 Harold W. Hoehner, “Herodians,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 973.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
Signature colour of the Roman empire was Red - reflective of Esau
The Roman uniform and shield were also red - some Jewish historians connect the founding of Rome with Esau
We recognize the struggle of Esau and Jacob in the relationship between Yeshua’s followers and Rome
The early Roman council outlawed the Sabbath Biblical Feasts - History of early believers. They wanted to severe believers from their Biblical Hebrew roots
The Spirit of Esau attempted to uproot Jacob from the early believers and from the Biblical Hebrew Roots
In the 20th Century, Hitler, with the 3rd reich - the third arising of the Roman Empire -through Arian ideology, and a red flag, in connection with Rome, with the colour of Esau we see the pattern. In Hitler’s world, Jewish people were not able to live or be part of. The Roman Empire, Hitler and the Spirit of Esau made Jacob’s descendants their prey.
Now Jacob
Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
The word for heel
עָקֵב (ʿā·qēḇ)
from an unused word; heel, footprint, hind part:—footprints(1), footsteps(1), heel(4), heels(3), hoofs(1), rear guard(1), steps(1), trail(1).1
1 Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).
The name Jacob comes from aqeb - it means to hold to trap someone, or taken by the heel
The holding on to the heel is also expressed in Job
The net takes him by the heel, And a snare lays hold of him.
After introducing Esau and Jacob the very next chapter - 26, introduces blessings.
Blessings and wells of water are connected and relate to the history of Isaac, because his father Abraham kept the Torah.
The Almighty is speaking to Isaac and says
because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
Law = Torah
Torah is a symbol of water or a well of water
Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As raindrops on the tender herb, And as showers on the grass.
Unfortunately, the wells of water had been taken over by the Philistines and had been stopped up. Filled with earth by the Philistines
Now the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they had filled them with earth.
The root word for well is biel:
באר (beil) - to explain or to make plain
באר Piel: to explain (comp. באר היטב very plainly, Deut. 27:8).—מבואר fully explained.1
1 Abraham Ibn Ezra, The Commentary of Ibn Ezra on Isaiah with Notes and Glossary, ed. M. Friedlaender, vol. 3, Publications of the Society of Hebrew Literature (London: Trübner & Co., 1877), 9.
Distinct and clear
And you shall write very plainly on the stones all the words of this law.”
The condition to the well in Genesis 26:15 makes it clear that the wells of Isaac’s father are not distinct and clear in manner, the are not making things plain.
Now the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they had filled them with earth.
The wells were not longer useful. These closed wells were a reflection of Isaac
Isaac’s eyes were stopped up - his eyes drew dimmed
Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.” And he answered him, “Here I am.”
Isaac could not see in a clear and distinct manner.
In other words, Isaac could not longer see the fountain of Torah his father Abraham enjoyed.
Isaac’s blindness occurred when the well of water, the well of Torah was stopped at his home
This is not the only example in the Bible of this type of event
And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.
Then the Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field.
And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.”
So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
Again the word of God not being spread out will be an equivalent picture of the well not producing clear water any more.
It is the picture of becoming blind
So for Isaac, the teaching which have been plain and distinct for Abraham, these teachings would have been filled in, causing blindness in Isaac.
Isaac’s blindness was not only physical but he was blind to the true nature and character of Esau.
He was too blind to see that Jacob was the true heir and the divinely chosen vessel, for the traditions and blessings of Abraham.
He was too blind to perceive the will of the Almighty in this issue.
Isaac was also unable to see the responsibilities that fall on the first born
The first born must be willing the lay down his life for others or to preserve the Torah
For example,
Consider a military unit - if defeated and they need to surrender, the highest official, with the highest rank is willing to go and surrender himself (with the potential to die) so that others may live.
The same idea in the battle between David and Goliath when fighting the Philistines.
Yesua said this..
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
It is very doubtful that Esau would lay down his life for others when he was more interested in catching the prey and satisfy his soul’s desires.
Esau enjoyed bringing game to his father as his father, Isaac shows us in:
Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me.
And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”
But Esau despised his birth right:
And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Isaac nearly gave the kingdom to Esau, consequently to Amalek and the Roman empire
But what about the lie?
What about Rebekah asking Jacob to lie?
Rebekah assisted Jacob and Isaac to preserve the kingdom
She is the one aware of what is happening.
She is the one who is able to see:
So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying,
‘Bring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.’
She tells her son Jacob:
Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you.
But Jacob questions his mother and is concerned of being seen as a deceiver:
And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth-skinned man.
Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be a deceiver to him; and I shall bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.”
Rebekah continues to insist on Jacob obeying her
But his mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me.”
How was Rebekah so sure of her decision to lead her son into this deception?
Or was this really a deception, or the work that needed to happen for the Kingdom of God?
She heard the Lord’s plan back in Genesis 25
But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.
And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”
So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb.
She heard the Lord
She had been anointed for this task
And they blessed Rebekah and said to her: “Our sister, may you become The mother of thousands of ten thousands; And may your descendants possess The gates of those who hate them.”
She knew the blessing was for Jacob
And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth-skinned man.
Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be a deceiver to him; and I shall bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.”
But his mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me.”
3- Possible Hebrew Exegesis
Chizkuni, Genesis 27:13:1
FIRST
עלי קללתך בני, “neither you nor I need worry as I am certain that what G-d has told me before the two of you have been born will come true. So I can safely say that I will absorb any curse you might be cursed with.
SECOND
”A different exegesis: Rivkah meant that even if Yitzchok (Isaac) would subject Yaakov (Jacob) to a “touchtest” in order to assure himself that he was Esau, he would never curse him, as he would realize that you would never have tried to deceive him if I had not put you up to this charade. If he would curse anyone, he would curse me.
THIRD
”A third possible exegesis of this line: the curse would backfire on me; why would he curse someone who had brought him such tasty food? Our author uses the line על עמך ברכתך, “Your blessing be upon Your people” in Psalms 3:8 as a comparison. [The curse in that context would befall the people mentioned in the previous verse (Esau). Ed.] You would only become cursed if you refused to carry out what I command you (ESAU). Listen to me and go and get me the goats.
Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah
The blessing came with the Torah
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Therefore may God give you Of the dew of heaven, Of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and wine.
Let peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, And let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, And blessed be those who bless you!”
Think about these two verses:
How did Jacob’s deception end up being given a blessing?
Does God bless deceit?
Here is a Biblical principle
A blessing is an opportunity to grow into Almighty purpose and character. A blessing is not earned. It comes because of what we are called to do in the Kingdom
The act of blessing is prophetic: One who prays a blessing for a persons envisions the future of the person who is being blessed.
And the words of the person who is praying become the conduit for the blessing.
None of us deserves the blessing, but the Father extends the blessing before we deserve it.
Upon giving the blessing, The Father does not qualify the recipient based on performance, achievements, education or character traits, but rather He looks on the heart and the future opportunities to use the blessing.
Blessing is never for a single person, not for their benefit alone, but for the purpose of building the Kingdom.
The Father already knows His vessel and how they will contain and use the blessing.
Example;
Moses: God calls Moses from a burning bush to blessing with power and leadership, but Moses was not sure:
Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
Moses is reluctant at the beginning. He had done nothing to deserve this blessing
Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’ ”
Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
It wasn’t until Moses accepted the call that he was able to receive these blessings, and that his real work for the Kingdom began. For the next 40 years he proved himself worthy of the trust of God in his calling.
Jacob did not deserve the blessing either, but he had proved himself to be equal to the blessing he received through his actions
So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents.
He took his brother by the heel in the womb, And in his strength he struggled with God.
By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;
For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Jacob wanted to spend time with God, and tabernacle with Him, even when he struggles. He was not willing to give up
Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.”
And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”
Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it.
And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously.
By refusing to give up, Jacob proves himself to be worthy of the blessings of the first born.
The same happened when his sons went to Egypt, he was also willing to go to Egypt with them- thus behaving as the first born.
So what seems a deceit, and weak, finishes strong - giving glory to the Father
When working for his uncle Laban, he also never gave up.
He was willing to stand for the responsibility with which he was charged.
Paul explains it like this:
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Jacob hang on to the first born blessing and behave as worthy of the grace of God.
All this is to show that the God of Israel was faithful.
That the God of Jacob is faithful.
He was a worthy vessel to receive the name change, as we also receive a change of our character when He calls us.
Israel continues to be the first born of God
“I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles,
Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
God has put His footprint on Israel
Israel has defended the Torah with their lives
Israel continues to stand strong for the Land
Closing
Closing
https://youtu.be/Fa9E1X6NybE
Shabbat Shalom