This time of year many people like to review the last 12 months to see all of the events that have changed our world. Some events have helped to improve mankind and some have caused major conflict. Isaiah 43;19, “Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” This world was not created to be static and boring, it is designed to be dynamic and exciting. Believers should influence change for the Creator’s purpose and use good to overcome evil.

SERIES B --- A CHOSEN PEOPLE -- LESSON 3 --- PART 2

COMMENTARY

LABAN’S FAMILY

Jacob fled to the homeland of his mother. There the first relative he met was Rachel, a young shepherdess who would become his wife. Laban’s family was related to the descendants of Abraham through Terah, their common ancestor. This bond was made even stronger by marriage between family members. Two successive generations of Laban’s family married into the line of Abraham. Rebekah, Laban’s sister, married Isaac; his daughters, Rachel and Leah, married Jacob. Through their children Laban became a member of Israel’s family tree.

GRANDFATHER: NAHOR

Nahor was the second of Terah’s three sons. Like his brothers, Abraham and Haran, he was born in the Mesopotamian city of Ur. Following the custom of the ancient Near East, Nahor married his niece, Milcah. She bore him eight children. The youngest of the eight, Bethuel, became the father of Laban.

GRANDMOTHER: MILCAH

Milcah, Nahor’s wife, was the daughter of Haran. Her name comes from the Semitic word for queen. Although the Bible says very little about Laban’s grandmother, it is known that she held a position of respect in the ancient world. The mother of eight sons, she would be greatly honoured by all who knew her.

FATHER: BETHUEL

Bethuel, Nahor’s youngest son, was the father of Laban and Rebekah. He was living in Padan-aram with his son and daughter when Eliezer arrived in search of a bride for his master’s son. Since Abraham’s command was carried out so easily, the union seemed especially blessed, and Bethuel willingly consented to Rebekah’s marriage to Isaac.

SISTER: REBEKAH

Rebekah, Laban’s younger sister, grew up in Padan-aram, but she spent most of her life in Canaan following her marriage to Isaac. Although Rebekah was a beautiful young woman and admired by kings, she remained childless for a very long time. But after twenty years of waiting, she gave birth to her twin sons Jacob and Esau.

BROTHER-IN-LAW: ISAAC

Isaac was Laban’s brother-in-law, but the Bible never mentions a meeting between the two. Isaac’s marriage to Laban’s sister was arranged for him by Eliezer, his father’s trusted servant.

DAUGHTER: LEAH

Leah was the oldest of Laban’s daughters, but she was not as pretty as Rachel, her younger sister. Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah instead of Rachel. Although she bore him one daughter and six sons, Leah always took second place to Rachel in Jacob’s feelings.

DAUGHTER: RACHEL

Jacob fell in love with Rachel at first sight. For seven years he worked to earn the privilege of marrying her. But on Rachel’s wedding day Laban substituted Leah, her older sister. Rachel did not trust her father’s promises after that deception. When she left Padan-aram she stole her father’s household YHVHs. As long as they remained in her possession, Laban could not withhold her rightful inheritance.

NEPHEW: JACOB

Although Jacob served his uncle for twenty years, the two men mistrusted one another. Laban accused his nephew of stealing his household YHVHs while Jacob charged the older man with deception and dishonesty as an employer. They established a wary peace at Mizpah and set up a marker as a witness to their truce.

NEPHEW: ESAU

Unlike his brother Jacob, Esau did not marry a woman from his own family. He settled in Edom with his Canaanite wives, far from his uncle Laban in Padan-aram. To our knowledge, Esau never met Laban.

GRANDCHILDREN

Eleven of Jacob’s twelve sons were born during the years he spent in Padan-aram. Benjamin, Rachel’s youngest son, was the only child who never knew his maternal grandfather. The older children said good-bye to Laban at Mizpah before continuing their journey to Canaan.

SERIES B --- A CHOSEN PEOPLE -- LESSON 3 --- PART 1

RACHEL

AT THE WELL OF HARAN

From Genesis 29

From Bethel, Jacob continued his journey to the Land of the East, the land of Padan-aram. Beside a well in an open field, he saw three flocks of sheep waiting to be watered. It was the custom of the shepherds of that land to wait until all of them had gathered at the well with their flocks before rolling away the large stone and drawing water for the sheep. When the flocks were watered, the stone was rolled back to its place over the well. Hello! Jacob called to the shepherds who were waiting by the well. Where do you live? At Haran, they answered. Then you must know Laban, the son of Nahor. Of course. We know him well. Is everything well with him? Things are very well with him. By the way, here comes his daughter Rachel with their sheep. But why are you waiting here in the middle of the day? Why don’t you water your sheep so they can graze again? We don’t do it that way, the shepherds answered. We wait until all the shepherds have come with their sheep so they can help us roll the stone from the mouth of the well. Then we water our sheep. While Jacob was talking with the shepherds, Rachel came up with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. When Jacob saw his cousin Rachel and his uncle Laban’s sheep, he rolled the stone from the well and watered Laban’s flocks. With tears in his eyes, Jacob kissed his cousin Rachel and told her how they were related, that his mother, Rebekah, was her aunt. Rachel ran immediately and told her father the news. When Laban heard about Jacob, he ran out to meet him, threw his arms around Jacob, and gave him a kiss. Laban invited Jacob back to his home, where Jacob told his uncle all about his trip. Well, here you are, said Laban, my own bone and flesh! Jacob stayed with Laban about a month. One day Laban approached Jacob about his work. Just because we are related, you shouldn’t work for me for nothing, he said. What kind of wages would you like? Your daughter Rachel, Jacob answered. I’ll work for you seven years if I can marry her. Now there were two daughters in Laban’s family. The older was Leah. She had beautiful eyes but little more than that. Her younger sister, Rachel, was beautiful in every way. Rachel was the one Jacob loved, so he offered to work for the right to marry her. I’d rather have her marry you than a stranger, said Laban. I accept your offer. For the next seven years Jacob served Laban so that he could marry Rachel. The time passed so quickly that the seven years seemed but a few days. I’ve completed my part of our bargain, Jacob told Laban one day. Let me marry Rachel now so that we may live together. Laban had a big feast and invited all of the men in that place to celebrate. Later that night, he presented the new bride to Jacob. She was veiled so Jacob could not recognize her. With the new bride, Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to be her maid. But when morning came, Jacob discovered that his new bride was not Rachel, but Leah. Immediately he went to find Laban. What have you done to me? Jacob demanded. Didn’t I work seven years for you to get Rachel? Why have you tricked me in this way? We have a custom here that the oldest sister must marry first, said Laban. Now finish your bridal week with Leah and then you can marry Rachel right away. However, you must promise to work for me another seven years. Jacob spent the rest of the week with Leah. Then he married Rachel. Laban gave Rachel his maid Bilhah to be her maid. Trees are scarce and lumber precious in the area near Haran. Most villagers build their homes out of sun-dried mud bricks just as their ancestors did before them. Sheep and goats graze together in the fields of Haran. Although the vegetation is sparse, the herds are free to wander over many miles of unbroken plain. While Jacob served Laban for another seven years, he lived with both Rachel and Leah, hut he loved Rachel more than Leah. YHVH felt sorry for Leah because Jacob did not love her and gave her a child, but Rachel had none. Leah named her new son Reuben, which meant Look! A Son! Since YHVH has looked upon my trouble, perhaps Jacob will love me more, she said. Later, Leah had another son and named him Simeon, which meant -- Heard. YHVH has heard how I am unloved, she said, so He has given me another son. Once more, Leah had a son. Surely Jacob will love me now, she said, For I have given him three sons. So, she named this boy Levi. Later, a fourth son was born to Leah. I will give praise to Adonai, she said, and she named the boy Judah, which meant Praise. Then, for a while, Leah had no more children.

Thought for Today: Sunday December 11:

You are a priceless vessel of the Love YHVH wants the world to see – may you take very opportunity He gives you to express it. May the blessings of Adonai be upon you, dwell in you and flow through you today.

Being all alone in the universe is scary. The good news is that we are not alone: there is a Creator Who wants to dwell with us. However, it’s still scary when we realize there’s a long, painful process involved in becoming the precious vessels He designed for His dwelling.


https://thebarkingfox.com/2021..../11/20/bruises-in-pe

 

thebarkingfox.com

Bruises in Perspective - The Barking Fox

Being all alone in the universe is scary. The good news is that we are not alone: there is a Creator Who wants to dwell with us. However, it’s still scary when we realize there’s a long, painful process involved in becoming the precious vessels He de

Search until you have found the truth
And then search some more.

Those who are closest to the truth
Are also often the farthest from it.

#proverbs

Bitcoin satisfies Deuteronomy 25:13-15.
#bitcoin #bible #scripture

SERIES B --- A CHOSEN PEOPLE --- LESSON 2

BETHEL

THE LADDER OF HEAVEN

From Genesis 28

After Rebekah warned Isaac that Jacob might marry a Hittite girl, the old man became concerned about his son and called him in to have a talk with him. [You must not marry a Canaanite girl,] Isaac urged. [Go to Padan-aram where your grandfather Bethuel’s family lives. Choose a daughter of Laban, your mother’s brother, and marry her. Adonai will bless you and give you a large family and you will become the head of a great nation with many tribes. May Adonai also give you the same blessings that He gave to Abraham and his family. May you some day possess this land where we now live, for YHVH gave it to Abraham.] With this blessing, Isaac sent Jacob away to Padan-aram, to visit Rebekah’s brother Laban, the son of Bethuel the Aramean. Before long, Esau heard what Isaac had done and realized that it would please the old man if his sons married distant relatives instead of foreigners. Although Esau already had foreign wives, he married Ishmael’s daughter Mahalath, who was Abraham’s granddaughter and the sister of Nebaioth. Leaving Beer-sheha, Jacob journeyed toward Haran. By sunset he had arrived at a good place to stop and set up camp for the night. As he lay down to sleep, he took a stone and placed it under his head for a pillow. That night Jacob dreamed of a ladder that was set up between heaven and earth. Angels of YHVH walked up and down the ladder and YHVH Himself stood above it. [I am Adonai, the YHVH of your grandfather Abraham and your father Isaac. The land where you are lying is My gift to you and your descendants. They will be as numerous as the dust on the earth, covering the land from west to east and from north to south, and by you and your descendants shall all nations of the world be blessed. I will go with you and take care of you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. I will stay with you until I have fulfilled all My promises to you.] Jacob woke up suddenly and said, [Adonai is here in this place and I did not realize it. I have walked into YHVH’s home, the gateway to heaven. What an awesome place it is!] Early the next morning, Jacob arose and set up the stone on which he slept as a memorial pillar, pouring olive oil on it to dedicate it. Then he named the place Bethel, [The House of YHVH,] although it had previously been called Luz. Jacob made a vow that morning. [If YHVH will go with me on my journey, and take care of me and give me food and clothing so that I may return safely to my father’s home, then Adonai shall be my YHVH. This stone will become a house of YHVH, and of all that Adonai gives me, I will give back a tenth to Him.]

COMMENTARY

TRAVEL AND TRADE ROUTES

Jacob was forced to flee from the anger of his brother Esau. Night overtook him on a barren hill. He slept there, lonely and afraid. But that night YHVH spoke to Jacob in a dream. The old promises were reaffirmed, and YHVH added, [I will go with you and take care of you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land.] Jacob named that hill Bethel: The House of YHVH. Travel was slow in Old Testament times. Rocky ground and deep ruts made wheeled wagons impossible for long trips, and people walked or rode on surefooted donkeys and long-legged camels instead. Ancient roads cut an irregular course through Palestine. They had to follow the easiest route, and so they went around mountains and cut across open plains. Sometimes the road divided in two; a summer and a winter route. The summer route might be more direct, but floods caused by winter rains forced travellers to take the higher route, which stayed dry. Two main highways carried international traffic through Palestine. The Via Maris [Way of the Sea] ran from north to south along the Mediterranean coast. Another north-south road, the king’s highway, crossed the plateau between the Jordan River and the desert. Merchant caravans followed these routes through Palestine as they went between Egypt and Mesopotamia. Finding water was a constant concern for long-distance travellers. A spring or river became a regular stopping place for merchant caravans. As time passed, these stopping points grew into important centres of trade along the major highways. But water could be a barrier as well as a blessing. There were no permanent bridges across the rivers, and travellers had to wade through the water. Caravans were often forced to make long detours before they found a shallow place to cross. The desert was the greatest barrier of all to travel. The major highways went along its borders, following a course that added many extra miles to the journey between east and west. Few travellers tried to cross its endless stretches of dry wasteland. They preferred more miles to the possibility of death in the desert. Travelling merchants arrive in the city marketplace with their goods balanced on the backs of donkeys and camels. These seasoned travellers were accustomed to the dangers of the road.

Good advice for women
#women #femininity #patriarchy