Exploring Faith and Spirituality

  Day One: Isaac [Yitz'chak] and Rebekah [Rivkah]  

Genesis 25:7-10 (CJB)  7 This is how long Avraham lived: 175 years. 8 Then Avraham breathed his last, dying at a ripe old age, an old man full of years; and he was gathered to his people. 9 Yitz’chak and Yishma‘el his sons buried him in the cave of Makhpelah, in the field of ‘Efron the son of Tzochar the Hitti, by Mamre, 10 the field which Avraham purchased from the sons of Het. Avraham was buried there with Sarah his wife.  

*Some scholars see Yitz’chak and Yishma’el coming together to bury their father as a picture of Israel (Yitz’chak) and Arabia (Yishma’el) coming together in the last days.  

Genesis 25:11 (CJB)  11 After Avraham died, God blessed Yitz’chak his son, and Yitz’chak lived near Be’er-Lachai-Ro’i.   

*(remember this is the name Hagar gave this place when Jehovah met her here by the well. It means “The God who sees”)  

Q, Given the meaning of the name of this place, do you think we can assume some insight as to Yitz’chak’s relationship with Jehovah? In other words, if Yitz’chak lived in Be’er Lachai-Ro’I, he lived ______________________________.  

This is why Yitz’chak was chosen to bring the redemption, because, although flawed, he worked to faithfully live in Jehovah’s presence.  

Genesis 25:19-21 (TLV)  19 Now these are the genealogies of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham fathered Isaac. 20 Isaac was 40 years old when he took for himself Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 Isaac prayed to Adonai on behalf of his wife because she was barren. Adonai answered his plea and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.  

*Again, as with Avraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah are childless, and again, as with Avraham and Sarah, we see the resulting two kingdoms---the lesser kingdom and the greater kingdom. We’re going to be unpacking some mysteries surrounding these events as we go through our study. For now, let’s focus on one mystery we can unearth sufficiently with this scripture.   

*Isaac prayed for Rebekah and she conceived. I believe we can see an end time event being played out in this narrative.    

*Before we move on to discuss what I believe is revealed through the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah, let’s consider who Isaac and Rebekah, themselves, represent. Most scholars agree that Isaac clearly, as a native borne Israeli and the father of Jacob [Ya’akov] represents the Jews of today [Judah, the Southern kingdom]. Rebekah, however is a bit more mysterious.    

*Remember that when Avraham wanted to arrange a marriage for Isaac, he didn’t want his son married to a daughter of the Canaanites [Kenaani]. He sent his servant back to his [Avraham’s] homeland. This is where we have to understand there is a familial tie between Isaac and Rebekah, they are almost considered brother and sister.   

*Avraham was Rebekah’s great uncle. This close tie would indicate that the end time bride of Judah [the Jews] must be closely related. Many scholars say this indicates the Northern kingdom, “Israel” who sinned much earlier than the Southern kingdom [the Jews] and was driven out of the land much earlier. The Northern kingdom’s sin was so great that they lost their identity among the nations, and many believe the Northern kingdom is in the church today.    

 In our mystery,  *Isaac represents the Southern kingdom [today's Jews].  

*Rebekah represents the Northern kingdom [Israel, today in the church].  

*Isaac, today’s Jews, must marry Israel, today’s church.    

*From this union twin offspring will be birthed.  

Genesis 25:22-23 (TLV)  

22 But the children struggled with one another inside her, and she said, “If it’s like this, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of Adonai. 23 Adonai said to her:  “Two nations are in your womb,
   and two peoples from your body
   will be separated.
One people will be stronger
   than the other people,
   but the older will serve the younger.”    

Day Two: The Twin Sons  

Genesis 25:24-25 (TLV)  24 When her time came to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. 25 Now the first came out reddish, all of him was like a fur coat, and they named him Esau.   

In the Strong's:  

Esau 6215H 'Êsâv, ay-sawv´; … (apparently [handle]); rough(i.e. sensibly felt), …  

Jacob 3290H Ya′ăqôb, yah-ak-obe´; heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); Jaakob, the Israelite patriarch: --- Jacob, from 6117H aw-kab; (PR); properly- to swell out or up; … to seize by the heel; (figuratively) to circumvent (as if tripping up the heels); also to restrain as if holding by the heel): --- take by the heel, stay, supplant, x utterly.  

Genesis 25:24-25 (TLV)  26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding onto Esau’s heel—so he was named Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when he fathered them.  

Genesis 25:27-28 (TLV)  27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a man knowledgeable in hunting, an outdoorsman (note in the description of Esau’s name, it says “rough”), while Jacob was a “mild” man, remaining in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for wild game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.   

*It would seem that although Esau was, as the first born, in line to bring Messiah, Jacob was destined to circumvent him. Don’t doubt that all the events that have ever happened in this world since the fall of man have revolved around the revelation of Messiah and the spiritual battle which has been fought over the restoration of Jehovah’s kingdom in this world.  

*As we’re about to see, Esau was not worthy to be part of the line of Messiah. Although Jehovah desires obedience, He is not looking for us to obey Him legalistically, but out of the love we feel for Him in our hearts.   

*The line which led to Messiah was very flawed, and some in that line were, as was Esau, found unworthy. Jehovah did find many of Avraham’s descendants, however, to have a heart for Him and to serve His kingdom.  

Genesis 25:29-30 (TLV)  29 Now Jacob cooked a stew. When Esau came in from the field, he was exhausted, 30 so Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me some of this really red stuff, because I’m exhausted”—that is why he is called Edom [red].   

*The word Edom is from the same root as Adam which means red or ruddy, and leads to a root word that means to be dyed red or to flush red.   

1. Like Rebekah, Jehovah clearly favored Jacob as the conduit to bring Messiah. Many commentaries have assumed that Jacob was acting in an evil way because he “tricked” his brother into selling his birthright, but consider carefully whether he tricked his brother or simply “exposed” Esau’s unworthiness to obtain the birthright.  

2. Did you consider that Jacob’s stew may have made Esau red? Although Esau was red when he was born, don’t forget that, after the stew incident, he was called “red”.  

3. We know from our study of Adam that the reference to being dyed red is a hint at Messiah’s sacrifice and how He would shed His own blood to make the way back to Gan-Eden for us. Jacob and Esau are acting out a spiritual event here. It’s an event which took place at the cross when Yeshua seemed to make His own blood the prize.  

4. Man’s orders in the beginning were to expand Jehovah’s garden over the entire world. In Gan-Eden the enemy had stolen mankind’s birthright [right to rule in God’s image], set up a pseudo kingdom on the earth and started expanding it, distorting and perverting everything in the process.   

5. Jacob’s lentil stew represented Yeshua’s blood which, just like Esau did, the enemy accepted as a ransom. To get hold of Yeshua, the enemy had to let go of the birthright of man.    

Genesis 25:31-33 (TLV)    31 So Jacob said, “Sell your birthright to me today.”    32 Esau said, “Look, I’m about to die. Of whatever use is this to me—a birthright?”  

33 Jacob said, “Make a pledge to me now.”  So he made a pledge to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.  

*Esau was unworthy of the birth right, being in line to bring Messiah, because he did not value the blessing of being part of what Jehovah was doing.    

Notice that Jacob added bread.   

Remember, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 (CJB)   23 For what I received from the Lord is just what I passed on to you — that the Lord Yeshua, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; 24 and after he had made the b’rakhah [Jewish prayer, recognizing God as the source of all good] he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this as a memorial to me”; 25 likewise also the cup after the meal, saying, “This cup is the New Covenant effected by my blood; do this, as often as you drink it, as a memorial to me.”    

Day Three: Who is Esau today?  

Short video by Steven Ben Denoon in Rome  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ07qbd1Eu4  

Easy day for us all today, just wanted to bring out one interesting idea. Scripture says that Jacob was a mild mannered man. Jacob was content for Messiah to come through his lineage because he understood the significance of being part of what Jehovah was doing to restore mankind. Esau, on the other hand, wanted the place of prominence. Esau was very confident in his own abilities and thought he could fulfill his role without a birthright.    

Have you ever considered the true value of the birthright which was ransomed for you with Yeshua’s own blood, or are you trying to fulfill your role without a birthright?  

*Please know that we do not want to offend anyone in our studies but to remind the body of Messiah that we must walk carefully and weigh every decision. As we learned in our study of Gan-Aden in the beginning of The Gospel of Peace study, our generation is, as with every generation, facing the two trees Adam and Eve faced. Just as Isaac and Rebekah had two sons, one who would bring Messiah and the other who wanted to be Messiah, there are two churches who have risen in these last days, one true church who will bring Messiah and the other church who wants to be Messiah [the root of the "anti-christ"]. Choose carefully what church you choose to be part of.   *Also, please note: by church we are not referring to buildings or denominations, we are speaking of people with or without the heart of Messiah.    

Day Four: Isaac covenants with God  

*As we’ve discussed before, everyone has to come to God on their own. We cannot depend upon our ancestor’s relationship or our pastor, neighbor, etc.; we all must covenant with Jehovah ourselves. This is what we will see today. Jehovah appears to Isaac and makes the same promises to him that He made with Avraham.   

Genesis 26:1-6Tree of Life Version (TLV)  26 Now there was a famine in the land—aside from the previous famine that happened in Abraham’s days. So Isaac went to King Abimelech of the Philistines, to Gerar. 2 Then Adonai appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt. Dwell in the land about which I tell you. 3 Live as an outsiderin this land and I will be with you and bless you—for to you and to your seed I give all these lands—and I will confirm my pledge that I swore to Abraham your father.   

From the Strong's:  Outsider (Sojourn in the KJV) 1481H guwr, goor; (PR); Properly- to turn aside from the road (for lodging or any other purpose), i.e. sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place); also to gather for hostility (as afraid): --- abide, assemble, be afraid, dwell, fear, gather (together), inhabitant, remain, sojourn, stand in awe, (be) stranger, x surely.  

1.  What would you say is the meaning of this word is?______________________________________________  ________________________________________________.  

*Although Jehovah promised to give all of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants, and then again to Isaac, neither of them was to live as a Canaanite. Jehovah wanted them to believe He would deliver the land and, ultimately, the world, and He would restore all things just as He promised to each generation.  

Genesis 26:4-6 (CJB)    4 I will multiply your seed like the stars of the sky and I will give your seed all these lands. And in your seed all the nations of the earth will continually be blessed, 5 because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, My mitzvot, My decrees, and My instructions.” 6 So Isaac stayed in Gerar.  

2.  Do you know who Isaac’s “seed” [descendant] is, in whom all the nations would be blessed?     3.  Garar is the same place where Jehovah took Avraham when He needed to remove some sin and apathy from Avraham’s life. This is a place where things that should be precious to us but we’ve forgotten their value, are stolen from our lives. It is also a place to ruminate or “chew” thing’s over---to learn the secret things of God or learn them over again.  

*Because of Abraham’s faithfulness, this same promise of multiplication and inheritance is being made again to Isaac.    

Day Five: Mysteries Remain  

Once again, as with Avraham and Sarah, we have this mystery of Isaac who, as did his father, says his wife is his sister.   

Genesis 26:7-11 (CJB)  7 The men of the place asked him about his wife, and out of fear he said, “She is my sister.” He thought, “If I tell them she’s my wife, they might kill me in order to take Rivkah. After all, she is a beautiful woman.”   

*Remember when we studied Avraham and Sarah, we discussed that Jehovah had not just chosen Avraham as the conduit for the Messiah, but He had also chosen Sarah. Messiah would have Sarah's particular DNA. We concluded that the reason the foreign kings wanted to make Sarah their wife was to father a child with the woman who had been chosen to bring the redemption in order to derail Jehovah's plan.   

*This is what we should see in this repeat involving Isaac and Rebekah. Rebekah was chosen by God because of her servant's heart, which we saw when she humbled herself and served the servant of Avraham at the well. She also chose to leave all she had known, immediately, to serve Isaac, remember, Isaac represents today's Jews. The church must have this servant's heart and humble ourselves to comfort Judah.   

*The enemy was very clearly trying to intercept God's plan and distort it.   

*This is what the enemy is doing in the church today. We, who believe and love Jehovah are the conduit to bring Messiah to the Jews and to the world, but the enemy is attempting to intercept and distort God's plan. The church needs Isaac, who represents the Jews today, to reclaim the bride and reunite the family.    

Genesis 26:8-11(CJB)  8 But one day, after he had lived there a long time, Avimelekh king of the P’lishtim [Philistines] happened to be looking out of a window when he spotted Yitz’chak caressing Rivkah his wife. 9 Avimelekh summoned Yitz’chak and said, “So she is your wife, after all! How come you said, ‘She is my sister’?” Yitz’chak responded, “Because I thought, ‘I could get killed because of her.’” 10 Avimelekh said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people could easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us!” 11 Then Avimelekh warned all the people: “Whoever touches this man or his wife will certainly be put to death.”  *Once Isaac reclaims his bride and reunites his family God's plan will come to fruition.    

Video from Zola Levitt Ministries discussing insights on relationship found in the story of Isaac and Rebekah, also includes information on fulfillment of prophecy in Israel.  https://www.levitt.tv/media/watch/1306  

Be Strong and Courageous Friends