The Book of Acts describes the birth and spread of the Christian congregation from its humble beginnings in Jerusalem until Paul reached the city of Rome. The book is written by Luke, a friend and traveling companion of Paul (Col 4:14, 2 Tim 4:11a).
It's a direct continuation of the Gospel of Luke, see The Four Gospels.
See the following articles:
Joseph was the son of Jacob (called Israel) and Rachel, see Jacob, the Son of Isaac. (In this article the name Jacob is used instead of the name Israel).
Joseph, a young man seventeen years old, tended the flocks with his brothers.
Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, and he made a robe just for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them,
they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. (Gen 37:2–4).
Favoritism creates many problems, isn't wise and must be avoided. God doesn't show favoritism as men do (Jas 1:9–10). When we receive Jesus into our lives, we become children of God (John 1:12). We are all God's children equally, whether we are popular or not popular, male or female, rich or poor (Proverbs 22:2).
We shouldn't show partiality (Jas 2:1–8). It's sin (Jas 2:9).
It seems that Jacob was unaware about this, and Joseph made matters worse by telling them his dreams, which made his brothers hate him even more. The dreams came true and came from the Lord, but the timing to tell them wasn't the best:
Joseph dreamt that he and his brothers were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly his sheaf rose up and stood upright, while his brothers' sheaves gathered around his and bowed to it. His brothers hated him all the more because of his dream. Then he had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars bowed down to him (Rev 12:1). His father rebuked him for this, but kept the matter in mind. His brothers were jealous of him. (Gen 37:5–11).
Joseph's brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks when Jacob sent Joseph to them to see if all was well. When his brothers saw him from a distance, they plotted to kill him. When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands, and proposed to throw him into a cistern. He wanted to rescue him from them and take him back to his father. They stripped him of his robe and threw him into the cistern. It was empty, there was no water in it. As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Midianites on their way to Egypt. Judah convinced his brothers to sell Joseph to the Midianites. They pulled Joseph out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Midianites, who took him to Egypt. They sinned against Joseph (Gen 42:21). When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph wasn't there, he tore his clothes and asked his brothers what they should do. They then took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood and brought it back to their father. He recognized it as Joseph's robe. He thought some animal had devoured him. He tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son for many days.
All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. Meanwhile, Joseph was sold in Egypt to Potiphar, who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard. (Gen 37:12–36, Acts 7:9a).
The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master Potiphar. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to him all that he owned. The Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian for Joseph's sake. (Gen 39:1–6a).
After a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and told him to go and lie with her. But he refused. He said that his master had withheld nothing from him except her, because she was his wife. He also said that he couldn't do such an evil thing and sin against God. He refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. One day he entered the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants were inside. She grabbed him by his cloak and told him to go lie down with her. But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. She called her household servants and told them that Joseph came to lie with her, but she screamed for help. And that he then left his cloak beside her and ran out of the house. She also told this story to Potiphar. He became very angry and put Joseph in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were. But while Joseph was there, the Lord was with him and gave him favor in the eyes of the jailer. He put Joseph in charge of all those kept in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. (Gen 39:6b–23).
Joseph gave two explanations for his rejection of Potiphar's wife. He raises the issue of loyalty to Potiphar himself. It had been a betrayal of the trust he had given Joseph. It would also have been a sin against God. It would have been evil to do so. Adultery is evil. Joseph even refused to be with her. It's wise to keep your distance. One key to staying away from temptations is to avoid being around environments that can lead to temptations. (Rom 13:13–14). See Sanctification.
See also time 0:20–1:11 in DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON GENESIS 40 . . ..
Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh became angry with them and put them in the same prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard gave them to Joseph, and he took care of them. After they were in custody for some time, each of them had a dream the same night, and each dream had its own meaning. Joseph told them that interpretations belong to God, and that they should tell him their dreams. The chief cupbearer told him his dream: He saw a vine in front of him, and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed and its clusters ripened into grapes. He had Pharaoh's cup in his hand, and he took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and put the cup in his hand. Joseph told him what the dream meant: The three branches were three days. Within three days Pharaoh would raise his head and restore him to his position, and he would put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as he used to do when he was his cupbearer.
Joseph then asked him, when all goes well for him, to mention about Joseph to Pharaoh to get him out of prison. He said that he had done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon. When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he told Joseph his dream: On his head stood three baskets of bread. In the topmost basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds ate them out of the basket on his head. Joseph told him what the dream meant: The three baskets were three days. Within three days, Pharaoh would lift off his head and impale his body on a pole, and the birds would eat his flesh.
On the third day it was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he held a feast for all his officials.
He raised the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials. He restored the chief cupbearer to his position so that he again placed the cup into Pharaoh’s hand, but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had told them in his interpretations. But the chief cupbearer forgot Joseph.
(Gen 40:1–23).
Joseph had spent some time in prison before giving his interpretations, and another two years afterward (Gen 41:1) even though he did the right thing. He had done what God wanted him to do. The man he had helped didn't care about him.
Joseph needed to maintain his patience and perseverance during his time in prison. He received no bitterness or unforgiveness for being wronged in so many ways. He didn't give up his faith. God had a plan and a purpose for
Joseph's life, which probably involved spending time in prison (James 1:3–4).
Prison had a profound effect on him and made him more humble. There was a true and sincere brokenness of pride in his life, to be compared with the latter part of The Apostle Peter. He never sought revenge for all the wrongs he had suffered when he was later given the power to do so, see
Forgive and You will Be Forgiven. As Christian believers, we are called to live as followers of Christ (2 Thess 3:5). Doing the right thing can bring all kinds of persecution just for being a Christian (Rev 1:9, 13:10, 14:12).
When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, when seven cows came up from the river, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out from the Nile and stood beside them on the riverbank. And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. He fell asleep again and dreamed
a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, grew on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted, thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh awoke; it had been a dream. In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. (Gen 41:1–8).
Then the chief cupbearer told Pharaoh about Joseph, and Pharaoh sent for Joseph. When he came before him, Pharaoh told Joseph that he had heard that Joseph could interpret dreams. Joseph answered him that he couldn't, but God would give Pharaoh the answer he desired. Then Pharaoh told Joseph about his dreams. Joseph told Pharaoh that Pharaoh's two dreams were one and the same. God had revealed to Pharaoh what he was to do. The seven good cows were seven years, and the seven good heads of grain were seven years; it was one and the same dream. The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward were seven years, and so were the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They were seven years of famine. Seven years of great abundance would come over all the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine would follow them. Then all the abundance of Egypt would be forgotten, and famine would ravage the land. The abundance of the land wouldn't be remembered, because the famine that would follow it would be so severe. The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms was that the matter was decided by God, and God would do it soon.
(Gen 41:9–32).
Joseph gave Pharaoh knowledge of the dream; about what would happen, see
9. Interpretation of tongues and 2. The word of knowledge in Spiritual Gifts.
Joseph said that Pharaoh needed to look for a discerning and wise man
and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Pharaoh needed to appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of Egypt's harvest during the seven years of abundance. They would collect all the food from these good years to come and store up the grain under Pharaoh's authority to store in the cities to eat. This food should be kept in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that would come upon Egypt, so that the land won't be ruined by the famine. The plan worked well for Pharaoh and for all his officials. Then Pharaoh told Joseph that there was no one so discerning and wise as he, because God had made all these things known to him. Joseph was to be in charge of the palace, and all the people must submit to his orders. Only in regard to the throne would Pharaoh be greater than him. Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He made him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command. Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath as his wife. Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.
(Gen 41:33–46a, Acts 7:9b–10, Psalm 105:16–22).
Joseph applied wisdom to this knowledge; what to do about what would happen,
see 1. The word of wisdom in Spiritual Gifts. Even Pharaoh understood that the Spirit of God was upon Joseph (Gen 41:37–38) in a very practical way (Gen 41:39).
Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled through Egypt. During the seven years of abundance, the land produced plentifully. Joseph collected all the food produced during those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure. Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by his wife. Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh, and the second son Ephraim. The seven years of abundance in Egypt ended, and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all other lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was food. When all Egypt began to feel famine, the people cried out to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians to go to Joseph and do as he told them. When the famine had spread throughout the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. And people came from all over the world to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere. (Gen 41:46b–57).
There is a fine line between what we are taught about trusting the Lord for our daily bread and preparing ourselves for bad days through hard work. We aren't to be lazy (Proverbs 6:6–8, 10–11). The Bible has nothing bad to say about hard work. It doesn't take away godliness, the fear of God, where we trust God (Proverbs 3:5–6).
There was also famine in the land of Canaan. When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he told his sons to go to Egypt and buy some grain for them. Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. But Jacob didn't send Benjamin (Joseph’s brother) with the others, because he was afraid that he would be hurt. Joseph was governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers came, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn't recognize him. Then he remembered his dreams about them and accused them of being spies. They denied it and answered that they were twelve brothers, sons of one man, who lived in the land of Canaan. The youngest was with his father, and one was no more. Joseph told them that they wouldn't leave that place unless their youngest brother came to Egypt. They should send one of them to fetch their brother; the rest of them would be kept in prison, that their words might be tried to see if they spoke the truth. If they weren't, then they were spies. And he put them all in custody for three days. On the third day Joseph told them that if they were honest men, they would let one of their brothers remain in prison, while the rest of them would go and bring back grain to their starving households. But they must bring their youngest brother to him, that their words may be confirmed, and that they shouldn't die. And they did so.
(Gen 42:1–20, Acts 7:11–12).
They thought that they were being punished for what they had done to Joseph. They remembered how distressed Joseph had been when he pleaded with them for his life, but they wouldn't listen. They believed that was the reason why this distress had come on them. Reuben replied that he had told them not to sin against the boy, but they didn’t listen, and now they must account for his blood. They didn't realize that Joseph could understand them, because he used an interpreter. He turned away from them and began to weep, but then came back and spoke to them again.
(Gen 42:21–24a).
Joseph had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes. Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man’s silver back into his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them, they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left. At the place where they stopped for the night, one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack. He told his brothers, and they were afraid. When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them. They said that the man who was lord of the land spoke harshly to them and treated them as if they were spying on the land. He had told them to bring their youngest brother to him so that he would know that they weren't spies but honest men. Then he would give their brother back to them, and they could trade in the land. When they emptied their sacks, in each man's sack was his pouch of silver. When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened. Reuben told his father that he could kill both of his sons if he didn't bring Benjamin back to them. But Jacob didn't allow them to take him with them to Egypt.
(Gen 42:24b–38).
The famine was still severe in the land of Canaan. When they had eaten all the grain they had brought with them from Egypt, Jacob told his sons to go back and buy more food. But Judah told him that they must take Benjamin with them. His father Jacob could hold him personally responsible for his safety. If he didn't take him back, he would carry the guilt before him for the rest of his life. Jacob agreed and told them to put some of the best produce of the land in their bags and to bring them down to the man as gifts. And to take the double amount of silver with them, for they must return the silver that was put back in their sacks. The men took the gifts and doubled the amount of silver, and they also brought Benjamin with them. They hurried down to Egypt and introduced themselves to Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them he told the steward of his house that he would take them
to his house to slaughter an animal and prepare a meal; they would eat with him. The men were frightened when they were taken to his house. They thought that he wanted to attack them, overpower them, seize them as slaves, and take their donkeys. Joseph then brought Simeon out to them. The steward brought the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet, and fed their donkeys. They prepared their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon, because they had heard that they would eat there. When Joseph came home, they presented him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground.
They didn't have to return the money. Deeply moved at the sight of his brother
Benjamin, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there. After he had washed his face, he came out and ordered the food to be served. They served him for himself, the brothers for themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him for themselves, because Egyptians couldn't eat with the Hebrews, for it was detestable to the Egyptians. The men had been set before him in order of age, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table,
Benjamin’s portion was five times as large as anyone else’s. So they feasted and drank freely with him. (Gen 43:1–34).
It's been roughly 22 years since all the brothers were together at once.
See how Joseph points on Jesus the Messiah at time 18:25–19:18 in DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON GENESIS 43 JOSEPH MEETS HIS BROTHERS A SECOND TIME.
See also at time 33:58–37:23 in the same link how Joseph tested his brothers.
Joseph wasn't pouring out more favors on Benjamin simply because he liked him best. The reason was also that he was still testing his brothers. His brothers hated him when Jacob poured out extra favors on him. Joseph wanted to see if that bad behavior was still there towards his brother Benjamin.
Joseph told his steward of his house to fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they could carry, and to put each man’s silver in his sack. Then the steward should put his silver cup in the sack of the youngest, together with the silver for his grain. He did as Joseph said. The men hadn't gone far from the city when Joseph told his steward to go after them and ask them why they had taken his cup. When he caught up with them, he repeated these words to them. They replied that if he could find the cup, whoever had it would die, and the rest of them would become slaves. The steward replied that whoever was found to have it would become slave, but the rest of them would be free from guilt. Each of them quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. They then tore their clothes, loaded their donkeys, and returned back to the city. Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers entered, and they threw themselves to the ground before him. Judah said that God had revealed their guilt and that they were now their slaves. But Joseph said that only the man found with the cup would be his slave. The rest of them could go back to their father in peace. Judah then appealed to Joseph for Benjamin. He asked Joseph to be taken as slave in Benjamin's place. (Gen 44:1–34).
It was a very compelling speech by Judah (Gen 44:18–31, 32–34). It showed a sign of brokenness from pride in his life, a change of heart. This can be compared with the last part of The Apostle Peter, who also needed to be broken from pride in order to act as leader among God's children. Judah begged for Benjamin. He was willing to be taken as a slave instead of Benjamin. He was a changed man. This is what Joseph wanted to find out if they were willing to sacrifice Benjamin in the same way as they had sacrificed him. See this also explained at time 3:46–4:27 in
DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON GENESIS 44 JOSEPH TESTS HIS BROTHERS.
Then Joseph could no longer control himself in front of all his attendants, and he wept. He told his brothers that he was Joseph they had sold into Egypt and asked if his father was still alive. He then told them that they shouldn't be distressed or angry with themselves for selling him into Egypt, because it was to save lives that God had sent him before them. For two years there had been famine in the land, and for the next five years there would be no plowing and no reaping. But God had sent him before them to preserve them. It wasn't they who had sent him to Egypt, but God. He made him the father of Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. They would hurry back to his father and tell him that God had made Joseph lord of all Egypt, and that he would come down to him. They would live in the land of Goshen and be near him, they, their children and grandchildren, their flocks and herds and all that they had. Joseph would provide for them, as five years of famine were still to come. Otherwise they, their households and all who belonged to them would be destitute. Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him. And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterwards his brothers talked with him.
(Gen 45:1–15, Acts 7:13–14).
There wasn't brokenness of pride only in the lives of Joseph's brothers. Also
Joseph had gone through a life of roughly 22 years of broken pride.
It started when he was thrown into a dry cistern. Then sold as a slave in Egypt. Faulty accused of adultery. Thrown into prison and forgotten. Left alone.
Joseph had forgiven them, and also wanted them to forgive themselves.
It's an act of self-centeredness to focus on my own sin to not be able to forgive myself. If I have been forgiven by God or man, I must also be able to forgive myself. Failure to do so is an obstacle to moving forward. Jesus bore the sin of the world on the cross.
When news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had arrived, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. Pharaoh told Joseph to tell his brothers to load their animals and return to the land of Canaan and to bring their father and families back to him. Pharaoh would give them the best of the land of Egypt. They could take some carts from Egypt for their children and wives, and get their father and come. They shouldn't care about their belongings, for the best of all Egypt would be theirs. Joseph gave them carts as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. To each of them he gave new clothes, but to Benjamin
he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. He sent to his father ten donkeys loaded with the best of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. Then he sent his brothers away, telling them not to quarrel on the way. So they left Egypt and came to their father
Jacob in the land of Canaan. They told him that Joseph was still alive and that he was the ruler of all Egypt. Jacob was stunned; he didn't believe them. But when they told him all that Joseph had told them, and when he saw the carts that Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. He said that he was convinced that his son Joseph was still alive and that he wanted to go and see him before he died. (Gen 45:16–28).
Jacob set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to God. God spoke to him in a vision at night (probably in a dream)
and said that he shouldn't be afraid to go down into Egypt, for he would make him a great nation there. God would go down to Egypt with him, and he would surely bring them back again. And Joseph’s own hand would close his eyes. Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt, taking with them their livestock and possessions they had acquired in Canaan. Jacob brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters, all his offspring.
(Gen 46:1–7, Exo 1:1–5, Acts 7:15a, Psalm 105:23).
It was a real threat to be assimilated in the land of Canaan. Therefore, it was important to move to Egypt, because Jesus would come from their offspring.
Note that the number of Jacob's descendants who came to Egypt was 75 and not 70 (Acts 7:14, Exo 1:5, Gen 46:27b), see time 26:50–28:24 in
Were the Pyramids Built Before the Flood? There were also a number of other people belonging to Jacob's household, such as the wives to his sons
(Gen 46:26b). See also Which Version of the Old Testament did Jesus Use?
As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time. Jacob told Joseph that he was now ready to die, because he had seen for himself that he was still alive. Then Joseph told his brothers and to his father’s household, that he would speak to Pharaoh and tell him that they had arrived. And that they were shepherds; they tend livestock, and that they had brought with them their flocks and herds and all that they owned. When Pharaoh asked them about their occupation, they would reply that they had tended livestock from their boyhood on, just as their fathers did. Then they would be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, because all shepherds were detestable to the Egyptians.
Joseph went and told Pharaoh that they had arrived and were now in the
land of Goshen. Pharaoh asked his brothers what their occupations were. They replied that they were shepherds, just as their fathers were. They also asked him to be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen. Pharaoh told Joseph that the land of Egypt lay before him; and that they could settle in the best part of the land, and that they were allowed to live in the land of Goshen. Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob
and presented him before Pharaoh. Jacob blessed Pharaoh and said he was
130 years old. (Gen 46:28–47:10).
They told Pharaoh that they were shepherds. This allowed them to settle in the
land of Goshen, for all shepherds were detestable to the Egyptians, and this was a place where the Egyptians hadn't settled at this time. It was a place where they wouldn't assimilate. They would also be hated by the Egyptians, not first when Joseph was alive but later, which also prevented them from assimilating. From the people of Israel Jesus would come, and therefore it was important to maintain the separation from other people. (2 Cor 6:14–18, Isaiah 52:11).
The main reason for not marrying people from other nations was to keep them from being led away from the Lord and worshiping other gods.
They were given property in the best part of the land, the district of Ramesses, as Pharaoh directed. Joseph also provided food for his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household, according to the number of their children. (Gen 47:11–12).
Joseph gave the food according to the needs of the people.
Jacob who was the second born twin of Isaac and Rebekah was chosen by God, not his older brother Esau, and therefore should have received the blessing from Isaac. But Isaac loved Esau better and wanted to give his blessing to him. But through deceit, Jacob pretended to be Esau and received his blessing. Because Esau wanted to kill Jacob because of that, Jacob went to his uncle Laban. For detailed information about this, see the end part of Isaac, the Son of Abraham.
God appeared in a dream to Jacob on his way to Laban. He dreamed of a ladder set up on the Earth, and the top of it reached to Heaven. God's angels ascended and descended upon it. The Lord stood above it and said that the land where Jacob
was, was to be given to him and his offspring. His offspring would be like the dust on the Earth, and in him and his offspring all the families of the Earth would be blessed. God would be with him and watch over him and would bring him back to this land. God wouldn't leave him until he had done what he had promised him. (Gen 28:10–15). These promises are a repetition of the promises that God made several times, first to to Abraham and then to Isaac, see the Abrahamic covenant. Jesus is the ladder in the dream, the point of access between Heaven and Earth (John 1:51). Jesus is the one whom God the Father has sent down to Earth to die on the cross so that man an women can go to Heaven.
Jesus is the way to Heaven, see Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life.
God communicates through dreams in the Bible and can do so even in our time.
This doesn't mean that all our dreams are divinely inspired, but some are.
Jacob made a vow and said that if God would be with him and kept him safe and gave him bread to eat and clothes to wear, and he would return to his father’s house in peace, then the Lord would be his God, and of all that God would give him he would give a full tenth back to him (Gen 28:20–22). I seems that Jacob is trying to make a deal with God on his own terms. It's not direct to trust God.
Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. He asked for Laban, and then his daughter Rachel came with sheep belonging to Laban, for she was a shepherd. Jacob then helped her and watered his uncle’s sheep. When he told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and a son of Rebekah, she ran and told her father. Laban brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things. Laban asked Jacob what he wanted to have to work for him. Laban had two daughters, Leah who was the older and Rachel who was the younger. Leah was a plain looking woman, but Rachel was beautiful. Jacob was in love with Rachel and said that he would work for Laban for seven years in exchange for his younger daughter Rachel. Laban agreed. After the seven years, Jacob asked for Rachel. But Laban fooled Jacob and gave him his daughter Leah, whom he brought to Jacob. Jacob slept with her thinking she was Rachel. Laban gave his servant Zilpah to Leah
as her attendant. When Jacob realized he had been deceived, he confronted Laban
about it. He replied that he would have Rachel too, but then he had to work for seven more years. Jacob agreed. Laban gave his servant Bilhah to Rachel as her attendant. Jacob slept with Rachel. His love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah, and he worked for Laban another seven years. He didn't love Leah.
(Gen 29:1–31).
Jacob was brought into a polygamous relationship. Such a relationship was and has never been God's intention, and brings with it all sorts of problems. It's contrary to God's purpose and plan. (Gen 2:24, Deu 17:17). When polygamy occurred in the
Old Testament, it may seem that God accepted it. But those involved in it had to deal with all its negative sides, such as jealousy, competition, intrigues, and quarrels, see for example King David. Jesus also affirms that God's original purpose for marriage was one man and one woman (Mat 19:4–6, Mark 10:6–9), see also
homosexuality.
God created the woman to be loved by her husband as Christ loves the church
(Eph 5:25). The love of a man does so much to establish and secure a woman's emotional foundation, to make her happy, and is her primary need. Not being loved makes a woman miserable (Proverbs 30:21–23). It wasn't easy for Leah to have a relationship with a man who didn't love her (Gen 29:32–34). Even if she had several sons which was huge in that culture Jacob didn't love her.
Then Jacob said to Laban to send him back to his homeland with his wives and children. But Laban wanted him to stay because he understood that the Lord had blessed him for Jacob's sake. Jacob then asked Laban to go through all his flocks and remove from them all speckled or spotted sheep, each dark-colored lamb, and every spotted or speckled goat. They would be his wages. Laban agreed. This was also done. (Gen 30:25–34).
Jacob then took freshly cut branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches. Then he placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs, so that they would stand directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat and came to drink, they mated in front of the branches. And they gave birth to young that were streaked or speckled or spotted. Whenever the stronger females were in heat, Jacob placed the branches in the troughs in front of the animals so they could mate near the branches. But if the animals were weak, he wouldn't place them there. The weak animals went to Laban and the strong to Jacob. In this way Jacob grew very prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys. (Gen 30:35–43).
Jacob saw that Laban didn't look at him with favor as before. Then the Lord told him to return to the land of his fathers and to his kindred, and the Lord would be with him. (Gen 31:1–3). Jacob's attempt to influence the whole thing
on his own were typical of him but not the reason why he was so blessed.
God explained in a dream that the reason was that God had blessed him:
Jacob told Rachel and Leah that he had worked for their father with all his might, but Laban had cheated him by changing his wages ten times. Jacob told them that he had a dream in which the goats that mated with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted. The angel of God had told him in the dream that all the goats that mated with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted, for he had seen all that Laban had done to him. He should immediately leave this country and go back to his homeland. Rachel and Leah told Jacob to do everything God had told him. Jacob then puts his children and his wives on camels and drove all his livestock before him along with all that he had gathered to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel
stole her father’s household gods. Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban by not telling him that he was running away. So he fled with everything he had. (Gen 31:4–21).
Jacob had served Laban for twenty years, fourteen years for his two daughters and six years for his flock. During that time, Laban had changed his wages ten times.
(Gen 31:38–42). Jacob became extremely prosperous. God blessed Jacob, but not because Jacob was a particularly good person. It was because of the promises God made to Jacob (see above), and because of the covenant God made with Abraham.
On the third day, Laban was told that Jacob had fled. He pursued Jacob for seven days before he caught up with him. God came to Laban in a dream at night and told him to be careful not to say anything to Jacob, good or bad (James 3:16).
Laban confronted Jacob about leaving him secretly with his daughters. He said that he had the power to harm him, but God had warned him not to do such a thing.
He also accused Jacob of stealing the gods of his household. He searched for them but couldn't find them because Rachel had hidden them. Laban then wanted to make a covenant between him and Jacob, which they did. (Gen 31:22–55).
Jacob went on his way, and God's angels met him. Jacob probably needed this encouragement for what he was about to face. Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau, instructed them to tell Esau that he needed nothing but to find favor in his eyes. When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said that Esau came to meet him, and 400 men were with him. Jacob then acted in fear and distress instead of seeking God in prayer. He divided the people who were with him into two groups, and also the flocks and herds and camels. He believed that if Esau came and attacked one group, the other group could escape. Afterwards Jacob prayed and reminded God of his promises and that he was the one who had told him to go back. He asked God to save him and admitted that he was afraid that Esau would attack
him. He was honest in his prayer as we all should be when we pray. But afterwards he still tried to solve this in his own way instead of trusting God to protect him. He selected gifts for his servants to give to Esau. They would go before Jacob and tell Esau that the gifts came from Jacob who came behind them. Jacob thought this would pacify him so he could receive him when he saw Esau. Jacob’s gifts went before him, but he himself spent the night in the camp. That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven sons and sent them to Esau with all his possessions. (Gen 32:1–23).
Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. Seeing that he couldn't overpower him, the man touched Jacob's hip socket, causing his hip to twist as he wrestled with the man. Then the man told Jacob that he would let him go because it was daybreak. But Jacob replied that he wouldn't do so unless he blessed him. The man asked him his name, and Jacob told him his name. Then the man said that his name would no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because he had struggled with God and with men and had prevailed. Then he blessed Jacob. Jacob was now limping because of his hip. (Hosea 12:3–5, Gen 32:24–32).
Getting a new name was like becoming a new person. The name Israel means
"God rules". Jacob would be in a position of leadership and responsibility for his household and needed this. He needed to have his pride broken to trust God and not in his own strength. This event started a whole new process of how Jacob would deal with life and how he would see God, see 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit in
The Sermon on the Mount. He would be a changed man even if he wasn't perfect. This can be compared to the Apostle Peter (see the end part), who also needed to be broken from pride in order to function as a leader among God's children. Jacob prevailed in the sense that he persevered through his struggle until the Lord thoroughly defeated him. See this further explained at time 43:01–1:07:26
in DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON GENESIS 32 GOD WRESTLES WITH JACOB.
When Jacob approached Esau who came with his 400 men, he divided the children between Leah, Rachel, and the two female servants. He placed the servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. He put his family in positions that were important to him. Those of less importance at the front, those of greater importance at the back. He himself
went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him, he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him and they wept. Esau asked about the gifts, but received them because Jacob insisted. It would have been impolite in that culture to reject them. Jacob was humble and gave God the glory, saying that God had been gracious to him and that he had everything he needed. Esau then offered Jacob to accompany him on his journey. But Jacob replied that they couldn't travel so fast and it was better for Esau to go on, and they would come later. Esau returned to Seir. Jacob turned to the city of Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of this pagan city.
(Gen 33:1–20).
Esau was materially blessed (Gen 36:6–7), see time 11:33–14:43 in
DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON GENESIS 33 THE MEETING OF JACOB AND ESAU.
God hated Esau regarding the covenant (Rom 9:13, Malachi 1:2b–3). He was rejected because he wasn't chosen to inherit the covenant given to Abraham.
They probably stayed in Shechem for at least ten years since Dina grew up to be
a teenager. Jacob didn't protect his daughter during this time. Instead of going to Shechem, Jacob should have obeyed God and returned to Bethel as God had told him to do (Gen 31:13). God wants obedience before sacrifice (Gen 33:18–20).
Dina, Leah's daughter, went out to visit the women of the land. When Shechem, the son of Hamor, the ruler of that region, saw her, he took her and raped her. He then asked his father to have her as his wife. Jacob was then told that his daughter Dina
had been defiled. Hamor then went out to talk with Jacob. Meanwhile, Jacob’s sons had come in from the fields as soon as they heard what had happened. They were shocked and furious, for Shechem had done an outrageous thing in Israel by lying
with Jacob’s daughter, something that shouldn't be done. Hamor asked them to take Dina as his son's wife and to intermarry with them. Shechem said he would give them whatever they wanted if he would have Dina as his wife. Because their sister
Dina had become defiled, Jacob’s sons replied deceitfully when they spoke to
Shechem and his father Hamor. They told them that they would only make a deal with them if all their men were circumcised. (Gen 34:1–17).
Their proposal seemed good to Hamor and Shechem. All the leading men of the city agreed with them, and every male in the city was circumcised. Three days later while they were all still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons; Simeon and Levi, Dina’s brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, killing all the men. They put Hamor and his son Shechem to the sword and took Dina from Shechem’s house and left. Jacob's sons plundered the city where their sister had been defiled. They seized their flocks and herds, donkeys, and everything else that belonged to them in the city and in the fields. They carried away all their wealth and all their women and children, and took all that was plundered in the houses. Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, that their actions could lead to the destruction of their household. But they responded and asked him if it was OK that their sister had been treated like a prostitute.
(Gen 34:18–31).
Jacob was probably very passive when Hamor came to talk to them about what had happened, and perhaps didn't even protest over the wrongdoing. This inactivity on the part of Jacob probably led her brothers to feel that they had to do something about it. Jacob didn't act as a protector of his family. However, this doesn't remove responsibility for the massacre carried out by Simeon and Levi. Jacob later prophesied (shortly before his death) over his sons. Then he said of Simeon and Levi
that their anger would be cursed and that they would be divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel (Gen 49:5–7). The tribe of Simeon would be absorbed into the tribe of Judah. Because of the faithfulness of the tribe of Levi during the rebellion of the golden calf, see 1. The Golden Calf in Moses; Part 13: Rebellion and Paganism, they were scattered as a blessing over all the people of Israel, see Joshua.
It was because God's grace and mercy that they weren't pursued and punished for their massacre and wrongdoings in Shechem.
Then God told Jacob to go up to Bethel and settle there, and there build an altar to God, who appeared to him when he fled from Esau. Jacob told his household and all who were with him to get rid of their foreign gods, which they did. Then they set out, and the terror of God fell upon the cities all around them, so that no one pursued them for what they had done in Shechem. Jacob and all the people with him came to Bethel in the land of Canaan, where he built an altar. God appeared to Jacob again and blessed him. God told him that he would no longer be called Jacob; his name would be Israel. He told him to be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a community of nations would come from him, and kings would be among his descendants. The land that God gave to Abraham
and Isaac, God would give to him and to his descendants after him.
(Psalm 105:10–11). Jacob set up a stone pillar in the place where God had spoken to him, and he poured out a drink offering upon it; he also poured oil on it. Jacob called the place where God had spoken to him Bethel. Then they moved on from Bethel.
Rachel began to give birth to a son, Benjamin, but Rachel had great difficulty in childbirth and died. Later, Reuben went in and lay with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Jacob heard about it. Still later, Jacob came home to his father Isaac, who lived to be 180 years old before he died. (Gen 35:1–29).
When they plundered the houses in Shechem, they probably also took their
man-made gods. Rachel had also stolen her father’s household gods. They got rid of all these gods, which was important to prevent them from idolatry. God would use Jacob's family because of God's grace and promises.
That Reuben slept with his father’s concubine was a pagan tradition. Before a son took over his father's legacy, he took over his concubines. It showed how Jacob's children had been influenced by the pagan lifestyle in Shechem. Because of this sinful behavior, Reuben lost his birthright to be Jacob's firstborn child (Gen 49:3–4). Adonijah, king David's son, tried to do do something similar but was killed because of it (1 Kings 2:13–25). When Absalom rebelled
against his father king David and tried to become king, he slept with his fathers
concubines (2 Sam 16:21–22). For more on Jacob, see Joseph, the Son of Jacob.
See also The Old Testament of the Bible.