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Welcome to my blog: I intend to share heartfelt writing about anything that comes to mind. |
| "Daily Study Plan - Week One"} Day one: Scripture - Read Genesis 29:30 to Genesis 30:24 Observations - What observations did you make while reading this passage? Apparently, Joseph lived with Rachel because in one of the verses, it talks about when Leah had another son, she had thought maybe he would then live with her. In those days, the maid conceived and gave birth, and their child was considered the children of their master. I have read in some commentaries where the maids of Rachel and Leah were considered concubines. However, the scriptures directly say they gave them to Joseph as another wife. However, they were still a maid/slave. Are there any word definitions you needed to look up? The definition of his name, Joseph, means "He will add" and the rood word means to add; to increase. Are there any words, phrases, verses, themes, etc... that stand out to you? The significance that I could find in birthing many children is that children were considered a blessing from God. It also states that God opened Leah's womb and closed Rachel's because Jacob hated Leah while he loved Rachel. mandrake noun (also known as a mayapple) a. Mediterranean herb (Mandragora officinarum) of the nightshade family with large ovate leaves, greenish-yellow or purple flowers, and a large usually forked root resembling a human in form and formerly credited with magical properties. b. The root of a mandrake formerly used especially to promote conception, as a cathartic, or as a narcotic and soporific. Why did Rachel want the Mandrakes? https://forwhatsaiththescriptures.org/2021/07/27/rachel-want-leahs-mandrakes/ Application - How does this apply to my life? What can I learn from this? What virtues, principles, or ideas are represented here? Rachel wanted children so bad that she demanded her husband give her children, gave Jacob her maid to wife, and made a deal with Leah for her son's mandrakes. All of these things she tried to manipulate the system didn't bring God's blessing of children to her. He gave her children in his timing and when he was ready. Prayer - Say a prayer. Day two: Scripture - Read Genesis 30:25-43 Observations - What observations did you make while reading this passage? Jacob again used trickery to turn things in his favor. By the time he was done, he had taken a majority of his uncle Laban's wealth. Are there any word definitions you needed to look up? Are there any words, phrases, verses, themes, etc... that stand out to you? Application - How does this apply to my life? What can I learn from this? What virtues, principles, or ideas are represented here? When we use deceit as a way to get what we want in life, it causes ill feelings from those around us. The relationship with Laban and his sons were not as they were before. Joseph would have witnessed this family tension. Prayer - Say a prayer. Day three: Scripture - Read Genesis 31:1-21 Observations - What observations did you make while reading this passage? Rachel stole her father's images, false gods. Rachel obviously was not just worshiping the god of Jacob. She was worshiping other gods. I wonder if this brings new significance back to the mandrakes. I wonder what religious rituals or practices Joseph witnessed from his mother. Are there any word definitions you needed to look up? Are there any words, phrases, verses, themes, etc... that stand out to you? Application - How does this apply to my life? What can I learn from this? What virtues, principles, or ideas are represented here? I think this passage shows how God knows what is in our heart and that ultimately determines what kind of relationship with have with almighty God. Prayer - Say a prayer. Day four: Scripture - Read Genesis 31:22-43 Observations - What observations did you make while reading this passage? Are there any word definitions you needed to look up? Are there any words, phrases, verses, themes, etc... that stand out to you? I find it interesting that even though Labon did not worship the Lord, he still warned him in a dream to not be hostile towards Jacob. He tells him the God of his father had talked to him in a dream. I am thinking Jacob's true heart conversion didn't occur until a little later. God was not referred to as his God here. Jacob had a 3-day head start before Laban and it took him 7 days to catch up to him. In verse 31, Jacob tells Laban that he was afraid he would take his daughters from him because he had threatened him. In verse 43, Jacob tells Laban that he would have sent him away empty had the God of Abraham and Isaac his father not intervened on his behalf. He had worked 14 years for his daughters and 6 years for his cattle for Laban. This would have made Joseph about 6 or 7 at the time. The tension leads to this confrontation. Application - How does this apply to my life? What can I learn from this? What virtues, principles, or ideas are represented here? deceit leads to distrust. Distrust leads to tension and confrontations in a relationship. Be careful what you threaten also. Our words and our actions can cause problems for us in the future if they are not done through the spirit and will of God. Prayer - Say a prayer. Day five: Scripture - Read Genesis 31:44-55 Observations - What observations did you make while reading this passage? Are there any word definitions you needed to look up? Are there any words, phrases, verses, themes, etc... that stand out to you? I think at this point it is obvious that Laban and Jacob were wanting to come to blows had God not intervened. So, they make an agreement to make peace and to not see each other again. God would be their witness. In verse 53, it refers to the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, Laban's family's father. God is capitalized in this verse, so is this referring to the same God? I think it is. When Laban is talking about the images that were stolen it is written in little letters, gods. Before Laban left Jacob, he kissed his family goodbye. This would have been the last time Joseph had seen his maternal grandfather and mother's side of the family. Application - How does this apply to my life? What can I learn from this? What virtues, principles, or ideas are represented here? Even in times of our life when we are not 100% right with God in our own hearts, God in his providence still watches over us and protects us. Prayer - Say a prayer. Day six: Scripture - Read Genesis 32:1-12 Observations - What observations did you make while reading this passage? Are there any word definitions you needed to look up? Are there any words, phrases, verses, themes, etc... that stand out to you? Was verses nine through twelve his sinner's prayer? Jacob was afraid and greatly distressed when he heard that his brother Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men with him. He was so troubled that he divided his family and possessions in 2 in hopes that if Esau attacked them, then at least half of them could escape and be saved from Esau's wrath. Right before this, he had been met by a host of angels. I wonder if Joseph also saw these angels. Application - How does this apply to my life? What can I learn from this? What virtues, principles, or ideas are represented here? Humility comes with true repentance. Jacob had deceived Esau 20 years earlier and had fled from him for his life. Now he had come back with his family, and was still afraid after all these years that Esau would kill him and his family for what he had done all those years ago. We are still seeing consequences of deceitfulness. Prayer - Say a prayer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summery of Week One It is clear that Leah and Rachel struggled with each other. Leah wanted the love of her husband and Rachel wanted children. Leah was having children while Rachel had their husband's love. The significance that I could find in birthing many children is that children were considered a blessing from God. It also states that God opened Leah's womb and closed Rachel's because Jacob hated Leah while he loved Rachel. This shows some of the consequences of favoritism. Favoritism will be a theme in our study of Joseph's life as you will see. The definition of his name, Joseph, means "He will add" and the rood word means to add; to increase. Rachel believed God would give her another son. Apparently, Jacob lived with Rachel because in one of the verses, it talks about when Leah had another son, she had thought maybe he would then live with her. In those days, the maid conceived and gave birth, and their child was considered the children of their master. I have read in some commentaries where the maids of Rachel and Leah were considered concubines. However, the scriptures directly say they gave them to Joseph as another wife. However, they were still a maid/slave. It appears that Rachel did not fully trust God for her children until after she had Joseph. She tried all kinds of things to cure her infertility. She wanted Jacob to give her children. His response was to ask her if he was in God's place. She used mandrakes which were at that time a medicinal practice for infertility. She also used her maid which 2 sons were born from. Sadly, Rachel dies while giving birth to Joseph's younger brother, Benjamin. God ultimately gave her children when he was ready and in his timing. Joseph would have been around the age of 6 when his brother Benjamin was born and his mother died. God also in his sovereignty ended up causing the Messiah to descend from Leah, the hated wife, through Judah and the priestly line of Moses and Aaron through her son Levi. Jay O'Toole   brought up a couple good points in our discussion too. Is it possible that God is always choosing the youngest instead of the oldest or the least favored in this line as a picture of Christ since he is considered the second Adam? Also, in this line of descendants, there are many examples of sin and God's sovereignty in the life of these people. Could the ten commandments be more of a reprimand as opposed to just rules to follow? Since the law is supposed to be what lets us realize we need Christ, these 10 commands reveal the sin in us because we are not able to obey the law perfectly. Only Jesus could do that. We then had a great discussion on Justification and regeneration based upon these thoughts.When we use deceit as a way to get what we want in life, it causes ill feelings from those around us. The relationship with Laban and his sons were not as they were before. Joseph would have witnessed this family tension. He would have been around 5 or 6 when the family fled from Laban to return to Jacob's family. Rachel stole her father's images, false gods. Rachel obviously was not just worshiping the god of Jacob's family. She was worshiping other gods. I wonder if this brings new significance back to the mandrakes too. Was there some kind of ceremonial ritual performed with them? I wonder what religious rituals or practices Joseph witnessed from his mother as a small child. Looking into some study Bibles' notes and commentaries notes, Laban apparently used some sort of divination to know that he had been blessed for Jacob's sake. He also was warned in a dream by the God of Isaac, Jacob's father, that he shouldn't harm Jacob when he was chasing after him. God had intervened on Jacob's behalf and saw how he was treated by Laban. God still took care of him even during this time. I am thinking his actual conversion experience/ commitment to the God of his father didn't happen until later when he wrestled with the Angel of the Lord. Deceit leads to distrust. Distrust leads to tension and confrontations in a relationship. Be careful what you threaten also. Our words and our actions can cause problems for us in the future if they are not done through the spirit and will of God. I think at this point it is obvious that Laban and Jacob were wanting to come to blows had God not intervened. So, they make an agreement to make peace and to not see each other again. God would be their witness. Before Laban left Jacob, he kissed his family goodbye. This would have been the last time Joseph had seen his maternal grandfather and mother's side of the family. Was verses nine through twelve in chapter 32 Jacob's sinner's prayer? Jacob was afraid and greatly distressed when he heard that his brother Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men with him. He was so troubled that he divided his family and possessions in 2 in hopes that if Esau attacked them, then at least half of them could escape and be saved from Esau's wrath. Right before this, he had been met by a host of angels. I wonder if Joseph also saw these angels. Humility comes with true repentance. Jacob had deceived Esau 20 years earlier and had fled from him for his life. Now he had come back with his family, and was still afraid after all these years that Esau would kill him and his family for what he had done all those years ago. We are still seeing consequences of his deceitfulness. |
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