The early patriarchs had a clear knowledge of gospel principles taught to them from Adam down to Abraham. Sheol is the Hebrew word for the world of spirits where one goes when one dies, the equivalent of the spirit world. The Hebrews had not only a concept of life after death but also a correct concept of the intermediate place between death and the Resurrection.
The twelve tribes who eventually descended from Jacob are much discussed, but it should be remembered that another twelve tribes also came from Ishmael. The brevity of the historical account in Genesis tends to compress the time it covers. This rationalization seems to reflect more scorn than hunger. Jacob would almost certainly have succored Esau freely if his life were in jeopardy. The point of this account seems to be primarily to show how little value Esau placed on the birthright.
His immediate bodily needs were more important to him than the rights of the covenant. The birthright itself should have been a treasured thing. The highly desirable birthright blessing is the right to the presidency, or keys, of the priesthood.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote:. In later ages special blessings and prerogatives have been poured out upon all the worthy descendants of some who gained special blessings and birthrights anciently. Justification for this system, in large part, lies in the pre-existent preparation and training of those born in the lines destined to inherit preferential endowments.
In the patriarchal order this birthright was passed from father to son, who was often, but not always, the eldest son. Righteousness was a more important factor than being the firstborn. The story of how Jacob obtained the birthright blessing from Isaac with the help of his mother is a troubling one in many respects. A more complete knowledge of gospel principles, however, may pose some additional problems.
Can a person deceive a patriarch and get a blessing that belongs to someone else? Was Jacob a deceitful and crafty man? Was Isaac blindly favorable to certain children? Can one be dishonest and still get a valid patriarchal blessing? The following points should be carefully considered:. As the record in Genesis now reads, there is little option but to conclude that Rebekah and Jacob deliberately deceived Isaac and that Jacob explicitly lied to his father see v.
Rebekah and Jacob believed the deception was necessary because Isaac obviously favored Esau. For example, a comparison of the early chapters of Genesis with the fuller accounts revealed to the Prophet now found in the books of Moses and Abraham shows how much has been lost. These changes could then explain the contradictions.
Rebekah knew by personal revelation that Jacob was to be the son of the covenant see Genesis — If the story is correct as found in Genesis, Isaac may have been temporarily shortsighted in favoring Esau. Or Rebekah may have had insufficient faith in the Lord to let Him work His will and therefore undertook a plan of her own to ensure that the promised blessings would come to pass.
These shortcomings do not lessen their later greatness and their eventual perfection. Whatever the explanation for the circumstances surrounding the reception of the blessing, one thing is perfectly clear.
Priesthood holders are given the keys to bind and loose on earth and have that action validated in heaven see Matthew Once Isaac learned of the deception, he could have revoked the blessing and given it to Esau. Thus, if the Genesis record is correct as it now is, Jacob, like others, received a call and a promise of eventual blessings because of his potential and in spite of his weaknesses. Like anyone, he had then to live worthily in order to obtain the promised blessings.
He bitterly resolved to get revenge by fratricide when he saw the blessing of transmittal of the birthright actually confirmed upon the head of him to whom he had bartered the right to it. The alert and resourceful Rebekah averted a double tragedy loss of both sons—one by murder and one by execution, as the law of Genesis would require by proposing to Isaac that they send Jacob away to find a proper wife in her home land.
Thus she would remove him from harm proposed by Esau until feelings could cool. President Marion G. Romney explained why this vision of heaven was shown in the form of a ladder and why the name of the place where it happened was called Bethel:.
He beheld angels ascending and descending thereon, and Jacob realized that the covenants he made with the Lord there were the rungs on the ladder that he himself would have to climb in order to obtain the promised blessings—blessings that would entitle him to enter heaven and associate with the Lord. Even more, they are also the gates to heaven for all of our unendowed kindred dead. We should all do our duty in bringing our loved ones through them. The following genealogy lines show clearly that each of the three great patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—married relatives.
The broken lines show marriages, and the dotted lines show individuals who are the same. Abraham married Sarah, who was his niece; Isaac married Rebekah, who was his first cousin once removed; and Jacob married Leah and Rachel, who were his first cousins.
As sisters, Rachel and Leah may have been quite similar in height, weight, and general appearance. Second, the women of Haran sometimes veiled themselves see Genesis Third, Laban was a shepherd. If he was a typical shepherd of ancient times, he dwelt in tents instead of in permanent dwellings. The inside of a tent at night can be very dark. And finally, knowing what the reaction of Jacob would be if he discovered the substitution early, Laban may have told Leah to speak as little as possible so as not to give the deception away before it was too late to change it.
The gift of the handmaidens to each daughter made the servants the direct property of each wife, not of Jacob. Thus, later, when the handmaids had children, the children were viewed legally as the children of Rachel and Leah. The scriptures in this chapter indicate that each child born to Jacob was given a name which reflected the feelings of his parents.
There was a tremendous competitive spirit between the wives. Being able to bear a male child for their husband was a great honor. Rachel apparently was very sad that she did not have a child until later in her life.
When she finally bore a son the name she gave him indicated her feeling for him and the hope she had in the future. The twelve sons of Jacob are listed below.
Joy for having a son see Genesis Because the Lord heard that she was hated see Genesis God hath given me my reward Genesis Although Bible scholars are not sure exactly what plant is meant by the word mandrake, the significance of this plant to Rachel and Leah is clear. The fruit had a pleasant taste and odor, and was supposed to ensure conception.
Knowledge of this belief helps explain the interchange between Rachel and Leah. Rachel desired the mandrakes so that she could at last bear children of her own. As has already been seen, there was a fierce competition between the sisters in this regard.
She indicated that Rachel had already taken her husband, which probably meant only that Rachel had the first place in his affections. The one advantage Leah had was her ability to bear children, while Rachel could not. So Rachel made a counter offer. She promised that she would encourage Jacob to go to Leah that night if she, Rachel, could have the mandrakes v. Leah agreed and told Jacob. Out of the agreement Leah conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son vv.
Although not stated specifically, the record implies that the mandrakes did nothing for Rachel. Finally, Rachel did conceive, but it was not because of mandrakes. Nothing is known by modern science to explain any relationship between what Jacob did and what happened in the hereditary patterns of the animals.
Perhaps something is missing from the text. Perhaps the Lord was just taking advantage of the virility of crossbred animals. Divine intervention certainly played a part. It is significant to note that Jacob counseled with his wives on the important move he was contemplating.
Often modern scholars claim that woman in the Old Testament were of low status and were treated as property by their husbands. But this example, and others like it, show that such was not the case. But the nature of Laban makes it not unlikely that once Jacob began to prosper, Laban kept changing the terms of their agreement.
Nevertheless, the Lord continued to bless Jacob temporally. It is interesting that both Rachel and Leah agreed that Jacob was justified in leaving Laban. They also pointed out that they had received nothing from their father, because of his covetous nature.
One commentator explained their bitterness:. We meet it first in Jacob, who worked seven years for Laban to earn a dowry for Rachel Gen. If she were at fault, she forfeited it. She could not alienate it from her children. The dowry thus represented funds provided by the father of the groom, or by the groom through work, used to further the economic life of the new family. If the father of the bride added to this, it was his privilege, and customary, but the basic dowry was from the groom or his family.
There is much debate among scholars about what the images were that were stolen by Rachel and what they represented. The Hebrew word which is sometimes used for small images of false gods is teraphim. We also have inherited an inheritance according to the promise for the enjoyment in satisfaction and rest. When we who are in Christ enjoy His riches, the Spirit will lead us to pass through all kinds of trials in our environment to be transformed by the Spirit to become Israel, the prince of God.
He reigned in Egypt for God, dispensing all the rich food to the whole world. This is a type of the transformed, overcoming, and mature believer reigning for the Lord, dispensing the riches of God in Christ to everyone. Hence, from the experience of the first group of five people, we go on to experience the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. In the end, we all become Israel, the prince of God, reigning for God and dispensing the riches of God in Christ to everyone.
This is what the second group of four people typifies. The experiences of these nine people tell us how God accomplishes His economy in us, the believers. Living Stream Ministry publishes the works of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, providing the authoritative and definitive collections of treasures from these two servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. The writings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee focus on the enjoyment of the divine life, which all the believers possess, and on the building up of the church, the goal of God's work with man in this age.
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