Karma vs. Sovereign Grace
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Jacob at the Well v. 1-14
The New American Commentary: Genesis 11:27–50:26 5. Laban Deceives Jacob (29:1–30)
This passage introduces the account of Jacob’s life in Paddan Aram, where he will remain for twenty years, obtaining family and wealth
Returns to Abe’s original homeland (yellow side of sanctuary).
Following Jacob’s ladder assuring him that God will be with him. Bethel is not just in that place. But God’s presence in now way means all will be easy, or free of human sin and folly.
Following Jacob’s ladder assuring him that God will be with him. Bethel is not just in that place. But God’s presence in now way means all will be easy, or free of human sin and folly.
Nothing is random (no Karma), everything is under God’s sovereign grace.
God uses means he hates but is always orchestrating a perfect plan, even in the midst of human sin and folly
God uses means he hates but is always orchestrating a perfect plan, even in the midst of human sin and folly
Genesis: An Introduction and Commentary Jacob and the Daughters of Laban (29:1–30)
The words, behold, it was Leah, are the very embodiment of anticlimax, and this moment a miniature of man’s disillusion, experienced from Eden onwards.
Yet the story reveals that God, not Laban, had the last word. The deceiver Jacob was deceived, and the despised Leah was exalted to become the mother of, among others, the priestly and kingly tribes of Levi and Judah.
Marrying sisters was later forbidden when the law was given for obvious reasons:
seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
In we have honest history, not correcting it based on the later time it was written.
These stories are strange to us, but we need a voice from another time and place and also to see that human nature is still the same.
Genesis: An Introduction and Commentary Jacob and the Daughters of Laban (29:1–30)
The words, behold, it was Leah, are the very embodiment of anticlimax, and this moment a miniature of man’s disillusion, experienced from Eden onwards.
Yet the story reveals that God, not Laban, had the last word. The deceiver Jacob was deceived, and the despised Leah was exalted to become the mother of, among others, the priestly and kingly tribes of Levi and Judah.
And he blessed Joseph and said,
“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;
and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
Mathews, K. A. (2005). (Vol. 1B, p. 455). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
2. Sin always disappoints
It’s always Leah in the morning
48:15–16
“weak eyes” = vision or color, perhaps eye condition (crossed or bulging), = not beautiful like Rachel.
God creates and uses beauty and man idolizes it.
Our greatest strengths easily become our greatest weaknesses
he knows how to present his actions to the best advantage, capping the feat of strength with one of service, and this in turn with the dramatic announcement. It is a superb entry
God disciplines the ones he loves
In Laban Jacob met his match and his means of discipline. Twenty years (31:41) of drudgery and friction were to weather his character; and the reader can reflect that presumably Jacob is not the only person to have needed a Laban in his life. Through this man he also drank deeply of his own medicine of duplicity; yet even as the loser he displayed qualities that were lacking in Esau. The tenacity that showed at his birth and, supremely, at Peniel, enabled him to regard the defeat over Rachel as only a setback. By staying the course he was to win a greater prize than he yet knew.
In Laban Jacob met his match and his means of discipline. Twenty years (31:41) of drudgery and friction were to weather his character; and the reader can reflect that presumably Jacob is not the only person to have needed a Laban in his life. Through this man he also drank deeply of his own medicine of duplicity; yet even as the loser he displayed qualities that were lacking in Esau. The tenacity that showed at his birth and, supremely, at Peniel, enabled him to regard the defeat over Rachel as only a setback. By staying the course he was to win a greater prize than he yet knew.
he knows how to present his actions to the best advantage, capping the feat of strength with one of service, and this in turn with the dramatic announcement. It is a superb entry
Kidner, D.
Laban: Deceived the deceiver. He saw that Jacob was desperate, like Esau
Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?”
He prompted the request and planned to only pay for one wedding feast and married off both his daughters.
Jacob did not use Rachel’s name which opened the door even more for Laban to deceive.
7 Years, but more than worth it for Jacob.
7 Years, but more than worth it for Jacob.
Gen
7 Years, but more than worth it for Jacob.
Laban exploited Jacob’s weakness and idolatry.
He never really gave consent but appeared to. “it would be better. . .”
Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.
he knows how to present his actions to the best advantage, capping the feat of strength with one of service, and this in turn with the dramatic announcement. It is a superb entry
Let’s be people of integrity who mean what we say and say what we mean. Right down to “I don’t really care where we go for dinner”. When you really do!!
We live in a world that wants to exploit you, financially, morally, with your time, resources, sexuality. Exploitation of all the gifts God has given you—we need to live for his glory and we will love innocent as doves and shrewd as serpents. Live in freedom from exploitation because you are living for what really lasts.
Store up your treasures in heaven . . .
Seek first the Kingdom of God . . .
3. God loves the outcast
4. God loves the outcast
In Laban Jacob met his match and his means of discipline. Twenty years (31:41) of drudgery and friction were to weather his character; and the reader can reflect that presumably Jacob is not the only person to have needed a Laban in his life.
Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
Kidner, D.
Through this man he also drank deeply of his own medicine of duplicity; yet even as the loser he displayed qualities that were lacking in Esau. The tenacity that showed at his birth and, supremely, at Peniel, enabled him to regard the defeat over Rachel as only a setback. By staying the course he was to win a greater prize than he yet knew.
Kidner, D.
The Problem
God loves the outcast
Genesis: An Introduction and Commentary Jacob and the Daughters of Laban (29:1–30)
Through this man he also drank deeply of his own medicine of duplicity; yet even as the loser he displayed qualities that were lacking in Esau. The tenacity that showed at his birth and, supremely, at Peniel, enabled him to regard the defeat over Rachel as only a setback. By staying the course he was to win a greater prize than he yet knew.