Podcasts about Laban

Parashat Miketz begins with the famous story of Yosef being brought from the Egyptian prison to interpret Pharaoh's unusual dreams. Yosef informed Pharoh that his visions of seven lean cows devouring seven large cows, and seven lean sheaves devouring seven large sheaves, foretold a seven-year period of agricultural surplus that would be immediately followed by seven years of harsh famine. After explaining the meaning of Pharaoh's dreams, Yosef proceeded to urge the king to appoint somebody to oversee the storage of grain during the next seven years to prepare for the drought years which would follow. Pharaoh promptly assigned Yosef to this role. Yosef adds a curious phrase in his remarks to Pharaoh, one which is often overlooked. In urging the king to set up a mechanism for the storage of grain, Yosef says, "Ya'aseh Pharaoh Ve'yafked Pekidim Al Ha'aretz" – "Pharaoh shall act and appoint officers over the land" (41:34). Yosef does not just advise Pharaoh to appoint officials – he says, "Ya'aseh Pharaoh," that "Pharaoh shall act." What is meant by these words? Why did Yosef emphasize that Pharaoh should "act"? Some suggest that Yosef here expressed a fundamental principle of leadership and education – the importance of setting a personal example. Yosef anticipated that there would be opposition among the Egyptian population to his plan to store large amounts of grain. During years of economic prosperity, few people have the foresight to consider the possibility of a shortage down the road. It would be hard for the Egyptians to envision a devastating famine while they were busy harvesting unprecedentedly large amounts of produce. They would not be so quick to put the surplus grain into storage to prepare for something that the government claimed would happen years later. They would need some convincing. This is why Yosef said, "Ya'aseh Pharaoh." The best way for Pharoah to convince the people to store grain was for him to set an example. Before he could appoint officials to enforce a policy of storage, he would have to "act" – he would need to show the people that he, too, was storing his surplus, that he was not overindulging during the years of prosperity. This was critical for the success of this plan. We might add that Yosef learned this concept from his father, Yaakob. At the end of Parashat Vayeseh, we read that Yaakov made a pact with his father-in-law, Laban, and as a formal symbol of their agreement they made a special pile of stones. The Torah tells that Yaakob turned to his sons and instructed them to collect stones to make this large pile ("Liktu Abanim" – 31:46). Despite the grueling labor involved, his sons immediately obeyed, without any protest. The likely reason is because in the preceding verse, we read that Yaakob himself lifted a large stone and erected it as a monument. Before asking his sons to participate in this process, Yaakob first acted himself. He first set an example for his children, and they were then far more receptive to his request that they join. Parents, educators, and anyone looking to have an impact must realize this truism about influence. A person is not likely to inspire others by sitting comfortably and trying to convince them to act. If we want to influence and inspire, we need to act, to set an example, to model the behavior. It is only if our words are accompanied by a personal example that we can hope for them to have an impact.

Isang kilalang babaero ang kalaunan ay nakatagpo ng babaeng hindi niya dapat niloko. Nang mabasag ang puso ng mambabarang na kanyang pina-ibig, gumanti ito gamit ang pinakamadilim na uri ng barang. Habang unti-unti siyang pinaparusahan ng mga kulisap at bangungot, natuklasan niyang may iisa lang siyang pag-asa—ang humarap sa mambabarang na galit na galit sa kanyang kasalanan.

Genesis 25-26   25:1 Now Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore to him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All of these were the sons of Keturah. 5 Now Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac; 6 but to the sons of his concubines, Abraham gave gifts while he was still living, and sent them away from his son Isaac eastward, to the land of the east. 7 These are all the years of Abraham's life that he lived, 175 years. 8 Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people. 9 Then his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, facing Mamre, 10 the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth; there Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 11 It came about after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac lived by Beer-lahai-roi. 12 Now these are the records of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's slave woman, bore to Abraham; 13 and these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages, and by their camps; twelve princes according to their tribes. 17 These are the years of the life of Ishmael, 137 years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people. 18 They settled from Havilah to Shur which is east of Egypt going toward Assyria; he settled in defiance of all his relatives. 19 Now these are the records of the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham fathered Isaac; 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children; and the Lord answered him, and his wife Rebekah conceived. 22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why am I in this condition?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples will be separated from your body; And one people will be stronger than the other; And the older will serve the younger.” 24 When her days leading to the delivery were at an end, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 Now the first came out red, all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding on to Esau's heel, so he was named Jacob; and Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them. 27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a civilized man, living in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for game; but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 When Jacob had cooked a stew one day, Esau came in from the field and he was exhausted; 30 and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a mouthful of that red stuff there, for I am exhausted.” Therefore he was called Edom by name. 31 But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” 33 And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore an oath to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and got up and went on his way. So Esau despised his birthright.   26:1 Now there was a famine in the land, besides the previous famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. So Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines. 2 And the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Live for a time in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed Me and fulfilled his duty to Me, and kept My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” 6 So Isaac lived in Gerar. 7 When the men of the place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “my wife,” thinking, “the men of the place might kill me on account of Rebekah, since she is beautiful.” 8 Now it came about, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down through a window, and saw them, and behold, Isaac was caressing his wife Rebekah. 9 Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Behold, she certainly is your wife! So how is it that you said, ‘She is my sister'?” And Isaac said to him, “Because I thought, ‘otherwise I might be killed on account of her.'” 10 And Abimelech said, “What is this that you have done to us? One of the people might easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” 11 So Abimelech commanded all the people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife will certainly be put to death.” 12 Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundred times as much. And the Lord blessed him, 13 and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; 14 for he had possessions of flocks and herds, and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him. 15 Now all the wells which his father's servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up by filling them with dirt. 16 Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are too powerful for us.” 17 So Isaac departed from there and camped in the Valley of Gerar, and settled there. 18 Then Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the same names which his father had given them. 19 But when Isaac's servants dug in the valley and found there a well of flowing water, 20 the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with the herdsmen of Isaac, saying, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they argued with him. 21 Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over it too, so he named it Sitnah. 22 Then he moved away from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he named it Rehoboth, for he said, “At last the Lord has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.” 23 And he went up from there to Beersheba. 24 And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants, For the sake of My servant Abraham.” 25 So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there; and there Isaac's servants dug a well. 26 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with his adviser Ahuzzath, and Phicol the commander of his army. 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We have seen plainly that the Lord has been with you; so we said, ‘An oath must now be taken by us,' that is, by you and us. So let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good, and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.” 30 Then he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 In the morning they got up early and exchanged oaths; then Isaac sent them away, and they left him in peace. 32 Now it came about on the same day, that Isaac's servants came in and told him about the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water.” 33 So he called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day. 34 When Esau was forty years old he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite; 35 and they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah.     BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com     GIVE -  The Listener's Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you! Give here:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com/give     STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up   MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit https://www.johnwhittaker.net 

Isang mangingisda ang nakakuha ng pambihirang agimat mula sa pangil ng dambuhalang buwaya. Sinasabing kaya nitong itaboy at pahinain ang sinumang aswang. Ngunit nang magsimulang maghanap ng paraan ang mga nilalang na agawin ito, natuklasan niyang ang agimat ay hindi lamang proteksiyon—kundi isang piraso ng mas malalim na sumpang nakaugnay sa ilog na matagal nang kinatatakutan.

In Parshas Vayishlach, Yaakov returns home after 20 years with the wicked Laban and immediately sends real angels as messengers to his murderous brother Esav, prefacing their message with the cryptic line “Im Lavan garti” – “With Laban I sojourned.” Rashi reveals the hidden code: the word “garti” (גרתי) has the numerical value of 613 (תרי״ג), meaning “Even while living with the evil Laban, I kept all 613 mitzvos and never learned from his wicked ways.” Yaakov is teaching every Jew for all time: no matter how far away you are, no matter how hostile the environment, the Torah is the ultimate protective shield that preserves and elevates your soul. As Rabbi Wolbe powerfully declared: “When you stay firm in Torah study every single day, there is nothing in the world that can take you down.”The parsha's eternal message is crystallized in the Friday-night blessing we give our children: “Yisimcha Elokim k'Ephraim v'chi'Menashe” – may God make you like Ephraim and Menashe, the only two tribal ancestors raised in decadent, idolatrous Egypt yet who grew into pure tzaddikim. Why them? Because wherever our children end up – Houston, Memphis, Vegas, or the middle of nowhere – they may not have a yeshiva, a kosher restaurant, or even a minyan, but they will always have the Torah. As Rabbi Wolbe summed up: “The Torah is the blueprint of the world… and when you live with that blueprint, no darkness can touch you.” Yaakov, Ephraim, and Menashe all proved that one Jew + one Torah = unstoppable light._____________This episode of the Parsha Review Podcast is dedicated in honor of Lenny & Teresa FriedmanDownload & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on December 2, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on December 5, 2025_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Genesis, #JewishWisdom, #SpiritualGrowth, #Angels, #jacob ★ Support this podcast ★

In Parshas Vayishlach, Yaakov returns home after 20 years with the wicked Laban and immediately sends real angels as messengers to his murderous brother Esav, prefacing their message with the cryptic line “Im Lavan garti” – “With Laban I sojourned.” Rashi reveals the hidden code: the word “garti” (גרתי) has the numerical value of 613 (תרי״ג), meaning “Even while living with the evil Laban, I kept all 613 mitzvos and never learned from his wicked ways.” Yaakov is teaching every Jew for all time: no matter how far away you are, no matter how hostile the environment, the Torah is the ultimate protective shield that preserves and elevates your soul. As Rabbi Wolbe powerfully declared: “When you stay firm in Torah study every single day, there is nothing in the world that can take you down.”The parsha's eternal message is crystallized in the Friday-night blessing we give our children: “Yisimcha Elokim k'Ephraim v'chi'Menashe” – may God make you like Ephraim and Menashe, the only two tribal ancestors raised in decadent, idolatrous Egypt yet who grew into pure tzaddikim. Why them? Because wherever our children end up – Houston, Memphis, Vegas, or the middle of nowhere – they may not have a yeshiva, a kosher restaurant, or even a minyan, but they will always have the Torah. As Rabbi Wolbe summed up: “The Torah is the blueprint of the world… and when you live with that blueprint, no darkness can touch you.” Yaakov, Ephraim, and Menashe all proved that one Jew + one Torah = unstoppable light._____________This episode of the Parsha Review Podcast is dedicated in honor of Lenny & Teresa FriedmanDownload & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on December 2, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on December 5, 2025_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Genesis, #JewishWisdom, #SpiritualGrowth, #Angels, #jacob ★ Support this podcast ★

December 5, 2025

December 4, 2025

December 2, 2025

Parashat Va-yetze [Genesis 28:10-32:2], my Bar Mitzvah (BC) portion, crams over 20 years of Jacob's life into a single parashah. And what an eventful 20+ years. Jacob leaves Beer-sheva for his uncle Laban's home, meets his cousin Rachel at the well, agrees to work for 7 years to marry her; agrees to work another 7 years to marry her after Leah was substituted for Rachel at the wedding, sires 11 of his 12 sons and his daughter Dinah, works another 6 years to acquire flocks of his own, and decides to return to Canaan. A half hour hardly seems to do justice to the richness of this parashah! We are mindful of the remaining hostages in Gaza, may they be speedily returned. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm's way. A belated Shabbat Shalom as this is posted after the parashah has already been read in the synagogue. My apologies.

After successfully escaping the clutches of his deceptive father in law, Laban, Jacob heads back west to the Land of Canaan, and back to his family. The journey back home was a lot more tumultuous and chaotic than anticipated. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a two-part look at parsha “Vayetzi,” Genesis 28:10-32:3) the story of Yakov/Jacob as he journeys to the land of his father’s family, is told first-hand of his birthright and the promises, and acquires his own wives and family. The Erev Shabbat reading: https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/SSM-11-28-25-Vayetzi-teaching-podcast-xx.mp3 Mark’s Sabbath Day midrash probably raises more questions than it answers. Most of which are, at best, ambiguous from what we are told in the story. But these are human beings, of course — flawed people, who make mistakes — and thus more interesting and even relevant to where we find ourselves today. Yakov married daughters of Laban. While certainly not Canaanites, Laban himself is hardly a saint. And why did Raqel/Rachel steal his teraphim, fake gods? There is a lot of setup here: The man who is forced to leave home to escape his own brother’s wrath soon comes to a place he’s almost certainly HEARD about, but suddenly – He sees first hand and KNOWS about those promises. What was hypothetical is Real. And yet there are still struggles ahead, and the man who asked for, and received, the place of the firstborn is deceived himself, because “it is not done so here,” to put the younger in place of the first-born. Ultimately, Laban seems to take advantage of his son-in-law. There is animosity. He is, after all is said and done, still a pagan. And that, too, is just as relevant now as ever. Vayetzi: ‘Flawed people and Hard Questions: Do you Love Messiah more than Bacon?’ https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WT-CooH-11-29-25-Vayetzi-Labanite-xtians-do-you-love-Yahushua-more-than-bacon-podcast-x.mp3 The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash:

Pastor Tim Greeno continues our series in the book of Genesis. Listen as Tim explains a universal principle for enduring in the midst of trials through the story of Jacob and Laban.

Join us again this week as we continue our sermon series in Genesis with Chapter 29 verses 1-30 involving Jacob, Laban, and Rachel. Jacob arrives in Haran hoping to find a wife, escape his brother's wrath, and build a future. Instead, he finds deception, heartbreak, and the consequences of his own sin. Jacob, once a cowardly liar, is being humbled by divine design.

Sa Trending Ngayon podcast ng SBS Filipino ngayong linggo, patuloy na pinag-uusapan ng maraming Filipino netizen ang naging laban at nakuhang korona ni Ahtisa Manalo higit isang linggo matapos ng Miss Universe 2025.

Laban is the maternal grandfather of the Jewish people. And yet, he is one of the more unsavoury characters in the Torah. Who was he? What did he care about? How did he influence the Jewish family and what might it mean for us today?

Send us a textPastor Joshua reads Parashat Vayetze, Genesis 28:10-32:3, a convoluted incestuous story of Jacob, including the ladder to God, Jacob's wives, his children, and the trouble he has with his father-in-law, Laban.

De lezingen van parshat Wayeetsee' zijn Genesis 28:10 – 32:3 en Hosea 12:12 – 14:10. We focussen vandaag in het bijzonder op Genesis 30:28 – 31:16. In dit gedeelte ontvangt Jakob de gestreepte, gevlekte en donkere schapen en bokken als loon voor zijn arbeid. Laban verandert het loon van Jakob echter wel tien keer. Toch blijft God Jakob trouw en zorgt ervoor dat zijn kuddes groeien. We verkennen in de uitleg de linken naar Yeshua en het loon dat Hij ons komt betalen.Support the show

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This week, we step into Vayetze—the seventh parsha of the Torah, a portion overflowing with movement, vulnerability, and deep human transformation. Vayetze begins with Jacob on the run—leaving his home, his parents, and the brother he has deceived. He is alone, exhausted, frightened, and unsure of what comes next. And it's precisely in that emptiness, in that wilderness, that something extraordinary happens: heaven opens. Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching from earth to the heavens, angels ascending and descending, a vision that will shape not only his destiny, but the destiny of our entire people. From that moment, Vayetze becomes a story of journeys—outer and inner. Jacob travels to Haran, where he meets Rachel, Leah, and the complex family through whom the tribes of Israel will be born. But he also travels inward: toward responsibility, toward love, toward struggle, toward blessing. He works for years out of devotion, endures deception from Laban, builds a family, and slowly transforms from a solitary young fugitive into a leader with purpose and depth. The God who appeared to him in that nighttime vision remains a quiet, steady companion along the way. At its heart, Vayetze teaches us something timeless: that transformation often begins the moment we step into the unknown; that holiness can appear in the most unexpected places—on the road, by a well, in a field, or in moments of heartbreak and fatigue; and that our journeys, even the ones we never asked for, are shaping us in ways we cannot always see. So join me as we explore Vayetze—a parsha that reminds us that we are guided, even when we feel alone, and that growth sometimes arrives through the very experiences that challenge us most. ——

This week, we step into Vayetze—the seventh parsha of the Torah, a portion overflowing with movement, vulnerability, and deep human transformation. Vayetze begins with Jacob on the run—leaving his home, his parents, and the brother he has deceived. He is alone, exhausted, frightened, and unsure of what comes next. And it's precisely in that emptiness, in that wilderness, that something extraordinary happens: heaven opens. Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching from earth to the heavens, angels ascending and descending, a vision that will shape not only his destiny, but the destiny of our entire people. From that moment, Vayetze becomes a story of journeys—outer and inner. Jacob travels to Haran, where he meets Rachel, Leah, and the complex family through whom the tribes of Israel will be born. But he also travels inward: toward responsibility, toward love, toward struggle, toward blessing. He works for years out of devotion, endures deception from Laban, builds a family, and slowly transforms from a solitary young fugitive into a leader with purpose and depth. The God who appeared to him in that nighttime vision remains a quiet, steady companion along the way. At its heart, Vayetze teaches us something timeless: that transformation often begins the moment we step into the unknown; that holiness can appear in the most unexpected places—on the road, by a well, in a field, or in moments of heartbreak and fatigue; and that our journeys, even the ones we never asked for, are shaping us in ways we cannot always see. So join me as we explore Vayetze—a parsha that reminds us that we are guided, even when we feel alone, and that growth sometimes arrives through the very experiences that challenge us most. ——

Ready to discover how reviving a lost language can reshape the whole Middle East? Ta Shma (come and hear) Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz are joined by Shadi Khalloul—IDF paratrooper veteran, founder of the Israeli Christian Aramaic Association, and one of the world's most passionate advocates for reviving the Aramaic language. Together, they explore Parshat Vayetzei and the hidden "Rosetta Stone" moment in Genesis 31, where Jacob and Laban name the same monument in Hebrew and Aramaic. Key Takeaways Aramaic is the Hidden Backbone of Jewish Life Aramaic Once United the Ancient World—And Can Still Bridge Communities Today Israel's Aramean Christians Are a Forgotten but Loyal Minority whose story will surprise and inspire you Timestamps [00:00:00] Opening: Jewish prayers written in Aramaic & introduction to Shadi Kaul [00:01:03] Shadi's unique role: soldier, educator, reviver of Aramaic culture [00:02:12] Shadi's background: identity, community history, and connection to Israel [00:03:47] Serving in the IDF and discovering his Aramaic purpose in the U.S. [00:05:32] Founding the Israeli Christian Aramaic Association & education initiatives [00:07:14] Plans for Aramaic towns, schools, and coexistence programs [00:09:22] Daily language reality: Arabic spoken, Aramaic preserved in prayer [00:11:48] Parallels with Jewish language revival and historical connections [00:14:27] Shadi's family displaced in 1948 and the ongoing struggle for recognition [00:32:41] Aramaic as the ancient international language—the "first internet" Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/691050 Israeli Christian Aramaic Association - http://www.aramaic-center.com/?lang=en A History of the First World Language - https://a.co/d/fjHe9C1 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/  

In this week's episode Rabbi Kohn talks about how we need to be careful to not become complacent to evil. From Jacob we see how he dealt with Laban to make sure that he would not become indifferent to his wicked behavior. He also discusses how we see lessons on dealing with the trait of envy and stubborness from the matriach Rachel. Subscribe to The Practical Parsha Podcast. For questions or comments please email RabbiShlomoKohn@gmail.com. To listen to Rabbi Kohn's other podcast use this link- the-pirkei-avos-podcast.castos.com/   If you would like to support this podcast please use this secure link to donate: SUPPORT THE PODCAST Chapters (00:00:00) - The Practical Parsha Podcast(00:00:42) - The Parsha(00:04:28) - The Reasons Why Rachel Was Jealous of Leah(00:11:57) - The Trait of Rachel Emenu(00:18:48) - The Problem of Complacency

The Wilderness Q+R (E13) — Is Adam being formed outside of Eden a prototype of the wilderness pattern? Are the biblical authors linking David and Nabal to Jacob and Laban? And does Jesus experience a wilderness testing moment in the garden of Gethsemane? In this episode, Tim and Jon respond to your questions from our series on the wilderness. Thank you to our audience for your thoughtful contributions to this episode!View all of our resources for The Wilderness →CHAPTERSIntro (0:00-1:40)Is Adam being formed outside of Eden a prototype of the wilderness pattern? (1:40-15:24)Is the cherubim's fiery sword at the entrance of Eden purification imagery? (15:24-26:03)Is there a hyperlink between Nabal and Laban—and therefore, between David and Jacob's wilderness stories? (26:03-37:14)Why is there wilderness imagery in the Lord's Prayer? (37:14-46:07)Does Jesus have a wilderness testing moment in Gethsemane? (46:07-1:02:35)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode's official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESThe Art of Narrative Analogy: Identifying and Interpreting Parallel Passages in the Bible by Seth D. PostellThe Testament of Moses, also known as The Assumption of Moses, is a pseudepigraphal Jewish text from the Second Temple Period.Check out Tim's extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSICBibleProject theme song by TENTS SHOW CREDITSProduction of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer, who also edited today's episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.Powered and distributed by Simplecast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: Kislev Why is it called the month of geulah? What message does this month teach us in our personal lives? What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week's Torah parsha? What is the personal application of Vayetzei Yaakov? What is represented by Jacob's ladder and the angels ascending and descending?Why is prayer compared to a ladder?Why was there a need for G-d to make a promise to Jacob when He had already promised the same thing to Abraham? How could Jacob be fooled by Laban when he knew the entire Torah? What do we learn from Rachel giving the signs to Leah? How was Yaakov and Leah's marriage valid according to halacha if the kesuba named Rachel and not Leah? Who were Bilhah and Zilpah? Did Bilhah and Zilpah consent to marriage? How do we explain all the allegorical and mystical interpretations in Torah seemingly justifying questionable behavior? What is the difference between the balance of chesed and gevurah and tiferes? Was there a difference between Jacob and Esau as children and as adults? What are the dynamics of a blessing? Why did Isaac bless Yaakov with the name Elokim and not Havaya?  What was unique about the Mitteler Rebbe? What do we learn from this day? What are some interesting teachings of the Mitteler Rebbe? To what extent are people facing mental health struggles or addictions responsible for their Torah obligations? For a person suffering from addiction, is the message just to continue doing mitzvos — or does that minimize the need to address the addiction itself?Vayeitzei Toldos Tes Kislev Responsibilities of those suffering from mental health issues and addictions 

Parshas Vayeitzei follows Jacob as he is fleeing from his murderous brother Esau and travels to Charan to the house of Laban, his wily and deceptive uncle, and marries multiple wives and fathers 12 children. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

“Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.” — Hosea 12:12 Jacob, while expostulating with Laban, thus describes his own toil, “This twenty years have I been with thee. That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee: I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou […]

What if one of the Torah's greatest heroes was actually its most scandalous trickster? In this episode of Madlik Disruptive Torah, Geoffrey Stern and Adam Mintz dive into one of the most provocative moments in the Torah: Jacob's audacious act of deception to secure his father Isaac's blessing in Parashat Toldot. Rather than smoothing over the ethical wrinkles, we sit with the discomfort, exploring why the Torah insists on portraying our third patriarch as a trickster—and what we're meant to learn from a hero whose virtues are tangled with flaws. Key Takeaways The Torah Embraces Imperfect Heroes prompting readers to grapple with imperfection as part of the human and spiritual journey. Biblical stories were shaped by and for public reading; audiences came with expectations based on oral traditions and prior knowledge. Spiritual growth often requires confrontations with failure and the "divine ruse"—a process of growth through challenge, not perfection. Timestamps [00:00:00] Geoffrey opens the episode and introduces the problem of Jacob stealing the blessing. [00:00:25] He reframes the question: maybe the Torah wants us to sit with the discomfort. [00:00:47] Overview of themes: ancient oil traditions, imperfect heroes, Maimonides on change. [00:01:08] Show intro + housekeeping (YouTube, Substack, source sheet, reviews). [00:01:27] Main question of the week: why portray Jacob this way, and are we projecting modern morality? [00:02:18] Opening character analysis: Jacob's name, symbolism of "heel holder," zig-zag personality. [00:04:01] Plot recap: Isaac asks Esau for hunted game, Rebecca overhears and initiates the plan. [00:05:02] The key deception moment: Jacob tells Isaac, "I am Esau your firstborn." [00:07:27] Esau's character through rabbinic commentary: glutton, outdoorsman vs. Jacob the tent-dweller. [00:22:03] Jacob's consequences begin: exile, never seeing his mother again, being tricked by Laban. Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/689945 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/  

In a world full of filters, AI fakery, and half-truths, telling the truth has become a radical act. We often say “Nothing's wrong” when something always is. We hide behind curated images, polite answers, and put-together masks. Jacob did the same—his whole life was built on deception. He tricked his father Isaac, cheated his brother Esau, manipulated his father-in-law Laban, and lived on the run from the consequences of his own actions. When Jacob hears Esau is coming to meet him with 400 men, fear hits him hard. He divides his people, he prays, and then—like many of us—he schemes, trying to “save face” with gifts and plans. The original Hebrew shows Jacob trying to literally “cover Esau's face” with gifts so Esau won't have to see the real Jacob. But God steps in. Jacob ends up wrestling all night with a mysterious figure—God, an angel, or the physical form of his inner struggle. For the first time, Jacob fights honestly. No tricks. No masks. Face to face. And that changes everything. God renames him Israel—“the one who wrestles with God.” Jacob didn't win by overpowering God; he won by not giving up, by finally bringing his real self into the struggle with God. And that honesty prepares him for what comes next: reconciliation. When Jacob finally meets Esau, he bows in humility, and Esau runs to embrace him. Their relationship—once shattered—is restored. Jacob even says seeing Esau's forgiving face is like “seeing the face of God.” This sermon calls us to the same path: ✔️ Stop pretending. ✔️ Come face-to-face with God in raw honesty. ✔️ Let Him wrestle the sin, fear, and self-protection out of us. ✔️ Step into relationships with humility and truth. ✔️ See God's grace in every act of forgiveness. In an age of deception, let us be truth-tellers—before others, before ourselves, and especially before God. Honest wrestling leads to blessing, transformation, and seeing the very face of God. fmhouston.com

The Obligation of a Worker to Labor with All His Strength: Lessons from Jacob's Service in Laban's House

“And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.” — Genesis 29:26 We do not excuse Laban for his dishonesty, but we scruple not to learn from the custom which he quoted as his excuse. There are some things which must be taken in order, […]

Keywords: Genesis,Book of Genesis,Revival, Character Of God,Free Sermons, Video Sermons, Jesus Christ, What Is The Gospel, Sermon Index, What Is The Truth, kjv bible, Audio Bible, Bible, God, God's Love, Scriptures, Holy Bible, Prophets, Apostles, KJV, Jesus,Christ, audiobook, book, holy life, love, bible verses, king james bible audio, audio bible KJV, king james bible online audio, bible audio, online bible kjv, audio bible kjv, daily bible verse, bible verse of the day, KJV audio, Remastered, Best Version, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, The Chosen, Salvation, Saved, Christian, Suffering Servant, Arm of the Lord, Plants Roots, Despised Rejected, Sorrows, Peace War, Crucifixtion, The Cross, Violence, Judgement, Master Servant, Life Death, Old Testament, Exposed, Music, Education, Great Tribulation, Top Bible Verses, Bible Topic Prayer, Evangelicalism, bible study, Word of God, scripture, scriptures, Matthew Henry's biblical commentary, bible commentary, Matthew Henry commentary, God's Word, Matthew Henry, studying the Bible, understanding the Bible, God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Spiritual, Hope, Jesus Answers Prayer, Answers to Prayer, Prayer, Pray, God Answers Prayer⚠️ Support our ministry: https://ko-fi.com/jesusanswersprayers❓️ How does this chapter apply to you?

Keywords: Genesis,Book of Genesis,Revival, Character Of God,Free Sermons, Video Sermons, Jesus Christ, What Is The Gospel, Sermon Index, What Is The Truth, kjv bible, Audio Bible, Bible, God, God's Love, Scriptures, Holy Bible, Prophets, Apostles, KJV, Jesus,Christ, audiobook, book, holy life, love, bible verses, king james bible audio, audio bible KJV, king james bible online audio, bible audio, online bible kjv, audio bible kjv, daily bible verse, bible verse of the day, KJV audio, Remastered, Best Version, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, The Chosen, Salvation, Saved, Christian, Suffering Servant, Arm of the Lord, Plants Roots, Despised Rejected, Sorrows, Peace War, Crucifixtion, The Cross, Violence, Judgement, Master Servant, Life Death, Old Testament, Exposed, Music, Education, Great Tribulation, Top Bible Verses, Bible Topic Prayer, Evangelicalism, bible study, Word of God, scripture, scriptures, Matthew Henry's biblical commentary, bible commentary, Matthew Henry commentary, God's Word, Matthew Henry, studying the Bible, understanding the Bible, God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Spiritual, Hope, Jesus Answers Prayer, Answers to Prayer, Prayer, Pray, God Answers Prayer⚠️ Support our ministry: https://ko-fi.com/jesusanswersprayers❓️ How does this chapter apply to you?

Kings; Liturgy = ayin-biet-dalet+hey (aboda) = work, physical labor; Today "worship service" ritualistic; Christ came to set the captive free - from sin?; Leaven; Torah?; Gen 29:27 H5647 biet+ayin+biet+dalet = service; Gen 30:26; Service that Jacob did for Laban 21 years; Ex 1:14 bondage; Ex 2:23; Ex 5:9 work; Justin the Martyr - explaining Liturgy of The Church; Sunday = 1st work day of the week; Marcus Aurelius; Birth registration; Trinity?; Taking care of needy; 2 Cor 9:12 service; Thanksgiving (Eucharist); Government of, for and by the people; Phil 2:17 Service; Heb 8:6 Ministry; Corban of Moses; Roman way; Saved?; US Codes; Inheritance tax; What put you into bondage?; Human resources; Free bread and circuses; Breaking down the family; Daily ministration of The Church; "Elder"; Family is the institution of God; Don't work? Don't eat!; What's the problem?; Returning to the righteousness liturgy of Christ; 1st commandment of God; Repentance; Jude 1:4; Harlot Church riding the Beast; "Feeling" religious; Looking for opportunity to give; Doctrine of Christ; Addiction to benefits; Compelled sacrifice; Liturgy of FDR, Obama, Cloward and Piven; Welfare snares; Q: Mark - change title to add "Lecture then Q&A"?; Demoralization from socialism?; Socialism in history = failure; Republics?; The solution; Q: Mark - Orthodox Christians Liturgy?; Q: Kristie - vote doesn't matter?; Going the other way; Practical religion; Fleeing the light; Something completely different; Q: Trey - Good society makes good people?; Allowing ourselves to be changed; Lock-step energy; Praying alone?; Working together to help others; Q: Duncan - Prayer and meditation the same thing?; Meditation = waiting on the answer to Prayer; Q: Mark - cut down the initial monolog; Seek His kingdom and righteousness!

Kingdom of God; Stuff posing as Church; Revelations from Genesis 37; Private interpretation; Knowledge vs Spirit; Meaning of words; Discovering where you're wrong - humility; Social safety net; "FDR"; "LBJ"; Civil Rights Act; Baptism; Pentecost; Corban through the Temple; King Jesus; Christ/Messiah; "Priest"; Melchizedek?; Abimelech?; Christ's public ministry; Reading bible guided by Holy Spirit; AI?; "Corban" = sacrifice; "Religion"; Family unit; First corporation; Blind man story; Tens; Subsidizing insurance companies; Corruption; Taking care of the needy; Sharing divine revelation; Joseph's dream; Homeschooling; Government funding churches?; Removing morality; Herdsmen with Jacob; 70 with Jacob?; Possessions?; Human resources; Majorities; Gen 37:2 Joseph shepherding brothers; Word order?; Right to choose to tithe; Freewill offerings; Living as Israel; Community-administered social safety nets; dalet-tav-nun; Adam and Eve hiding; appetite for benefits; Exercising authority over others; "Pious" performance of duty; Drinking from two wells?; Birth certificates; Fervent charity; Knowing what, where, when to give; resh-ayin-hey = feeding the sheep; Idolatry; Empowering kings; Gathering together; Tattle tale Joseph?; Laban's idolatry; Nature of government of Israel; Militia; Love = Charity; Masoretic text debate; Herod's free bread - by force; Leaven?; Following Christ; "Sachem"?; lamad+resh-ayin+vav+tav; Forced sacrifice; Declaration of Independence - not U.S.?; Consent of the governed; Bible about government; LBJ's Great Society; Beast welfare; Mark of God; Gaza?; Allow others their right to choose.

Itinuturing ang COP30 bilang pinakamahalagang pagpupulong ng COP sa loob ng sampung taon, kasabay ng paggunita sa isang dekada mula nang lagdaan ang Paris Climate Agreement na layuning bawasan ang global emissions.

God's protection and providence is on display in Jacob's escape from Laban, even through deceit and conflict.

God's protection and providence is on display in Jacob's escape from Laban, even through deceit and conflict.

Our Bible Reading of the Day is Genesis 29:1-30. Jacob experiences love at first sight when he meets Rachel at the well. Welcomed into his uncle Laban's household, Jacob agrees to work seven years in order to marry Rachel. When the wedding celebration finally arrives, Laban tricks Jacob into marrying Rachel's older sister, Leah. Realizing the deception, Jacob confronts his uncle, who gives him Rachel's hand for another seven years of service. Christ came into the world through this broken family of liars and deceivers. He, however, is sinless and perfect, and has come to restore us to a perfect relationship with the heavenly Father.

What do we do when we're the victim? When we're defrauded, cheated, left? Seth Stewart teaches on Genesis chapters 30 & 31 and the encouragement embedded in this story to seek and trust God with our most painful of circumstances.

On our 15 year anniversary Sunday, Pastor Ben continues our series in Genesis 30 on Jacob and Laban

The Bible never hides the mess that happens when sinful people collide. It doesnt take much to recognize that since Adam and Eve were promised a descendant who would crush the head of the serpent, the story of Gods people is one of dysfunction. All who make up Jesus family tree include broken and messy people. When we come to Genesis 29, we meet Jacoba deceiverand Leah, the woman no one wanted. But their story began long before this moment. God had promised Abraham that through his descendants would come a child who would bless all nations. That promise passed to Isaac, and before his twins were born, God declared,The older shall serve the younger (Gen. 25:23). Jacob deceived his aging father, stole his brothers blessing, and fled for his life. Alone in the wilderness, with only a stone for a pillow, God met him in a dream.I am the LORD, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go (Gen. 28:1315). God didnt appear to Jacob because he finally got his act togetherHe showed up in Jacobs mess. Thats the beauty of grace: God steps into our brokenness, keeps His promises, and accomplishes His plan through imperfect people. Later, God gave him the name Israel, but for the purpose of this sermon, we will continue to refer to him as Jacob (Gen. 35:9-21). Outside of Eden We Want Rachel (Gen. 29:1-20) When Laban heard his nephew had arrived, heran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house(Gen. 29:13). Jacob stayed with his uncle for a month, and during that time he fell in love with Labans younger daughter, Rachel (v. 18). Why did Jacob love Rachel? The text tells us:Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. And Leahs eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in figure and appearance(vv. 1617). Were not told exactly what it means that Leahs eyes were weak. Some think she was cross-eyed or simply lacked the beauty that her younger sister possessed. Whatever the case, the contrast is clearLeah was plain, but Rachel was striking. Even their names hint at the difference:Leahmay mean wild cow or gazelle, whileRachelmeans ewe or lamba softer, more affectionate name. Rachel was beautiful, and Jacob was captivated. When Laban offered to pay Jacob for his work, Jacob didnt ask for wageshe offered seven years of labor for Rachels hand. Laban agreed.So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days(Gen. 29:20, NLT). Rachel was the apple of his eyethe treasure of his heart. To Jacob, life with Rachel promised the happiness he had always longed for. And isnt that what we all want? On this side of Eden, every heart searches for a Rachelsomeone or something we believe will complete us. We might not call it Rachel, but we chase it in our stories, our dreams, and our longings. We dont want Leah. We want Rachel. If the Bible repeats something, we need to pay attention to it. But, if the Bible repeats something three times, it elevates it to the superlative degree as something super important. Three times we are told of Jacobs love for Rachel: Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel. (Gen. 29:18) So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him like only a few days because of his love for her. (Gen. 29:20) So Jacob had relations with Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years. (Gen. 29:30) Guess how many times we are told that Jacob loved Leah. Zero. In fact, when it comes to love, here is what we are told: Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was unable to have children (v. 31). Outside of Eden We Get Leah (Gen. 29:21-30) After Jacob completed the seven years he had promised his uncle, he was ready to receive what his heart had longed for.Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may have relations with her. So Laban gathered all the people of the place and held a feast(Gen. 29:2122). Finally, Jacob believed life was about to become sweet. The wedding celebration began, the food was served, and the wine flowed freely. When the bride was brought to himveiled and under cover of nightJacob, likely feeling content and confident, welcomed her.Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to him; and Jacob had relations with her.... So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah!(Gen. 29:23, 25a). Morning light brought a brutal truth. The woman beside him was not Rachelthe love of his lifebut Leah, the weak-eyed daughter whose very name meant wild cow. Jacob was furious. He had been deceivedjust as he had once deceived his brother Esau. His dream of happiness, shattered.And he said to Laban, What is this that you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?(v. 25). But Laban, the master manipulator, calmly replied,It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years(vv. 2627). Jacob was trappedused for free labor once again. He was tricked into taking the daughter he hadnt chosen, and bartered into another seven years for the one he loved. Unfortunately for Leah, she was stuck in the middle of all the drama. Outside of Eden There is Still Hope The marriage that Jacob was tricked into began with a week-long celebration. Laban insisted Jacob complete the festivities with Leah, giving enough time for her to become pregnant. Yet Jacob was eager for the days to end, and as soon as the week was over, he immediately married Rachel. Driven by the selfish motives of both Jacob and Laban, Leah found herself trappedcaught between their desires and loved by no one. Leah was rejected, while Rachel was cherished. The striking irony in Leahs story is that, while she was overlooked by everyone else, God loved her: Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was unable to have children (v. 31). Despite Gods blessings with each child, Leahs deepest longing, which was for her husbands love, remained out of reach. After every birth, Leah hoped that her husband would finally love her, yet that hope was continually unfulfilled. Consider how Leah responded after each of her first four child were born: Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, for she said, Because the Lord has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me. (v. 32) Then she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also. So she named him Simeon. (v. 33) And she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons. Therefore he was named Levi. (v. 34) And she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, This time I will praise the Lord. Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children. (v. 35) I wish Leahs story ended with her praising theLORD, but it didnt. She continued to seek Jacobs affection by giving him what Rachel could notchildren. Just as Sarah gave Hagar to Jacob, Rachel followed the same pattern when she could not conceive, unwilling to trust Gods timing. What followed was a rivalry between Leah and Rachel, each striving to win Jacobs love by giving him more sons. Both even gave their servants to Jacob, and through them, four more sons were born. In time, God blessed Leah with two additional sons and a daughter, yet her longing for her husbands love was never fulfilled (seeGen. 30:1921). Rachel, meanwhile, bore only two sonsJosephand, finally,Benjamin, the only son Jacob named. Then they journeyed on from Bethel; but when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and she suffered severe difficulties in her labor. And when she was suffering severe difficulties in her labor, the midwife said to her, Do not fear, for you have another son! And it came about, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin(Gen. 35:1618). Application The irony in Leahs story is striking: although she was overlooked by her father, unloved by her husband, and scorned by her younger sister, she was shown favor by God. Leah became the mother of seven children, including Levi and Judah. Through Levi, the priestly lineage was established, and through Judah, the royal line was formeda line that ultimately led to the birth of Jesus Christ! The promise God made to Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob... was Leahs promise. Listen to the prophetic blessing pronounced upon Judah by Jacob in Genesis 49:8-10, As for you, Judah, your brothers shall praise you;your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;your fathers sons shall bow down to you. Judah is a lions cub;from the prey, my son, you have gone up.He crouches, he lies down as a lion,and as a lion, who dares to stir him up? The scepter will not depart from Judah,nor the rulers staff from between his feet,until Shiloh comes;and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. The ugly wife was loved by God! Leah couldnt have seen it then, but the beauty God would bring through her lineage is staggering. Her name may meanweary,exhausted,gazelle, or evenwild cowyet through her would come the Deliverer promised to Adam and Eve, to Noah, to Abraham and Sarah, to Isaac, and now to Jacob. She was the wife no one loved or treasured, except God Himself. From Leahs sons came the tribe ofLevi, the tribe set apart to oversee the worship and sacrificial life of Israel. From the Levites, God appointed theHigh Priest, chosen from Aarons line, to mediate between God and His people. Upon his chest he wore a sacred breastplate adorned with twelve precious stones, each set in gold and engraved with the name of one of Israels tribes. Thefirst stone,sardiusa deep red rubyrepresentedReuben, whose name meansBehold, a son!Thelast stone,jasper, representedBenjamin, meaningson of my right hand. Leahs legacy was not measured by Jacobs affection but by Gods covenantal love. Through the unloved wife, God brought forth the priesthood that pointed to the Great High PriestJesus Christ. Conclusion Now, permit me to show you something from Revelation 4-5. In Revelation 4, John is invited to see the heavenly throne room of God. Notice what it is that John sees: After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things. Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and someone was sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. John is ushered into heavens throne room, and what captures his attention is that the One seated on the throne radiates with the colors of jasper and sardiusthe first and last stones on the High Priests breastplate. This is not accidental imagery. It is intentional revelation. What shines from the throne is He who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. When you pair the meanings of those names Behold, a Son and Son of My right handyou hear the gospel proclaimed from the very throne of God. Who is this Son at the right hand of the Father? Revelation 1:1718 gives the answer: Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades. The One radiant like sardius and jasper is none other than Jesus Christ. And how do we know He sits at the right hand of the Father? Because Paul who himself was from the tribe represented by the jasper stonedeclares in Romans 8:3134: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring charges against Gods elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. This is the One who is worthy to open the scroll in the Fathers hand. Revelation 5:5 tells us, ...behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals. The elder tells John to look at the Lion of Judah. But when John turns, he doesnt see a lion. He sees a Lamb. A Lamb standing, as if slaughtered... (Rev. 5:6). Jacob chased after a beautiful woman whose name meant sheep, but through Leahthe unloved, weary wifewould come the Lamb of God. The Lamb who stands before the throne as the triumphant Redeemer. And all of heaven erupts in worship: Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing (Rev. 5:12). What is the point of Leahs story? God redeems what is ugly, weary, and rejected. He takes what the world despises and uses it to accomplish His glorious plan of redemption. This is why the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders sing a new song to Leahs descendant: Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Rev. 5:9). And here is where the story turns deeply personal. We are Leah. We are the unlovely bride. We are the weary, broken, and undeserving. But instead of being repulsed by us, Jesus loves us. He makes us His Bride. Paul writes, For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:3839). Leahs story ends not in sorrow, but in the songs of heaven. The woman who was unloved became the vessel through whom the Lamb of God would come. The tribe she bore would point to the Great High Priest, and the Son of her bodys lineage would one day stand at the right hand of the Father. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. That is our story too. If you belong to Christ, then your shame, your weariness, and your rejection are not the end of the story. The throne is. The Lamb is. His love is.

What can we do to avoid family disagreements? Jacob's and Laban's conflict over flocks, deceit, and even stolen idols pushed them to the edge—but God stepped in to bring resolution.

What happens when family disagreements spiral into conflict? Jacob and Laban's clashing over flocks and wages shows how quickly strife can divide even close relatives. Join Jim Scudder on InGrace for part one of How to Solve Family Disagreements, and discover God's wisdom for healing broken relationships.

John Riner continues our series in Genesis, showing from Jacob's escape from Laban that even in seasons of deceit, conflict, and hardship, God is faithfully at work to redeem, protect, and free His people, keeping His promises and turning every circumstance toward His good purposes.

Slaves? Bondsmen? Apprentice? Student loans; Jacob's deal with Laban; Marriage license; Moses' exodus; Julius Caesar's bondage; Contracting rights away; Egypt's Pharaoh; Cause/effect world; Contracts, covenants and constitutions; Asking father for permission to marry daughter; Patriarchy; Parens patria; Isaiah 9:2; Darkness; Error of Baalam; Nicolaitans; Your consent; Offer and acceptance; Pharaoh's sharing; China one-child contract; Benefits as bait; One purse?; Free?; Coercion; What made Rome great?; Loss of values; Decrease in rights; Bait = something for nothing; Pure religion; Sacrificing for your neighbor; Altars; Lively stones; Mark Q?; Communist manifesto; Back in Babylon; Education; Learning from history; Loving the truth; Kristie Q? - Davy Crockett; Lady Godiva?; No exercising authority; Charity requirements; "Faith" defined; Un-holy spirits; Guilt-control; No coveting; Bankruptcy; God's salvation; Walking in faith; Loving neighbor as self; Ekklesia; Miracles; Mark Q? Altars misunderstood?; Creeping corruption; Notes; Denominating money; Deception; Bowing down to statues?; Golden Calf = Reserve fund; Working together; Mystery Babylon; Mark of the Beast; Finger-pointing?; Neglecting our duties; Knowing God; Coming together like Christ; True Church; Allowing choice; Going to the light; Tree of Life; Unhewn stones; Meat with blood in it; Cities of blood; Join the Living Network.

Sometimes you pray... and nothing happens. You’re asking for something good, but God isn’t budging. What’s happening? You might be wrestling with God.Maybe He’s been leading you to do something—and you’ve resisted... You won’t let Him into that one area of your life. You won’t break off that relationship that drains you spiritually. You won’t give up that habit that drags you down. You’re afraid to take that step of faith.Remember Jonah? God said, “Go.” Jonah said, “No.” And God said, “Oh?”If that’s you—you’re not alone. Even Jacob wrestled with God. His struggle began with resisting and ended with resting. He stopped fighting and started clinging—saying, “I will not let You go until You bless me.” Pastor Greg Laurie shares more in this message. Notes: Focus verse - Genesis 32 God’s plans are better than ours. Have you ever prayed and prayed for something, and no answer came? The Bible urges us to bring our needs to God.Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) Wrestling with God is not necessarily a bad thing. “My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right."—Abraham Lincoln Hosea 12:3 (NLT)Even in the womb, Jacob struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God. Hosea 12:4 (NLT)Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. There at Bethel he met God face to face, and God spoke to him. Jesus is the Passover lamb in Exodus; in Numbers, He is the bronze serpent lifted up. A Christophany is an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament. Jacob was wrestling with Jesus Himself. Genesis 25:23 (NKJV)And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, …And the older shall serve the younger." Psalm 139:14,16 The meaning of Jacob’s name isheel-catcher, contender, supplanter, grabber. God does not just see you for what you are, but for what you can become. God sees things differently than we do.We see failure, God sees potential.We see the past, God sees the future.We see sin, God sees restoration. Time showed that Jacob was a righteous manand Esau was an ungodly man. It’s not about how we start this race in life but how we finish it. It was not an easy road for Jacob, and that was his own fault. Hebrews 12:16 (NLT)Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. When we get tired of praying, we start scheming, and we make a mess of things. Rebecca sent Jacob to visit her brother, Laban.On the way there, Jacob had an encounter with God. All Jacob had to do was wait on God’s timing. Jacob met his match in his uncle Laban.The trickster met the trickster extraordinaire. We reap what we sow. Christians should try to live in peace with people.Romans 12:18 God meets us at whatever level He finds usand lifts us to where He wants us to be. God will come to you in just the right way.Hebrews 4:16 Read Genesis 32:24–30 Jacob was wrestling with Jesus Christ. We need to get away from all the distractions of life and get alone with God. When you get to the end of yourself, you get to the beginning of God. Now, instead of fighting with God, Jacob is clinging to Him. In surrender to God’s plan, Jacob found what he always wanted,the very blessing he asked God for. We win by losing.Luke 17:33 Genesis 32:28 (NLT)"Your name will no longer be Jacob," the man told him. "From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won." "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."—Corrie Ten Boom Are you running from God?The good news is God is running to you. Join us for the Harvest Crusade: Hope for America on November 16! --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners. Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes you pray... and nothing happens. You’re asking for something good, but God isn’t budging. What’s happening? You might be wrestling with God.Maybe He’s been leading you to do something—and you’ve resisted... You won’t let Him into that one area of your life. You won’t break off that relationship that drains you spiritually. You won’t give up that habit that drags you down. You’re afraid to take that step of faith.Remember Jonah? God said, “Go.” Jonah said, “No.” And God said, “Oh?”If that’s you—you’re not alone. Even Jacob wrestled with God. His struggle began with resisting and ended with resting. He stopped fighting and started clinging—saying, “I will not let You go until You bless me.” Pastor Greg Laurie shares more in this message. Notes: Focus verse - Genesis 32 God’s plans are better than ours. Have you ever prayed and prayed for something, and no answer came? The Bible urges us to bring our needs to God.Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) Wrestling with God is not necessarily a bad thing. “My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right."—Abraham Lincoln Hosea 12:3 (NLT)Even in the womb, Jacob struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God. Hosea 12:4 (NLT)Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. There at Bethel he met God face to face, and God spoke to him. Jesus is the Passover lamb in Exodus; in Numbers, He is the bronze serpent lifted up. A Christophany is an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament. Jacob was wrestling with Jesus Himself. Genesis 25:23 (NKJV)And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, …And the older shall serve the younger." Psalm 139:14,16 The meaning of Jacob’s name isheel-catcher, contender, supplanter, grabber. God does not just see you for what you are, but for what you can become. God sees things differently than we do.We see failure, God sees potential.We see the past, God sees the future.We see sin, God sees restoration. Time showed that Jacob was a righteous manand Esau was an ungodly man. It’s not about how we start this race in life but how we finish it. It was not an easy road for Jacob, and that was his own fault. Hebrews 12:16 (NLT)Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. When we get tired of praying, we start scheming, and we make a mess of things. Rebecca sent Jacob to visit her brother, Laban.On the way there, Jacob had an encounter with God. All Jacob had to do was wait on God’s timing. Jacob met his match in his uncle Laban.The trickster met the trickster extraordinaire. We reap what we sow. Christians should try to live in peace with people.Romans 12:18 God meets us at whatever level He finds usand lifts us to where He wants us to be. God will come to you in just the right way.Hebrews 4:16 Read Genesis 32:24–30 Jacob was wrestling with Jesus Christ. We need to get away from all the distractions of life and get alone with God. When you get to the end of yourself, you get to the beginning of God. Now, instead of fighting with God, Jacob is clinging to Him. In surrender to God’s plan, Jacob found what he always wanted,the very blessing he asked God for. We win by losing.Luke 17:33 Genesis 32:28 (NLT)"Your name will no longer be Jacob," the man told him. "From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won." "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."—Corrie Ten Boom Are you running from God?The good news is God is running to you. Join us for the Harvest Crusade: Hope for America on November 16! --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners. Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cale looks at Genesis 30. Jacob tries to leave Laban and return to his homeland, but this proves a difficult task. Rachel steals Laban’s “household gods”.

It’s one of the greatest love stories in the Bible: the story of Jacob and Rachel. But Jacob, the deceiver, is deceived by Laban and marries Leah. Cale breaks down Genesis 29.