The first angels in the book of Genesis were Cherubim that guarded the garden so that no human could enter again. Cherubim is plural for cherub. The King James Version adds an "s" to cherubims to let us English speakers know that it is plural.
Cherbim were a special class of angels represented in different places and in different ways in the Bible. They were usually more important than the common class angels that we are used to hearing about and that are represented in the rest of Genesis. The Bible and other Hebrew literature is filled with a whole lot of different levels of angels, many levels of which are not clear to us today.
In the temple of Israel, God was said to live between the two golden cherubim and in heaven they are intimately connected to the presence of God.
Our first mention of angels in Genesis tells us that God used these "angels that cover," the angels that were intimately connected to his presence - he used those angels to watch over the garden to protect it from being entered again.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Angel #2 and #4 Hagar and the angel
Hagar, Sarah's servant was treated harshly by Sarah because Sarah was a frustrated woman who was barren. Sarah allowed her husband to impregnate Hagar because he wanted a child so badly and as a result Hagar, who was extremely fertile, got pregnant. Even though Hagar was lower in society, like Joseph she flaunted her good fortune in the presence of her competition, thus receiving Sarah's wrath (again like Joseph's story with his brothers).
Hagar ran away into the desert where an angel met her and asked what she was doing. After she recounted her story the angel told her:
1. Return and submit to Sarah.
2. Her descendents will become a nation.
3. She was to call the child's name "God will hear" (Ishmael).
4. God had heard her affliction.
5. The child would be a wild one fighting people who were close to him.
Number 5 stands out to me as very interesting. God had heard her affliction; in other words, God acknowledged the suffering she faced at the hands of Sarah. Why this is so interesting is because God was far more tender with Hagar than He was with Sarah who was and is the mother of the nation of Israel. In Sarah's case, angels spoke to Abraham telling him that his wife would conceive, but in Hagar's case the angel spoke to her directly and comforted her by acknowledging the abuse she had under Sarah and promising her great things for her child.
Number 2 says that Ishmael would be the father of a nation. There are many today that believe the Arabs are modern day descendents of Ishmael, but there is debate about this.
Number 1 is important to us today, because sometimes God calls us to go into situations we would rather not go, but there is an ultimate and often unseen reason for His command.
14 years later, Sarah gave birth to a son who was mocked by teenager Ishmael which caused Sarah to demand the removal of Hagar and Ishmael from the home. Hagar again entered the desert and facing certain starvation was comforted again by an angel. The focus of this passage again centered on God hearing. God heard the boy cry and an angel of God spoke from heaven stating that God heard his cry.
One last piece of interest. I have already mentioned the similarity between Joseph and Hagar - both flaunted their status among their competitors. Both suffered for it. With Ishmael, however, there are similatities as well. Both Ishmael and Joseph were thrown out of their houses because of jealousy and anger, both faced uncertain times and both were protected by God.
Hagar ran away into the desert where an angel met her and asked what she was doing. After she recounted her story the angel told her:
1. Return and submit to Sarah.
2. Her descendents will become a nation.
3. She was to call the child's name "God will hear" (Ishmael).
4. God had heard her affliction.
5. The child would be a wild one fighting people who were close to him.
Number 5 stands out to me as very interesting. God had heard her affliction; in other words, God acknowledged the suffering she faced at the hands of Sarah. Why this is so interesting is because God was far more tender with Hagar than He was with Sarah who was and is the mother of the nation of Israel. In Sarah's case, angels spoke to Abraham telling him that his wife would conceive, but in Hagar's case the angel spoke to her directly and comforted her by acknowledging the abuse she had under Sarah and promising her great things for her child.
Number 2 says that Ishmael would be the father of a nation. There are many today that believe the Arabs are modern day descendents of Ishmael, but there is debate about this.
Number 1 is important to us today, because sometimes God calls us to go into situations we would rather not go, but there is an ultimate and often unseen reason for His command.
14 years later, Sarah gave birth to a son who was mocked by teenager Ishmael which caused Sarah to demand the removal of Hagar and Ishmael from the home. Hagar again entered the desert and facing certain starvation was comforted again by an angel. The focus of this passage again centered on God hearing. God heard the boy cry and an angel of God spoke from heaven stating that God heard his cry.
One last piece of interest. I have already mentioned the similarity between Joseph and Hagar - both flaunted their status among their competitors. Both suffered for it. With Ishmael, however, there are similatities as well. Both Ishmael and Joseph were thrown out of their houses because of jealousy and anger, both faced uncertain times and both were protected by God.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Angels #3a Abraham's Visitors
The Lord Himself visited Abraham in a most unusual way. In the middle of the day He came with two other people who are probably angels. The two men with the Lord were not called angels, they were called men, yet we can be confident that they were angels. How do we know they were angels? In the middle of the chapter, as the Lord stayed with Abraham, the two men left for Lot's home city Sodom. A short time later, 2 angels visited Job and his family.
In the first part of their journey, the 2 angels ate and drank what was set before them by Abraham and Sarah. After they ate the angels and the Lord together delivered a message for Abraham as his wife listened from inside the tent, the message was that that even though his wife was very old, she would become pregnant and give birth to a son.
After the pronouncement the Lord and the 2 men left to go to Sodom, but then before they all parted the Lord turned to the two men with him for counsel, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" Thus the angels served as counselors for the Lord. The Lord turned to them for suggestions.
While the Lord continued to talk with Abraham, the angels moved on to Sodom where they were invited into the home of Lot.
In the first part of their journey, the 2 angels ate and drank what was set before them by Abraham and Sarah. After they ate the angels and the Lord together delivered a message for Abraham as his wife listened from inside the tent, the message was that that even though his wife was very old, she would become pregnant and give birth to a son.
After the pronouncement the Lord and the 2 men left to go to Sodom, but then before they all parted the Lord turned to the two men with him for counsel, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" Thus the angels served as counselors for the Lord. The Lord turned to them for suggestions.
While the Lord continued to talk with Abraham, the angels moved on to Sodom where they were invited into the home of Lot.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Angels #3b - Lot's Visitors
Having left Abraham, the angels went to Sodom where they met with Lot who had earlier parted company from his Uncle Abraham. Somehow Lot had also moved careers. No longer a cattle herder, he was a city official of some sort. We know this because it was the city officials of that time who sat under the gate of a city, and Lot was sitting under the gate. Lot therefore had risen to prominence in Sodom.
The angels came to the city and were met by Lot as was mentioned. Lot insisted that they stay with him. But while they stayed the city's men came to have sexual relations with the men. This is very unusual, because there were plenty of other men to have sex with and Lot offered 2 virgin daughters to the mob to protect the visitors, but they didn't want their daughters, they wanted the men.
I will address several issues here:
1. Why are they so focused on these two men?
There must have been plenty of other travellors who came through the town, but these two were targeted. Jude states that the city went after strange (other) flesh. This is usually interprteted as men with men. But in this case, I think the NT writer was thinking of flesh of the angels. The people of the town knew that these men were unusual. Did they know they were angels? It is possible. Earlier Genesis spoke about Sons of God connecting with the Daughters of men. It is possible that in this worldview angels sometimes coexisted with people and it wasn't surprising to people of this time.
2. What is the sin of Sodom?
The OT never clearly states what the sin of Sodom is until Ezekiel. The OT uses Sodom as an example of evil many times. It talks about the sin of Sodom, but it does not describe the sin of Sodom until Ezekiel.
Sodomy which is taken from the word "Sodom," was the word used for homosexuality in the Law - so one can conclude that the OT culture saw a strong connection between the city of Sodom and the homosexual act.
While many believe the main sin of Sodom was homosexuality, some have suggested that the biggest sin was the bad treatment of strangers.
Ezekiel is the only Bible verse that spells out the sin of Sodom in detail.
"Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." Ezekiel 16:49
This is not what we would expect.
Back to Lot...
Lot brought the visitors into his house and the men in the city wanted to rape them. The angels knew that the city had to be destroyed, so they told Lot and his family to leave and not to look back. Lot left with his wife and 2 daughters, but his wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.
Originally the angels told Lot that he should run away to the mountains, but Lot wanted to move to a small city instead. The angels said he could so he moved into the small city, but became araid of the people so he moved into the mountains, but before all that, the angels told him to hurry out of the town because they couldn't destroy the town until Lot left.
I personally believe that he and his wife wanted to move to the city. For one, his wife turned around after leaving Sodom, in her heart unable to leave the city. But as for Lot, when it came time to go, he dragged his feet not wanting to leave. When he was literally dragged out of the city and told by the angels to move into the mountains, he wanted to move to another small city instead. Lot evidently did not like being out in the open fields.
The angels came to the city and were met by Lot as was mentioned. Lot insisted that they stay with him. But while they stayed the city's men came to have sexual relations with the men. This is very unusual, because there were plenty of other men to have sex with and Lot offered 2 virgin daughters to the mob to protect the visitors, but they didn't want their daughters, they wanted the men.
I will address several issues here:
1. Why are they so focused on these two men?
There must have been plenty of other travellors who came through the town, but these two were targeted. Jude states that the city went after strange (other) flesh. This is usually interprteted as men with men. But in this case, I think the NT writer was thinking of flesh of the angels. The people of the town knew that these men were unusual. Did they know they were angels? It is possible. Earlier Genesis spoke about Sons of God connecting with the Daughters of men. It is possible that in this worldview angels sometimes coexisted with people and it wasn't surprising to people of this time.
2. What is the sin of Sodom?
The OT never clearly states what the sin of Sodom is until Ezekiel. The OT uses Sodom as an example of evil many times. It talks about the sin of Sodom, but it does not describe the sin of Sodom until Ezekiel.
Sodomy which is taken from the word "Sodom," was the word used for homosexuality in the Law - so one can conclude that the OT culture saw a strong connection between the city of Sodom and the homosexual act.
While many believe the main sin of Sodom was homosexuality, some have suggested that the biggest sin was the bad treatment of strangers.
Ezekiel is the only Bible verse that spells out the sin of Sodom in detail.
"Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." Ezekiel 16:49
This is not what we would expect.
Back to Lot...
Lot brought the visitors into his house and the men in the city wanted to rape them. The angels knew that the city had to be destroyed, so they told Lot and his family to leave and not to look back. Lot left with his wife and 2 daughters, but his wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.
Originally the angels told Lot that he should run away to the mountains, but Lot wanted to move to a small city instead. The angels said he could so he moved into the small city, but became araid of the people so he moved into the mountains, but before all that, the angels told him to hurry out of the town because they couldn't destroy the town until Lot left.
I personally believe that he and his wife wanted to move to the city. For one, his wife turned around after leaving Sodom, in her heart unable to leave the city. But as for Lot, when it came time to go, he dragged his feet not wanting to leave. When he was literally dragged out of the city and told by the angels to move into the mountains, he wanted to move to another small city instead. Lot evidently did not like being out in the open fields.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Angel #5 Tells Abraham not to Kill Isaac
Isaac was tied up on an altar reaady to be slaughtered by his own dad who believed God wanted him to do this. As Abraham lifted up his knife to slaughter his son, and angel came and told Abraham not to kill his son. The angel also said that God now saw how faithful Abraham was in obeying God by putting his own son on an altar to be killed.
Hebrews 11 tells us that as Abraham was ready to kill his son, he believed that God would raise him up for these reasons built in basic logic:
Premise 1 - God promised Abraham that he would raise up a nation through Isaac.
Premise 2 - God told him to slay his son.
Conclusion - Therefore Isaac cannot die or if he dies he would be raised up.
This is how the writer of Hebrews viewed the event.
In the same episode the angel of the Lord appears a second time to Abraham during this same time period telling Abraham that because he was obedient to God he would be blessed and his descendents would be beyond number. In other words, God renewed his covenant with Abraham.
Hebrew scholars throughout the ages have debated why God chose Abraham and many have concluded that although there was nothing that preceded his call to tell us why God chose him, studying his life after his call tells us more about why God chose Abraham. If we look at this event we see into the argument that it was his obedience that made Abraham worthy of receiving the blessing.
The New Testament writer James pursued this argument about Abraham's obedience. On the other hand, Paul focused more on the faith of Abraham in that Abraham believed God when He told Abraham that he would be the father of a nation.
Hebrews 11 tells us that as Abraham was ready to kill his son, he believed that God would raise him up for these reasons built in basic logic:
Premise 1 - God promised Abraham that he would raise up a nation through Isaac.
Premise 2 - God told him to slay his son.
Conclusion - Therefore Isaac cannot die or if he dies he would be raised up.
This is how the writer of Hebrews viewed the event.
In the same episode the angel of the Lord appears a second time to Abraham during this same time period telling Abraham that because he was obedient to God he would be blessed and his descendents would be beyond number. In other words, God renewed his covenant with Abraham.
Hebrew scholars throughout the ages have debated why God chose Abraham and many have concluded that although there was nothing that preceded his call to tell us why God chose him, studying his life after his call tells us more about why God chose Abraham. If we look at this event we see into the argument that it was his obedience that made Abraham worthy of receiving the blessing.
The New Testament writer James pursued this argument about Abraham's obedience. On the other hand, Paul focused more on the faith of Abraham in that Abraham believed God when He told Abraham that he would be the father of a nation.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Angel #6 - A Prayer or Is It a Hope?
Abraham wanted to get a wife for his son Isaac, but for some odd reason he would not let Isaac get his own wife; so he sent his best servant to Isaac's cousins hoping to snag some girl into marrying Isaac sight unseen. The servant was concerned because he was not sure that he could get anybody to agree to such a huge request, but Abraham knew how to jump the hurdles.
First of all he sent the servant with a lot of money / gold / jewelry and stuff to divert the attention away from the marriage to an unknown man. Secondly, Abraham told the servant that God would send his angel ahead of him to prepare his way.
There was no angel that appeared in this episode, but Genesis leaves us believing that there may very well have been one that went ahead - not in human form, but in spirit.
Now back to the dowry - I believe that Abraham was working the typical magic trick - diverting the audience's attention away from the slight of hand. In Genesis the servant used the diversion of wealth and power. Not only did he have camels loaded with treasure, he had stories of Abraham's greatness and Sarah's legendary pregnancy.
The question remains, why the slight of hand? Was Abraham hiding something?
First of all he sent the servant with a lot of money / gold / jewelry and stuff to divert the attention away from the marriage to an unknown man. Secondly, Abraham told the servant that God would send his angel ahead of him to prepare his way.
There was no angel that appeared in this episode, but Genesis leaves us believing that there may very well have been one that went ahead - not in human form, but in spirit.
Now back to the dowry - I believe that Abraham was working the typical magic trick - diverting the audience's attention away from the slight of hand. In Genesis the servant used the diversion of wealth and power. Not only did he have camels loaded with treasure, he had stories of Abraham's greatness and Sarah's legendary pregnancy.
The question remains, why the slight of hand? Was Abraham hiding something?
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Angels # 7 Jacob's Ladder
This story was addressed under Dreams of Genesis. Angels ascend and descend to and from heaven and earth at Bethel. Jacob dreamed this as he was given the promise of descendents and blessing, in other words it was the continuation of God's Covenant with Abraham.
As in most of the other covenants of Genesis, God established his promises to individuals when they were most afraid. Abraham was afraid of revenge because he had just slaughtered a large army. Hagar was afraid because she had no food and was alone in the desert with her child. And Jacob was afraid because he had just run for his life from his brother, and was moving into unchartered territory.
In all 3 cases the individuals were afraid for their lives and in all 3 cases, God promised them a future - and a blessed one at that. God promised Jacob not only a nation as descendents, but more specifically God promised that He would be with Jacob on his journey and bring him back safely.
When Jacob woke up he made a pillar of stones to mark the spot where he had his dream and then he promised God 10% of all that he was to make when and if he returned safely.
Jacob did return over 20 years later and when he came back he was a wealthy man with servants, cattle and not one but four wives.
As in most of the other covenants of Genesis, God established his promises to individuals when they were most afraid. Abraham was afraid of revenge because he had just slaughtered a large army. Hagar was afraid because she had no food and was alone in the desert with her child. And Jacob was afraid because he had just run for his life from his brother, and was moving into unchartered territory.
In all 3 cases the individuals were afraid for their lives and in all 3 cases, God promised them a future - and a blessed one at that. God promised Jacob not only a nation as descendents, but more specifically God promised that He would be with Jacob on his journey and bring him back safely.
When Jacob woke up he made a pillar of stones to mark the spot where he had his dream and then he promised God 10% of all that he was to make when and if he returned safely.
Jacob did return over 20 years later and when he came back he was a wealthy man with servants, cattle and not one but four wives.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Angel # 8 Time to Go
This angel episode was likewise addressed in the Dream section of my blogs.
Jacob may or may not have had a dream of an angel telling him it was time to go. The reason I say it is in question is because there is so much deceit and trickery in this family at this time. Jacob wanted to go home and it was a convenient time to go because his Uncle was away. Jacob no doubt felt that he could not leave with his Uncle knowing because his Uncle would not have let him or his daughters go. So he left when his Uncle was away.
Jacob may have received a dream at that time, or he may have received a dream before that time but was waiting for the right moment to tell his wives. He may also have felt unsure about his wives' willingness to go and therefore needed the dream to help force them to leave their dad's place.
Whatever the story may have been, it worked. The wives decided it was ok to leave their dad without him even knowing.
Jacob may or may not have had a dream of an angel telling him it was time to go. The reason I say it is in question is because there is so much deceit and trickery in this family at this time. Jacob wanted to go home and it was a convenient time to go because his Uncle was away. Jacob no doubt felt that he could not leave with his Uncle knowing because his Uncle would not have let him or his daughters go. So he left when his Uncle was away.
Jacob may have received a dream at that time, or he may have received a dream before that time but was waiting for the right moment to tell his wives. He may also have felt unsure about his wives' willingness to go and therefore needed the dream to help force them to leave their dad's place.
Whatever the story may have been, it worked. The wives decided it was ok to leave their dad without him even knowing.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The 1st Dream in Genesis - Abraham's Covenant
Abraham's Covenant
Context:
Abraham had just conquered several kings from several cities, slaughtering their armies, in order to save his nephew Lot (and Lot's family) who was captured into slavery. Because our text (ch 15) starts out with "Fear not," I can conclude that Abraham was afraid of revenge from the lands he had conquered or from other cities that would want to attack him. Later in Genesis Jacob feared surrounding villages when his sons slaughtered a city in revenging their sister's rape. Abraham was probably afraid of similar consequences, so the context of God's promise to Abraham was Abraham's need for survival.
The next sentence reinforces my claim: "I am your shield." God told him not to be afraid because God would protect him.
Being assured of his survival, he then turned to God about the survival of his name. God had promised already to make him a nation, but as of yet God had not made good on his promise, so Abraham's next question was about his lack of children. God promised that he would have children and lots of descendants. Abraham believed God.
In obedience to God, Abraham cut 3 animals in half and killed 2 birds. Protecting them from birds he eventually fell into a deep sleep as the sun was going down.
The Dream:
Darkness and horror surrounded Abraham as God told him that his descendants would face 400 years of slavery and pain in a land that was not theirs, would then be delivered with great wealth and would then return to the land where Abraham lived. God let Abraham know that the land could not yet be taken because the sin of the people was not yet at its height.
Reflecting back to Abraham's fear for survival, God promised him a long life.
Whether it was part of the dream or whether it happened after the dream, a smoking firepot and a burning torch passed through the pieces of the offering. This was part of a custom in making solemn vows in a world that had little or no writing, so could make few if any written contracts.
And in this covenant, God promised to give the land that Abraham was in to his descendants.
Context:
Abraham had just conquered several kings from several cities, slaughtering their armies, in order to save his nephew Lot (and Lot's family) who was captured into slavery. Because our text (ch 15) starts out with "Fear not," I can conclude that Abraham was afraid of revenge from the lands he had conquered or from other cities that would want to attack him. Later in Genesis Jacob feared surrounding villages when his sons slaughtered a city in revenging their sister's rape. Abraham was probably afraid of similar consequences, so the context of God's promise to Abraham was Abraham's need for survival.
The next sentence reinforces my claim: "I am your shield." God told him not to be afraid because God would protect him.
Being assured of his survival, he then turned to God about the survival of his name. God had promised already to make him a nation, but as of yet God had not made good on his promise, so Abraham's next question was about his lack of children. God promised that he would have children and lots of descendants. Abraham believed God.
In obedience to God, Abraham cut 3 animals in half and killed 2 birds. Protecting them from birds he eventually fell into a deep sleep as the sun was going down.
The Dream:
Darkness and horror surrounded Abraham as God told him that his descendants would face 400 years of slavery and pain in a land that was not theirs, would then be delivered with great wealth and would then return to the land where Abraham lived. God let Abraham know that the land could not yet be taken because the sin of the people was not yet at its height.
Reflecting back to Abraham's fear for survival, God promised him a long life.
Whether it was part of the dream or whether it happened after the dream, a smoking firepot and a burning torch passed through the pieces of the offering. This was part of a custom in making solemn vows in a world that had little or no writing, so could make few if any written contracts.
And in this covenant, God promised to give the land that Abraham was in to his descendants.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Dreams 2 & 3 Abimelech's Warning and Jacob's Ladder
Dream #2 - Abimelech's Warning - God warns Abimelech in a dream to stay away from Abraham's wife. Until the dream Abimelech didn't know Sarah was his wife. We learn from this that God can speak to people through dreams. Dreams that are mentioned in Genesis are messages from God.
Dream #3 - Jacob's Ladder - Jacob dreams about a ladder where angels travel up and down. The top was in heaven and the bottom was a place on earth he called, "Bethel" meaning "The House of God." From this dream Jacob learns that angels travel between heaven and earth, to and from the place Jacob sleeps for a night on his journey away from home.
This dream is the setting for God to confirm his covenant with and through Jacob. The ladder going up and down reflects the ancient thought that heaven was above and a place that could be reached if one built a tower tall enough. When God made a covenant with Abraham (Jacob's grandfather) the Tower of Babel preceded the covenant. When God continues His covenant with Jacob, the dream of the ladder brings us again to the Tower of Babel where people try to reach heaven but cannot because God puts a stop to it. When God called Abraham heaven reached down to earth and Bethel is the time and place where heaven is reached and the covenant is established with Jacob.
Dream #3 - Jacob's Ladder - Jacob dreams about a ladder where angels travel up and down. The top was in heaven and the bottom was a place on earth he called, "Bethel" meaning "The House of God." From this dream Jacob learns that angels travel between heaven and earth, to and from the place Jacob sleeps for a night on his journey away from home.
This dream is the setting for God to confirm his covenant with and through Jacob. The ladder going up and down reflects the ancient thought that heaven was above and a place that could be reached if one built a tower tall enough. When God made a covenant with Abraham (Jacob's grandfather) the Tower of Babel preceded the covenant. When God continues His covenant with Jacob, the dream of the ladder brings us again to the Tower of Babel where people try to reach heaven but cannot because God puts a stop to it. When God called Abraham heaven reached down to earth and Bethel is the time and place where heaven is reached and the covenant is established with Jacob.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Dreams #4 & 5 - Jacob's Move Home
Dream #4
When Jacob wanted to leave his uncle and Father-in-Law Laban, he wanted to convince his wives that staying at their father's place was not in their best interest and that it would be better to move to his parents many miles away. His uncle and he had been battling for the cattle, and even though neither one of them were playing fair, Jacob ended up with more cattle than his uncle, which created problems with Laban and his sons.
To convince his wives to leave their father and to move to his parents' place, he shared with them the long history of their dad's cheating him and topped it off with telling them about a dream he had. In his dream an angel came to him and told him that because God saw the way his Father-in-Law cheated him, God made sure that things went well for Jacob. The angel also told him that it was time to return to his parents' home.
I've never known if this dream really happened or if Jacob made it up to put the pressure on his wives to leave their home. The dream sounds very much like it comes from God, but two clues suggest otherwise.
First of all, this dream is placed in a different setting than all the other dreams in Genesis. Most of the other dreams are revelations of things to come or are given by God to be between God and the individual. No other dream is used for the purpose of convincing others to to do something.
Secondly, the the timing seems a bit odd, or should I say too convenient. No mention is made as to when Jacob received this dream. If he did receive a dream from God, it may have come days or even years earlier, but was held back until the time was ripe. And with all the deceiving and tricking that went on with Jacob's mom and her family, I wouldn't put it past Jacob to pull a fast one, either by waiting to tell his wives about the dream until this time or making up the dream to make sure his wives to leave their home.
Dream #5
Jacob and his family left Laban's house without any warning because he was afraid that Leban would take his wives by force thus not allowing them to leave. Jacob had a good head start, but could not get far enough away to outrun Laban. It could very well be that Jacob had wanted to leave for quite some time but had to wait for the best time - a time when hoped he could get out of the reach of Laban's persuit. In other words, he would need a time when he knew Laban would not miss them for several days. As it happened, Laban was told 3 days after the fact. I think Jacob had expected a much longer time to be able to escape.
Sure enough Laban pursued, but before he reached Jacob he got a dream in which God tells him to say neither good or bad to Jacob.
This whole episode shows us that the relationship between Laban and Jacob was very intense. Jacob felt trapped, cheated and afraid while living with his uncle. Add to this that in the end of his life he told Pharoah that his entire life was "evil." In other words, in his own mind he thought his life was depressing, difficult and full of struggle.
His 20+ years with his uncle Laban was not easy.
When Jacob wanted to leave his uncle and Father-in-Law Laban, he wanted to convince his wives that staying at their father's place was not in their best interest and that it would be better to move to his parents many miles away. His uncle and he had been battling for the cattle, and even though neither one of them were playing fair, Jacob ended up with more cattle than his uncle, which created problems with Laban and his sons.
To convince his wives to leave their father and to move to his parents' place, he shared with them the long history of their dad's cheating him and topped it off with telling them about a dream he had. In his dream an angel came to him and told him that because God saw the way his Father-in-Law cheated him, God made sure that things went well for Jacob. The angel also told him that it was time to return to his parents' home.
I've never known if this dream really happened or if Jacob made it up to put the pressure on his wives to leave their home. The dream sounds very much like it comes from God, but two clues suggest otherwise.
First of all, this dream is placed in a different setting than all the other dreams in Genesis. Most of the other dreams are revelations of things to come or are given by God to be between God and the individual. No other dream is used for the purpose of convincing others to to do something.
Secondly, the the timing seems a bit odd, or should I say too convenient. No mention is made as to when Jacob received this dream. If he did receive a dream from God, it may have come days or even years earlier, but was held back until the time was ripe. And with all the deceiving and tricking that went on with Jacob's mom and her family, I wouldn't put it past Jacob to pull a fast one, either by waiting to tell his wives about the dream until this time or making up the dream to make sure his wives to leave their home.
Dream #5
Jacob and his family left Laban's house without any warning because he was afraid that Leban would take his wives by force thus not allowing them to leave. Jacob had a good head start, but could not get far enough away to outrun Laban. It could very well be that Jacob had wanted to leave for quite some time but had to wait for the best time - a time when hoped he could get out of the reach of Laban's persuit. In other words, he would need a time when he knew Laban would not miss them for several days. As it happened, Laban was told 3 days after the fact. I think Jacob had expected a much longer time to be able to escape.
Sure enough Laban pursued, but before he reached Jacob he got a dream in which God tells him to say neither good or bad to Jacob.
This whole episode shows us that the relationship between Laban and Jacob was very intense. Jacob felt trapped, cheated and afraid while living with his uncle. Add to this that in the end of his life he told Pharoah that his entire life was "evil." In other words, in his own mind he thought his life was depressing, difficult and full of struggle.
His 20+ years with his uncle Laban was not easy.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Dreams 6 & 7 - Joseph's Dreams
The next 2 dreams in Genesis are Joseph's dreams.
Context:
As the number 11 son of 12, as dad's favorite, Joseph was clueless about the effect being dad's favorite had on the rest of the family. His dad made a coat of many colors for him and gave nothing of the sort to the others. Put yourself in his shoes as a kid. You would feel more important than the rest as he did.
About dreams in the modern world:
Dreams often tell us about ourselves and how we feel about life's events through symbolic images.
Joseph's dreams:
Joseph had two dreams that were very similar. In the one he and his brothers tied bundles of grain when all of their bundles bowed down to his. In the next dream the sun the moon and the 11 stars bowed down to Joseph's star.
About stars:
Stars were somehow tied to people, so when Joseph had a dream he was seeing himself, his brothers and his parents as stars.
Interpreting the dreams:
Because we know the end of the story we know that the dreams were predictive and we also know that Joseph's brothers believed they could put an end to his dreams by kiling him or by selling him into slavery.
However predictive they ended up being, the source of the dreams were entirely bound by what Joseph was feeling at the time. His dreams give us an opening into the very depths of Joseph's feelings about himself and the world around him. Joseph completely bought into the idea that he was above his brothers and in even his parents bowed down to him... not in the future (for after all, his mother died long before he became a ruler) but in the present. In Joseph's mind, his whole family bowed down to him. In his mind, he was the center of his family.
This explains his brothers' behavior in wanting to kill him and eventually selling him into slavery.
Context:
As the number 11 son of 12, as dad's favorite, Joseph was clueless about the effect being dad's favorite had on the rest of the family. His dad made a coat of many colors for him and gave nothing of the sort to the others. Put yourself in his shoes as a kid. You would feel more important than the rest as he did.
About dreams in the modern world:
Dreams often tell us about ourselves and how we feel about life's events through symbolic images.
Joseph's dreams:
Joseph had two dreams that were very similar. In the one he and his brothers tied bundles of grain when all of their bundles bowed down to his. In the next dream the sun the moon and the 11 stars bowed down to Joseph's star.
About stars:
Stars were somehow tied to people, so when Joseph had a dream he was seeing himself, his brothers and his parents as stars.
Interpreting the dreams:
Because we know the end of the story we know that the dreams were predictive and we also know that Joseph's brothers believed they could put an end to his dreams by kiling him or by selling him into slavery.
However predictive they ended up being, the source of the dreams were entirely bound by what Joseph was feeling at the time. His dreams give us an opening into the very depths of Joseph's feelings about himself and the world around him. Joseph completely bought into the idea that he was above his brothers and in even his parents bowed down to him... not in the future (for after all, his mother died long before he became a ruler) but in the present. In Joseph's mind, his whole family bowed down to him. In his mind, he was the center of his family.
This explains his brothers' behavior in wanting to kill him and eventually selling him into slavery.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Dreams 8 & 9 The Dreams of the Cup Bearer and the Baker
Joseph was in the king's jail falsely accused of attacking the wife of Potiphar. While in jail he was put in charge of the entire place because he was a good steward. Of all the people in the jail there were 2 who had dreams.
The morning after the two had dreams, Joseph noticed that these prisoners were sad. This is unusual, because one would expect prisoners to be sad - they were in prison. Nevertheless, Joseph noticed a big enough difference with these two that he asked them about what was wrong. They informed him that they had no one to interpret their dreams. Joseph replied that interpretations belonged to God, then listened to the recouting of the dreams, and then he interpreted them.
Like Joseph's dreams these dreams were filled with metaphore. And like Joseph's dreams they predicted as well as reflected feelings those two men had hidden deep within their thoughts.
The Cup Bearer of the king had possitive thoughts about his relationshiip with the king. His dream was filled with prosperity of grapes and wine - he saw himself serving the king with his wine. This dream says something about the Cup Bearer's inner feelings at the time - he felt good about his work and about the king. Joseph told him that he would be restored to his job within 3 days.
When the Baker told Joseph about his dream, we discover a man who felt deep inside that his work for Pharoah was being taken away from him by birds. Joseph predicted that he woould lose his life within 3 days.
Joseph was right about both dreams.
As in Joseph's dreams, although these dreams were prophetic, the sources of the dreams were the inner thoughts and feelings that these two men had the night they dreamed the dreams.
The morning after the two had dreams, Joseph noticed that these prisoners were sad. This is unusual, because one would expect prisoners to be sad - they were in prison. Nevertheless, Joseph noticed a big enough difference with these two that he asked them about what was wrong. They informed him that they had no one to interpret their dreams. Joseph replied that interpretations belonged to God, then listened to the recouting of the dreams, and then he interpreted them.
Like Joseph's dreams these dreams were filled with metaphore. And like Joseph's dreams they predicted as well as reflected feelings those two men had hidden deep within their thoughts.
The Cup Bearer of the king had possitive thoughts about his relationshiip with the king. His dream was filled with prosperity of grapes and wine - he saw himself serving the king with his wine. This dream says something about the Cup Bearer's inner feelings at the time - he felt good about his work and about the king. Joseph told him that he would be restored to his job within 3 days.
When the Baker told Joseph about his dream, we discover a man who felt deep inside that his work for Pharoah was being taken away from him by birds. Joseph predicted that he woould lose his life within 3 days.
Joseph was right about both dreams.
As in Joseph's dreams, although these dreams were prophetic, the sources of the dreams were the inner thoughts and feelings that these two men had the night they dreamed the dreams.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Dreams 10 & 11 - Pharoah's Dreams
Most of the dreams in Genesis came in pairs. The last 2 dreams of Genesis belonged to Pharaoh. His dreams were as symbolic as most of the dreams were in Genesis. With Joseph's interpretation Pharoah learns that there will be 7 years of plenty and then 7 years of famine.
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