Genesis 26:2-4; Hebrews 6:17-18; Romans 11:28-29; Gen. 28:13-15; 25:22-23; 32:1-13, 22-30; Ephesians 6:12; Luke 10:19; Hosea 12:3-4

Purpose of this teaching: 

A) To present an interpretation consistent with: G-d’s faithfulness; the context of the story; New Testament teachings and our own, personal experiences. 

B) To demonstrate that correct interpretation is only possible by carefully examining the original text  rather than a translation of the original .

Motif for the teaching:

A) Out of jealousy for our Heavenly Father, it grieves me that G-d is thought to be acting like man Whose word cannot be relied upon and Whose oath is not trustworthy. G-d does not say one thing and mean another; nor does He promise something in His own Name and then retract it;  nor must we beg Him to bless us AFTER He has already PROMISED to bless us. 

Just as Job’s friends spoke falsely of G-d, so do I regard as false teaching the notion that it was a holy angel of G-d, or even the Lord Yeshua Himself, that fell upon G-d’s chosen. It was no "godly angel" but some “divine being" with intent to harm. Any other teaching misrepresents the G-d we know.

First, let us review the context which pronounces God's earlier promises of blessings :

Genesis 26:2-4 (KJV): And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
26:3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
26:4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

Hebrews 6:17-18: Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Romans 11:28-29: ... but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (irrevocable).

With an oath in His own Name, G-d promised Abraham a specific inheritance, which He confirmed and made certain by another oath, to Isaac.

Finally G-d confirmed this same promise to Jacob. This He did at a time when Jacob was uncertain of the future. Jacob was seeking refuge with his uncle Laban in Haran from his brother Esau who wanted to kill him. Jacob did not know what to expect from his uncle. Would his uncle even receive him? How would he fare in Haran, and how long would he have to stay there? The future seemed greatly uncertain for Jacob. That is when G-d appeared to him in a dream to comfort and encourage him and remove all uncertainty about his future:

Genesis 28:13-15: And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
28:14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
28:15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

G-d confirmed to Jacob in no uncertain terms that he – not his brother Esau - was indeed the heir of the promise and the blessing, despite the fact that Jacob had obtained the patriarchal blessing for the firstborn by stealth. For the struggle between the two brothers  - a struggle that reverberates into our very own days - and G-d’s choice of Jacob, began already when still in Rebeccah’s womb

Genesis 25:22-23: And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD.
25:23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, 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.

Even though G-d confirmed Jacob's position of the firstborn, the method by which Jacob obtained it did not please G-d. The time would come when G-d would give him a taste of his own deception. Already the consequences of his deed were bitter - although committed by faith in G-d’s promise to Rebeccah - because Jacob had to leave his home and clan in flight for his life from Esau’s murderous wrath. 

Nevertheless, Jacob was comforted by G-d's assurances. Although he was heading toward uncertain future, G-d had promised to be with him and keep him, and one day to bring him back home. Renewed  and strengthened, Jacob continued his journey, trusting that G-d would work everything out for good.

Hence, this is the background we must bear in mind. Moreover, throughout 20 years, G-d’s promise and faithfulness proved sure and true. For Jacob himself said:
 
 
 
 
 

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