Genesis 28:10 to 32:3
Hosea 11:7 to 12:12
John 1:43-51
Jacob’s Life: Part Two
This Place
The last teaching closed with Jacob leaving his family as he fled his brother Esau’s wrath. As Jacob journeyed from Beersheba to his relatives, located east in Haran, he reached a “certain place” and stopped for the evening.
The place Jacob came to was in the mountains of Moriah, the same place where his grandfather Abraham offered up Isaac, Jacob’s father. We now have a picture of all three patriarchs coming to the altar.
Scripture records, “So he [Jacob] came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep.” (Genesis 28:11)
Would you be able to sleep on a stone? But this was no ordinary rock. The English translation of Genesis 28:11 can be very dry until we look at it through a Hebrew lens. This scripture is revealing to us that Jacob took his life and placed it on the same stone/altar as Isaac was sacrificed on. Jacob lay down his life, the soulical sinful fleshly side of his life, as an offering. The altar is The Rock Yeshua. “And on this rock I will build My church/ekklesia, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
It is here; at this place that a believer comes to give up his/her life in order to receive Yeshua’s indwelling life. It is:
- The place of intimacy
- The place of betrothal in Him
- The place where we enter into His Life.
Isaiah 58:13-14 "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of Yahweh honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in Yahweh; and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of Yahweh has spoken."
Luke 1:33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
1 Peter 2:1-10 “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”
The Dream
As Jacob lay his life down, Yahweh gave him a dream with divine purpose. Jacob saw a ladder resting on the earth reaching heavenward with angels, messengers of Yahweh that ascended and descended on it. This will be the same for us when we truly give up our life. Releasing bitterness, deceit and strife as Jacob did, will open up the window of heaven to us. (Genesis 28:10-12; John 1:51).
It encourages us to know that by acts of obedience to the covenant, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob offered themselves as holy acceptable offerings on the Rock. We know they went through many trials before this but it was not until they finally came to The Rock/altar that they saw heaven and the Kingdom Yahweh was speaking of. Even though He spoke this life continually over them, it was not until they came to the altar that they were able to see and desire to enter in. Seeing this, they now moved past the existence of the common world (Olam Hazeh), and reached for something not of this world (Olam Haba) because they knew it existed and believed in it more than what they saw around them. So sure where they in the Olam Haba they willing put their life on the altar and died (death to self) and in their death were resurrected back to life in the Olam Haba.
Because Abraham, Isaac and Jacob walked in this realm before us, we too (as believers) can meet with Yahweh face to face at the Rock/altar and fulfill His righteousness in us (the Olam Haba). Without the altar experience there is little if any life in Him. It is this Rock of offering (Yeshua) we are built on. There is no other. He is the very foundation of our lives. There is no other rock with which we build upon.
When we truly accept this in our hearts we will feel more and more comfortable meeting with Yahweh at the altar. It is here we will receive real peace and joy. When we are in this place we will no longer live a life of constant turmoil trying to control the things around us. Situations or the process others are in will no longer cause us anxiety or concern, as we know Yahweh has a handle on our lives and theirs. Yes, we care for them, but we will no longer ‘false burden bare’ as it is all in His care. Under covenant terms Yahweh must fulfill His side of the agreement. Understanding this, when we walk obedient in His ways, we will begin to rest in Him for our food and clothing, and our very sustenance just as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did.
1 Corinthians 3:10-17 “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ/Yeshua Ha Mashiach. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones,[the principles of the Kingdom or] wood, hay, straw [personal preference], each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”
Isaiah 44:8 “Do not fear, nor be afraid; have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there isno other Rock; I know not one.' "
1 Corinthians 10:3-4 “They all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Yeshua.”
With heaven opened up before Jacob, he saw Yahweh standing above the spiritual ladder. He spoke to Jacob saying, "I am Yahweh the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you." (Genesis 28:13-15)
When Jacob awoke he said, "Surely Yahweh is in this place, and I did not know it. How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of Yahweh, and this is the gate of heaven!"
Seeing the ladder and the angels, Jacob was given a rare glimpse into the heart of Yahweh. Yahweh confirmed the blessing of the firstborn upon Jacob and confirmed the Covenant of Abraham upon him. Jacob knew he had been given the keys to heaven. He recognized this and praised Yahweh, exclaiming “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven! And he called the name of that place Beth- El [the House of God]; but the name of that city had been Luz [also known as Jerusalem] previously.” (Genesis 28:17, 19).
The Stone
In scripture,
-
- Stone is the title for Yahweh (Genesis 49:24).
- Stone is also the title of the Messiah (Isaiah 28:16).
- Stone equates to rock and is also a title for Yeshua; He is the Rock that gives Life.
- As the children of Israel were taken out of Egypt and led into the wilderness, the Stone provided “living water.”
- The Word of Yahweh was written on stone tablets and the Messiah is the carrier and embodiment of this Word.
- Yahweh’s Word is the foundation we are to build our lives upon.
- This Stone (Messiah, the carrier of Yahweh’s Word/the Torah) the builders (called shepherds, pastors, teachers and rabbis) rejected.
- It was this rejected person Yeshua, the embodiment of the Word that became the capstone or corner stone.
- The Stone or Word (Yeshua) causes men to stumble and makes them fall because the Word/Yeshua shows up the condition of man’s hearts and disobedience of their ways (Genesis 49:24; Isaiah 28:16; 1 Corinthians 10:4; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6-8).
Matthew 16:18-19 “Jesus/Yeshua answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah [Peter], for flesh and blood has not revealed thisto you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock [Yeshua] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven [Olam Haba], and whatever you bind on earth [Olam Hazeh] will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
The Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven
Yeshua’s life in man gives him heavenly discernment and understanding to the realms of His Kingdom (613 commandments/principles) that build Yahweh’s kingdom (called keys to the Kingdom of Heaven). Living and serving in Yeshua’s Kingdom means knowing those realms and walking in them.
The keys of Yeshua’s heavenly Kingdom are to choose life; to walk in clean, not unclean; holy not unholy, and to keep His Sabbaths, Feast days/ moedim and New Moon/Rosh Chodesh celebrations (Ezekiel 44).
When believers freely walk in covenant, meeting with Yeshua at the altar of offering /the Place, theadversary must declare himself. If we walk in Yeshua’s principles He will be our advocate and our defense, we will walk in His authority and hold the keys to His Kingdom. Thus the altar of offering is both the place of death where the enemy is defeated and the place of resuscitation. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all defeated their adversaries ‘within’ themselves at the Rock – and resurrected as mighty men of God.
Genesis 22:17
In the giving of the covenant to Abraham, Yahweh declared "blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.”
The firstborn is a believer who is walking in Yahweh’s teaching and instruction and is one who has laid down his/her life at the altar (died to self – that which blocked and separated them from Yahweh’s life). It is these who will have their life redeemed back anew again. No enemy/accuser of the brethren will be able to stand when a believer walks in Yeshua’s Righteousness, as the Redeemed literally hold the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
The King of this Kingdom is Yeshua. He is called The Rock. To learn about these keys or realms of the Kingdom we must look into the instruction book He authored, the Word Yahweh gave to His people through Moses.
Binding and Loosing
A child of Yahweh who walks in obedience to the teaching and instruction of the King’s Kingdom, is in Hebrew understanding considered to be walking in Torah as they are one and the same. According to Scripture, if we walk in obedience to His Word [Olam Haba], this binds/forbids the enemy from touching our lives. If we miss the mark or walk outside the Kingdom found in Torah as in entertaining bitterness or accusation [Olam Hazeh], this looses the enemy to come against us. Obedience to Yahweh’s Word brings the blessings.
Yeshua appointed Peter to be an overseer or judge to teach and guide the people in the realms of the Kingdom after Yeshua left.
The rock Yeshua was speaking of when he said “on this rock I will build my ekklesia” (assembly), was not about Peter, but that Peter (and anyone else seeking the Kingdom) would build their life on the Rock – the Word of Yahweh - Yeshua Himself. He is the rock we are to build on. The Patriarch’s are our model. Yeshua has given us the “KEYS” to build our house upon The Rock, for all the “building plans” we need are written about in the Torah and confirmed in the New Testament/Brit Chadasha (Ezekiel 43:10-12; Matthew 7:24-27; Acts 15:1- 31;1 Corinthians 3:9-17).
The Tree Of Life or The Tree Of Knowledge Of Good And Evil
There is a difference between the two trees: The Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. One brings life and the other brings death. One is life in the Spirit of Yahweh in the Heavenly nature (Olam Haba) and the other is life of the common world open to sin (Olam Hazeh). Both will always be in our life, as they were in the midst of the Garden, Yahweh has purpose in them in that we must choose each day which we will serve: life or death.
If we as believers in Yeshua, still have these unclean characteristics operating in our lives such as sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery; idolatry witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy and drunkenness, malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, this reveals we have not believed in His word/covenant nor met Him at the altar as we have yet to obey Him and allow Messiah to rule and reign in our hearts. These characteristics belong to the realm that brings death (The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil). We are told to take these unclean characteristics and behaviors off as they bind us to the enemy. We need to be set free by taking responsibility for these iniquities and /or transgressions (sins), by repenting at the altar and allow the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh to circumcise our hearts. (Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Peter 2:1).
We are to put on that which brings life (The Tree of Life). When we offer our lives as a living sacrifice the fruit of the Spirit will be the evidence operating in our lives. The characteristics of Spirit Life in us are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law [no lawlessness]. And those who are Messiah’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires [that war inside against our spirits]. If we live in the Spirit [of Yahweh], let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:22-26). By this fruit we know we truly have surrendered our life to Yeshua.
Hebrews 6:4-6 “For it is impossible for those [believers] who were once enlightened [walked in the realms of Yeshua’s Kingdom/covenant], and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, [that] if they fall away [habitually sin/eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil], to renew them [self] again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”
Being in Messiah (Yeshua) means we are obedient to walking in His Word. Being in Yeshua also means we too, are called living stones.
Christians have stumbled over the written Torah, while Jews have stumbled over the Living Torah. Believers are coming to know and understand whom Torah is, and as we do we become one new man in Him (Yeshua) as the prophets have declared.
Ephesians 2:13-20 “But now in Yeshua Messiah you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Yeshua. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two [two groups: House of Judah and the House of Israel], thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of, Yahweh having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Yeshua, Messiah Himself being the chief cornerstone.”
The Ladder
Yeshua is the ladder between heaven and earth. The ladder to heaven that Jacob saw had one end planted, established on earth, with its top or head reaching to heaven. This is a picture of the Messiah, the flesh of Yahweh, as Yeshua himself declared to his disciples, “Verily, verily, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of Elohim ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” The “ladder” between heaven and earth is the body of Messiah, a picture of His sacrifice on our behalf at His crucifixion when He was suspended between heaven and earth (John 1: 1, 14, 43-51; Galatians 3:13).
The ladder also represents the Tree of Life. As the Tree of Life, Yeshua is the head of the assembly of believers (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23). The Jewish sages say that Jacob’s ladder is Torah. The Torah is the pathway of righteousness leading to a deeper walk with Yahweh in his heavenly kingdom (Matthew 19:16-19). The Rabbis say that the ladder (Torah) is a bridge from heaven to earth. In the same way, Yeshua, the Living Torah or the Word of Yahweh made flesh is called: The Way, The Truth and The Life - the Way to the Father; the Way of Salvation; the Source of Eternal Life; and the One who redeems man and reconciles him to the Father through His Body, “the Ladder”.
As Yahweh stood above the ladder to heaven, He pronounced the blessing of Abraham onto Jacob. Because Jacob offered himself upon the Stone, his descendants would indeed receive the land he was laying upon. His descendants would be so numerous they would stretch out to the west, east, north and south. All people on earth would be blessed through Jacob’s offspring. Yahweh promised to always watch over the people of Jacob wherever they were and to bring them back to the Promised Land. This is a promise for us today. Those who follow the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will never be forsaken or neglected. He will watch over until He has fulfilled His promise to us! (Genesis 28:13-15)
We are told in Hebrews that Jacob never received this promise in his lifetime, nor did Abraham or Isaac. “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth” (Hebrews 11:13). As our Fathers were able to move past their own personal fears and stand on Yahweh’s promises, they understood that it was not for their day but for their future generations, that is why they willingly gave up their lives to Yahweh.
Who are the promised children of the Patriarchs? Who are the children who received the Covenant of Promise?
Heirs According to the Promise
“If you belong to Yeshua, then you are Abraham’s seed [physical], and heirs [of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob] according to the promise [Abraham’s Covenant]” (Galatians 3:29).
Those who believe in the Messiah are the heirs of the Covenant of Promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Galatians 3:7). This spoken word to Jacob spanned many generations to this present day - as it is eternal. We are their promised seed in Yeshua; we are the ones spoken about to Jacob those many generations ago. They believed in us because Yahweh declared it. This affirmed that it was already created in us (the seed of Jacob) before our day (Olam Haba). This is why they looked forward to our day as they saw us already taking hold of it and walking in it. This was how great the Patriarch’s faith was. (Ephesians 1:3-14).
Isaiah 45:18-19 “For thus says Yahweh,
- Who created the heavens,
- Who is God,
- Who formed the earth and made it,
- Who has established it,
- Who did not create it in vain,
- Who formed it to be inhabited:
"I am Yahweh, and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek Me in vain'; I, Yahweh, speak righteousness,
- I declare things that are right.”
Jeremiah 30:8-11 ‘For it shall come to pass in that day,' Says the LORD of hosts, 'That I will break his yoke from your neck [Jacob], and will burst your bonds; foreigners shall no more enslave them. But they shall serve Yahweh their God, and David their king, Whom I will raise up for them. ‘Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,' says Yahweh, 'nor be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, and no one shall make him afraid. For I am with you,' says Yahweh, 'to save you; though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, Yet I will not make a complete end of you [Jacob]. But I will correct you in justice, and will not let you go altogether unpunished.'
The Door
When Jacob awoke from his dream he was awe-struck and declared, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the House of God. This is the gate of Heaven” (Genesis 28:17).
Yeshua is the door, He is the access between heaven and earth (Ephesians 2:18). Yeshua answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Genesis 28:20-22
After receiving the Covenant of Yahweh, Jacob, now being betrothed to Yahweh poured oil on the stone as a sign of his consecration and commitment, vowing, “IF Yahweh will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s house, then Yahweh will be my Elohim. This stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s House, and of ALL that you give me I will give you a tenth.” (Exodus 21:19).
Jacob understood that when he committed to the covenant, it is then the Covenant Maker’s responsibility to provide for him food and clothing. In a Hebrew marriage every Bridegroom makes a declaration to his Bride in writing called in Hebrew a Ketubah, that he will provide her with food, clothing and conjugal rights. This day Jacob entered into a marriage covenant with Yeshua – the Word of Yahweh.
Whenever the Covenant is agreed upon or reconfirmed the tithe also must be presented, as we see with Abraham and Melchizedek. The tithe is eternal and is a glimpse of life in the Garden. The Garden represented Yahweh’s House/Kingdom which man enjoyed before being separated from it by the sin of disobedience. By his act of consecration, Jacob entered Yahweh’s House that evening. He knew he had been in the place where heaven and earth met; therefore when the Covenant was confirmed to him, as Abraham had gave the tithe as his sacred portion, so did Jacob in obedience to his sanctification and the receiving of the Covenant he now carried. (Genesis 14:18-20).
Hebrew’s believe that because of the holiness of this event the evening of Jacob’s dream had fallen on a Sabbath or one of Yahweh’s Feast days.
The House of Yahweh, the tithe and Sabbath are eternal and not to be separated. When the House of Yahweh and the Sabbath are present, the service of Yahweh’s Kingdom is set in motion and activated in our hearts when we walk in the redemptive process laid out in His Word. Jacob would have learned this from his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham, who paid tithes to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18). Wherever one is, whether in the wilderness or in Jerusalem, we must present the tithe to those priests who uphold His Kingdom and not separate them from the Sabbath, the tithe is to be freely offered. Jacob knew the principle of the tithe and gave it willingly. He was reaching for a righteousness and holiness that was not his own but that which came from allowing Yeshua to work obedience in him in accordance with His Word. From that time onwards, blessings flowed to Jacob. Jacob chose to walk in the truth and gave the sacred portion over to Yahweh.
May we be a people who walk in the Renewed Covenant and proclaim the truth as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did and bring glory to Yahweh by placing our tithe before Him, our High Priest, as our forefathers before us. (Hebrews 7:1-10).
The Well
Genesis 29
Jacob continued his long journey to Haran the birthplace of his mother Rebekah, and the home of his uncle Laban, Rebekah’s brother. There, Jacob saw a well. When we see the word well in Scripture, we know a prophetic story is about to unfold. As “well” represent a place of anointing/the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKosdesh, “field” usually represents the opposite, a wilderness place. Three flocks of sheep were lying near this well waiting to be watered as a stone was over the mouth of it, preventing the sheep from accessing the water. As Jacob approached the shepherds of these flocks he asked them where they were from. “Haran,” they answered. Hearing this Jacob knew he had reached his destination and was now about to walk into his purpose. He continued by asking them if they knew Laban, Nahor’s grandson. They knew Laban and reported that he was well.
At this time, Laban’s daughter Rachel approached the well with her Father’s sheep. The meaning of Rachel’s name in Hebrew is ewe, a female sheep (Strong’s H7354).
Even though Laban’s daughter approached, Jacob did not hesitate to pass on his concern for the distressed sheep that lay before him. Jacob was not distracted by Rachel’s drawing near as he was observing the neglected flocks waiting by the well in the heat of the day. Jacob said to these false shepherds, “Look, the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.” Jacob was notifying them “the sheep cannot reach the living water, the Messiah”. The sheep were parched as they had no life-sustaining food or water in this heat and were not able to help themselves. Instead they were dependent on others for their survival, thus making them weak.
Amos 8:11 “Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD/Yahweh Elohim, "That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of Yahweh.”
The false shepherds were set in their ways, not willing to change regardless of the needs of the sheep under their care. They made excuses to Jacob saying, “We can’t water the sheep until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”
The House of Judah was given the responsibility to teach Torah to the nations/sheep until the Messiah came (Genesis 49:10). Neither the shepherds nor the sheep of the House of Judah could see when Messiah came as they lacked proper care by their shepherds and had no living water in what they did.
On the other hand, The House of Israel (Ephraim), those brought up in a Church environment, could not recognize the Jewishness of their Messiah. As Jacob represents the House of Ephraim, they also could not accept Yeshua in His Hebraic garments or Feast Days. They also need to approach and remove the stone that covers the well of living water.
Romans 11:25-27 “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel [House of Judah] until the fullness of the Gentiles [House of Israel/the Nations] has come in. And so all Israel [The whole united House of Israel] will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.’"(Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-10).
Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge [God’s teaching and instruction: Torah], I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law [Torah] of your God, I also will ignore your children.” (1 Peter 2:9-10; Revelation 1:6) Note: Hosea was a prophet to the House of Israel/Ephraim
As Jacob tried to reason with the shepherds under the hot noonday sun, Rachel brought her Father’s sheep forward to the well. As soon as Jacob saw Rachel approach the well, he walked over and rolled the stone away, watering her sheep himself. This is a picture of Yeshua rolling the stone away revealing the life-giving source at the His resurrection, life for those who desire Him.
In these two shepherd groups we can see a picture of the two houses of Israel being gathered together without restriction, freely able to drink water at the well of living water. Rachel’s sheep represent the ten lost or “hidden” tribes of Israel called the Northern Kingdom or the House of Israel. The stone covering the well represented those with hearts of stone who resist the living water. (John 4:5-26; Acts 1:6; Mark 1:3-4).
Note: It was Rachel’s sheep that were the first to receive this life-giving source before the other flocks at the well.
The Kiss
When Jacob watered Rachel’s sheep, he kissed her and wept. This was prophetic of the Messiah Yeshua, who wept over his ‘sheep’ before His death. His “kiss” of love to them would bring about His death, but in His death was the life source for all Yahweh’s sheepfold. (Luke 22:44).
At Yeshua’s tomb “when the Sabbath was past, (three women) Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. And they said among themselves, ‘Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?’ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away” (Mark 16:1).
Two People Groups
There are two groups of people/sheep in Genesis 29. The one group waiting at the well (House of Judah) and the sheep Rachel brought to the well (House of Israel), prophetic of the other sheep Yeshua spoke of when He said, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16 Ezekiel 37:15-28).
Jacob’s story is seen again in John 4:4-30 when Yeshua traveled through Samaria to visit His lost sheep (the capital of the Northern Kingdom, representing the House of Israel, at the sixth hour (when the sun was highest and hottest). He approached a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. She represented the ten (hidden) tribes of the Northern Kingdom (Rachel’s sheep). Yeshua asked the woman for a drink of water, and then shared with her about living water. When the woman saw Yeshua did not have a container with which to draw water from Jacob’s well she questioned Him - how He would get this living water? Did He think He was greater than her “father Jacob who gave them the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds” (which represented all twelve tribes). Yeshua told her all about herself and revealed that He was the source of the living water. He also told her of a time coming when worshippers would worship Yahweh in spirit and truth. The woman (being the House of Israel), informed Him that the Jews (House of Judah) were waiting (the sheep waiting at the well) for their Messiah, and that when He came He would tell them everything. Yeshua said to the woman, “The one speaking to you is He.”
Uncle Laban
Genesis 29
When Jacob met his uncle Laban, he shared his story. He then worked for Laban a month until wages were set between them. Jacob had fallen in love with Laban’s youngest daughter Rachel, and so he suggested working for Laban for seven years as a bridal price or dowry. Laban agreed to the terms. However, when the fulfilled time had come for them to marry, Laban substituted his older daughter Leah for Rachel and without realizing the deception, Jacob married Leah.
Seven years represented a Sabbatical year cycle in Torah for the land. Every seven years the land must have a period of rest. They were not to reap the harvest from the land but live off whatever the land produced in that seventh year. During that year of rest, they were to cancel all debts. Any Hebrew man or woman who had agreed to work for his or her freedom (from slavery or debt) would be freed on the seventh year and given a generous supply of flocks, as well as grain and wine from the land which he/she helped produce. This seemed to be the case with Jacob. In the Sabbatical year he came to claim what rightfully was his, and that was Rachel. Instead he was tricked, just as he had tricked Isaac and Esau seven years earlier.
The Stone’s Edition Chumash traditionally describes Leah and Rachel as twins, just as Jacob and Esau were. Scripture states the main difference between the two women in that Rachel was “lovely in form and beauty” and Leah had “weak eyes.” The Hebrew character of weak eyes being described here has to do with tender, soft, weak, delicate (of flesh), weak of heart; timid, and soft and gentle (of words). We see then that Leah was shy or timid, lacking self-confidence compared to Rachel whose character and beauty was balanced inside and out. This marriage to Leah may have been a lesson to Jacob to learn that he took advantage of his father Isaac’s weak eyes in usurping his position over his brother Esau.
Discovering he had been tricked, Jacob confronted Laban. They again made arrangements for Rachel to become Jacob’s bride, with Laban determining that Jacob must work another seven years for him after their marriage as her dowry payment. During that time Leah produced four sons for Jacob, while Rachel remained childless. The sons of Leah were Reuben, the firstborn, Simeon, Levi and Judah. Because of this, Rachel became very jealous of her sister.
Rachel took her frustration of being barren out on Jacob. Jacob pointed out the fault was not his but that it was Yahweh who had not released children to her. Rachel offered her maidservant Bilhah to Jacob that she might act as a surrogate mother; Bilhah produced Dan and Naphtali for Rachel. Leah, seeing she had stopped having children, offered her maidservant Zilpah to surrogate more children for her. From Zilpah came two more sons, Gad and Asher. After more sisterly rivalry, Leah again had children, this time giving birth to Issachar and Zebulun, and later a daughter she named Dinah. “Then Yahweh remembered Rachel; He listened to her and opened her womb. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son saying, ‘Yahweh has taken away my disgrace.’ She named her firstborn Joseph, and said, ‘May Yahweh add to me another son’” (Genesis 30:22-24).
Jacob’s Sheep
Haran was the birthplace of the tribes of Israel, except for Benjamin. The two houses or kingdoms came from the two wives of Jacob, Leah and Rachel and their surrogates. The jealousy that existed between the two sisters during this time has continued to this day between the two Houses of Israel. When Leah and Rachel’s children recognize their identity and heritage in the Covenant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob which has been renewed in the Messiah, then the jealousy will end and they will start acting as a united people (Ephesians 2:14).
“Ephraim's jealousy will vanish, and Judah's hostility will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim” (Isaiah 11:13).
After the birth of eleven sons Jacob asked Laban to let him return to his homeland. They discussed Jacob’s due wages and agreed that all the marked or colored sheep, lambs and goats would be Jacob’s. This is a reference to Yahweh’s sheep that are a multi colored people.
Jacob journeyed three days to separate his flocks from Laban’s. This is a reference for us as believers to be a separate and set-apart people. We are told not to mix clean with unclean or holy with unholy. Not only did Jacob care for his own sheep during this time but Laban’s also. Jacob’s flock increased by Jacob placing fresh stripped branches of poplar, almond and plain trees in all the watering troughs (Genesis 30:37). This is a reference to being obedient to Torah and the blessings that flow for obeying the Word of Yahweh.
Genesis 30:40 “Jacob set apart the young of the flock by themselves, but made the rest face the streaked and dark-colored animals that belonged to Laban. Thus he made separate flocks for himself and did not put them with Laban's animals.”
Jacob increased and grew exceedingly prosperous with an abundance of flocks, maidservants, menservants, camels and donkeys. Seeing this, Laban’s household started talking slanderously against Jacob. Laban listened to them and his attitude toward Jacob changed.
Lashon hara (gossip and slander) when it comes from Yahweh’s children, can thwart their purpose and assignment in Him. But challenges when overcome, elevate and promote God’s people. If we come to understand God is with us to encourage us, then challenges will help draw us closer to Him. They introduce us to greater responsibility in His Kingdom. Challenges are tests that teach and promote a deeper impartation of God’s indwelling power in our lives; they are not failures.
According to the Book of James in the New Testament, challenges in our lives are to be considered pure joy, in order that perseverance might finish its work in us to perfect us to maturity, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4). If we choose to walk in His ways and persevere through the challenges, the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh activates within us, as Yahweh is faithful to His Covenant over us. In turn, may we also be a people who never destroy others with our words, behavior or deeds, but may we instead build others up. In so doing we will create LIFE and blessings!
The Separation
Continuing with Jacob’s story in Genesis 31, the time had come for him to separate from Laban’s ever changing demands. Yahweh commanded Jacob to leave Haran, to depart from the growing contempt and jealousy toward him and return to his native land. Rachel and Leah saw how their father had treated them showing no love or respect, wanting to sell them or use them as barter. Through Jacob’s life example and kindness they saw the truth and learned to put their faith in Yahweh (Genesis 31:18).
Do married couples leave their fathers and mothers today and cleave to each other? A healthy relationship with parents and in-laws is great and encouraged; but when a spouse has a co-dependent relationship with one or both parents or carries an inherited iniquity from past generations into the marriage, they have not truly left their parents and cleaved to their spouse. In a sense they have instead brought the parent’s spiritual baggage and abuse with all its characteristics into the marriage. This brings contamination, encumbering the young couple desiring to become one with each other. This can weaken a marriage and in some cases bring death to it. Looking at your spouse through the eyes of your parents or continuing to operate in generational curses can lead to an imbalance, unhealthy marriage that will also affect the children. While married couples need to have a healthy respect for their own parents, they must also get on with the business of creating a healthy relationship and family identity, one that is directly focused on Yeshua and His word. He alone has the plan and purpose for our lives and only He can guide us (Genesis 2:24).
The Return
While packing for their journey, Rachel stole her father’s pagan household gods; she did not obey Yahweh by leaving her family. In stealing her father’s household gods she essentially took her father’s identity with her. This act brought a curse upon her that eventually led to her death (Genesis 31:19).
Without saying good-bye to Laban, Jacob gathered up his family and left.
The flocks went before them as they made their way to the land of Canaan and back to Jacob’s father, Isaac. On their third day travelling, Laban was told of their leaving. It took seven more days for him to catch up with them. Warned in a dream not to speak lashon hara (slander) of Jacob, Laban confronted Jacob for leaving without allowing him to say good-bye to his daughters and grandchildren. As the story unfolds we find what seemed more important to Laban were his idols which he quickly inquired after. The impression is Laban held his gods in higher priority than his daughters. Jacob was so sure of the purity and loyalty of the camp that he told Laban if anyone had stolen Laban’s gods, the guilty party would not live. Then he allowed Laban to search through his tents. The vow Jacob pronounced was irrevocable; he had pronounced a curse over his beloved wife Rachel. He had no idea she had taken her father’s idols. When Rachel married and left with her husband for Canaan, she did not leave her father behind her, but invited Laban and his pagan ways into the camp and into their marriage. These idols contaminated their marriage and eventually the whole community (Genesis 31:22-35).
Jacob stood up to Laban’s dominance and intimidation. Laban in turn saw it was time for him to let Jacob and his family go. They made a covenant, and the next morning Laban kissed his family good-bye and returned home minus his gods (Genesis 31:36-55).
Jacob now prepared to meet his brother Esau. Angels of Yahweh met him along the way and when Jacob saw them he said, “This is the camp of Yahweh!” So he named that place Mahanaim meaning Two Camps.
Hosea 12:2-5 “Yahweh has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds. In the womb he grasped his brother's heel; as a man he struggled with Elohim. He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there Yahweh our Elohim Almighty, Yahweh is his name of renown!”
To Be Continued…
Shabbat Shalom
Julie Parker
Since its inception in 2003, Sheepfold Gleanings has been written under the pen name of Carl and Julie Parker. It will now be published under the authors name Julie Parker, with her husband Carl’s continued support and covering.
Note: We are in the process of publishing the studies in soft spiral study format and soft bond format for prison ministry (an eBook format is coming!). Genesis is the first book in a five part series: Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers and Deuteronomy. Each book is part of the yearly Torah cycle starting in Genesis and is designed to be used each year for study purposes. To pre order please contact the information below.
Reference
Jacob’s Ladder by Natan Lawrence www.hoshanarabbah.org
Complete Jewish Bible by David Stern. Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc.
Strong’s Concordance by James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D. Welch Publishing Company Inc.
TWOT: Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (2-vol. set) (Hardcover)
(Moody Press) by R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, Bruce Waltke
Torah: Law or Grace by Rabbi Ralph Messer www.torah.tv
Redeemed Israel: Reunited and Restored by Batya Wootten www.messianicisrael.com
A More Excellent Way by Henry W.Wright www.beinhealth.com
The Seven Thousand Plan of God by Rabbi R. Messer www.torah.tv
Love is a Choice by Drs. Hemfelt, Minirth and Meier (Codependent relationships)
Sheepfold Gleanings written by Julie Parker
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