Genesis 24 - 50
Issac and Rebekah
Jacob and Esau
Joseph in Egypt
Jacob and Esau
Joseph in Egypt
ISAAC'S WIFE SEARCH
THE BIRTHRIGHT
NAME CHANGED
JOSEPH REUNITED WITH BROTHERS
THE PLAN
Verses 12–14. These verses show that the servant, like Abraham, was a man of great faith. Abraham had told him that his errand was a commandment of the Lord (v. 7). So when faced with a tremendously challenging task, the servant turned to the Lord for help. Instead of just asking the Lord to solve his problem, he presented a plan for the Lord to confirm.Abraham sent his trusted and worthy servant to find a wife for Isaac. "Holy men need holy women to stand by their sides . . . Rebekah was worth a long and dangerous journey, just as Rachel and Leah were worth that same same journey in the next generation" (Daughters of God 39).
"As the servant approached the well at Haran, he presented he Lord with his plan for finding the right woman for Isaac " (40).
SHE WAS FAIR
Verse 16. The King James Version suggests that Rebekah was very beautiful, but the Joseph Smith Translation says that she was the most beautiful woman the servant had ever seen. The Joseph Smith Translation reads, “And the damsel being a virgin, very fair to look upon, such as the servant of Abraham had not seen, neither had any man known the like unto her . . .” (JST, Genesis 24:16).
THE WELL
Verse 19. Considering the capacity of a thirsty camel, one can well imagine how much effort it took for Rebekah to draw water by hand for ten camels. Not only was she beautiful but she was a willing worker and was quick to serve.
"We admire Rebekah and lover her immediately not only for her kindness but the the eagerness with which it was given . . . We have all seen modern Rebekahs run to draw living water for a Primary or Young Women class . . . Every time we see these modern Rebekahs coming up from the well with their pitchers dripping, we, like Abraham;s servant, wonder at seeing such unrehearsed demonstrations of character" (41).
GO AND DO
"Abraham's servant placed earrings and bracelets on Rebekah and asked her if there was space in her father's house" (42). I love to think that Rebekah was able to feel the great peace and presence of this servant - the one with who Abraham trusted completely to know and follow the Lord in guiding him to the future matriarch of the covenant people. Are we in tune with the Spirit to truly recognize with whom we come into contact?
Verse 58. This verse gives a great insight into the faith of Rebekah. For a young woman to leave her home, travel to a new country completely foreign to her, and marry a man she had never met would present a tremendous challenge. One would expect that she would have wanted to stay with her family as long as possible, but when given her choice, she said simply, “I will go.”
Are we really willing to leave our worlds in a moment for the Lord? Are we willing to walk away from what we know and feel safe in to leave it all and never return? wow. she's my hero.
ISAAC LOVING REBEKAH
Verse 67. When one contemplates the faith and beauty of Rebekah and how the servant of Abraham was led to her by the hand of the Lord, the comment “and he loved her” is not surprising.
"When Isaac went out to meet the returning caravan, Rebekah, 'lighted off the camel . . . took a vail, and covered herself' This was proper modesty. 'And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent . . . and her loved her (Genesis 24:64-65,67). When I read this, my thought was, of course he loved her. She was willing and did give up everything she knew and loved and was safe to her in order to marry him. She gave up her world for his man. She trusted completely in the Lord and followed. Wouldn't marriages be amazing and powerful and influencial for greatness if we were willing and did give up all the world we knew and trusted - holding tightly the Lord's hand - and gave ourselves and our worlds to our spouses? wow.
Verses 12–14. These verses show that the servant, like Abraham, was a man of great faith. Abraham had told him that his errand was a commandment of the Lord (v. 7). So when faced with a tremendously challenging task, the servant turned to the Lord for help. Instead of just asking the Lord to solve his problem, he presented a plan for the Lord to confirm.Abraham sent his trusted and worthy servant to find a wife for Isaac. "Holy men need holy women to stand by their sides . . . Rebekah was worth a long and dangerous journey, just as Rachel and Leah were worth that same same journey in the next generation" (Daughters of God 39).
"As the servant approached the well at Haran, he presented he Lord with his plan for finding the right woman for Isaac " (40).
SHE WAS FAIR
Verse 16. The King James Version suggests that Rebekah was very beautiful, but the Joseph Smith Translation says that she was the most beautiful woman the servant had ever seen. The Joseph Smith Translation reads, “And the damsel being a virgin, very fair to look upon, such as the servant of Abraham had not seen, neither had any man known the like unto her . . .” (JST, Genesis 24:16).
THE WELL
Verse 19. Considering the capacity of a thirsty camel, one can well imagine how much effort it took for Rebekah to draw water by hand for ten camels. Not only was she beautiful but she was a willing worker and was quick to serve.
"We admire Rebekah and lover her immediately not only for her kindness but the the eagerness with which it was given . . . We have all seen modern Rebekahs run to draw living water for a Primary or Young Women class . . . Every time we see these modern Rebekahs coming up from the well with their pitchers dripping, we, like Abraham;s servant, wonder at seeing such unrehearsed demonstrations of character" (41).
GO AND DO
"Abraham's servant placed earrings and bracelets on Rebekah and asked her if there was space in her father's house" (42). I love to think that Rebekah was able to feel the great peace and presence of this servant - the one with who Abraham trusted completely to know and follow the Lord in guiding him to the future matriarch of the covenant people. Are we in tune with the Spirit to truly recognize with whom we come into contact?
Verse 58. This verse gives a great insight into the faith of Rebekah. For a young woman to leave her home, travel to a new country completely foreign to her, and marry a man she had never met would present a tremendous challenge. One would expect that she would have wanted to stay with her family as long as possible, but when given her choice, she said simply, “I will go.”
Are we really willing to leave our worlds in a moment for the Lord? Are we willing to walk away from what we know and feel safe in to leave it all and never return? wow. she's my hero.
ISAAC LOVING REBEKAH
Verse 67. When one contemplates the faith and beauty of Rebekah and how the servant of Abraham was led to her by the hand of the Lord, the comment “and he loved her” is not surprising.
"When Isaac went out to meet the returning caravan, Rebekah, 'lighted off the camel . . . took a vail, and covered herself' This was proper modesty. 'And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent . . . and her loved her (Genesis 24:64-65,67). When I read this, my thought was, of course he loved her. She was willing and did give up everything she knew and loved and was safe to her in order to marry him. She gave up her world for his man. She trusted completely in the Lord and followed. Wouldn't marriages be amazing and powerful and influencial for greatness if we were willing and did give up all the world we knew and trusted - holding tightly the Lord's hand - and gave ourselves and our worlds to our spouses? wow.
THE BIRTHRIGHT
This rationalization seems to reflect more scorn than hunger. Jacob would almost certainly have succored Esau freely if his life were in jeopardy. The point of this account seems to be primarily to show how little value Esau placed on the birthright. His immediate bodily needs were more important to him than the rights of the covenant. Additional evidence of this attitude is Esau’s marriages to Canaanite women, which broke the covenant line (see Genesis 26:34–35). The birthright itself should have been a treasured thing. The highly desirable birthright blessing is the right to the presidency, or keys, of the priesthood. Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote: “It appears that anciently under the Patriarchal Order certain special blessings, rights, powers, and privileges—collectively called the birthright—passed from the father to his firstborn son. (Gen. 43:33.) In later ages special blessings and prerogatives have been poured out upon all the worthy descendants of some who gained special blessings and birthrights anciently. (3Ne. 20:25–27.) Justification for this system, in large part, lies in the pre-existent preparation and training of those born in the lines destined to inherit preferential endowments.” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 87.) In the patriarchal order this birthright was passed from father to son, who was often, but not always, the eldest son. Righteousness was a more important factor than being the firstborn.
From Esau The story of how Jacob obtained the birthright blessing from Isaac with the help of his mother is a troubling one in many respects. Typically, commentators who do not have access to latter-day scriptures come to one of two conclusions: either they emphasize Esau’s unworthiness for the birthright and therefore justify the deception, or else they criticize Jacob’s shrewd and crafty nature. Amore complete knowledge of gospel principles, however, may pose some additional problems. Can a person deceive a patriarch and get a blessing that belongs to someone else? Was Jacob a deceitful and crafty man? Was Isaac blindly favorable to certain children? Can one be dishonest and still get a valid patriarchal blessing? The following points should be carefully considered:
1. As the record in Genesis now reads, there is little option but to conclude that Rebekah and Jacob deliberately deceived Isaac and that Jacob explicitly lied to his father (see v. 24). Rebekah and Jacob believed the deception was necessary because Isaac obviously favored Esau. Joseph Smith, however, taught that certain errors had crept into the Bible through “ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests” (Teachings, p. 327). For example, a comparison of the early chapters of Genesis with the fuller accounts revealed to the Prophet (now found in the books of Moses and Abraham) shows how much has been lost. It is possible hat the story of Jacob’s obtaining the birthright has also lost much or been changed by unbelievers. These changes could then explain the contradictions.
2. Rebekah knew by personal revelation that Jacob was to be the son of the covenant (see Genesis 25:22–23). Jacob reluctantly gave in to his mother’s wishes after she told him that she would take the responsibility for what they were about to do.
3. Although the early patriarchs and their wives were great and righteous men and women who eventually were exalted and perfected (see D&C 132:37), this fact does not mean that they were perfect in every respect while in mortality. If the story is correct as found in Genesis, Isaac may have been temporarily shortsighted in favoring Esau. Or Rebekah may have had insufficient faith in the Lord to let Him work His will and therefore undertook a plan of her own to ensure that the promised blessings would come to pass. These shortcomings do not lessen their later greatness and their eventual perfection.
4. Whatever the explanation for the circumstances surrounding the reception of the blessing, one thing is perfectly clear. Priesthood holders are given the keys to bind and loose on earth and have that action validated in heaven (see Matthew 16:19). Once Isaac learned of the deception, he could have revoked the blessing and given it to Esau. Instead, he told Esau, “Yea, and he shall be blessed” (Genesis 27:33). Later, when Jacob was preparing to leave for Padan-aram to escape Esau’s wrath, Isaac clearly gave him the blessing of Abraham (see Genesis 28:3–4), an additional proof that Jacob received the blessing meant for him and that Isaac confirmed it upon him. Thus, if the Genesis record is correct as it now is, Jacob, like others, received a call and a promise of eventual blessings because of his potential and in spite of his weaknesses. Like anyone, he had then to live worthily in order to obtain the promised blessings.
From Esau The story of how Jacob obtained the birthright blessing from Isaac with the help of his mother is a troubling one in many respects. Typically, commentators who do not have access to latter-day scriptures come to one of two conclusions: either they emphasize Esau’s unworthiness for the birthright and therefore justify the deception, or else they criticize Jacob’s shrewd and crafty nature. Amore complete knowledge of gospel principles, however, may pose some additional problems. Can a person deceive a patriarch and get a blessing that belongs to someone else? Was Jacob a deceitful and crafty man? Was Isaac blindly favorable to certain children? Can one be dishonest and still get a valid patriarchal blessing? The following points should be carefully considered:
1. As the record in Genesis now reads, there is little option but to conclude that Rebekah and Jacob deliberately deceived Isaac and that Jacob explicitly lied to his father (see v. 24). Rebekah and Jacob believed the deception was necessary because Isaac obviously favored Esau. Joseph Smith, however, taught that certain errors had crept into the Bible through “ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests” (Teachings, p. 327). For example, a comparison of the early chapters of Genesis with the fuller accounts revealed to the Prophet (now found in the books of Moses and Abraham) shows how much has been lost. It is possible hat the story of Jacob’s obtaining the birthright has also lost much or been changed by unbelievers. These changes could then explain the contradictions.
2. Rebekah knew by personal revelation that Jacob was to be the son of the covenant (see Genesis 25:22–23). Jacob reluctantly gave in to his mother’s wishes after she told him that she would take the responsibility for what they were about to do.
3. Although the early patriarchs and their wives were great and righteous men and women who eventually were exalted and perfected (see D&C 132:37), this fact does not mean that they were perfect in every respect while in mortality. If the story is correct as found in Genesis, Isaac may have been temporarily shortsighted in favoring Esau. Or Rebekah may have had insufficient faith in the Lord to let Him work His will and therefore undertook a plan of her own to ensure that the promised blessings would come to pass. These shortcomings do not lessen their later greatness and their eventual perfection.
4. Whatever the explanation for the circumstances surrounding the reception of the blessing, one thing is perfectly clear. Priesthood holders are given the keys to bind and loose on earth and have that action validated in heaven (see Matthew 16:19). Once Isaac learned of the deception, he could have revoked the blessing and given it to Esau. Instead, he told Esau, “Yea, and he shall be blessed” (Genesis 27:33). Later, when Jacob was preparing to leave for Padan-aram to escape Esau’s wrath, Isaac clearly gave him the blessing of Abraham (see Genesis 28:3–4), an additional proof that Jacob received the blessing meant for him and that Isaac confirmed it upon him. Thus, if the Genesis record is correct as it now is, Jacob, like others, received a call and a promise of eventual blessings because of his potential and in spite of his weaknesses. Like anyone, he had then to live worthily in order to obtain the promised blessings.
NAME CHANGED
Love the idea of our names. I love what we can become when we understand who the Lord knows us to be. The book of Revelation talks about new names . . . i can't help but think that these names will tell us more of who we really are . . . much like our patriarchal blessings.
JOSEPH REUNITED WITH BROTHERS
"The exclamation of Joseph after his reunion with his family teaches an invaluable lesson about the Lords' planning and ability to use seemingly tragic circumstances to work for the ultimate and eternal good of his children. 'And Joseph said unto the , Fear no: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive' (Genesis 50:19-20). This powerful principle serves to highlight the doctrine taught by the Lord through Isaiah: 'For my thoughts are not your house, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than you ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts' (Isaiah 55:8-9). Man's feeble logic pales in comparison to God's perfect knowledge" (Prophets, Priests, and Kings 48).
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