The Strand Study Bible

GENESIS GENESIS 25:32 Esau saw little profit in the eternal perspective. Although he was well aware of the fact that the coming MESSIAH was promised to come through his father’s seed (Gen 21:12), Esau was more interested in “watered down soup” (the temporal) than He was his birthright, which pointed to the Eternal CHRIST ( Mic 5:2 ). Beware of exchanging the temporal for the eternal; you could seal your own future and fate (Obadiah 1,8-9). 26:2 How do we know that the term “ LORD ” here is referring to GOD THE SON and not GOD THE FATHER ? CHRIST said to Moses in Exodus 6:3: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of GOD ALMIGHTY, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. Genesis 26:24 says: 26:5 Long before the Law of Moses was ever written down in order to guide the nation of Israel there existed unwritten laws that God had written upon men’s hearts in order to guide humanity ( Job 22:22 & 23:12 and Rom 2: 12- 15 ). Called the “laws before the Law,” these twenty-one laws appeared to be the most meaningful of all the laws to God. Even heathen rulers, such as King Ur-Nammu (the Code of King Ur-Nammu - c. 2060 BC) and King Hammurabi (the Code of Hammurabi - c. 1728-1686 BC) were aware of these laws (Gen 12:14-20 & 26:5-11). One should have no problem recognizing the first ten laws because these first ten made up the Ten Commandments that were incorporated in the Law of Moses over 300 years later in 1487 BC (Exo 20:1-17): 1. Have no other Gods - Job 31:26-28 and Gen 35:1-4 (Exo 20:3) Seeing the Law of Moses (Exo 20:3) was not written yet, how did Job (Job 31:26-28) and Jacob (Gen 35:1-4) know not to worship any other gods but the “ God (El) that is above ?” The answer is simple. The law was written on their hearts (Rom 2:12- 15), and they had not seared their conscience (I Tim 4:2), as others did. In order to “ have no other gods ” one must know “who God is.” According to the clear teaching of Scripture, God is a Trinity, and exists as three distinct co-eternal persons called the Godhead (I Jn 5:7, Rom 1:20, Colo 2:9 and Acts 17:29). They are not three Gods; rather they are three “separate” persons, all equally God, who work as one. God is one in being or essence who exists eternally in three distinct co-equal persons. The Triune Godhead is made up of three “separate” persons (Isa 48:16, Mt 28:19, II Cor 13:14, Eph 4:4-6, I Pet 1:2 and Rev 1:4-5), and they are to be treated as “separate” persons. The reason they are “separate one from another” is because they each possess a “separate” personality. They each possess the three essential characteristics that make up a personality: mind (intellect), heart (emotion), and will (choice). For example: * Each Person within the Trinity is worshipped individually ( Jn 4:20-25 , Mt 2:1-2 , Jn 9:35-38 and I Cor 3:16 ). * Each Person within the Trinity communicates individually with the other two Persons ( Psa 110:1/Rom 8:26-27 , Jn 17:1/ Rom 8:26-27 and Zech 2:1-4/Rom 8:26-27 ). * Each Person within the Trinity possesses the same three distinctive individual qualities that make up a person: (1) mind ( Rom 11:34 , Phil 2:5 , I Cor 2:11 ); (2) heart ( Mt 3:17 , Jn 11:35 , Eph 4:30 ); and (3) will ( Mt 12:50 , Mt 26:39 , I Cor 12:11 ). The FATHER ( Jn 3:16 ), SON ( Mt 3:13-17 ), and HOLY SPIRIT’S ( Ezk 3:24-27 and Acts 10:19-20 ) active interest and participation in the affairs of men prove that each possesses an individual personality “separate” from the other ( Gen 1:1c ). NOTE - In order to master this first law ( Thou shalt have no other gods before me ) we are going to have to start studying the triune nature of God, realizing that they are three “separate” individuals ( Lk 11:1 ). God revealed Himself to Adam and Eve as a Trinity (Gen 1:26-27 & 3:5). In order to “ have no other gods ” we need to understand that Trinity. According to I Corinthians 12:4-6, each person within the Triune Godhead is responsible for certain activities. For example: * According to I Corinthians 12:6, it is the FATHER’S responsibility (not the believers - II Cor 1:21) to determine how much power a believer receives in order to perform his or her spiritual gift(s). Therefore, it is the FATHER we are to address when we need power (Luke 11:9-13 & Acts 1:4-8). Christians should address the FATHER concerning provision (Lk 11:1-3), penitence (Lk 11:4 and Lk 6:28), protection (Lk 11:4, Mt 26:41,53, II Cor 13:7 and I Thess 5:23), people (Lk 11:5-8 and Lk 10:2) and power (Jn 14:16-17 & 16:26). * According to I Corinthians 12:5, it is the SON’S responsibility (not the believers - Eph 4:7-11) to determine where a believer belongs within the ministry. Therefore, it is the SON we are to address when it comes to discovering our calling (Acts 9:1-6 & 18:7-11 & 22:17-21 & 23:9-11 & Isa 6:1-10). Who do you think was responsible for Jacob’s calling (Gen 32:24- 30)? For Moses’ calling (Exo 3:1-14 and Jn 8:24,58)? Christians should address the SON concerning help with doctrine (Judg 13:1-8-23, Lk 11:1 and Mt 24:1-4), direction (Acts 27:21-25, Gen 16:7-9-13, Exo 23:20-23 and Judg 2:1-5) and deliverance (Mk 5:23, Gen 18:1,23-33 & 19:15-24 & 32:24-26-30, Exo 3:1-8, Josh 5:13-6:3 and Judg 6:11-24 & 13:1-25). * According to I Corinthians 12:4, it is the SPIRIT’S responsibility (not the believers - I Cor 12:7-11) to determine what gift(s) a believer receives. Therefore, it is the SPIRIT we are to address when it comes to discovering our gifts and/or where to use them (Acts 16:6-7). It is not enough to simply discover your gift(s); you must know where to use them as well (Acts 21:1-14). Christians should address the SPIRIT concerning help when praying (Rom 8:26-27), help with the Word of God (I Cor 2:9-14), help with an understanding of our gifts (I Cor 12:1-11), help with the assurance of our salvation (Rom 8:16 and I Jn 3:24 & 4:13), help with comfort (Jn 14:16-18,26-27 & 15:26), help with unity (Psa 133 and Acts 4:31-37), and help with liberation from men and their movements (II Cor 3:17 and Gal 2:11-14). 2. Make no graven images - Gen 31:19-35 (Exo 20:4-6) Seeing the Law of Moses (Exo 20:4-6) was not written yet, how did Jacob know not to possess idols of worship? The answer 123 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.