Are We Sinners Saved By Grace; Or?

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Jacob's Humility?

Jacob’s Humility?

Genesis 32

In Genesis 27 we saw that Jacob traded a bowl of lintel stew to his brother Esau for Esau’s birthright when Esau was hungry. We also saw that their mother Rebekah told Jacob to disguise himself as his brother Esau and trick their blind father, Isaac, into giving him the Firstborn Blessing. Now because of Esau’s threats against Jacob, Rebekah decides to tell Isaac a half truth. She does not want Jacob to marry a Canaanite like Esau has, it disgusts her; but she does not tell of her trickery and Esau’s anger.

In Genesis 28 is the story of Isaac telling Jacob to go to his Uncle’s house to find a wife; then Isaac Blesses Jacob again: “Now may El Shaddai Bless you and make you Fruitful and multiply you so that you will become an assembly of Peoples. May He give you The Blessing of Abraham, to you and your seed with you that you may take possession of the land of your sojourn, which GOD Gave to Abraham.” (Genesis 28:1-4)

In Genesis 29-30 we see Laban and Jacob deceiving each other. Laban gets both his daughters married to Jacob in exchange for 14 years of labor. Jacob spends the next 6 years becoming a rich man while Laban’s fortunes decline.

In Genesis 31 we see Jacob’s herd of sheep and goats was growing and Laban’s was not and Laban and his sons noticed. Jacob realized that he had lost favor with Laban and decided to leave, he spoke to his wives telling them that Laban had changed his salary 10 times and they saw they had no future there so they agreed (Genesis 31:1-10, 14-16).

The continuing saga of Jacob son of Isaac, son of Abraham. Jacob and Laban his uncle on his mother’s, Rebekah, side have parted ways and Laban’s descendants now become enemies of Israel like all of Abraham’s descendants not of Isaac and Jacob.

As Jacob traveled he saw the angels of GOD and named the place, Mahanaim (GOD’s Camp). (Genesis 31:55-32:2)

Jacob sends messengers to his brother Esau, telling him he is returning home with this message: “This is what your servant Jacob said: ‘I’ve been staying with Laban and have lingered until now. Now I’ve come to possess oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants and female servants. I sent word to tell my lord, in order to find favor in your eyes.’” (Genesis 32:3-5)

The messengers return and tell Jacob that Esau is coming to meet him with 400 men. Jacob is afraid and devises a plan to pacify his brother. He divides his camp into 2 camps so that if Esau attacks one the other can escape. (Genesis 32:6-8)

Then Jacob prayed to GOD, “O GOD of my father Abraham, and GOD of my father Isaac, ADONAI, Who said to me, ‘Return to your land and to your relatives and I will do Good with you (I will deal well with you). I am unworthy of all the proofs of Mercy and of all the Dependability that You have shown to Your servant. For with only my staff I crossed over this Jordan and now I’ve become 2 camps.” So even though Jacob divided his company into 2 camps out of fear of Esau, He credits GOD with the increase and abundance in his life. “Deliver me please, from my brother’s hand, from Esau’s hand, for I’m afraid of him that he will come and strike me – the mothers with the children. You Yourself said, ‘I will most certainly do Good with you (treat you well) , and make your seed like the sand of the sea that cannot be counted because of its abundance.’” (Genesis 32:9-12)

Jacob lodged there that night and prepared a gift for his brother. He divided his flocks and sent them with his servants ahead and told each group leader “When Esau my brother asks you, ‘To whom do you belong and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’” Say to Esau: “They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; behold, he also is behind us.” (Proverbs 17:8) The present went ahead but Jacob stayed in camp. (Genesis 32:13-21)

During the night Jacob sent his children and their mothers across at the ford Jabbok but he stayed behind. That night he wrestled a Man until daybreak and The Man could not prevail against Jacob so he touched (struck) Jacob’s hip socket so that Jacob’s hip was out of joint. “And He (The Man) said, ‘Let Me go, for the day breaks.’ But he (Jacob) said, ‘I will not let You go unless You Bless me!’ So He said to him, ‘What is your name?’ He said, ‘Jacob.’ And He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel (Lit. Prince with GOD); for you have struggled with GOD and with men and have prevailed.’ Then Jacob asked, saying, ‘Tell me your Name, I pray.’ And He said, ‘Why is it that you ask about My Name?’ And He Blessed him there.” Jacob call the place Peniel (Lit. Face of GOD): “For I have seen GOD face to face, and my life is preserved.” As Jacob crossed the Jordan the sun rose and he had a limp. The children of Israel stopped eating the hip socket muscle because Jacob’s shrank when The Man struck it. (Genesis32:22-32)

Jacob seems to have learned humility but if you read carefully you see he is driven by fear of Esau (Matthew 10:27-31. GOD meets with him on his journey home and wrestles with him physically but does not prevail, that is the Grace and Mercy of GOD. Before we become a Christ-ian we fight against GOD and His Purpose for our Life, as a Christ-ian we still often fight against GOD’s Purpose for our Life, but now He comes to us to convince us to serve Him, as Jacob or Peter (John 18:15-27, 21:15-19) or Paul (Acts 7:54-60, 9:1-31) we may hold our own out of GOD’s Grace and Mercy but if we do not yield to His Will and Purpose for our life we might become a Judas (John 13:21-30, 18:1-5, Acts 1:15-20) or Esau (Genesis 36:1-8; Numbers 20:14-21).

https://youtu.be/sFLEXNxg_w0

Monday, December 30, 2024

Jacob And Laban Separate!

Genesis 31

Soon Jacob’s herd of sheep and goats was growing and Laban’s was not and Laban and his sons noticed. Jacob realized that he had lost favor with Laban and decided to leave, he spoke to his wives telling them that Laban had changed his salary 10 times and they saw they had no future there so they agreed (Genesis 31:1-10, 14-16).

So they pack up; and Rachel steals her father’s idols; and they leave.

Jacob’s second deception of Laban: “…Jacob stole the heart of Laban the Syrian by not telling him that he was fleeing.”

When Laban found out 3 days later that Jacob and his family and herds had left he pursued them and caught up to them 7 days after that. (Genesis 31:22-23)

In a dream GOD told Laban: “Watch yourself – lest you say anything to Jacob, good or bad.” (Genesis 31:24) A very clear message to not be angry or seek vengeance.

So being careful but clear in his hurt Laban asked Jacob, “What have you done that you have stolen my heart and have driven my daughters away like captives of the sword?...and you didn’t even let me kiss my sons (grandsons) and daughters!” He also told Jacob that GOD had spoken to him about this meeting. Then added, “…why did you steal my gods?” (Genesis 31:26-30) Jacob replied, “Because I was afraid , for I thought you , ‘Suppose you snatch your daughters away from me. Anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live. In front of our relatives, identify what every is yours that is with me, and take it back.’ (But Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.)

Rachel’s deception of Laban: So Laban searched everyone’s tents and possessions, Rachel was the last to be searched; she had hidden the idols in her camel’s saddlebag and sat on it. She claimed that she could not get up because she was having “the way of a woman” (her menstrual cycle). So the idols were not found and Jacob got angry and told Laban off (Genesis 31:36-42).

So Laban remembering The Word of The LORD to him offered a covenant, “Let ADONAI keep watch between you and me when we are out of one another’s sight. If you mistreat my daughters, and if you take wives besides my daughters, though no one is with us, look! GOD is the witness between you and me…Behold, this pile and this pillar which I set up (actually Jacub set up the pillar (Genesis 31:45-46) between you and me: this pile serves as a witness, that I won’t pass by this pillar to go to you, and that you won’t pass by this pile and this pillar to go to me – with evil intent. May The GOD of Abraham and the gods of Nahor, the gods of their father, judge between us.” (Genesis 31:49-53a)

Jacob made an oath by the fear of his father Isaac, then he made a sacrifice on the mountain and they ate bread and spent the night on the mountain (Genesis 31:53b-54).

GOD tells some of his Servants to do things that He tells the rest of His Servants not to do!

Remember, Paul tells us that before the Law (Torah) sin was not imputed (Romans 5:12-13), which was good for them, for the wicked behavior and deceptions continued through the rest of the history of Abraham’s descendants, even after the Law. James says, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17) Just because we see the sins of others not being judged by GOD does not mean that we can commit them ourself. Every human being will be judged by GOD; first, according to how we live, then if our name is in The Book of Life (The Lamb’s Book of Life) (Revelation 20:11-15).

https://youtu.be/C6IEzwP9tyQ

Jacob And Laban's Deceptions!

Jacob And Laban’s Deceptions!

Genesis 29 - 30

Jacob continues his journey to his Uncle Laban’s where he experiences Love at first sight when he meets Rachel, Laban’s daughter. When Laban is informed that his sister’s son is there he runs to greet him (Laban is the one who ran to meet Abraham’s servant when he came to get a wife for Isaac (Genesis 24:29), when Isaac was 40 years old, now Isaac is over 100 years old (he lived to be 180 Genesis 35:28-29), so Laban is 60 years older himself and still active).

Jacob stays there a month, but not just sitting around because Laban says that he should start paying Jacob for his work (Genesis 29:14-15). Jacob wants to marry Rachel so he tells Laban he will work for him for 7 years for Rachel. They agreed.

The first deception: Seven years later Jacob asks for Rachel in marriage and Laban arranges a wedding ceremony and celebration. Jacob is deceived because he has celebrated too much and wakes up with Leah, Rachel’s older sister.

Jacob asks his uncle, “What is this you have done to me? Wasn’t it for Rachel that I worked with you? So why have you deceived me?” Laban replied, “It’s not done so in our place (custom) – to give the younger before the firstborn. Complete the bridle week for this one. Then we’ll also give you this other – for work that you will do with me – another 7 years more.” (Genesis 29:25-27) Jacob agreed, so after the bridal week Laban gave Rachel to Jacob as a wife. Then Jacob took Rachael as his wife and he loved her more than he loved Leah (Genesis 29:28-30).

Then the wife war began, between Leah, Rachel and their handmaids Zilpah and Bilhah they gave birth to 11 sons and 1 daughter in about 13 years (Genesis 29:31-30:24; Genesis 31:38-41).

After the 14 years of Jacob working for Laban Jacob was ready to take his family and leave but Laban convinced him to stay and Jacob said on one condition, let me continue to care for your sheep but pay me with the spotted, stripped and dark colored sheep and goats (Genesis 30:25-36).

Jacob separated the sheep and goats, Laban’s were the pure ones and Jacobs were the spotted, stripped and dark ones.

Jacob’s first deception of Laban: according to a dream he had (Genesis 31:11-13) was to place pieces of wood that had stripes or spots on them or were dark in color when they would breed and the ewes would bear stripped, spotted or dark lambs. Jacob became wealthy (Genesis 30:43).

GOD tells some of his Servants to do things that He tells the rest of His Servants not to do!

GOD wants to make Jacob prosperous so He gives Jacob a plan in a dream on how to increase his herd, but this is also a judgment against Laban who did not worship GOD. After 6 years GOD tells Jacob to return to his families land. Also we see GOD controlling the fertility of women and the birthing of babies. What did He do for Miriam (Mary) and Joseph of Nazareth? GOD created in Mariam’s virgin womb Himself as a human to be His Only Begotten Son – JESUS; and GOD Called Joseph to father His Only Begotten Son – Jesus! Wow!

https://youtu.be/DRyCqoUdEIs

Jacob's Blessings!

Jacob’s Blessing!

Genesis 28

Chapter 28 is the story of Isaac telling Jacob to go to his Uncle’s house to find a wife; then Isaac Blesses Jacob again: “Now may El Shaddai Bless you and make you Fruitful and multiply you so that you will become an assembly of Peoples. May He give you The Blessing of Abraham, to you and your seed with you that you may take possession of the land of your sojourn, which GOD Gave to Abraham.” (Genesis 28:1-4)

Jacob obeyed and left for his uncle’s land. Esau heard his parents distain for his Canaanite wives so he took one of Ishmael’s daughters as a wife. (Genesis 28:9)

Jacob stopped to sleep at a place called Luz, where he dreamed. “All of a sudden there was a stairway set up on the earth and its top reaching to The Heaven – and behold, angels of GOD going up and down on it! Surprisingly, ADONAI was standing on top of it and He said,’”

GOD Blesses Jacob: “‘I Am ADONAI, The GOD of your father Abraham and The GOD of Isaac. The land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your seed. Your seed will be as the dust of the land, and you will burst forth to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south. In you all the families of the earth will be Blessed – and in your seed. Behold, I Am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land, for I will not forsake you until I have done what I Promised you.’” (Genesis 28:10-15)

Jacob sets up a memorial to GOD and calls the place Beth-El (House of GOD). (Genesis 28:16-19)

Then Jacob makes a vow to GOD: “If GOD will be with me and watch over me on this way that I am going and provide me food to eat and clothes to wear (Matthew 6:24-34) and I return in Shalom to my father’s house, then ADONAI will be my GOD. So this stone which I set up as a memorial stone will become GOD’s House, and of everything you provide me I will definitely give a tenth of it to You.” (Genesis 28:20-22) So, Isaac learned tithing from Abraham who tithed to Melchizedek the priest of El Elyon. (Genesis 14:17-20) And passed it on to his sons. (Just a guess they, must still have been tithing to Melchizedek.)

GOD tells some of his Servants to do things that He tells the rest of His Servants not to do!

Abram (Abraham) married his half-sister, Sarai (Sarah), his father’s daughter by a different mother (Genesis 20). Isaac married his second cousin, Rebekah (Genesis 24). Under The Torah these were forbidden marriages and under the common laws of many nations these are forbidden marriages (Study Leviticus 18).

Nakedness = ‛ervâh; nudity, literally (especially the pudenda) or figuratively (disgrace, blemish):-nakedness, shame, unclean _-ness). Strong’s Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary.

Pudenda = a person’s external genitals, especially a woman’s. Oxford Languages.

So any sexual activity would be considered exposing a person’s nakedness; only in marriage between a man and a woman does GOD Bless it (Genesis 2:24-25; Hebrews 13:4).

https://youtu.be/ila-7Rvp4Oc

Jacob's And Esau's Blessings!

Jacob’s and Esau’s Blessings!

Genesis 27

Genesis 27 is the story of Rebekah the wife of Isaac talking her son Jacob into stealing Esau’s blessing from their father Isaac. Why?

Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah and she was barren for 20 years; Isaac prayed for her and ADONAI answered his prayer (Genesis 25:19-21). Her pregnancy was difficult and she prayed to ADONAI and He told her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from your body will be separated. One people will be stronger than the other people, but the older (Esau) will serve the younger (Jacob).” (Genesis25:20-28)

Jacob and Esau were conceived at the same time, two different sperm and two different eggs and they were two different human beings, not twins. Isaac was 60 years old when his sons were born (Genesis 25:26).

Esau did not care about tradition until it was too late, he sold his birthright to his brother for a bowl of lentil stew because he was hungry and did not want to wait to cook himself a meal (Genesis 25:27-34). Esau was 40 years old when he married two daughters of the Hittites (Genesis 26:34-35), so Isaac was 100 years old.

Now Isaac is over 100 years old and feeling his age he is blind and decides to bless Esau his oldest son while he is able. Rebekah overhears Isaac telling Esau to make preparations so that he can bless him and she tells Jacob to disguise himself as Esau and to get his father’s blessing.

So Jacob disguises himself as Esau and takes the meal that Rebekah prepared and deceived Isaac so that Isaac blessed Jacob instead of Esau. Isaac blesses Jacob with the blessing of the Firstborn which continues the blessing that GOD gave Abraham, it also confirms what ADONAI told Rebekah while she was pregnant with the children.

Jacobs blessing: “Behold, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that ADONAI has Blessed. May GOD give you – from the dew of the sky and from the fatness of the land – an abundance of grain and new wine. May peoples serve you and may nations bow down to you. Be master over your brothers, may your mother’s sons bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and may those who bless you be blessed.” (Genesis 27:27-29)

Then Esau comes in and presents himself to receive his blessing and Isaac realizes that he has been deceived and given the blessing to Jacob. Esau is hurt and wants his father’s blessing so Isaac blesses him, not a very good blessing.

Esau’s blessing: “Behold, away from the land’s fatness shall your dwelling be, away from the dew of the sky above, by your sword shall you live, and your brother shall you serve. But when you tear yourself loose, you will tear his yoke off your neck.” (Genesis 27:39-40)

The result of these blessings was that Jacob had 12 sons and they became the nation of Israel a little over 400 years later. In everything that has happened to them as a nation they still exist as a people and again as a nation. Esau had 5 sons and also became a nation, Edom (Genesis 36) while the nation of Edom no longer exists his descendants still live in the area and are the enemies of Israel.

Jacob have I Loved, Esau have I hated!

Malachi 1:2-4 “I have Loved you,” say The LORD. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You Loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says The LORD. “Yet Jacob (Israel) I have Loved; but Esau (Edom) I have hated and laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness.” (Romans 9:6-24; Exodus 9:13-14; Romans 8:26-30; Revelation 17:7-17)

So the reality of this message is that GOD is Sovereign over all of His creation! He knows how each person will respond to the issues of their life and to the knowledge of Salvation through JESUS CHRIST. Now we know that GOD give us many opportunities to repent and live for JESUS, but he does not make us (Isaiah 30:18; Ezekiel 33:11; 2 Peter 3:7-10; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

So JESUS gave all Believers a Commission: “Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them: ‘Go into all the world and preach The Gospel to every creature. He who Believes and is Baptized will be Saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these Signs will follow those who Believe: In My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will Recover.’” Mark 16:14-18

GOD tells some of his Servants to do things that He tells the rest of His Servants not to do!

Like telling Abraham to sacrifice His son Isaac to Him on a mountain He tells Abraham to go to. And Abraham in Faith, regardless of what anyone else would think went to do it. He was at the point of killing Isaac when GOD stayed his hand and provided a ram that was not on the mountain before that moment. (Genesis 22)

https://youtu.be/rQWnwb6oikk

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

GOD's Love!

GOD’s Love!

Paul made powerful statements about GOD’s Love: “But GOD demonstrates His Own Love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Also: “He (GOD) made Him (JESUS) Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the Righteousness of GOD in Him (JESUS).” 2 Corinthians 5:21

He gave the detailed explanation to the Ephesians: “And you He made Alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course (way) of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others (“for all have sinned and fallen short of The Glory of GOD,” Romans 3:23), But GOD Who is Rich in Mercy, because of His Great Love with which He Loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us Alive together with Christ (by Grace you have been Saved, and raised us up together, and made us sit together in The Heavenly Places in Christ JESUS, that in the ages to come (including ours) He might show the exceeding Riches of His Grace in His Kindness toward us in Christ JESUS. For by Grace you have been Saved through Faith, and that not of yourselves; it is The Gift of GOD, not by works , lest anyone should boost. For we are His Workmanship Created in Christ JESUS for Good Works, which GOD prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:1-10.

But Peter and John made the most powerful statements about GOD’s Love: “Therefore gird up the loins (procreative power) of your mind, be sober, and rest your Hope fully upon The Grace that is to be brought to you at The Revelation of JESUS Christ; as Obedient Children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He Who Called you is Holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy for I Am Holy.’ (Leviticus 20:26) and if you call on The Father, Who without partiality Judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay (dwelling as resident aliens) here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver of gold, by your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with The Precious Blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest (revealed) in these last times for you who through Him Believe in GOD, Who Raised Him from the dead and gave Him Glory, so that your Faith and Hope are in GOD.” 1 Peter 1:13-21

“And we have known and Believed The Love that GOD has for us. GOD is Love! And he who Abides in Love Abides in GOD and GOD in him.” 1 John 4:16, study the whole chapter along with 1 Corinthians 13.

https://youtu.be/JljXIy85WZY

The Reason For The Season?

For a few decades now Christ-ians have been proclaiming that JESUS is the reason for the season of Christ-mas. While I understand that and have proudly proclaimed it, I have come to the conclusion like many others that it is not true. What? You ask.

JESUS is why we celebrate Christ-mas, the celebration of His birth as The Lamb of GOD to take away the sin of the world. He is the cause of the season; if JESUS had not been born we would not celebrate Christ-mas. Because JESUS was born of a virgin as prophesied and lived a sinless life overcoming every temptation that is common to humanity, was rejected by his own people and crucified on a cross as prophesied; rose on the third day as prophesied and ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of His Father – GOD Almighty, as prophesied, and now waits for His Body in the earth – The Church to make disciples of the nations so He can return to Rule the nations for one thousand years as prophesied, we celebrate Christ-mas – the birth of JESUS Christ as The Son of Man.

So if JESUS is the cause of our celebration of His birth, what is the reason for His birth? Us! Humanity!

The reason that GOD did everything in the flesh as His own Son is that we were (are) sinners lost to eternal damnation! Adam sinned against GOD in the very beginning when there was no sin in the earth and humanity lost its immortality and every one of his descendants (all of the human race) are born as sinners, destined for eternal damnation.

But GOD knew that this was going to happen and He prepared a plan to redeem us back as His children – that is the reason for JESUS’ birth , death, resurrection and ascension! Study 1 Peter 1:17-21; John 1:1-4, 35-36; Romans 5:20-21, 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:21.

So rejoice for we are the reason for the season, we celebrate JESUS’ birth because it is the sign of GOD’s Great Love for us and the beginning of our Salvation!

https://youtu.be/WlbKoRVclDY