Genesis 26-50 relates the life story of Jacob. He was the grandson of Abraham and Sarah, the son of Isaac and Rebekah, the twin brother to Easu, Heir to Covenants, Promises God made to Abraham and Isaac. He was the father of 12 sons and some daughters.
Jacob means “to supplant, circumvent, assail, overreach”, a “trickster, deceiver”. And this was his life, until his encounter with God, Genesis 32:24-27 and God changed his name. Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And then again God had to remind Jacob of his new name. Genesis 35:10 And God said unto him, “Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel”.
Israel means “one that struggled with the divine angel”, “a prince hast thou power with God”. From Exodus thru Malachi there are many references to Jacob and Israel, but a lot of them DO NOT refer to the man (except where it says “the God of Jacob”).
Jacob was the natural man; he became Israel, the spiritual man. References to JACOB now refers the Jew in their natural, unbelief state. Genesis 32:28, 35:10 ISRAEL refers the Jew in their spiritual, though disobedient state. Understanding this truth aides in understanding the scripture.
An example of this is “Jacob’s trouble” found in Jeremiah 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.
Jacob in this case is all Jews left on earth after the Rapture. When they see that the “Abomination of desolation” in Daniel 9:27 and spoken of by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24:15, is NOT their Messiah, the Great Tribulation (last 3.5 years of Jacob’s trouble) begins, and Israel turns to the true God. Paul gives an explanation of this Jacob (natural) and Israel (spiritual): Romans 9:6Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
This is not to be a complete study of the Feasts of Israel, just an overview. For a detailed study, search the web for FEASTS OF ISRAEL. These feasts were given to Israel for worship of God, BUT also to tell them of the coming of MESIAH. He fulfilled some at his death, burial, resurrection and ascension, and will fulfill all at His 2nd coming.
1stExodus 34:25PASSOVER | PESACH Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover God’s sovereign promise to deliver and redeem His people. 2ndExodus 12:17UNLEAVENED BREAD And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; Celebrates the ending of Slavery in Egypt and leaving for the promise land. 3rd Exodus 23:16FIRST FRUITS And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, Celebrates the harvest each year – Resurrection Sunday, or Easter. 4thExodus 34:22SHAVUOT | PENTECOST And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end 50 days after the feast of first fruits. Leviticus 23:21And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. 5thLeviticus 25:9YOM TERUAH – THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS (Rosh Hashanah) Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. A time of repentance Trumpets were used to announce coming judgements Revelation 6-7. 6thLEVITICUS 16:29-31YOM KIPPUR – THE DAY OF ATONEMENT – And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever. Mandated establishment of this holy day on the 10th day of the 7th month as the day of atonement for sins. It calls it the Sabbath of Sabbaths and a day upon which one must afflict one’s soul. 7thLeviticus 23:34 SUKKOT – THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES – Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernaclesfor seven days unto the Lord. It is intended as a reminiscence of the type of fragile dwellings in which the Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of travel in the desert after the Exodus from slavery in Egypt.
A review of the verses below (put them back into context for further reading) show that not only did the 12 disciples of Jesus believe he was the Messiah, the coming King, so did his detractors, the Pharisees and Sadducees, and most Jews at large; which is why they sought to crucify him. It would upset their religious power. Pilate wondered at the idea as did other Roman leaders. During His three-year ministry He performed miracles to prove His deity and that He was the CHRIST, MESSIAH and their King promised to them in the Old Testament (see below) . And one day soon (after a seven year tribulation), He will return in power and take up His seat upon the Throne of David in Jerusalem to Rule. (Read the words of Peter Acts 2:22-37)
Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. John 1:49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. John 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the … John 12:13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. John 12:15Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting … Mark 15:2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto them, Thou sayest it John 18:33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. John 18:39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Mark 15:9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Mark 15:12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? Luke 23:2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. Luke 23:3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. Matthew 27:11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. Mark 15:18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! John 19:3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. Luke 23:37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. Matthew 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! John 19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! Matthew 27:37 And set up over his head his accusation written, This Is Jesus The King Of The Jews. Mark 15:26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, The King Of The Jews. Luke 23:38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews. John 19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was Jesus Of Nazareth The King Of The Jews. John 19:21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Matthew 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. Mark 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. Luke 19:38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. Acts 2:22-36Ye men of Israel, hear these words; … (Be sure to read all of this) … Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Old Testament Promises: (just a few) Psalm 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. Psalm 24:7,9Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Psalm 44:4Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. Psalm 47:2,7 For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth. Psalm 89:18 For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. Psalm 95:3For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. Isaiah 33:22 For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us. Isaiah 43:15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. Isaiah 44:6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Jeremiah 10:10 But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
