The Cross

Outline taken from “Deine Zeugnisse-mein ewiges Erbe” by Alfred Christlieb, 5. Februar.

When Pharaoh asked Jacob, “‘How old are you?'” he answered, “‘The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. My years have been few and difficult, …'” – Genesis 47:8,9

HERE ARE SOME OF HIS DIFFICULTIES:

A. Esau is threatening to kill his brother Jacob. Genesis 27:41

Finally he had to flee.

B. He fled to Laban. Laban is unjust in his dealings with Jacob. Genesis 31:40,41: “‘The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night,…'” “‘…, and you changed my wages ten times.'”

C. He has also trouble with his children.  Dinah, his daughter, is defiled. (Genesis 34)

D. The wife he loves, Rachel, is dying in childbirth. (Genesis 35:16)

E. Joseph is no more. He is sold by his brothers. (Genesis 37:12)

Jacob was told that an animal had eaten Joseph.

F. Benjamin is also going. Genesis 42:36 “Their father Jacob said to them, ‘You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!'”

It has been pointed  out to me that there was a complete change in the life of Jacob after he deceived his brother twice. First of all he took his birthright and secondly he took his blessing. (Genesis 27:36) Before he deceived his brother, he had peace at home and on the paddock with is animals.