Author: Alfonso Maldonado

Gen 37:4, BUT WHEN HIS BROTHERS SAW THAT THEIR FATHER LOVED HIM MORE THAN ALL HIS BROTHERS, THEY HATED HIM AND COULD NOT SPEAK PEACEABLY TO HIM. 

Verse 1 calls him Jacob because he is acting in the flesh! He causes problems in his own family by showing favoritism to one of his sons Joseph! And, they hated him more because of his dreams! Verse 8, They envied him verse 11

Gen 37: 23-24, So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that THEY STRIPPED JOSEPH OF HIS TUNIC, the tunic of many colors that was on him.

Gen 37:28, Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, AND SOLD HIM TO THE ISHMAELITES FOR TWENTY SHEKELS OF SILVER. AND THEY TOOK JOSEPH TO EGYPT. 

Joseph is a type of Christ Jesus! Joseph was stripped of his tunic and so was Jesus stripped of HIS.  As Joseph was sold so was Jesus sold by judas! Joseph was taken to Egypt, a type of the world, As Jesus willingly came down to the world!

As Jesus said, IN THE WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION; BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.”  JESUS knows what we are going through by firsthand experience! Seek HIM always in times of joy and in tribulation!

Gen 36:6, Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods which he had gained in the land of Canaan, AND WENT TO A COUNTRY AWAY FROM THE PRESENCE OF HIS BROTHER JACOB. 

Apparently, the death of Isaac brought both brothers together in Gen 35:29.  But they had to separate again because the land couldn’t sustain both their families!

Rom 9:13, As it is written, “JACOB I HAVE LOVED, BUT ESAU I HAVE HATED.” 

Many people believe that God hated Esau, but that isn’t the case! HE loved Esau and blessed him, BUT HE LOVED JACOB [ISRAEL] MORE!

Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to Me AND DOES NOT HATE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, WIFE AND CHILDREN, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YES, AND HIS OWN LIFE ALSO, he cannot be My disciple. 

Obviously, GOD is not saying they need to HATE everyone else, HE IS SAYING THAT GOD SHOULD BE OUR FIRST LOVE! THE FIRST WE GO TO! WE SHOULD LEAN ON HIM IN TIMES OF TROUBLE!

One thing to NOTE: Isaac died @ the age of 180 years old which is 572 YEARS AFTER THE FLOOD! Both Jacob & Esau were 120 years old at their father’s death!

Gen 35:10, And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So He called his name Israel. 

GOD REMINDS ISRAEL of his new name (person) Gen 32:28. We too are new in CHRIST and since we were born again WE WILL HAVE A NEW NAME

Rev 2:17, To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone A NEW NAME WRITTEN WHICH NO ONE KNOWS EXCEPT HIM WHO RECEIVES IT.” ‘ 

Gen 35:18, And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 

Gen 30:1, Rachel said, “GIVE ME CHILDREN, OR ELSE I DIE!” she was in competition with her sister Leah, and what she thought to be her final victory of Leah turns out to be her sorrow! Ben-Oni means “son of my sorrow”.  Israel changed it to “son of my right hand” Benjamin!

Gal 6:4, But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 

EXAMINE YOURSELF AND NOT OTHERS! DON’T TRY TO BE BETTER THAN SOMEONE ELSE, TRY TO BE A BETTER YOU A SERVANT ‘IN CHRIST’

Gen 34:2-3, And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her. HIS SOUL WAS STRONGLY ATTRACTED TO DINAH the daughter of Jacob, and HE LOVED THE YOUNG WOMAN and spoke kindly to the young woman. 

Lust not love! Love is patient & worth the wait!

1Cor 13:4-5, Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

Gen 34:25, Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, SIMEON and LEVI, Dinah’s brothers, each TOOK HIS SWORD AND CAME BOLDLY UPON THE CITY AND KILLED ALL THE MALES. 

VENGEANCE IS OF THE LORD!

Heb 10:30, For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” 

GOD IS NOT MENTION IN THIS CHAPTER & ISRAEL IS CALLED JACOB! THE FLESH & ITS ALL IT’S GLORY & PRIDE!  BE ANGRY, BUT DON’T SIN

Gen 33:3-4, Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. But Esau ran to meet him, and EMBRACED HIM, and fell on his neck and kissed him, AND THEY WEPT.

Jacob was scare, but GOD is faithful! God had been working on both their hearts!  Often, we imagine something worse that what really is, but that is just our human nature! TRUST IN HIM!

Psa 34:4, I SOUGHT THE LORD, AND HE HEARD ME, AND DELIVERED ME FROM ALL MY FEARS. 

Jacob offers Esau his livestock

Gen 33:9  But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 

Both said the same thing! ‘I HAVE ENOUGH’

1Ti 6:6, NOW GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN. 

Gen 33:12, Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.” 

It’s still Jacob & not Israel! He never intended to dwell with his brother but he didn’t let him know! We have to put away our old nature BECAUSE IN HIM WE ARE A NEW CREATION! LET THAT OLD MAN GO AND PUT ON THE NEW MAN IN HIM!

Gen 32:9, 11, Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, THE LORD WHO SAID TO ME, ‘RETURN TO YOUR COUNTRY AND TO YOUR FAMILY, AND I WILL DEAL WELL WITH YOU’… Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; FOR I FEAR HIM, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children. 

Isaac is afraid of his brother since he promised to kill him!  The LORD told him to return and HE will deal well with him! It reminds me of Jesus when HE said, “LET US CROSS OVER” Luke 8:22-25. As Jesus sleep, HIS men were gripped with fear because of a strong storm! So they woke him up!

But He said to them, “WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?”

Gen 32:24, Then Jacob was left alone; and a MAN wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 

While Jacob was gripped with fear and MAN (GOD HIMSELF) appeared to him and they wrestled all night!  In his mind He wrestled with the fear of his brother and the promises of God!

Gen 32:26, And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”

Jacob grabbed hold of GOD and would not let HIM go until he gets bless by HIM!  SO TO WE MUST “HOLD FAST” TO THE LORD UNTIL HE BLEESES US WITH HIS PRESENCE & PROMISSES!

Gen 31:1-2, Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “JACOB HAS TAKEN AWAY ALL THAT WAS OUR FATHER’S, AND FROM WHAT WAS OUR FATHER’S HE HAS ACQUIRED ALL THIS WEALTH.” And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before.

Laban’s sons were filled with envy which made it dangerous for Jacob.  Remember, JESUS HIMSELF WAS HANDED OVER TO PILATE BECAUSE OF THEIR ENVY OF HIM, MATT 27:18.

Jas 3:16, for where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and EVERY EVIL THING ARE THERE. 

Gen 31:19, Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, AND RACHEL HAD STOLEN THE HOUSEHOLD IDOLS THAT WERE HER FATHER’S.

Rachel probably grew up with this idol in her home and wanted to take it.  We also bring so much of our past with us! IT’S TIME TO CLEANSE OUR HANDS AND CUT OFF OUR FORMER IDOLS!

Jas 4:8, draw near to GOD and He will draw near to you. CLEANSE YOUR HANDS, YOU SINNERS; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  

Psa 51:10, Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 

WALK IN HIS LOVE AND TRUTH! HE IS NEAR!

Gen 30:1-2, Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “GIVE ME CHILDREN, OR ELSE I DIE!” And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, “AM I IN THE PLACE OF GOD, WHO HAS WITHHELD FROM YOU THE FRUIT OF THE WOMB?”

Rachel is frustrated and hurt because her sister bears children and she doesn’t. Her response it to demand children from her husband! It’s not Jacob But God who does the work! Trust in HIM!

Psa 127:3, Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 

Gen 30:22, THEN GOD REMEMBERED RACHEL, and God listened to her and opened her womb.

It is not that GOD forgot about Rachel, but that HE knows where and when to bless a person! HE is in full control and knows what HE is doing!

Pro 19:21, THERE ARE MANY PLANS IN A MAN’S HEART, NEVERTHELESS THE LORD’S COUNSEL—THAT WILL STAND. 

TRUST IN HIM & HIS PLAN FOR YOU!

Jer 29:11, FOR I KNOW THE THOUGHTS THAT I THINK TOWARD YOU, SAYS THE LORD, THOUGHTS OF PEACE AND NOT OF EVIL, TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE AND A HOPE. 

Gen 29:17-18, Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. Now JACOB LOVED RACHEL; SO HE SAID, “I WILL SERVE YOU SEVEN YEARS FOR RACHEL YOUR YOUNGER DAUGHTER.”

He worked 7 years to marry Laban’s daughter Rachel, yet Laban deceived him!

Gen 29:25, So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, IT WAS LEAH. And he said to Laban, “WHAT IS THIS YOU HAVE DONE TO ME? WAS IT NOT FOR RACHEL THAT I SERVED YOU? WHY THEN HAVE YOU DECEIVED ME?” 

Just as Jacob deceived his father and brother; he was also deceived by Laban!

Gal 6:7, Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Gen 29:31, When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.  

God brought children to Leah, which brought her love and joy, but She said “my husband will love me”, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me”. Many women deceive themselves by having sex with their boyfriends thinking they will be loved by them! LOVE CAN’T BE BOUGHT, LOVE IS GIVEN, JUST AS HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON

Gen 28:12-13, Then he (Jacob) dreamed, and behold, A LADDER was set up on the earth, and ITS TOP REACHED TO HEAVEN; AND THERE THE ANGELS OF GOD WERE ASCENDING AND DESCENDING ON IT. And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: “I AM THE LORD GOD OF ABRAHAM YOUR FATHER AND THE GOD OF ISAAC; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.

Joh 1:51, And He (JESUS) said to him, …YOU SHALL SEE HEAVEN OPEN, AND THE ANGELS OF GOD ASCENDING AND DESCENDING UPON THE SON OF MAN.” 

Jesus is the Ladder to Heaven

Gen 28:16-17, Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “SURELY THE LORD IS IN THIS PLACE, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “HOW AWESOME IS THIS PLACE! This is none other than the house of God, AND THIS IS THE GATE OF HEAVEN!” 

Jesus is also the Gate/Door of Heaven!

Joh 10:7, Then Jesus said to them again, … I say to you, I AM THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP. 

THE WAY TO THE FATHER IS THROUGH THE SON, JESUS! HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE! HIS NAME IS ABOVE ALL NAMES! HE IS KING OF kings AND LORD OF lords!