OVERVIEW:

The last three of the 10 plagues, including the death of the firstborn; the passover and feast of unleavened bread instituted by God as a memorial feast.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

God’s desire in delivering Israel out of the bondage of Egypt was to totally separate them as a people unto Himself. He intended not only to bring them OUT of EGYPT, but to bring them IN to CANAAN! (Deuteronomy 6:23; Leviticus 25:38; Exodus 3:8) Canaan was the place of abundance; it was the place God had promised them; the place that signified victory over their enemies; the place where they could experience a brand new kind of existence because of the intimacy of their relationship with God. (Leviticus 25:38b)

As we have seen, though all of those things were gloriously true of God’s desire for Israel, God uses the historical account of their exodus to teach us about our own exodus. (1^st Corinthians 10:6, 11) God’s desire in delivering us out of our bondage to sin, self, and Satan was to, likewise, separate us as a people unto Himself. Now that God has delivered us out of the clutches of Satan, and the world’s system of evil, 2^nd Corinthians 6:14–18 lets us know that He wants us to make absolutely no compromises with the world and/or the devil. He wants to bring US into a brand new type of existence because of the intimacy of our relationship with Him. A relationship where we are experiencing the “abundant life” that Jesus talked about in John 10:10, and where we live in victory over our enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil!

With God’s intentions for Israel in mind, it’s interesting to note the four compromises Pharaoh (a picture of Satan) offered to Moses and the people of Israel (the individual believer in Christ) in the midst of the 10 plagues. Recognize that these are the same compromises Satan seeks to use to keep God’s purposes from being fulfilled in and through us!

Worship God but stay in Egypt. (Exodus 8:25–27)

In other words, go to church, get involved, serve, tithe, even witness, but just don’t separate yourself from the world. Allow the world to still be your “friend”. It does not bother Satan one bit for us to be double-minded, or to have a double allegiance; he welcomes it! God, however, despises it (James 1:8; 4:8) and demands complete separation from the world because friendship with the world is enmity with Him. (James 4:4; 2^nd Corinthians 6:14–18)

Leave, but don’t go too far away. (Exodus 8:28)

Satan says, “Sure, do the ‘God thing’, but you don’t have to be a fanatic about it! Give God a place in your heart, but don’t go overboard with it!”  God says, “If I am God, follow me alone! If anything else is god, then follow it! But don’t think that you can do both!” (1^st Kings 18:21) The fact is, we can’t be close to God and close to the world at the same time. Jesus said it is an impossibility! (Matthew 6:24) He also said it makes Him sick! (Revelation 3:5–16)

Leave but allow your children to remain in Egypt. (Exodus10:7–11)

Satan will let men think they’re doing well spiritually, if in so doing, he can take captive the next generation. Men have been called, however, to bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4), and to lead their families to worship God and God alone. (1^st Timothy 3:4–5; Titus 1:6)

Leave but keep your possessions in Egypt. (Exodus 10:24–26)

Satan wants us to think that our relationship with God and our relationship with our money and possessions are two different things. The simple biblical fact is, they are not! Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24), and “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:21) If we have somehow convinced ourselves that we are walking in the perfect will of God for our life, but our treasure is in Egypt (the world) we have been duped!

To avoid the death of the firstborn, the people of Israel had to kill a spotless lamb and apply the blood to the doorposts of their house. When God saw the blood, He “passed over” that house and the judgment upon the firstborn was averted. Once again, God is painting an Old Testament picture to teach us the New Testament truth that we can only be delivered from the curse of death upon our first birth by applying the blood of the true, spotless “Passover Lamb”, the Lord Jesus Christ! (1^st Corinthians 5:7; 1^st Peter 1:18–19; John 3:3)

Note the progression concerning the lamb in Exodus 12:3–5. It is “A lamb”, then, “THE lamb”, then “YOUR lamb”. The practical implications to each individual are powerful: in order for your sin to be removed, you need “A lamb”! (Luke 2:11) But, not just any lamb will do! It must be “THE Lamb”! (John 4:42) But in order for your sin to actually be removed, “THE Lamb” must become “YOUR Lamb”! (John 20:28)    

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the LIGHT TO HIS PEOPLE – Exodus 10:22–23 (John 8:12)

The sacrifice of an UNBLEMISHED LAMB with no BROKEN BONES – Exodus 12:5, 46 (1^st Peter 1:19; Psalm 34:20; John 19:36)

As the Passover Lamb – Exodus 12:3–5 (1^st Corinthians 5:7b; 1^st Peter 1:19; John 1:29)

OVERVIEW:

Moses and Aaron go before Pharaoh; the first seven of the 10 plagues.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Seven times God says to Pharaoh, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.” (Exodus 5:1; 7:16; 8:1, 20; 9:1, 13; 10:3). Notice that, though the children of Israel would most certainly be the beneficiaries of God’s delivering power, the actual purpose in delivering them out of the bondage of Egypt wasn’t first and foremost for them, it was for Him! It was so the children of Israel could “serve HIM”, not Pharaoh, and not Egypt! In recounting His purpose in Israel’s “exodus” in Ezekiel 20:9, God said, “But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them fourth out of the land of Egypt.” Let us never forget, that God’s purpose in delivering us out of the bondage of Egypt (sin/ world) was not simply so we could live comfortable, happy lives, and go to heaven when we die. He saved us for His purposes and pleasure (Ephesians 2:10; Revelation 4:11; John 17:3). He saved us so we would cease polluting His holy name! He saved us so we would cease serving our own selfish and worldly interests—so we could serve HIM! (2^nd Corinthians 5:15)

The ten plagues of Egypt had a fourfold purpose:

1. They were signs to Israel, assuring them of God’s power and care. (Exodus 7:3; 1^st Corinthians 1:22)
2. They were judgments upon Egypt and its ruler, Pharaoh, for persecuting Israel.
3. They were prophecies of judgments that will come upon this world and Satan when Moses reappears on this planet during the tribulation period. (Revelation 16)
4. To show the people of Egypt God’s superiority over their gods.

• The 1^st plague of bloody waters was directed against the Egyptian god, Osiris, the god of the Nile. (Exodus 7:20)

• The 2^nd plague of the frogs was directed against Hekt, the Egyptian frog goddess. (Exodus 8:6)

• The 3^rd plague of lice was directed against the Egyptian god, Seb, the earth god. (Exodus 8:17)

• The 4^th plague of flies was directed against the Egyptian goddess, Hatkok, the wife of Osiris. (Exodus 8:24)

• The 5^th plague of cattle disease was directed against the Egyptian god, Apis, the sacred bull god. (Exodus 9:6)

• The 6^th plague of boils was directed against the Egyptian god, Typhon, god of volcanic forces and strong winds. (Exodus 9:10)

• The 7^th plague, hail with fire, was directed against the Egyptian god, Shu, the god of the atmosphere. (Exodus 9:23)

• The 8^th plague of locusts was directed against Serapia, the god who supposedly protected Egypt against locusts. (Exodus 10:14)

• The 9^th plague, darkness, was directed against the Egyptian god, Ra, the sun god. (Exodus 10:22)

• The 10^th plague, the death of the firstborn, was directed against all gods. (Exodus 12:29)

Notice Pharaoh’s (Satan’s) response to God’s command to let his people go in Exodus 5:1: “And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice…?” (Exodus 5:2) Keep in mind that the world and Satan have no respect for God’s word; it is “vain” to them. (5:9) Sinners will either yield to God’s word, or resist it and become hardened. (Exodus 7:14; Hebrews 3:13)

Notice also that God says that His purpose in allowing Pharaoh to oppress Israel was so that His power and glory might be known to the world. (Exodus 6:7; 7:5, 17; 8:10, 22) Today, God is fulfilling His purposes through His church. (Ephesians 3:10) That is why God sometimes allows us to be oppressed (“suffer persecution”—2^nd Timothy 3:12); that He might reveal His power and glory to the world! Our response to persecution and suffering will determine whether or not we will allow God to fulfill His purposes through us. (1^st Peter 2:19–23, Philippians 1:28–29)   

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the REDEEMER from the bondage of sin – Exodus 6:6 (Romans 6:14; Galatians 3:13; 1^st Peter 1:18–25)

OVERVIEW:

The bondage of the Jews in Egypt; Moses’ birth and early life in Egypt; Moses’ flight into Midian; the burning bush; God commissions Moses and Aaron to deliver Israel; Moses’ return to Egypt.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The word “exodus” means “the way out”. The book of Exodus is the story of Israel’s deliverance from bondage in Egypt. It should be noted, as we begin this portion of the Bible, that more column inches are given to the record of Israel’s exodus than any other thing in the entire Bible! It is the subject matter, not only of the book of Exodus, but the books of Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy and even into the book of Joshua! Why so much detail about one event? We are told why in 1^st Corinthians 10:1-11: the exodus is not just a PORTION of Israel’s history—it is a PORTRAIT of the Christian life! God tells us that we’re given this incredible record of Israel’s history, so that the same thing that happened to them, doesn’t happen to us! (See 1^st Corinthians 10:6, 11.) The sad reality is that for most believers, it does!

To help you “develop the pictures”, as we make our way through Israel’s exodus, keep in mind that:

• EGYPT is a picture of the world and sin. It will consistently stand for that which is in opposition to God and God’s people. Just as Egypt held God’s people in bondage in the Old Testament, it pictures the world’s system that seeks to hold us in bondage in the New Testament. (Ephesians 2:2)
• PHARAOH, the wicked king of Egypt, is a picture of Satan, the wicked king of the world’s system who exercises his will in taking God’s people captive. (2^nd Timothy 2:26)
• ISRAEL is a picture of the individual believer. Please note that Israel is not a picture of the church! In Exodus 4:22-23, God plainly declares that “Israel is my son” and commands Moses to tell Pharaoh to “let my son go, that he may serve me.” In the New Testament, God reveals that as individual believers in Christ, we now possess the title, “son of God”. (1^st John 3:2; John 1:12; Romans 8:14) Making the proper connection between Israel and the individual believer will keep us from “wrongly dividing the word of truth” (2^nd Timothy 2:13), and misapplying God’s word to our lives.
• MOSES is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, the deliverer of God’s people.
• AMALEK is a picture of the flesh, which constantly wars with our spirits as we seek to walk with Christ. (Galatians 5:16-17)

Keep in mind, as you read about Israel’s affliction in today’s reading, that the Jews had gone down to Egypt and lived off the best of the land. (Genesis 47:6) This luxury has now turned into sorrow and suffering. It is an inescapable principle of life: sin promises freedom and happiness, but in the end, it only leads to bondage and sorrow. Be constantly on guard against the “deceitfulness of sin”! (Hebrews 3:13; Romans 7:11; Ephesians 4:22)

As the Hebrews remained in bondage for 400 years(!), it seemed as if God was either unaware or unconcerned of their situation. They, no doubt, felt forsaken, and wondered why God had not provided their deliverance. Had they only remembered what God said in Genesis 15:13-16, they would have known that God had already prophesied that the duration of their bondage would be 400 years. During these years when it seemed as if God was doing nothing, He was actually preparing His people (Exodus 1), preparing the deliverer (Exodus 2-4), and extending incredible mercy by giving the wicked nations of Canaan time to repent (Genesis 15:16). When we feel that God is either unaware or unconcerned about our circumstances, we must remember that God is constantly at work in our lives for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28-29), even when we can’t see it with our physical eyes!

At 40 years of age, Moses determined that it was time to accomplish the mission for which he had been called—to deliver Israel! There was only one problem, however. It wasn’t GOD’S time! Exodus 2:12 says that Moses “looked this way and that.” Moses wanted to fulfill God’s calling on his life but he was walking by sight and not by faith. (2^nd Corinthians 5:7) God had 40 years of training ahead for Moses in the land of Midian serving as a shepherd for his father-in-law’s flock before he would be prepared for the difficult task that lie ahead in shepherding God’s flock.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through MOSES as SHEPHERD and DELIVERER – Exodus 3:1, 11 (John 10:11-14; Hebrews 13:20; 1^st Peter 5:4; Romans 11:26; Titus 2:14)

Note: Moses is one of the most perfect types of Christ in the entire Bible. Moses himself makes this declaration in Deuteronomy 18:15.

As the Great I AM – Exodus 3:13–14 (John 8:58; Hebrews 13:8)

OVERVIEW:

Jacob’s vision at Beersheba; the journey to Egypt; Joseph and the famine; the best land given to Jacob; Jacob blesses Joseph’s sons; Jacob’s prophecies upon his sons; the deaths of Jacob and Joseph.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

In today’s reading, Jacob begins the journey toward Egypt to be reunited with his beloved son, Joseph. At Beersheba, God spoke to Jacob in a vision of the night, assuring him that it was His will that he goes to Egypt, and that though he would die there, God would eventually return His people to the land that was promised. As has been already noted, God is consistently hammering the point that Egypt is a downward move, and one must be brought up out of Egypt. (Genesis 46:4) Egypt is a picture of sin and the world.

When Jacob is reunited with Joseph, it has been 22 long years, with an incredible amount of water that has passed under the proverbial bridge. Joseph is now 39, and Jacob is 130. Joseph introduces his father to the Pharaoh, and he grants Jacob the best part of Egypt for his family to settle in; an area called Goshen.

After 17 years in Egypt, Jacob realizes that he is close to death. He has one major thing that he makes Joseph promise him: “Bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt.” (47:2-31)

Chapter 48 records Jacob’s (Israel’s) last blessing. Joseph brings his two sons before his father, and he adopts them as his own sons and assures them of an equal inheritance. However, a strange thing happens as Israel bestows the blessing upon his sons. As Joseph brings his two sons before his father, Manasseh is brought toward Jacob’s right hand, and Ephraim is brought toward his left hand. As Jacob reaches out to impart the blessing, he crosses his hands, giving the firstborn blessing of his right hand to Ephraim, the younger son. Though Joseph objected, Israel explained that God was once again going to bestow the firstborn blessing upon the younger son.

What is the meaning of this bizarre story? It is all an incredible picture! The Bible refers to Christ as the “firstborn among many brethren,” who is “seated at the Father’s right hand.” When we came before the Father, and asked Him to bestow the blessing of eternal life upon us, in effect, God the Father crossed His hands. Since He only has one gift of eternal life, and that life is in His Son (1^st John 5:11-12), God took His right hand and placed it on us, and took His left hand and placed it on His Son. Christ gets our sin—we get His righteousness. (2^nd Corinthians 5:20) Christ dies our death—we get His life. (Romans 5:10) Christ gets our curse—we get the firstborn blessing! (Galatians 3:13-14)

The scene in chapter 49 as the dying Jacob calls his sons into his bedroom is not only incredibly prophetic (Genesis 49:1 “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days”), it is also an incredible picture! It is an extremely graphic and detailed picture of the Judgment Seat of Christ! (2^nd Corinthians 5:10-11)

As Joseph comes to the end of his life in Genesis 50, he has the same passion as did his father before him, manifest through one major request. He wanted to be certain that his bones did not remain in Egypt! Like his father, he wanted to be buried in Canaan. Why? Because Canaan was the land promised. Jacob and Joseph both realized that though they were in Egypt (the world), they were not of Egypt (the world)! (John 17:11–16) Joseph’s request was not forgotten. As the children of Israel set out for Canaan, 400 years later, Exodus 13:19 says that they took Joseph’s bones with them. Don’t miss the incredible picture being painted here because we also have the promise of God that He will not allow our bones to remain in Egypt! (1^st Thessalonians 4:11-17) Notice that the book of Genesis begins with a man in a garden, and ends with a man in a coffin; it begins with life, and ends with death. God says, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and “sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:15)

As we conclude the book of Genesis today, here is a simple way to remember the content of this vitally important book. The book of Genesis is comprised of:

✦ FOUR KEY EVENTS (Genesis 1–11)

1. Creation (1–2)
2. The Fall (3–5)
3. The Flood (6–9)
4. The Tower of Babel (10–11)

✦ FOUR KEY MEN (Genesis 12–50)

1. Abraham (12:1–25:8)
2. Isaac (21:1–35:29)
3. Jacob (25:21–50:14)
4. Joseph (30:22–50:26)

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through JOSEPH, WHO SUSTAINED LIFE AND OFFERED PROVISION FROM HIS POSITION ON THE THRONE – Genesis 47:15-17 (John 6:33)

As SHILOH, THE ONE WHO HOLDS THE SCEPTRE FROM THE TRIBE OF JUDAH – Genesis 49:10 (Luke 3:23-33)

OVERVIEW:

Joseph’s brothers buy corn and bow down to him; Simeon is detained, and Benjamin is summoned; Joseph’s brothers return to Egypt for food; Judah offers to take the place of Benjamin; Joseph reveals himself to his brothers.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As God spotlights the life of Joseph in these final chapters of the book of Genesis, it is interesting how God introduces to us the life principle that, “What goes around comes around” or, to state it in biblical terms, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7) Ironically, Jacob, who willfully deceived his father by the skins of “the kids of the goats” (Genesis 27:16) is deceived by his sons in a similar manner in chapter 37:31-33.

This principle is observed repeatedly throughout Scripture. For example, Pharaoh, who called for the destruction of God’s people by the waters of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:15) saw his own people drowned by the waters of the Red Sea. (Exodus 14:28) Korah, who caused a division among God’s people (Numbers 16:1–3), was swallowed alive by a division in the ground. (Numbers 16:31-2) Haman, who built the gallows upon which to hang a godly Hebrew (Esther 5:14), was hanged from those very gallows. (Esther 7:10) Because of this biblical principle, as adverse situations unfold in our lives, it is always a good practice to step back and ask ourselves, “Is this happening in my life because I am reaping according to what I’ve sown?” God may be trying to reveal to us how it is that we need to “…cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2^nd Corinthians 7:1)

The whole story of Joseph’s dealings with his brothers, in this section, foreshadows that coming day, in another time of tribulation (Revelation 6:5-8), when the remnant of Israel will confess its guilt in connection with the death of the Messiah and will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son. (Zechariah 12:10)

As the brothers make their second trip back to Joseph, you can begin to detect a change of heart:

• Judah, who so ruthlessly sold Joseph for profit with no concern for his father’s heartbreak in chapter 37, pours out his heart in intercession before Joseph in chapter 44, offering himself as a slave to spare his father the doubly-painful sorrow of losing Benjamin. Judah moved from selling his brother into slavery, to being willing to become a slave in his brother’s behalf.
• The brothers’ willingness to return the money.
• The confession of the truth to Joseph’s steward.

Though these were positive signs of their change of heart, they were also evidence that they were making some horrendous mistakes. Such as, taking Joseph a present, and confessing their sins to Joseph’s servant rather than to Joseph himself. This mistake has been made by lost sinners throughout the history of the church. God works in the life of the sinner to bring him to the end of himself, and to God Himself, but many seek to win their salvation by what they bring to God, or by confessing their sin to a man rather than to God Himself, or like Judah, by making some sort of sacrifice. Salvation would be graciously offered to Joseph’s brothers upon simple confession and repentance. Likewise, salvation in Christ is graciously offered to sinful men upon simple confession and repentance. (Romans 10:9-13; Acts 17:30)

Notice in 45:13, Joseph, the incredible type of Christ, tells his brothers, “…tell my Father of all my glory.” John 13:31 teaches those of us who are Christ’s brothers (Hebrews 2:11), that God is glorified as we glorify His Son. Oh, let us tell the Father of all of Christ’s glory today! Philippians 2:9-11 says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through JOSEPH’S DEALINGS WITH HIS BROTHERS – Genesis 45:4-15 (Hebrews 2:11; Romans 5:8)

Through JOSEPH’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE AFFAIRS OF LIFE – Genesis 45:5-8 (Ephesians 1:17, 20-22)

OVERVIEW:

Joseph’s dreams; Joseph sold into slavery; the enticement and lies of Potiphar’s wife; the imprisonment of Joseph; Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams; Joseph is made a ruler of Egypt.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The narrative in this section, dealing with the life of Joseph, is very interesting reading, completely self-explanatory, and the applications to the believer’s life are abundantly clear. By “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1^st Corinthians 2:10, 13), however, this section reveals that Joseph is the most comprehensive type of Christ in the entire Bible! Consider these amazing “coincidences” (similarities) in the life of Joseph and Jesus.

1. Both were the beloved of their fathers. (Genesis 37:3; Matthew 3:17)
2. Both regarded themselves as shepherds. (Genesis 37:2; John 10:11-14)
3. Both were sent to their brethren by their fathers. (Genesis 37:13-14; Luke 20:13; John 3:17; Hebrews 10:7)
4. Both were hated by their brethren without cause. (37:4-5; John 1:11; 7:5; 15:25)
5. Both were plotted against by their brethren. (Genesis 37:20; John 11:53)
6. Both were severely tempted. (Genesis 39:7; Matthew 4:1)
7. Both were taken to Egypt. (Genesis 37:36; Matthew 2:14-15)
8. Both were stripped of their robes. (Genesis 37:23; John 19:23-24)
9. Both were sold for the price of a slave. (Genesis 37:28; Matthew 26:15)
10. Both were bound. (Genesis 39:20; Matthew 27:2)
11. Both remained silent and offered no defense. (Genesis 39:20; Isaiah 53:7)
12. Both were falsely accused. (Genesis 39:16-18; Matthew 26:59-60)
13. Both experienced God’s presence through everything. (Genesis 39:2, 21-23; John 16:32)
14. Both were respected by their jailors. (Genesis 39:21; Luke 23:47)
15. Both were placed with two prisoners, one of which was later lost, and the other saved. (Genesis 40:2-3, 21-22; Luke 23:32, 39-43)
16. Both were around thirty when their ministry began. (Genesis 41:46; Luke 3:23)
17. Both were highly exalted after their sufferings. (Genesis 41:41; Philippians 2:9-11)
18. Both took Gentile brides. (Genesis 41:45; Ephesians 2:11-13)
19. Both were lost to their brothers for a while. (Genesis 42:7-8; Romans 10:1-3; 11:7-8)
20. Both forgave and restored their repentant brothers. (Genesis 45:1-15; Micah 7:18- 19; Zechariah 12:10-12; Revelation 1:7)
21. Both were visited and honored by all earthly nations. (Genesis 41:57; Isaiah 2:2-3; 49:6)

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In JOSEPH – (see connections made under HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS)

By the WISDOM OF JOSEPH – Genesis 41:39 (Colossians 2:2-3)

OVERVIEW:

Jacob gets word that Esau is ensuing; Jacob wrestles with the Angel of God; Jacob’s name is changed to Israel; the peaceful reunion between Jacob and Esau; Dinah, Jacob and Leah’s daughter is raped; the revenge carried out by Simeon and Levi; Jacob’s return to Bethel; God reaffirms the Abrahamic Covenant with Jacob.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

When we left Jacob in chapter 31, he had finally rid himself of his adversary, Laban. As chapter 32 begins, he must concern himself with an even greater adversary, his own brother, Esau, who had threatened to take his life 20 years earlier.

Before Jacob can be reconciled with his brother, however, he first needed to be reconciled with his God. Notice that 32:24 says that “Jacob was left alone”. Many times, God is most at work in our lives when we feel most alone. That night Jacob wrestled all night with the “man” who is the “angel” of Jehovah in the Old Testament, the Lord Jesus Christ. God brought Jacob to this place of aloneness because He wanted to break him. God wanted Jacob to cry “uncle”, as it were, or in the words of Galatians 2:20, “Not I, but Christ.” The key was in getting Jacob to face who and what he really was.

God asked Jacob his name in 32:27 (obviously, knowing it full well!), so that he would have to say, “I am Jacob.” Or, in other words, so he would have to admit, “I am a schemer… I am a deceiver… I am a liar.” Once Jacob admits his name, God graciously changes it! Jacob (“supplanter”) becomes Israel (“God prevails”), signifying one who has “power with God and men”. (32:28) Verse 31 indicates that by the time this significant night was over, God had given Jacob the dawn of a new day. He not only had a new name, but a new walk. For the rest of Jacob’s life, he would walk with a limp.

Interestingly though, as chapter 33 begins, he is not living up to his new name and his new position with God. He is called “Jacob”, not “Israel”, and it says that he “lifted up his eyes”, indicating that he is not walking by faith, but by sight. He becomes a classic illustration of believers in Christ who are given a new name (Acts 11:26; Revelation 3:12), and a new position (Philippians 3:15; Ephesians 1:4), yet don’t live up to who they are “in Christ”. Chapter 33 finds Jacob, despite his tremendous calling, continuing his scheming, his lying, and his patterns of disobedience. Though he has the mark of God on his life, he is walking like the man he used to be before his life-changing encounter with God. That’s why Ephesians 4:22-23 tells us, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

Keep in mind, as we are reading of Jacob’s “journeys”, that back in chapter 31:13, God had called Jacob to return to Bethel. As he journeyed toward Bethel, the place of his vision and his vow, he discovered the beautiful valleys and opportunities for financial gain near Shechem. (33:18) Jacob ended up staying there for 10 entire years—until his precious 14-year-old daughter was raped by the king of Shechem’s son. As an old song says,

Sin will take you farther than you want to go,

Slowly, but wholly, taking control.

Sin will leave you longer than you want to stay.

Sin will cost you far more than you want to pay.

Unbelievably, even after the atrocity meted out upon his daughter, and then the atrocity meted out by his two sons in murdering in cold blood every single Shechemite male in revenge for their sister, Jacob’s only concern still seems to be himself! Notice in 34:30 that Jacob’s response includes eight first-person pronouns in one sentence! (me, me, I, me, me, I, I, my).

In chapter 35, God again reminds Jacob of his previous instruction to return to Bethel. (31:11-13) Sadly, Jacob had been living in Shechem for those 10 years, when Bethel was only 30 miles away! It serves as a great reminder to us that it is easy to be moving in the right direction, spiritually, and yet fall far short of full surrender. (Hebrews 4:1, 9, 11)

In chapter 35, Jacob leads his family back to Bethel, where God reaffirms to him the Abrahamic Covenant, and the fact that He had changed his name. Praise God for His unbelievable patience, mercy, and grace toward people like Jacob, or shall we say, people like us!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In BENJAMIN – Genesis 35:16-19

Notice in this first mention of “Bethlehem” in the Bible, that a mother is told, “Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.” She then gives birth in the city of Bethlehem, to one to whom the father calls “the son of my right hand.” Centuries later, another mother is told, “Fear not…thou shalt…bring forth a son.” (Luke 1:30-31) And she gives birth in the city of Bethlehem (Luke 2:4, 7) to the One God the Father calls “the Son of My right hand”. (Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 1:3, 13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2)

OVERVIEW:

Isaac confers the Abrahamic covenant upon Jacob; the vision of Jacob’s ladder; Jacob’s journey to Haran; Jacob’s marriages to Leah and Rachel; Laban’s jealousy; Jacob flees.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The remainder of the book of Genesis focuses primarily on Jacob. Joseph will most certainly be spotlighted, but his story is actually contained within the context of the account of Jacob’s life.

The name Jacob means “supplanter”, as in deceiver, schemer, or conniver. As we have already seen in chapters 25 and 27, he more than lived up to his name. Jacob is a graphic picture of the worldly/carnal believer who trusts the arm of the flesh to provide what God is more than willing and fully intending to provide by His own hand. For example, what Jacob’s mother (Rebekah) deviously schemed, and Jacob deceitfully carried out in order to obtain the firstborn blessing from his father (Isaac), was totally unnecessary because God had already determined, and had already clearly revealed to Rebekah, that the firstborn blessing was to be Jacob’s when Jacob and Esau were yet in her womb! (See 25:20–23) We don’t know how God would have accomplished bestowing the blessing upon Jacob since it appears that Isaac was intending to be willfully disobedient to God’s word by giving the blessing to Esau, but God most certainly could and would have been able to pull it off without Rebekah and Jacob’s deception and dishonesty. As Bob Jones, Sr. used to say, “It is never right to do wrong in order to do something right.”

As we have already seen, through the first half of the book of Genesis, and will continue to see in the midst of our journey through the remainder of the word of God, there are always painful consequences to sin. Although Jacob received the “blessing” from Isaac in chapter 27, his deception in obtaining it brought “cursing” (conflict) upon him. For example:

• Esau wanted and intended to kill him, causing Jacob to run in fear for the next 20 years.
• Once Jacob left his home in chapter 28 in his attempt to flee from Esau, he never saw his beloved mother again.
• He was deceived by his uncle Laban. The “supplanter” was “supplanted”; the “conniver” was “connived”. It’s the biblical principle of Galatians 6:7–8: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption…”
• His family life was riddled with conflict. This is the biblical principle of Proverbs 11:29: “He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind.” (In other words, everything becomes difficult, like riding a bicycle against the wind.) Let us all beware!

As Jacob leaves his home in chapter 28 on his way to Haran, he comes to Bethel. As he lays down to get some rest from the long journey, he uses a stone as a pillow and has a very unusual, but very significant dream, the infamous “Jacob’s ladder”. The dream verified that God was going to give to Jacob, by the power of His Spirit, what Jacob was striving so tenaciously to gain in the power of his own flesh! Jacob was the one to whom God intended to establish the Abrahamic Covenant all along. Oh, that we would learn to trust our perfect heavenly Father!

In chapter 29, as was mentioned above, “the deceiver” becomes “the deceived”, as Jacob is outsmarted by his own father-in-law, Laban. Thus, the statement, “What goes around comes around!” By the time chapter 29 ends, Jacob has two wives, and in chapter 30, he falls prey to the principle of the iniquity of the fathers being visited upon the children’s children (Exodus 34:6–7), as in great Abrahamic fashion, he takes the handmaid of each of his wives through which to have children. The result, as one would expect, is great conflict. Yet, it is through Jacob’s relationship with these four women that his 12 sons were born, and through whom God established the 12 tribes of Israel.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In JACOB’S LADDER – Genesis 28:11-12

Note: Genesis 28:11–12 foreshadows that the promises would culminate in something that would bridge heaven and earth. In John 1:43–51, Jesus identifies Himself as the Ladder. He is the One who opens heaven for us and brings heaven’s blessing to our lives, and He alone is the One who can bring us to the Father.

In the BIRTH OF JOSEPH – Genesis 30:23-24 (Genesis 50:20; Matthew 1:21; 1^st Timothy 1:15; John 3:16)

Note: Joseph was born into the world to save and preserve his people.

As the ANGEL OF GOD – Genesis 31:11

OVERVIEW:

The death of Abraham; the birth of Jacob and Esau; Esau sells his birthright; Isaac sojourns in Gerar; Isaac blesses Jacob with the Abrahamic Covenant.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

After the death of Abraham, Isaac finds himself in the same predicament his father was in some 50 years previous. He is the recipient of God’s promise of seed, but his wife of 20 years remains barren. The fulfillment of God’s covenant promise demanded that Isaac and Rebekah have sons. Rather than follow the sin of his father, however, Isaac learns to “intreat the Lord” (25:21) for the very thing his father had looked to the world and the flesh to provide. Praise the Lord, the Scripture says that the iniquities of the fathers (Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18) are “VISITED” upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. When a VISITOR comes to our door, we don’t have to let them in! Do note, however, that when the iniquity of his father “visits” in chapter 26 and verse 7, Isaac responds just as his father, Abraham, had done! He lies about his wife being his sister. This is a good place to begin to learn, the biblical principle, that we must always be on guard against the sins to which our father was susceptible! (Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18)

As a result of Isaac’s faithful prayers, God grants Isaac and Rebekah conception. Rebekah sensed a struggle within her womb, and enquired of the Lord as to the meaning. The Lord explained in 25:23, “Two nations are in thy womb (Israel and Edom), and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.”

As seen previously in the story of Ishmael and Isaac, God continuously finds ways in the Old Testament to point us to the fact that He rejects the first birth (“that which is born of the flesh” – John 3:6a) and accepts the second birth (“that which is born of the Spirit” – John 3:6b). This time, God points us to that fact in the picture He paints through His record of the lives of Jacob and Esau.

Note also, that there is another incredible picture that God paints through the bizarre story in Genesis 27 of the firstborn blessing coming to Jacob, the younger, instead of Esau, the older. Christ, our older brother (Hebrews 2:11), the One to whom belonged the firstborn blessing (Colossians 1:15; Romans 8:29), was cursed (2^nd Corinthians 5:20) and rejected of His Father (Matthew 27:46), that the firstborn blessing might come upon us! Needless to say, God is quite an Artist! He paints pictures of New Testament principles, concepts and truths through the Old Testament record of actual historic events!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

The SEED THROUGH WHOM THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD WOULD BE BLESSED – Genesis 26:4 (Galatians 3:16)

In ESAU – Genesis 25:23 (Malachi 1:2-3; Galatians 3:13)

OVERVIEW:

Abraham’s willingness to offer his only son, Isaac; God’s reaffirmation of His covenant with Abraham; Sarah’s death; Isaac’s marriage to Rebekah.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Genesis 22 is one of the greatest chapters of the entire Bible. It lifts the curtain for the dress rehearsal of Calvary. In this chapter, God takes out His Divine brush, and paints an unbelievably beautiful picture of the offering of His only begotten Son.

Note the incredible similarities…

• Isaac’s birth was prophesied in Genesis 18:10: “Sarah thy wife shall have a son.” Christ’s birth was prophesied in Isaiah 7:14: “Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son.”

• Isaac’s birthday was preset. Genesis 21:2 says that Isaac was born “at the set time of which God had spoken to Abraham.” Christ’s birthday was preset. Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman.”

• Isaac received his name before his birth. Genesis 17:19 says that God told Abraham, “Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son…and thou shalt call his name Isaac.” Jesus received His name before His birth. Matthew 1:21 says that God told Joseph, “And she (Mary) shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus…”

• Isaac was conceived by a miracle. (Genesis 18:11–14) Christ was conceived by a miracle. (Luke 1:34–37)

• Isaac was the only begotten son of his father. (Genesis 22:2; Hebrews 11:17) Jesus was the only begotten Son of His Father. (John 3:16)

• There was a specific place God had in mind for Abraham to offer his son. Genesis 22:2 says that it was on one of the mountains in the land of Moriah. Moriah means “chosen by Jehovah.” The passage does not tell us which mountain, but we have already seen enough of the picture to know which mountain in particular “Jehovah had chosen”! Genesis 22:3 says, “And Abraham…and Isaac his son…went unto the place of which God had told him.”

There was also a specific place God had in mind to offer His own Son. Luke 23:33 says, “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him (Christ).”

• Both Isaac and Jesus rose from the dead. Isaac rose from the dead, figuratively, after three days! (Genesis 22:3–4; See Hebrews 11:19) Jesus, of course, rose from the dead, literally, after three days! (1^st Corinthians 15:3– 4)

• Isaac walks to the place of sacrifice the Lord had shown his father, carrying the wood that was to be used for his own execution. (Genesis 22:5–6) Jesus walked to the place of sacrifice shown Him of His Father, carrying the wood that was to be used for His own execution. John 19:17 says, “And he (Jesus), bearing his cross went forth into a place… which is called…Golgotha.”

Note that the instrument of sacrifice did not fall upon Isaac in Genesis 22:9–14. That is because he was just the picture! One day, 1900 years later, it would fall on the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, check out the answer Abraham gives his son to the question he asked about where the lamb was that would be offered as the sacrifice for sin: “Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb!” (22:8) Of course, there was the immediate fulfillment in the ram caught in the thicket in verse 13 (i.e. a male lamb wearing a crown of thorns!) But there is also a prophetic fulfillment as well! Note that Abraham did not say, “God will provide a lamb for himself.” He distinctly said, “God will provide himself a lamb!” Obviously, Jesus was the fulfillment of the picture. John said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

As we stand in awe of God and His incredible, supernatural word today, let us keep this in mind: If ever there was a promise that God might have reneged on (which is obviously an impossibility!) but, if ever there was a promise that God might have changed His mind about, it would have been the promise of offering His beloved Son! We can rest assured, that if He kept that promise He is going to keep all the other ones! Paul put it this way in Romans 8:32, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In ISAAC’S WILLINGNESS TO BE OFFERED – Genesis 22:1–14 (John 3:16; Luke 23:33: Hebrews 11:19; John 1:29)

In ISAAC’S RELATIONSHIP TO HIS BRIDE – Genesis 24

Note: In Genesis 24, Abraham (as already seen, a picture of God the Father) sends out his unnamed servant (which is a picture of the Holy Spirit, who is not come to glorify his own name—John 16:13–14) to find a bride for his only begotten son. The servant returns, coincidentally enough, with a Gentile bride (a picture of the church) who comes into the tent of Sarah (a picture of the nation of Israel—John 1:11–12) after she died.