Shalom Kol Yisrael,
After one week off, we return to Part 3 of the Restoration of Yisrael: Mystery of the Ages series. I pray that you know that you are being kept and nestled in the palm of Abba's hand. I say that because we need to be reminded of this in these perilous yet exciting times.
We last left off learning about Yaacov and his flight to his uncle Lavan. We learned that Lavan means “white”. Thus, the title of Part 3 - The White Lies of Lavan. In Part 3, we will cover only one of the “white” lies of Lavan.
A White Lie
What really is a white lie? The common definition for a white lie is, “A little lie that does not harm anyone.” Isn't that what we always say about a lie? In fact, we fail to confess this behavior by even failing to say the word! “Oh, I didn't tell a lie; I told an untruth.” Now when I am talking about a lie I am not talking about Tamar's deception which was righteous because the motivation of the act was to continue a lineage which eventually led to Messiah. In addition, I am not talking about Rechab (Rehab) who lied about the spies with the destiny of Yisrael at stake, nor of Esther who hid her identity to save all the Jewish people from annihilation. I am talking about a lie that involves self gain.
May I propose a different definition of a white lie? How about this? A lie where the person giving it attempts to make themselves look good or giving a false impression of self. Have you ever been in a situation where somebody shared information with you and you said, “Oh I already knew that.” When in reality you did not have a clue! Have you reminded somebody of something they said several weeks ago and they said, “What are you talking about I never said that?” This sounds like a convenient bad memory. I will admit it I have been on the receiving end and I have doled it out too. But, the lie is not a harmless lie. You have harmed the relationship with the person you told this lie to. And you have done harm to yourself. Is this the character of the Ruach Ha Kodesh? No. What does this have to do with Lavan? Good question. Will you take a Scriptural journey with me?
Preparation Against the White Lies of Lavan
Bereshit (Genesis) 28: 5 So Yitsḥaq sent Yaaqov̱ away, and he went to Paddan Aram, to Laḇan son of Bethuĕl the Aramean, the brother of Riḇqah, the mother of Yaaqov̱ and Ěsaw. (emphasis added)
On his flight to Aramea, a significant event occurred which I believe spoke to Yaacov that YHWH was holding him in the Palm of His Hand. It also was confirmation to Yaacov that indeed he was the one to receive the blessing of the first born.
Bereshit 28: 10 And Yaaqov went out from Beĕrsheḇa and went toward Ḥaran. 11 And he came upon a place and stopped over for the night, for the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed and saw a ladder set up on the earth, and its top reached to the heavens, and saw messengers of Elohim going up and coming down on it. 13 And see, YHWH stood above it and said, “I am YHWH the Elohim of Aḇraham your father and the Elohim of Yitsḥaq. The land on which you are lying, I give it to you and your seed. 14 “And your seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall break forth to the west and to the east, to the north and the south. And all the clans of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your seed. 15 “And see, I am with you and shall guard you wherever you go, and shall bring you back to this land. For I am not going to leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” 16 And Yaaqov̱ awoke from his sleep and said, “Truly, YHWH is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of Elohim, and this is the gate of the heavens!” 18 And Yaaqov rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a standing column, and poured oil on top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bĕyth Ěl, however, the name of that city had been Luz previously. 20 And Yaaqov made a vow, saying, “Seeing Elohim is with me, and has kept me in this way that I am going, and has given me bread to eat and a garment to put on – 21 when I have returned to my father’s house in peace, and YHWH has been my Elohim, 22 then this stone which I have set as a standing column shall be Elohim’s house, and of all that You give me, I shall certainly give a tenth to You.” (emphases added)
Why would someone use a stone for a pillow? The Hebrew word for pillow is very similar to a Hebrew word for dominion. Perhaps, Abba has hidden a mystery in the similarity of words. For it is at this place Abba reinforces the dominion given the descendants of Yaacov. Abba further reinforces the same blessing given to his grandfather Avraham years earlier that He would bring them back to the Land He had chosen for them.
Years ago while living in South Africa I had a vision of Yaacov's ladder. I saw a DNA molecule extending from the heavens and to the ground. The Ruach reminded me that DNA is the molecular building blocks of a people. It is also the molecular foundation for man. So the ladder was not only a reminder that Abba would set aside a people for Himself, but also Y'shua, the man, would be our ladder or bridge to the heavens as our Advocate. (see Yochanon/John 1:51)
This moment in Yaacov's life prepared him for the white lies of Lavan. This life is filled with man's manipulations, but we will never break from them and find our true liberty until it gets embedded into our being that Abba alone is sovereign over our lives. Truly, a foundation was laid that would aid Yaacov through many difficulties he would face from this time forward.
The Wells of Salvation
Bereshit 29:1 And Yaaqov̱ moved on and came to the land of the people of the East. 2 And he looked and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying by it, for out of that well they watered the flocks, and a large stone was on the well’s mouth. 3 And all the flocks would be gathered there, then they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well’s mouth. 4 So Yaaqov̱ said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Ḥaran.” 5 And he said to them, “Do you know Laḇan son of Naḥor?” And they said, “We know him.” 6 So he said to them, “Is he well?” And they said, “Well. And see, his daughter Raḥĕl is coming with the sheep.” 7 And he said, “See, it is still high day, not the time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.” 8 But they said, “We are not allowed until all the flocks are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, then we shall water the sheep.” 9 While he was still speaking with them, Raḥĕl came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 And it came to be, when Yaaqov saw Raḥĕl the daughter of Laḇan his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laḇan his mother’s brother, that Yaaqov went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laḇan his mother’s brother. (emphases added)
The wells of salvation are Yisrael's refreshment. Prophetically, Yaacov had to wait for all of Yisrael to receive the refreshment of the mayim chayim. The waters of the well itself represent Y'shua and the stone rolled away represent the covering over His tomb. The four flocks represent not only Yisraelites scattered to the four corners of the earth, but the gathering of all of Yisrael around the four corners of the Mishkan (tabernacle). YHWH's presence was the well of salvation for the Yisraelites assembled around the Mishkan. Yaacov (a father of Yisrael) rolling the stone away represented Abba Father rolling the stone away from the tomb of His Son Y'shua. The waters of the well of salvation, our Savior Y'shua, were the very waters that refreshed the thirsty nation of Yisrael and the world.
I believe a holy love kindled in Yaacov's heart for Rachel. He knew that Abba had shown him his wife. Many, I believe, have incorrectly romanticized (a pagan affection from Rome) the devotion Yaacov felt for Rachel. For this holy affection would be the same expression YHWH had for Ephrayim (descendant of Rachel), “Is Ephrayim a precious son to Me, a child of delights? For though I spoke against him, I still remembered him. That is why My affections were deeply moved for him. I have great compassion for him,” declares YHWH. (Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 31:20)
It is this holy unmitigated love for Rachel that would ease the anguish of being under manipulative spirits of control and domination found in the household of Lavan. Indeed, Abba was doing a tremendous work in Yaacov's life; preparing him for his destiny to be the first Yisraelite whose seed would manifest as a firstborn nation.
Lavan's Deception
Bereshit 29:13 And it came to be, when Laḇan heard the report about Ya‛aqoḇ his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Then he told Laḇan all these matters. 14 And Laḇan said to him, “You are indeed my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month. 15 Then Laḇan said to Ya‛aqoḇ, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for naught? Let me know, what should your wages be?” 16 And Laḇan had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lĕ’ah, and the name of the younger was Raḥĕl. 17 And Lĕ’ah’s eyes were weak, but Raḥĕl was lovely of form and appearance. 18 And Ya‛aqoḇ loved Raḥĕl, so he said, “Let me serve you seven years for Raḥĕl your younger daughter.” 19 And Laḇan said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.” 20 So Ya‛aqoḇ served seven years for Raḥĕl, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. (emphases added)
Revelation (chapter 3, verse 7 and following) talks about the congregation of Philadelphia having a love so strong for one another and for Abba and His Son that they their lives will be preserved during the coming tribulation. Shall our love for Abba Father and for Yisrael be so strong that the seven years of tribulation seem like a few days?
Bereshit 29:21 Then Yaaqov̱ said to Laḇan, “Give me my wife, for my days are completed, and let me go in to her.” 22 And Laḇan gathered all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 And it came to be in the evening, that he took Lĕah his daughter and brought her to Ya‛aqoḇ. And he went in to her. 24 And Laḇan gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Lĕah as a female servant. 25 And in the morning it came to be, that see, it was Lĕah. So he said to Laḇan, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Raḥĕl that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?” 26 And Laḇan said, “It is not done this way in our place, to give the younger before the first-born. 27 “Complete the week of this one, then we give you this one too, for the service which you shall serve with me still another seven years.” (emphases added)
Lavan's white lie was now complete. Yet, all things work for the good of those who love YHWH and are called according to His purpose (see Romans 8:28). Yaacov did not allow his anger to get the best of him. Instead he chose to accept what he had been dealt for deep inside he knew Abba was seeing him through every situation. It was unfortunate that Leah was a victim in Lavan's greedy scheme. For Scripture is clear that man is only capable of loving one woman. Abba looked upon the victimization of Leah and with compassion blessed the fruit of her womb.
Continued Next Week Part 4 – Restoration of Yisrael Mystery of the Ages:
Two Wombs, Two Houses
I pray for a deep flowing love of Abba and the nation Yisrael to flow into your hearts. May it manifest itself in a greater understanding of your role in Yisrael which is the hope of your calling.
Shavua tov,
Tzefanyah Pappas
Chazak Chazak v’nitchazek
Let us be strong, let us be strong and let us
strengthen (encourage) one another!
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