The Torah portions page is updated with relevant NT scripture for tomorrow's study! See you then!
(Sorry I'm so late, it's been a very busy week.)
https://firstcenturychristiani....ty.net/torah-portion
Jacob paid the bride prices for Leah and Rachel through fourteen years of labor, but Laban didn't give a dowry in return. In fact, he tried to cheat Jacob out of even more labor. This could have made Leah and Rachel into purchased concubines if not for divine intervention. God extracted Leah's and Rachel's dowries from Laban without his cooperation by transferring much of his livestock to Jacob.
I have heard that Abraham and Isaac represent two poles on a continuum of love/justice with Abraham at the extreme of Love and Isaac at the extreme of Justice. Jacob had the balanced character required to deal with Laban.
Genesis 31:42 + Matthew 10:16
Those nations which host Israel are blessed by God. So long as they recognize the source of their blessing, it will continue. If they forget and mistreat Israel, they will forfeit their blessing to Israel. Like Laban and Egypt. Israel walked away from both with great wealth, while their former oppressors lost their wealth, gods, and children.
Patterns, patterns, and patterns.
https://www.youtube.com/live/t....vmjfYWu7vY?si=zxsMUN