Today we begin Genesis Chapter 31.
For the Complete Jewish Bible, click here.
If you’re a King James diehard, click here.
Patterns and principles!
When wading through the vast sea of God’s Word, understanding these two factors is very important.
A “pattern” is the repeated occurrence of an event in Scripture.
The Biblical worldview is that history will repeat itself until the end of time.
A “principle” refers to how God repeatedly responds to certain situations in men’s lives.
For example, we just got done talking about polygamy and noticed in multiple examples that when God confronts such a practice, we can see that He does not condemn it.
He may not wholeheartedly approve of it but He certainly does not condemn it.
Let’s take a look at the principles and patterns in Genesis Chapter 31.
In terms of patterns, there are many similarities between Abraham’s life and Jacob’s life.
First, Abraham was a wandering nomad, a man without a country.
So was Jacob.
Second, tension and fighting broke out between Abraham’s men and and those loyal to Lot.
The same thing occurred between Jacob and Laban and their respective camps.
Finally, Lot would end up permanently cutting ties with Abraham and go on to create a new family line that would become the nations of Moab and Ammon.
Jacob also will end up permanently severing close family ties with his in-laws and the land of Mesopotamia.
This brings me to the God principle presented in this chapter.
Our God is a God who separates and divides.
In order for God to achieve His purposes in Jacob’s life, He had to separate him from his present circumstances.
Sometimes the only solution is uncompromising separation.
God is also achieving His purposes for us via the principle of separation.
God may separate you from an unhealthy family situation.
He may separate you from an unhealthy church.
He may even separate you from a husband or wife with whom you shouldn’t have entered into a relationship in the first place.
He may separate you from your parents.
He may separate you from a close friend.
He may separate you from your current place of employment.
He may separate you from certain habits you practice daily.
One common theme I noticed about separation running through Scripture and in my own life is that it is never easy.
It can be very scary and lead to overwhelming feelings of guilt.
So I am thankful I worship a God who gives me guts to do what needs to be done in spite of difficult circumstances.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,”
says the Lord. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN;
And I will welcome you.
-2 Corinthians 6:17
I bookmarked this article because I knew Yahweh was speaking to me as I read it. It is as if he was affirming that the painful separation I experienced early this year was truly part of His plan. Pls keep writing to teach Torah. I am learning a lot and growing in my Hebraic journey. Praising Yah for you. Thank you, moreh. Shalom.
Hey John, glad you found this helpful and affirming of a difficult decision you had to make earlier this year. Be blessed!