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Genesis 28, Jacob sets out

Discussion in '2000-02 Archive' started by Helen, Jun 30, 2002.

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  1. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    It is interesting that Isaac, even after being deceived by Jacob, gives him his blessing before Jacob leaves for Paddan Aram, and commands him to marry within the family group. Isaac then passes on the blessing God gave to Abraham and to him to Jacob.

    So Jacob heads off to Paddan Aram.

    There is a bit about Esau at this point. Learning that Jacob had been sent for a wife from the family group and ordered not to marry a Canaanite woman, he goes and adds another wife to the two he already has -- his cousin on the other side: one of Ishmael's daughters! Not a good plan...

    But back to Jacob. When he reaches the vicinity of Luz he stops for the night, uses a stone for a pillow, and while asleep has his famous vision/dream. God repeats the Abrahamic covenant to Jacob, confirming Isaac's passing on of the blessing.

    Jacob's reaction is interesting. When he awakes, he decides he must be at a place on earth that is actually a gate to heaven! So he erects a pillar there and calls the place Bethel, which means 'house of God.'

    Jacob's vow, which closes off this chapter, shows us something interesting about his character: his pride. God has some real work to do with this man before Jacob can be called a man of God! Look at what Jacob says, AFTER seeing the angels ascending and descending and AFTER the blessing from God!

    IF God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eath and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, THEN the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.

    What nerve! Giving God a condition! Jacob has a VERY long way to go! But God will get him there...
     
    #1 Helen, Jun 30, 2002
  2. tyndale1946

    tyndale1946 Well-Known Member
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    The ladder in Jacob's dream seems first to have represented "God's grace and providence arranging all things for His people's good through the ministry of angels (Gen. xxxii. 1, 2; Heb. i. 14); but chiefly typified the Messiah through whom Heaven is opened and also joined to earth, and angels minister with ceaseless activity to Him first, then to His people (John i. 51: xiv. 6; Heb. x. 19, 20). Jacob, the man of guile, saw Him at a distance, at the top of the ladder; Nathanael, an Israelite without guile, saw Him near him at the bottom in His humiliation, which was the necessary first step upward to glory."--A. R. Fausset.
    Brother Glen [​IMG]
     
    #2 tyndale1946, Jul 1, 2002
  3. tyndale1946

    tyndale1946 Well-Known Member
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    Found this interesting piece on dreams from Hassells Church History:
    Among the most insoluble mysteries, and among the strongest proofs of human ignorance, are the phenomena of dreams, hypnotism, somnambulism and insanity. This strange reagion is not accessible to accurate and adequate scientific observation; and therefore numerous conflict­ing opinions prevail in regard to it. The Scriptures, as well as physiology and psychology, prove that many, if not most, dreams have a natural origin, being due to some peculiar conditions of the body or mind (Eccles. v. 3; Isaiah xxix. 8; Jude 8); they seem to be broken fragments of former thoughts revived, and heterogeneously brought together, well compared to "chaff" by the Lord to the prophet Jeremiah (xxiii. 28). Some think that the mind is always active, whether asleep or awake; others think that, during profound sleep, all the mental powers are dormant. It is agreed that, during dreams, the reason, is nearly always, and the will is always dormant or asleep, and the mind is therefore passive or receptive. On this account it is, as Elihu says (Job xxxiii. 15-17), that in dreams God sometimes "opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, that He may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man." When man's reason and will are asleep, he can take no credit to himself for the impressions on his mind. This was to be, not only under the old, but also under the new, dispensation (Joel ii. 28; Acts ii. 17). And we know from the direct testimony of Scripture that some dreams, under both dispensations, have had a super­natural, a Divine, origin. God sent instructive dreams to Abimelech (Gen. xx. 3), to Jacob (Gen. xxviii. 12-15), to Laban (Gen. xxxi. 24), to Joseph (Gen. xxxvii. 5), to Pharaoh's butler and baker (Gen. xl. 5), to Pharaoh (Gen. xli. 1-32), to a Midianite (Judges vii. 13), to Solomon (1 Kings iii. 5), to Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel ii. and iv.), to Daniel (vii. 1), to Joseph, the husband of Mary (Matt. i.20; ii. 22), to the wise men from the East (Matt. ii. 12), and to Pilate's wife (Matt. xxvii. 19). Visionsof the night are identified in the Bible with dreams (Gen. xlvi. 2; Num. xii. 6: Job xx. 8; xxxiii. 14, 15; Daniel ii. 28; vii. 1). Not only Abraham, Jacob, Balaam, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Zechariah had visions from God, but also Peter and Cornelius (Acts x.), Paul (Acts xxi. 9, 10; 2 Cor. xii. 1-4) and John (Rev.). It thus appears that unregenerate as well as regenerate men have had dreams and visions from God. A religion, therefore, based entirely upon dreams, is worthless. Instead of placing our chief dependence upon such uncertainties, we should remember that "we have a more sure word of prophecy [the Holy Scriptures], whereunto we do well to take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place" (2 Peter i. 19). Yet we know, from Acts ii. 17, and from Christian experience, that God still comforts, warns and instructs, and humbles His people in dreams, according to His sovereign will... Brother Glen [​IMG]
     
    #3 tyndale1946, Jul 1, 2002
  4. LadyEagle

    LadyEagle <b>Moderator</b> <img src =/israel.gif>

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    #4 LadyEagle, Jul 1, 2002
  5. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    Hi Eagle,

    The links you have there are basically from the idea that is called Anglo-Israeli. The idea is that Israel has been abandon by God in favor of England and that the church is the new Israel. I don't think there is any biblical or historical basis for this, but is someone wants to start a discussion we can have a go at it.

    As far as dreams go, Glen, I think the mind also helps get itself 'balanced' through dreams. This may sound funny, but here is something I have experienced: when I was in continuing pain and subsequent depression from one of my leg surgeries, I found that I would often wake up giggling from a silly dream of some kind in the middle of the night! It was like my 'self' or whatever you want to call it NEEDED to laugh! My days were so difficult then that it was in my dreams I was able to think of funny things and giggle.

    I have also had times when I have felt quite isolated from the world and have found that a good many of the dreams I remember from those times involve a lot of interaction with people, realistic or not.

    Most dreams fade within seconds of waking and there is no way to remember them, so they are most certainly NOT messages from the Lord! Is the mind adjusting, sorting, or whatever? I think maybe so usually. After my dad died I had a series of dreams of him which lasted at the rate of about one a week for two months or so. In the first dream he wasn't feeling so hot. In each successive dream, he was a little sicker and a little sicker, until in the last dream I knew he was dying and I was trying to protect him from people crowding around him! I think it was my own way, inside, of coming to terms with the death of a man I had loved so.

    And then, every once in awhile, there is something from the Lord. Maybe once every ten years or so, a bit of something that is an encouragement, which I have mentioned before on other threads here.

    Those dreams, however, are vivid and stay with one forever.
     
    #5 Helen, Jul 2, 2002
  6. Clint Kritzer

    Clint Kritzer Active Member
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    #6 Clint Kritzer, Jul 29, 2002
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