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Jacob. Bellman Fellowship 11-02-07. Personal File. Birth Place: Canaan Profession: Shepherd Families: Isaac (Dad), Rebecca (Mom), Esau (elder brother), Laban (Uncle), Leah and Rachel (wives) Forefather of the twelve tribes of Israel Third generation starting from Abraham blessed by God.
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Jacob Bellman Fellowship 11-02-07
Personal File • Birth Place: Canaan • Profession: Shepherd • Families: Isaac (Dad), Rebecca (Mom), Esau (elder brother), Laban (Uncle), Leah and Rachel (wives) • Forefather of the twelve tribes of Israel • Third generation starting from Abraham blessed by God.
A person who “grasps” • Grasp his elder brother’s feet when was born • Grasp birthright by selling his brother a cup of red bean soup • Grasp the blessing from his father by cheating • What A greedy and crafty character! (Genesis Ch25 V21-34 and Ch 27 V1-45)
Climbs the heaven ladder • Flee from home to Haran at the age of 77 • Meet God at Bethel (God’s house) • First spiritual turning point: repent before God • Receive God’s blessing and promise • Give God a tenth (Genesis Ch28)
A faithful lover • Fall in love with Rachel at the first sight • Work for Rachel for 14 years • Suffer hardship from Laban, a man who is more shrewd and foxy than him Wish he could love God more (Genesis Ch29 V1-30)
Makes a fortune by trick • Increase flocks in the last 6 years of working for Laban • Use branches of poplar, almond and planes trees to help his flocks mate • Separate strong flocks for himself and left weak ones for Laban • Really it’s God who helped him to prosper (Genesis Ch30V25 & Ch 31V55)
Wrestles with God • Prepare to meet Esau • Grasp God’s promise and to save him from the threaten of his brother • “I will not let you go unless you bless me” • “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome” (Genesis Ch32)
Makes up with Esau • Humble himself as servant to Esau • Give all he has to Esau to beg his forgiveness • What a moving scene! • Esau forgives him because God forgives • Jacob tries to “give” instead of “grasp” (Genesis Ch33)
Returns to God’s house • God calls Jacob to return to Bethel • Build a altar for God “Go up to Bethel and settle there” (Genesis Ch35)
Gives blessings • Move to Egypt at the age of 130 • Give blessings to Pharaoh • Give blessings to his 12 sons • Give blessings to Joseph’s two sons What a change! Let’s give the glory to God! (Genesis Ch45 - 49)
Returns to his forefathers • Pass away in Egypt • “Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, the cave ……. In Canaan…….” • Though there are ups and owns in Jacobs’ early life, he grasps the promise of God and draws his later life to be a beautiful picture. Egypt is just a foreign town but Canaan is our real homeland. • Genesis Ch49 V29 &Ch50V14