Day 1: Toldot | Genesis 25:19-26:5
After the narrative of creation, the serpent depicted as a deceiver, yet he posed as a wise, all-knowing entity. He usurped Elohim’s position of authority in man’s life, and Adam allowed it to happen. All of eternity will not change a contemptuous creature such as haSatan/the adversary. What Chavah/Eve mistook as the identity of wisdom was, in fact, as poser of Light and the deceiver of the ages. His deception would continue throughout the ages, being manifest in gross and subtle ways in order to steal back what YHVH stripped from him.
This is exactly where we first find Esau issuing into being and why he was first out of the womb.
Esau struggled with his brother in the womb. Those who looked upon the birth of Esau and Yacov assumed that Yacov vied for the first position as he appeared to be holding back Esau by the heel. After all, Yacov was named for this pretense as his name means heel holder or supplanter. Yet, there is much more to this situation and his name. First. Yacov, as a root word, means to hold back and attack at the heel. This should not be assumed to be offensive, rather, Yacov was taking a defensive action as he protected his own head from being crushed by the adversary. As haSatan knew, one day the righteous seed would crush his head. If he could, instead, beat YHVH to the punch and crush the head of the promised seed, he would be on top, usurping Judgment already pronounced. Yacov’s response was to hold the heel of his adversary at bay and keep Esau from bruising his head.
Esau was red and hairy all over from birth. His name indicates this as he would later be known as Edom (earthy, ruddy, red). This name came from the red stew for which he sold his birthright to eat. Like a second witness of his purpose, Esau, in name and deed, lived by the earth and was of the earth, as Torah reads that he was a man of the field. Mastering hunting and gathering techniques while living off the land does not garnish spiritual astuteness or cause reconciliation between man and his Creator. Adam was named as such for his resemblance to the earth in creation—dust/eretz is red and was used to create Man. Edom is the same word used to name Esau and uses the same Hebrew letters to spell Adam. His ability to live off the earth depicts his faith in his own skill and the earth while foreshadowing another tool of YHVH in Nebuchadnezzer, who would be vanquished from society for seven years as a beast of the field. Both men would be used to hone Israel and both were to submit to the Most High as the Ruler of mankind.
Of Yacov, it is said that he was plain or peaceful. The Hebrew word used for this description is tam, meaning complete or perfect. In other words, Yacov was content, and did not lack in physical strength or beauty, was wholesome, morally innocent, and had integrity. This is not a depiction of a meek, helpless wimp that hid behind the dress of Rebekah, but a man content and peaceful. Furthermore, instead of looking to the earth for provision, Yacov was content in tents, willing to submit to the authority of YHVH within His ‘ohel/tent. What was construed as conniving and sordid was really Inspired wisdom from on High.
Many of us may be walking around with our hands raised, looking as if we are trying to grasp something. In reality, while we are trying to praise YHVH, we are, also, protecting our heads from the onslaught of the adversary. The enemy knows his time is short; moreover, he masquerades as the Righteous One, impersonating the Messiah when, in fact, he is the anti-Messiah. If he can be seen crushing heads of those he deems a threat, treating them with contempt as he accuses them of all kinds of unrighteous behavior, then he could fool multitudes into believing his false religion and worship his pseudo-countenance.
YHVH, however, knows the truth as we live in His Son’s righteousness. We stand clean before His throne, having inherited a firstborn’s birthright through Yeshua’s blood and purchase price. What both Adam’s (Adam and Edom) sold for food, we have received with faith in the Life of Messiah. Within Him, we have fullness and are complete as Yacov was tam/complete and hole.
In Yeshua, we are not supplanters, even if the world accuses us of taking back what they have stolen from us as they are the posers still influenced by the serpent. All that was and will be was created for the glory of YHVH. All that has been lost, stolen, supplanted, or undone still belongs to the Creator. We, as fellow heirs in Messiah, have a new name in Him that cannot be stolen. In turn, we inherit all of these items back and will overpower the adversary as Yeshua’s foot crushes the adversary’s head, once and for all. YHVH’s tent will be our covering and we will lack nothing as we look to our Creator for all our provision.
Dwell upon 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of YHVH lives forever.”
