Monthly Archives: February 2024

GENESIS 34 SHECHEM DEFILES DINAH

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February 20

GENESIS 34

Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the land. 2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her. 3 And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her. 4 So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this girl for my wife.” 5 Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah. But his sons were with his livestock in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came. 6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. 7 The sons of Jacob had come in from the field as soon as they heard of it, and the men were indignant and very angry, because he had done an outrageous thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing must not be done. – Genesis 34:1-7

GENESIS 34 SHECHEM DEFILES DINAH

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

When Dinah, Jacob’s daughter by Leah went to see the women

She was seized and defiled by Shechem, Hamor’s son, the prince of the Hivite

But later on, Shechem’s lust turn into love and wanted Dinah to be his wife

But Dinah’s brothers were outraged by this act of defilement to their sister.

This chapter in Genesis is a very disturbing account of abuse of power and out of control desires. According to Matthew Henry’s account, Dinah was the only daughter of Jacob. One can imagine growing up with all these boys around her. Because she had no sisters growing up, she was probably curious what it was like to be around women, so she left their house to explore. According to some commentaries, she probably was not just curious to meet the women, but also the men. The fact that she was seized by Shechem and raped was indicative that she was walking alone unescorted by any of her brothers.

Shechem was the son of a prince of that land and we see the abuse of power manifested in him when he decided to grab the woman he wanted. We clearly witnessed the abuse of that status that he held. He didn’t care who she was, he just wanted her and took her. Jacob’s silence at the news of his only daughter’s predicament is quite surprising and unsettling.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think Jacob didn’t react to the news of Dinah’s defilement?

GENESIS 33 JACOB ARRIVES IN SHECHEM

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February 19

GENESIS 33

12 Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead ofyou.” 13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.” 15 So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore, the name of the place is called Succoth. 18 And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. 19 And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of moneythe piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

                                                                                – Genesis 33:12-20

GENESIS 33 JACOB ARRIVES IN SHECHEM

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After meeting his brother Esau who wanted to journey with them

He requested that they take their time because of the women and children

So, Esau understood his brother’s request and went back to Seir

While Jacob went to Succoth, built a house and made booths for his livestock

He also came safely to the city of Shechem and camped before the city

Then, from the sons of Hamor, he bought a piece of land and put up an altar.

We witness the love between Jacob and Esau here. Esau wanted to provide some of his men to help Jacob and his camp to follow them, but Jacob was wise enough to see that it would stress the flock, women and children.  Esau respected his brother’s request and went on his way back to Seir. It is amazing how Jacob is able to be very sensitive to his women and children and I was thinking that he himself was already in his nineties when he returned to his homeland. Jacob’s thankful heart was so evident in his desire to erect an altar and call it El-Elohe-Israel as a gratitude for all going well.

REFLECTION

  • What was evident in Jacob’s heart in this account?

GENESIS 33 JACOB & ESAU REUNITED

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February 18

GENESIS 33

And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So, he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5 And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. 8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10 Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. 11 Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus, he urged him, and he took it. – Genesis 33:1-11

GENESIS 33 JACOB & ESAU REUNITED

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

As Jacob prepared himself to meet his brother Esau

There were concerns for him so he positioned servants

He made sure the servants and their children marched first

Then his wives and him and their children last.

In this account of the reunion of Jacob and Esau, we witness Jacob’s wise strategy to ease himself to meet the brother that he had cheated on. After being cheated himself for twenty years by Laban, he knows how Esau must have felt after he tricked him. We also see the hand of God in this reunion, as he reassured Jacob that he is not alone. All of Jacob’s fear was appeased when his brother came running towards him and hugged him and wept. It is a picture of God’s grace and mercy that Esau forgave his younger brother.

REFLECTION

  • How was it possible that Esau forgot and forgave his brother after twenty years?

GENESIS 32 JACOB WRESTLES WITH GOD

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February 17

GENESIS 32

22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip on the sinew of the thigh. – Genesis 32:22-32

GENESIS 32 JACOB WRESTLES WITH GOD

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

As they crossed the ford of Jabbok, Jacob was left alone

A man wrestled with him until early morning before daybreak

Jacob was winning over the match and the man touched his hip socket

Then Jacob’s hip was disjointed as he continued wrestling with the man

The man wanted to be let go but Jacob insisted he gets the blessing

Instead, the man changed Jacob’s name to Israel which means wrestling.

I am a visual person and this account of Jacob wrestling with God seems abstract and ambiguous to me. I think that we all have times when we fight with God over something we don’t understand or accept. In this case, Jacob was clamoring for his blessing. He was standing on the promise of God to his grandfather Abraham before he went back to his homeland. It is interesting how God allowed Jacob to win in this fight since we know that God is Almighty. It is probably because he will be the Savior’s ancestry.

REFLECTION

  • Share an experience where you have wrestled with God. What was the result?

GENESIS 32 JACOB’S GENEROUS GIFTS FOR ESAU

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February 16

GENESIS 32

13 So he stayed there that night, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau, 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty milking camels and their calves, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. 16 These he handed over to his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass on ahead of me and put a space between drove and drove.” 17 He instructed the first, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, ‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you?’ 18 then you shall say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a present sent to my lord Esau. And moreover, he is behind us.’” 19 He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed the droves, “You shall say the same thing to Esau when you find him, 20 and you shall say, ‘Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he thought, “I may appease himwith the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.” 21 So the present passed on ahead of him, and he himself stayed that night in the camp – Genesis 32:13-21

GENESIS 32 JACOB’S GENEROUS GIFTS FOR ESAU

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After Jacob’s fervent prayer to God, he prepared his gifts

He wanted to share as much wealth as he had for Esau

So, he asked his servants to lead 400 animals ahead

This way, Esau will see all these gifts before he saw Jacob

This was Jacob’s way of appeasing his brother

So, he can make up for what he did to him in the past.

It was such a generous act that Jacob did in this account. He planned to appease his brother Esau with these gifts. He longed to go back home to his family and make amends with Esau so that he can be forgiven for what he did. It truly shows what God has done in Jacob’s heart. He acknowledged his sin and wanted to make things right with his brother.

What is also remarkable here is Jacob’s generosity. He shared all the bounty he received from the Lord. God prospered him and he shared it with his brother.

REFLECTION

  • Does generosity come second nature to us humans? Why or why not?

GENESIS 32 JACOB’S HUMBLE PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE

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February 15

GENESIS 32

9 And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. 11 Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. 12 But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”

                                                                                                                        – Genesis 32:9-12

GENESIS 32 JACOB’S HUMBLE PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

When Jacob was confronted with the fear of Esau

He bowed down in humility and prayed to the Lord

He recognized God’s steadfast love and faithfulness

And acknowledged his undeserving heart for his grace

He pleaded God to deliver him from his brother’s wrath

He also prayed for the sake of all the women and children.

When we are faced with fear and danger, we can pray the most ardent prayers. When Jacob was confronted with such fear for his life and the lives of his family and the two camps he came with, he was pleading to God for deliverance and protection. We witness here the transformed heart that God granted Jacob after twenty years since he left his homeland to flee from his brother’s wrath and to find a wife from his mother’s kin.  He wasn’t just afraid for his life now but also for the lives of those who came with him and his entire clan.

What is interesting here is that Jacob recalled he only had a staff when he crossed the Jordan and now, he has two camps coming back home. He acknowledged how God has multiplied him in offspring and wealth. He not only became humble, he also learned to be thankful and totally dependent on the Lord.

REFLECTION

  • Why is humility and dependence on God very important when we pray?

GENESIS 32 JACOB CONFRONTED WITH FEAR OF ESAU

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February 14

GENESIS 32

Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim. 3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, 4 instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. 5 I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.’ 6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, 8 thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape. – Genesis 32:1-8

GENESIS 32 JACOB CONFRONTED WITH FEAR OF ESAU

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After twenty years of absence, Jacob comes home to his homeland

On his way towards it, the angels of God showed themselves to him

And he called that place Mahanaim for he knew it was God’s camp

Now he is confronted with fear of Esau, so he sent advanced message

He used all his possessions to protect himself from possible attack

After learning Esau had four hundred men with him, he got more scared.

After being away from his parents for over twenty years, Jacob longed so much to see them again. I couldn’t imagine what might have gone into his mind and how he felt after Laban pursued him and claimed he stole from him. But now, he also is probably so apprehensive that he now has to confront the stealing he had done to his older brother Esau. We see how God has truly been with him, growing him in humility and also in wealth. He planned to pay off his brother with most of what he owned.

When he found out that Esau was meeting him with four hundred men, the fear was debilitating. If I were in the same predicament, I would probably faint from anxiety and fear of what Esau could do to him to retaliate for what he had done to him.

REFLECTION

  • What should believers do when we are confronted with fear?

GENESIS 31 COVENANT BETWEEN JACOB & LABAN

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February 13

GENESIS 31

43 Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day for these my daughters or for their children whom they have borne? 44 Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I. And let it be a witness between you and me.” 45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. 46 And Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed] 48 Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” Therefore, he named it Galeed, 49 and Mizpah, for he said, “The Lord watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight. 50 If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.” 51 Then Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap and the pillar, which I have set between you and me. 52 This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, to do harm. 53 The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So, Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac, 54 and Jacob offered a sacrifice in the hill country and called his kinsmen to eat bread. They ate bread and spent the night in the hill country. 55Early in the morning Laban arose and kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned home.

                                                               – Genesis 31:43-55

GENESIS 31 COVENANT BETWEEN JACOB & LABAN

We witness Laban’s character in this covenant he proposed to Jacob. According to Matthew Henry’s commentary it is common for bad men, when they are disappointed in their malicious projects to pretend that they designed nothing but what was kind and fair.  When they can’t do the mischief they intended, they want to be thought of that they ever did intend it. When they haven’t done what they should have done, they come off with the excuse that they would have done it. Laban’s sly and evil heart shows that he is of the world and have no integrity. How he pursued Jacob as if he was a criminal speaks of such evil heart. According to Barnhouse, the pillar of Mizpah meant “If you come over on my side of this line, the pact is void and I will kill you. The covenant breaker would need God to take care of him because the other would shoot to kill.” As you can see, this covenant is one sided because it was almost a threat for Jacob that he doesn’t cross over that line.

REFLECTION

  • How do you think God dealt with Laban after this pursuit and covenant he made with Jacob despite his warning to him not to speak anything good or bad to him?

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GENESIS 31 JACOB REBUKES LABAN

February 12

GENESIS 31

36 Then Jacob became angry and berated Laban. Jacob said to Laban, “What is my offense? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me? 37 For you have felt through all my goods; what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, that they may decide between us two. 38 These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, and I have not eaten the rams of your flocks. 39 What was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it myself. From my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40 There I was: by day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. 41 These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. 42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night.”– Genesis 31:36-42

GENESIS 31 JACOB REBUKES LABAN

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After twenty years of service to Laban, he didn’t appreciate Jacob

When Laban pursued Jacob and accuse him of stealing his gods

Jacob finally spoke and rebuked Laban for all that he did to him

Without God on his side, he would have been empty handed.

Finally, Jacob speaks up to Laban about all that he had abused him for. It was amazing how God was always on his side and prospering Jacob despite all the dishonesty and cheating that Laban did to him. At this rebuke, Jacob points out that his silence all those years was God’s way of growing him into endurance and hard work. Those twenty years paid off because Jacob grew the little that he had when he came to Paddan -Aram. He was empty handed when he arrived, but he worked hard to grow whatever little he had. Now that he had prospered and also made Laban’s flock grow, he had to speak up and rebuke him already. All those years, Jacob kept quiet and let God deal with Laban’s dishonesty and all the tricks he had played on him. God had already rebuked Laban and yet he did not follow God’s warning.

REFLECTION

  • What were the proofs that God was always with Jacob all those twenty years?

GENESIS 31 LABAN CHASES JACOB FOR HIS IDOLS

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February 11

GENESIS 31

25 And Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen pitched tents in the hill country of Gilead. 26 And Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have tricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27 Why did you flee secretly and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre? 28 And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? Now you have done foolishly. 29 It is in my power to do you harm. But the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’ 30 And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?” 31 Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. 32 Anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live. In the presence of our kinsmen point out what I have that is yours, and take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them. 33 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two female servants, but he did not find them. And he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s. 34 Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel’s saddle and sat on them. Laban felt all about the tent, but did not find them. 35 And she said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household gods. – Genesis 31:25-35

GENESIS 31 LABAN CHASES JACOB FOR HIS IDOLS

Laban chases Jacob and finally catches up with him. His intention was not to stop him from taking his daughters and their children, but to accuse him of stealing his household gods. This account tells us that Jacob had no idea that Rachel took those gods and hid them in her camel while her father was searching for it. So, it wasn’t discovered.  Why Rachel stole these gods was not mentioned in the story, but there was a commentary saying that those household gods can serve as property deeds. Laban stripped Leah and Rachel of their inheritance. The reason for taking it may be to get back at her father for not justly treating them. We hear Laban’s relentlessness to malign Jacob’s character, a manipulation tactic that he is an expert on.

REFLECTION

·       What character trait of Rachel was revealed in this account?