I thought I'd be earlier than I usually am today (I haven't even had coffee yet!) in case I lose internet for a while when the technicians are here. I hope by 5pm I have better internet! That's what they told me, anyway.
Chapter 21
The chapter is in connection with Galatians chapter 4.
"...he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise." (verse 23)
"Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free!" (verse 30 & 31) I personally love the connection Paul makes in Galatians and couldn't help bringing it up.
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Chapter 22
There are many similarities between the story of Isaac and Christ. Both were the only son, both were miraculous births, both carried their own wood to their sacrifice, the both had a 3 day experience, etc. etc. A symbol of things to come.
I always find it interesting when I read that God promised Abraham that He will multiply his seed as the stars of heaven.
"By measuring the number and luminosity of observable galaxies, astronomers put current estimates of the total stellar population at roughly 70 billion trillion (7 x 1022)." source Sky&Telescope It was also mentioned that as telescopes become more sensitive/advances, more stars will be visible. What an incredible number!
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Chapter 23
Sarah lives 127 and passes away. Abraham purchases a field from Ephron the Hittite for 400 shekels of silver. Abraham buries Sarah in the cave of Machpelah which is in that field. Later, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Rebecca, and Leah would also be buried there when they passed on.
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Chapter 24
Abraham was adamant that Isaac not be married to one of the Canaanite daughters.
You'll love this, Verite, the Canaanites worshiped a mother god lol
Asherah, her primary role was mother goddess. I can see you acting like Abraham in this chapter if you were in that situation lol.
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Chapter 25
So, Abraham is what? Like over a hundred now? And there he goes, getting married again lol.
Esau was born very hairy. That always sticks out to me (please, don't ask lol). God had told Rebecca that Esau would serve Jacob. Later, Esau would become the Edomites.
Esau sells his birthright for a bowl of lentils. I feel sorry for him. I love lentils, but not that much.
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Chapter 26
Okay, so Esau goes and marries some Hittite women. This really disappointed his parents. Verite, are you ready for this? The Hittites worshiped a mother goddess!
Her name Hannahanna.
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Chapter 27
Rebecca tells Jacob to deceive his father, who is pretty much blind. Jacob is like, "I can't pull off being Esau, he's super hairy!" Well, we're gonna put some hair on you, boy!
Personally speaking, I was an only child and after reading these Jacob and Esau stories, I'm glad I was an only child lol.
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Chapter 28
Jacob's Ladder
I like to think it means this: "After the fall the connection between heaven and earth was broken. God plans to restore this connection and dwell with his people. Jacobās vision of the ladder is a visual representation of Godās ongoing intent to bridge the gap between heaven and earth and restore his presence among humanity. Jacob's ladder points forward to the New Testament, where it finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Jesus Christ."
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Chapter 29
Laban is a real bleep now as well as later, pardon my language.
I feel sympathetic to Leah. It seems God did also. Leah bore Judah. Christ comes through the lineage of Judah. Also, another interesting thing is that in death Jacob is buried with Leah. Rachel is not buried with him.
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Chapter 30
The rods and flocks.
"God allowed Jacob to prosper, even though Laban was trying to cheat and defraud him. Laban started to see that God was blessing Jacobās flocks and so he changed the terms of the bargain indiscriminately and repeatedly. We need to keep in mind that Jacob wasnāt cheating Laban, God was counteracting Labanās cheating on him."