Shalom All,     Welcome to Toldot (Generations), this week’s Torah / bible reading Portion.  Genesis 25:19–28:9; Malachi 1:1–2:7; Romans 9:6-29. “And these are the generations [toldot] of Yitzchak [Isaac], Avraham’s [Abraham] son: Avraham begat Yitzchak.”  (Genesis 25:19). 

In our last Torah / Bible portion), the son of Sarah and Abraham, Yitzchak (Isaac), carried on the legacy of his parents’ faith and obedience to Yahweh.  After his mother died, Abraham sent his servant to bring home a wife for Yitzchak from among Abraham’s kinsmen.  At the well where the women of the town would soon appear, the servant prayed for God’s help in locating the perfect woman/wife for Yitzchak.  Just then, Rivkah (Rebekah) arrived at the well to provide water for him and his camels.  Yitzchak was 40 when he took/married her (Gen 24:67  And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved). 

In this section we see similarities between Isaac and his wife Rebekah and that of Abraham his father and his wife Sarah.  The famine, promise and calling their wife their sister.   

Gen 26:1  And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. Gen 26:2  And Yahweh appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Gen 26:3  Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; Gen 26:4  And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Gen 26:5  Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. Gen 26:6  And Isaac dwelt in Gerar: Gen 26:7  And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon. 

Prayer Brings Blessings: “Isaac prayed to Yahweh on behalf of his wife, because she was childless.  Yahweh answered his prayer [atar], and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.”  (Genesis 25:21).  In this week’s portion, we discover that Rivkah is barren.  She is one of seven women in the Torah who have difficulty conceiving; but finally come to bear children by the grace of God, in this case, in answer to her husband’s prayer.  This was not necessarily a one time prayer and it was granted.  Just because we pray once and do not receive an answer does not mean we should not continue praying!  God wants us to bring our requests to Him in the unity of faith.  Remember, Abraham was over 90 years old without child and Sarah laughed when angels told her she would conceive.  Had they or she stopped praying?  Maybe, when you think God has forgotten or is not coming through, He does the impossible so you know it is of Him.  Never give up on Yahweh, you will lose the bet. 

The Hebrew expression used in Genesis 25:21 for prayer (atar עָתַר), which can also mean to dig, is related to the Hebrew word for pitchfork (eter).  The Jewish Oral Law explains a connection: “As a pitchfork turns the sheaves of grain from one position to another, so does the prayer of the righteous turn the dispensations of the Holy One, blessed be He, from the attribute of anger to the attribute of mercy.”  Yitzchak’s prayer penetrated the foundation of heaven, and just as grain is turned over with a pitchfork, so too was God’s judgment of barrenness upon Rivkah “turned over” and reversed by God’s mercy because of prayer.  Remember Hezikiah’s prayer in 2king 20:3?  His prayer changed what God had planned for him.   Jas 5:16  … The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

Of course, the Bible makes it clear that we are to be fruitful and multiply; however, though seed(s) is sown, it is God who opens the womb and / or brings the increase.  

“Behold, children are a heritage from Yahweh, the fruit of the womb is a reward.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.  Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.”  (Psalm 127:3–5). 

Sarah, Abraham’s wife, came up with her own solution for her barrenness, she suggested a surrogate mother, Hagar.  In her own efforts, she received Ishmael.  Hannah, another barren woman, went to the Temple and cried out to Yahweh for a child and she received the prophet Samuel.  Rikvah did neither.  Instead, she turned to her husband who was her spiritual covering to entreat Yahweh on her behalf and God answered Isaac’s prayers for the miraculous gift of new life.  Rivkah found herself pregnant with not just one child; but twins, a double portion!  Did Yahweh play a part in Sarah’s surrogate idea in order to accomplish the promise to Abraham of being father of many nations bearing in mind a woman is pregnant for 9 months?  What about Rivkah’s twins, chance of prophecy to fulfil Yahweh’s plan? 

Birthright Bring Blessings:

 “And the boys grew; and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents.”  (Genesis 25:27). 

The twin boys grew up with distinctive character traits, which are reflected in their names.  Yaacov (Jacob’s Hebrew name) is related to the word eikev means the heel of the foot.  He was so named because he grabbed his brother’s heel at birth. This shows Jacob’s tenacity to win the birthright and carry forward the spiritual blessings that God promised to his father Abraham. Esau, however, was named Esav, from the Semitic root, seir, meaning thick-haired.  He was also nicknamed Adom, the Hebrew word for red, since he was born “red and hairy.”  

Some teach Jacob had a quiet, seemingly spiritual-minded nature and Esau had a carnal one, as shown in the way he easily trades something of eternal spiritual value (his birthright) for something that satisfies his physical hunger (a bowl of lentils).  To him, they were equal, they say.  Or was he being a survivalist? Ecc 9:4  For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.  “Look, I am about to die [of hunger],’ Esau said. ‘What good is the birthright to me?’”  (Genesis 27:32).  Note Esau still inherited all that his father had as Jacob ran away.  Jacob may have got the birthright; but no the possessions.  Esau as the first born still got the double portion in accordance to Yahweh’s law. 

Birthrights come with responsibilities as well as blessings, and Jacob receives great blessings bestowed upon him by his father Isaac, coupled with leadership of the nations.  Today, many die without making a will for many reasons.  Biblically wills, inheritances, were part of the plans so that everyone knew who would get what even while all lived.  “May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness, an abundance of grain and new wine.  May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you.”  (Genesis 27:28–29). 

Esau, however, receives curses:

“Your dwelling will be away from the earth’s richness, away from the dew of heaven above.  You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother.”  (Genesis 27:39–40)  Through all the drama and even trickery, it is Jacob who received his father’s firstborn blessing; for it was pre-ordained according to God’s will who said, “Jacob have I loved; but Esau I hated.”  (Romans 9:13). 

The Descendants of Curses Bring More of the Same:  Just as Cain’s jealousy turned into a murderous plot to kill his brother Abel, Esau plotted to kill Jacob; but without success. This struggle between the brothers did not suddenly appear.  Even in Rivkah’s womb, the boys jostled with each other.  Rivkah sought wisdom from Yahweh, who revealed to her a truth that continues to this day: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”  (Genesis 25:23). 

Rabbis over the centuries have compared the jealous, hate-filled character of Esau to the perpetual struggle between the descendants of both brothers.   Jacob’s descendants were birthed out of obedience to his father Isaac who told him not to marry a Canaanite woman and he did not.  Esau, on the other hand, married two Canaanite women.  One of Esau’s Canaanite offspring was Amalek who became an archenemy of pre-state Israel by attacking Moses and the Israelites while in the wilderness (Exodus 17).  They also invaded Israel during the time of the Judges:  “Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country.”  (Judges 6:3). 

Many try to link the genealogy of Esau and the Amalekites to the modern enemies of Israel.  While this might be accurate to some degree, the truth is that the spirit of Esau and the Amalekites to destroy the heirs of blessing has remained alive among many nations.   We saw this hatred in modern pre-state Israel in the expulsion of Jews from England, the tortures of the Spanish Inquisition, and the genocide of six million Jews in the Holocaust.  We saw its vibrancy continue as surrounding nations invaded the newly-formed modern Israel in 1948, again in 1967 and most recently with terrorist groups that vow to claim the land “from the river to the sea” for their own birthright.     

While half of the Jewish population has been wiped out in recent decades and specific plans to remove others from the land circulate today from many claiming to be the true Jews.  Ultimately Yahweh will uphold His vows to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their descendants:  Jew or Gentile.  God is not a respector of persons (colour) Act 10:35  But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 1Co 7:19  Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. Do they or you keep the commandments of Yahweh or the amended ones of man, church, denomination? 

“I am Yahweh, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.  I will give you [Jacob] and your descendants the land on which you are lying.  Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and ... all peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring” (Genesis 28:13–14).  Those who attack God’s everlasting plans through Jacob are, in fact, placing curses over their own land.  Isaac prayed over Jacob, “May those who curse you be cursed” Genesis 27:29. 

The focus of this study section is not really curses; but blessings.  Do not worry about the curses if you are not doing anything to get them.  Be like David who focused on the reward than on what Goliath may do to him in 1Sa 17:24  And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. 1Sa 17:25  And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who kills him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel. 1Sa 17:26  And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that kills this Philistine and take away the reproach from Israel?

The Hebrew word for blessed (baruch) is significant in this portion: out of 106 verses, baruch appears 34 times!  This word, baruch, comes from brachah (blessing), but with a small change in vowel, it becomes breicha, a wellspring of water or even a pool.  Today we see that God has kept His promise to turn the barren places of Israel into wellsprings and pools of water:  “I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys.  I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.”  (Isaiah 41:18). 

Inheriting the Blessing:  During the saga of Jacob and Esau, a famine came over the land.  While Abraham went down to Egypt for food at times of famine, Yahweh instructed Isaac to stay.  “Yahweh appeared to Isaac and said, ‘Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live.’” (Genesis 26:2).  Like Abraham, Isaac obeyed Yahweh and, indeed, was blessed by God for it.  “Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee and unto thy seed, I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore unto Abraham thy father.”  (Genesis 26:3). 

This shows us the wisdom of seeking Yahweh for solutions to our problems and not necessarily repeating what our father before us did (regardless of their colour), or what seems the logical answer.  If they worshipped idols or pagan Egyptian gods, it does not mean we have.  God may ask us to stay in a situation when everything is telling us to get out, fast!   If God is instructing us to stay, then even in a famine we can “bloom where we are planted.”  Noah did not leave the ark simply because the bird did not come back and the ground appeared dry.  Gen 8:15  And God spoke unto Noah, saying, Gen 8:16  Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee”. 

As the jealous and hateful spirit of Esau rises up in Jerusalem and Israel at large, there is a temptation to think those there should get out of Israel, escape and “go down to Egypt” or perhaps to the U.S or Canada; but if the Spirit of God tells them to stay, then we can know that He will protect them and establish the oath He swore unto forefathers to give them that Land.   "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares Yahweh.”  (Isaiah 55:8). 

Yahshua Brings the Ultimate Blessing to the Promised Land:

“Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.”  (Genesis 26:18). 

Today’s counselling mentality, may advocate Isaac likely suffered trauma from being tied up by his father and almost sacrificed, as God tested Abraham’s faith; but in this portion, we see that Isaac is a man of Godly character with Godly vision who continues to carry on his father’s business by re-digging the wells Abraham had dug on his way to Beer Sheva.  Infact Isaac gave the wells the same name as his father Abraham.  The Torah says, “He gave them the same names which his father had given them.” This becomes clear in the story about the well of Shibah (Beersheba). He camped at Beersheba (Well of the Oath); he swore a covenantal oath (shevu’ah, שבעה) with the Philistine King. That same day his servants reported a well they had dug. He named it Beersheba, Well of the Oath—the same name Abraham had given it a generation earlier when he made a treaty with the previous Abimelech and Phicol.  The story of Isaac reopening Abraham’s wells indicates that Isaac is the legitimate heir to the Abrahamic legacy.  On another level, the story illustrates the value of returning to the original sources. Isaac could have dug new wells. Instead he chose to restore Abraham’s wells. He could have chosen new names. Instead he chose to use the same names that Abraham had given them. 

In a similar way, the biblical path of faith is not one of innovation and novelty.  Instead, we find our spirits satisfied drinking from the wells of faith from which our bible fathers drank  Act 7:38  This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:   In other words, return to the commandments given by god in the Old Testament and add the blood of the messiah for the breaking of them.   Messiah offered the woman at the well the living water of salvation, He spoke not of literal water; but of salvation yet He offered that living water to her at Jacob’s well.  The journey into Messianic Judaism (which is what the apostles and new Testament believers were (Acts 24:5 sect of the Nazarenes)      is much like Isaac’s journey back to the wells of his father Abraham.  These original sources have been filled in and concealed by time and hostile Philistines (many Christian preachers). The Sabbath has been lost.  The holy days of Leviticus 23 have been forgotten; worst still replaced with pagan ones as Xmas and Easter.  The Torah itself has been, as it were, filled in with earth (self taught denominational theology).  We need not dig new wells or create new denominations or names.  If we will only make the effort to open these original wells up again, we will find that they are as deep and filled with living water as when our fathers first drank from them.  They are the source of life as Yahweh told Moses in the Old Testament and Yahshua told repeated in the New Mat 19:17  … if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Rev 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 

Abraham Righteous by Faith or Obedience?

Yahweh appeared to Isaac just as He had appeared to Abraham. He told him, "I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham" (Genesis 26:3). He restated the promise to multiply his descendants, to give them the land and to bless all nations through them "because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws" (Genesis 26:5). Isaac was inheriting the Abrahamic blessing because Abraham had merited God's favour. 

How did Abraham keep God's charge, commandments, statutes and laws? The commandments of God's Torah, His divine law had not been given through Moses. Did Abraham know all the laws of the Torah given through Moses at Mount Sinai? If not, how could he be said to have kept them?  The book of Jasher and other sources state he learnt

through the line of Noah.  It is important to note that Abraham's righteousness was not a matter of faith without obedience.  Anyone who teaches that observing God's laws is contrary to the life of faith should consider this verse. The Bible says that God passed the blessings and promises to Isaac because Abraham obeyed God's laws.  This is in keeping with what the Apostle Paul teaches when he says, "Is the Torah then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be (god forbid)!" (Galatians 3:21).  James, the brother of Yahshua, shows that the life of faith results in obedience to God's laws:  You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected  (James 2:22).  Keeping God's commandments is an important part of practicing the faith of Abraham: "Yahshua said to them, 'If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham'" (John 8:39). 

Though the book of Jasher and others expand on our bible account, even from that we can tell Isaac knew the sacrificial requirements as was later re-given through Moses  Gen 22:7  And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?   Infact, he was not traumatised at all; but a willing obedient son like in Jdg 11:30  And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, Jdg 11:31  Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering. … Jdg 11:34  And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. … Jdg 11:36  And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon. 

Why are these wells of Isaac significant?  They were vital sources of water in a harsh, dry desert land.  Here we see that these life-giving water holes had been intentionally filled with dirt.  This can only be interpreted as a barbaric act, done to discourage and even endanger life, in order to prevent Isaac from accessing his father’s wells and maybe leaving the land through laziness to re-dig them.  Many times people lose on their reward through laziness of hard or physical word.  We see similar discouragement from lack of water when the children of Israel camped in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt.  When they finally came to a well, they sang praises to Yahweh: “From there they went to Beer, which is the well where the LORD said to Moses, ‘Gather the people together, and I will give them water.’  Then Israel sang this song: ‘Spring up, O well! ...’”  (Num 21:16–18). 

Abraham had purposefully named these wells after God, to remind people that He is the source of all life.  It is with joy today that we draw from deep wells of living water.   “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”  (Isaiah 12:3). 

When Yahshua ministered to the Samaritan woman at a well, He made the bold claim of being the Jewish Messiah.  There, He proclaimed Himself to be the source of living waters that leads to eternal life.   “But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14). 

The ultimate heirs of blessing are the heirs of the promised Messiah, Yahshua HaMashiach (the Messiah), who became the final sacrifice for all who trust, believe and OBEY requirements that He is that promise.   Do not forget why one man, Abraham, was chosen from the whole pagan idol worshipping world  Gen 26:4  And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;.  All accounts say it was Gen 26:5  Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. (same things later given through Moses after they had been forgotten due to being in Egypt for 430 yrs). 

MALACHI 1:1 – 2:27:  Teaches God does not want us to replace what He says to offer Him of His commandments to keep; i.e. do not add to, take away from or interpret His commandments.  Simply obey.  What you think is as good is not.  One thing is Not the same as another unless God says so.  

Mal 1:6  A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Mal 1:7  Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. Mal 1:8  And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.

In other words, turn on your television to see your favourite programme when you want and see if it is there unless you turned in at its scheduled time to view or record.  Turn up for an interview or to catch a plane when you want and see the likelihood of catching it!  V11 a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.  God punished Israel in the past for thinking as many do today.  Yet today they think replacement is acceptable!  Mal 1:14  But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: 

Making Peace:

Yahweh prospered Isaac while he dwelt in the Philistine territory; but that prosperity incited the jealousy of the Philistines who drove him out.  Isaac returned to the arid soil of the Negev, where his father, Abraham, had dwelt. There he found that his father's wells had been filled in by the Philistines.  Isaac reopened the wells, but each time he did, the Philistines came, claiming the well as their own.  Rather than fight with the Philistines, each time it happened, Isaac moved on and attempted to open a new well. 

When we are pushed by others, our tendency is to push back and demand our rights.  Rarely do we see someone turn the other cheek.  Even among disciples of Yahshua, it is rare to see someone back down from a slight or injury.

Isaac and his servants were busy opening another well when Abimelech and his men showed up. Here we go again, Isaac must have thought.  To his astonishment, though, the Philistines did not claim his well this time.  Instead they announced a reversal of policy and asked for a covenant-truce with Isaac.  Why the sudden change in attitude? The Philistines explained, "We see plainly that Yahweh has been with you" (Genesis 26:28).  The testimony of Isaac's life had an impact on them.  They saw that God was with him. Perhaps they noticed that he conducted himself in a godly manner and they felt ashamed.  

Things would probably have been different if Isaac had quarrelled and fought for his wells.  His testimony of peace would have been compromised.  He might have been able to keep his wells; but he would have earned lifelong enemies.  The Philistines claimed, "We have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace" (Genesis 26:29). They asked Isaac for a covenant of peace on that basis. Isaac must have had to bite his tongue. Nothing but good? Sent me away in peace? Weren't these the same Philistines who had driven him out their territory?  Weren't they the same Philistines who had pursued him into the Negev and took away his wells? How could they say they had done nothing but good?  Actually, this was how the Philistines apologized for the evil they had done to him and for sending him away in strife. Some people cannot apologize properly.  Their ego prevents them from ever admitting any wrong on their own part. Deep inside, such a person knows that he is at fault and that he needs to make some sort of conciliatory effort, but an apology is not even a remote possibility. His pride forbids him. 

Isaac was willing to overlook the foolish pride of the Philistines in order to make peace with them.  So too we should accept even half-hearted attempts at reconciliation.  We should not demand a formal apology.  Instead we should be willing to take whatever modicum of peace our adversary offers.  A change of attitude in times as these may the solution to your problems whether at work, in a marriage or other relationship with another person.  Business or social.  Mat 5:23  Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Mat 5:24  Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 

If you wish to read the biblical missed out parts of the account, see the book of Jasher for:

CHAPTER 26--Isaac and Rebecca pray for children. Their Prayers answered, and Esau and Jacob are Born. Abraham, after recounting all the Wonderful Works of the Lord, enjoins his Son to Walk in His way and keep His Commandments. In the Fifteenth Year of Jacob and Esau's lives, Abraham Dies and is Buried by all the Kings of the land. All the People and even the children mourn for Abraham for a Full.   

CHAPTER 27--Esau slays Nimrod and Two of his Mighty Men. Returns Home weary from the Fight, and sells his Birthright for Value.

CHAPTER 28--On account of Famine, Isaac goes to Gerar, the Land of the Philistines. After the Famine he Returns at the Command of the Lord to Hebron. Jacob is sent to the House of Shem where he Remains Thirty-two Years to learn the Way of the Lord, but Esau would not go. Esau marries a Canaanitish Woman. 

CHAPTER 29--Jacob by deceit obtains his Brother's Blessing. Jacob fearing his Brother's anger, flees to the House of Eber, where he remains for Fourteen Years. Esau again marries a Woman of the Land. Jacob returns to his Father, but being still threatened by Esau, is advised by his Mother to go to her Brother Laban, in Haran. Jacob goes to Haran, being Commanded by his Father not to Marry any of the Daughters of Canaan. Jacob is Waylaid on the Road, by the Son of Esau, and is Robbed of all he Possessed. 

CHAPTER 30--When he Arrives at Mount Moriah, the Lord appears to Jacob and establishes His Covenant with him. Arriving at his Uncle's House he Engages to Serve Seven Years for Rachel.

CHAPTER 31--Jacob is Deceived and is given Leah in Place of Rachel, but is Given Rachel for Seven Years' more Service. Jacob serves Laban six years longer for Wages and becomes very Rich, when the Lord Appears to him and commands him to Return to the Land of Canaan. Jacob Obeys and goes from Laban. Rachel Steals her Father's gods, that he may not know where Jacob has fled. Laban Pursues him, but establishes a covenant of peace. Laban breaks his Covenant by sending his Son secretly to Esau that Jacob may Fall in his Hands. Esau, with Four Hundred

Men, seek to Destroy Jacob. 

CHAPTER 32--Jacob sends a Message of Peace to his Brother, who rejects it with contempt, and Advances to Destroy him. Hosts of Angels cause the Fear of Jacob to come upon Esau, and he goes to meet him in peace, in answer to Jacob's Prayer. Jacob Wrestles with an Angel of the Lord. 

Shalom.