North East Region Summer Workshop 2014 - Lecture 7+8 (principles of restoration + the great families in history)
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North East Region Summer Workshop 2014 - Lecture 7+8 (principles of restoration + the great families in history)
- 2. The Principles of Restoration
- 3. What is God doing?
- 4. What should have happened?
- 5. Foundation of Faith God Word Adam Eve Archangel Creation Foundation of Faith Faith in the God’s Word Obey God’s Commandment Receiving God’s grace Vertical
- 6. Foundation of Substance Incarnation of the Word Perfection of a person’s character -> Holiness Horizontal God Word Word Proper order in the created world
- 7. Blessing in divine marriage Society Nation World Happy Family Adam God Eve
- 8. Principles of Creation Foundation of Faith Foundation of Substance Purpose of Creation Fulfilled God’s commandment Adam Growing period Perfection of character God dwells in the family Divine Grace + Human Will → God’s Will
- 10. No foundation of faith or substance established God WORD Adam Eve Archangel Creation Lost faith in God’s Word Disobeyed Commandment Dominated by Archangel Developed Fallen Nature
- 11. God Christ Man Satan “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 Christ is necessary for salvation
- 12. Family Society Nation Good World Ideal Man True Love Ideal Woman Child God Heaven on Earth The direction of history Family Society Nation Fallen World Fallen Man False Love Fallen Woman Child Satan Hell on Earth Restoration Salvation = Messiah True Parents
- 13. How has God been restoring his children?
- 14. We are in the midway position Fallen People God Satan Good deeds Evil deeds
- 15. Restoration through indemnity An indemnity condition is what has to be done to restore something to its original position or state An indemnity condition is a reversal of the process which led to the loss of the original position or state
- 16. Perfection Fall History of Restoration The indemnity condition Foundation Of Faith Of Substance Messiah True Parents 3 Blessings Ideal World Adam Eve Adam Eve 1 2 3 Repentance – change heart and direction Rebirth Change Lineage 4
- 17. Foundation of Faith Foundation of Substance Foundation for the Messiah Offering Central person Time period Remove sinful nature The Principles of Restoration And the Word became flesh Divine Grace + Human Will → God’s Will
- 18. Foundation of Faith Original Responsibility Adam God’s Word 21 years Completion Stage Growth Stage Formation Stage Restoration 1.Central Person 2. Offering 3. Time Period
- 19. Foundation of Faith God Fallen Person Subject Object Vertical •Restore faith in God’s Word •Unite mind and body
- 20. Fallen nature 1.Not seeing from God’s viewpoint 2.Leaving one’s proper position 3.Reversal of dominion 4.Multiplying evil Restoring fallen nature 1.Love Abel 2.Receive God’s love through Abel 3.Submit to Abel 4.Learn God’s will from Abel and multiply goodness
- 21. Restoration • Remove Fallen Nature • Restore proper order Foundation of Substance Relative good Relative evil Fallen Person Object Archangel Position Subject Adam Position Fallen Person Horizontal
- 22. Restoration in Adam’s family Adam Satan God Cain Abel Adam Lucifer
- 23. Foundation for the Messiah Adam God Cain Abel Foundation of Faith (spiritual life) Foundation of Substance (removing fallen nature, righteous life) Satan Love God Love neighbour
- 24. Foundation of Faith “Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard.” Genesis 4:3-5
- 25. Foundation of substance The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted. And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Genesis 4:6-7
- 26. Cain’s Responsibility God Satan Cain Abel 1. Love Abel 2. Receive love through Abel 3. Serve and follow Abel 4. Learn God’s way through Abel Abel’s Responsibility = Restore the proper order
- 27. Cain and Abel Unite ►Abel helps Cain to make offering (All things) ►Brothers unite – equally loved by God (Children) ►On this basis the Messiah can come (Parents)
- 28. Cain Killing Abel ►Repeated action of Archangel against Adam ►Set tradition of murder
- 29. Failure in Adam’s family Adam God Cain Abel Foundation of Faith Foundation of Substance Satan
- 30. ►God’s heart broken ►Restoration prolonged ►Abel’s lineage lost Result of Failure of Adam’s Family
- 31. ►God could not instruct Cain & Abel directly – it was their responsibility ►Abel could not complete his responsibility – so God choose Seth - His Will must be fulfilled ►Fallen people must seek Abel-type person to honour and follow ►This is the indemnity course which we ourselves must walk Some Lessons from Adam’s Family
- 33. Great Families in History
- 34. Noah’s family
- 35. What was God thinking? The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the ground, man and beast and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” Genesis 6:5-7
- 36. Noah’s Family = Adam’s Family Adam Cain Abel Shem Ham Noah Seth 1600 years 10 generations Japeth 8 members 8 members
- 37. Restoration in Noah’s family Foundation of Faith Foundation of Substance Foundation for the Messiah Offering - Ark Central person - Noah Time period - 40 days Remove sinful nature And the Word became flesh Divine Grace + Human Will → God’s Will
- 38. Foundation of faith Central person - Noah Offering - the ark representing the universe Time period - 40 days flood Noah’s family to purify themselves and separate from Satan God said, “You [Noah] shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives.” Genesis 6:18
- 39. Covenant with Noah God said to Noah, “Go forth from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you.” Genesis 8:15 Noah built an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.” Genesis 8:20, 9:1 Mount Ararat
- 40. Foundation of substance Noah Ham Shem Abel One in heart Indemnity condition to remove fallen nature Cain
- 41. The incident in the tent Noah plants a vineyard He makes wine, becomes drunk and lies naked in his tent Ham sees Noah naked He tells Shem and Japeth to cover Noah Noah wakes up and curses Ham’s son Canaan
- 42. Test of Ham’s unity with Noah Noah Ham Shem Abel Felt ashamed Stirred up & multiplied sin Felt ashamed Covered with garment Rebuked Japeth
- 43. Abraham’s family
- 44. Abraham’s world Abraham came from Ur Ur was ruled by Nimrod a dictator with a personality cult Name means ‘let us revolt’ He built the Tower of Babel to challenge God Abraham’s father was called Terah. He was an idol maker Tower of Babel
- 45. Abraham and the idols Abraham discovers God Abraham and the idols
- 47. Abraham, Sarah and Pharaoh Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there. Genesis 12:10
- 48. The Fall Satan Eve Adam Humanity Creation
- 49. Restoration of Eve Pharaoh Sarah Abraham Lot Wealth Genesis 12:10-20
- 50. Abraham’s faith in God "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. "I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess." But he said, "O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” Genesis 15:5-8
- 51. Foundation of Faith Dove & pigeon Ram & goat Heifer God Abraham Central person Offering
- 52. Abraham and Hagar Sarah was 76 Sarah offered her maid to Abraham Abraham slept with Hagar Ishmael was born
- 53. Foundation of Substance Abraham Ishmael Isaac (Abel) (Cain) Jews Arabs
- 54. Hagar and Ishmael sent away
- 55. Second chance
- 56. God’s covenant with Abraham “I am God almighty; walk before me and be blameless. And I will make my covenant with you.” Genesis 17 Descendants number stars of heaven Father of many nations Everlasting covenant Land of Canaan Sign of the covenant - circumcision Promises to Sarah Have a son Mother of nations
- 57. Restoration of Eve Abimelech Sarah Abraham Slaves Wealth Genesis 20:1-16
- 58. Foundation of Faith God Abraham Central person Offering Isaac Genesis 22:1-19 Absolute Obedience
- 59. Foundation of Substance God Abraham Isaac Esau Jacob (Abel) (Cain) “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples, born of you, shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger.” Genesis 25:23
- 60. Restoration of Eve Abimelech Rebekah Isaac Wealth Genesis 26:1-16
- 61. Jacob restored Abel’s position Bought the birthright from Esau with bread and lentils Received the blessing from Isaac Isaac blessing Jacob
- 62. Foundation of Substance Isaac Esau Jacob (Abel) (Cain) Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” Genesis 27:41
- 63. Jacob’s ladder
- 64. Restores Three Blessings Man of character Establishes family with 12 sons and one daughter Acquires wealth 21 years in Haran with Uncle Laban Jacob leaving Laban
- 65. Foundation of Substance Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau . . . [saying] “I [Jacob] have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favour in your sight.” Genesis 32: 3 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men with him.” Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. Genesis 32: 6-7 Jacob divided possessions in two and sent gifts to Esau.
- 66. Victory over the Angel “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Genesis 32:28 The Ford of Jabbok
- 67. Jacob wins Esau’s heart “I pray you, if I have found favour in your sight, then accept my present from my hand; for truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God, with such favour you have received me. Accept, I pray you, my gift that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Genesis 33:10-11
- 68. Jacob and Esau embrace But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. Genesis 33:4 Jacob and Esau reconciled
- 69. Foundation for the Messiah Abraham Isaac Jacob Twelve Sons Twelve Tribes Jewish nation Jesus
- 71. Foundation of Faith Foundation of Substance Foundation for the Messiah Offering Central person Time period Remove sinful nature Preparing for the Blessing The Blessing Divine Grace + Human Will → God’s Will
- 72. Providence of Restoration Original state Fallen people God Grace Principle of restoration
- 73. Noah’s family represented Adam’s family Adam Seth Abel Cain Noah Japeth Ham Shem Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:9
Editor's Notes
- When did God decide to begin working to save people? IMMEDIATELY Even though the fall of man was the fault of human beings, people feel that God should be doing something about it. People sense that we cannot solve the problem ourselves because there is no one pure enough or good enough. And God has been working his providence to save his children to restore or put right the mistakes that were made. This is the history of religion. To understand it we have to understand the principles that can be uncovered in the Bible. These Principles are based on the Principles that we explored in the lecture on the Principle of Creation.
- Adam and eve should have had faith in the commandment God gave them and obeyed it. They thus would have resisted any temptation from the AA. Original responsibility
- Beyond just having faith in God’s Word A&E should have come to embody the word. They should have become the substantiation or incarnation of the word just as Jesus later became. Thus Jesus could say, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” They should have reached perfection. If they did, God would have dwelled in them. Then Lucifer would have respected a mature and perfect A&E because they would have stood as God before him and from them he would have received God’s love and truth and guidance. Lucifer would have loved Adam and Eve in the right way and served them. Thus the proper order would have been established and goodness would have been multiplied.
- Then with the approval and support of the AA God would have blessed Adam and Eve in divine marriage.
- Main principle of human growth – human responsibility plus God’s Grace. God helps those that help themselves
- The AA couldn’t respect and love A&E from God’s point of view. He didn’t think they deserved respect and didn’t think they were qualified to be Lords of Creation and certainly not his Lord. So he decided to see if he could gain control over them. He drew Eve towards himself and tempted her to eat the fruit. Eve lost faith in God’s commandment when she couldn’t answer the AA questions. She turned away from God and became self-centred. She allowed the AA to dominate her. Then she tempted Adam to eat the fruit and instead of resisting her he gave in to her and allowed her to dominate him. So instead of perfecting themselves A&E developed fallen nature – self-centred instead of God centred.
- It is impossible for people to separate from Satan completely by themselves and be reunited with God. We need a mediator – a God-man. But before God can send the Messiah human beings have to fulfil certain tasks or conditions. That is why Christ only appeared 2000 years ago and not before. God had to prepare an environment for him to come.
- Every person is born with original sin – not completely corrupted and depraved as Augustine and Calvin thought. We are born with 2 inclinations – one to do good and the other to do evil. The evil one is generally stronger. Thus it is easier to lie than tell the truth, to be lazy than to work hard, to be selfish than to be generous, to be frightened than to have courage etc. Depending on what we think, say and do we either strengthen our good side or our evil side. Do good to become good. Do evil to become evil. Self-reinforcing. “If we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8 “You are slaves to the one whom you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience; which leads to righteousness…” Romans 6:16 “No man can serve two masters…you cannot serve both God and mammon” Matthew 6:24 “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out…” Acts 3:19 “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9 Religion
- e.g. you break someone’s vase -> problem in relationship. To restore relationship have to apologise. If that’s not enough have to repair vase. If that’s not enough have to replace it. If too expensive to replace? Do something with sincere repentant heart. Indemnity what ever needs to be done to restore something to the way it was before something went wrong Equal indemnity - replace something. Compensation, repair something. Lesser indemnity - apologise, forgiveness, don’t worry, its all right, Greater indemnity - pay fine, parking, court, state satan, stick in time saves 9 Principle of justice – eye for an eye -> satisfies desire for justice.
- Every person is born with original sin – not completely corrupted and depraved as Augustine and Calvin thought. We are born with 2 inclinations – one to do good and the other to do evil. The evil one is generally stronger. Thus it is easier to lie than tell the truth, to be lazy than to work hard, to be selfish than to be generous, to be frightened than to have courage etc. Depending on what we think, say and do we either strengthen our good side or our evil side. Do good to become good. Do evil to become evil. Self-reinforcing. “If we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8 “You are slaves to the one whom you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience; which leads to righteousness…” Romans 6:16 “No man can serve two masters…you cannot serve both God and mammon” Matthew 6:24 “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out…” Acts 3:19 “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9 Religion
- Principles of restoration are based on principles of creation Restoration involves restoring what went wrong at the fall so that is why have to establish Foundation of faith and substance. These are principles which are the basis of the patterns that appear again and again in the Bible and human life. There is an interesting, the story behind the location of the Temple (today known as the Temple Mount) - was chosen because it was an area where 2 brothers lived and farmed. One brother noticed that his brother's hay stack was lower than his, so at night, he snuck off to give his brother hay. The next night the brother who received the hay noticed his hay stack was higher than his brother's, so he snuck off at night to give his brother his hay. This went on for many nights, until one night the brothers met midway, with stacks of hay in the hands of both. They both realized what was happening and embraced and cried out of the love. The spot where the tears fell - that is where the Temple of Jerusalem was built. In Christianity theology, particularly in Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic theology, theosis (written also: theiosis, theopoiesis, theōsis; Greek: Θέωσις, meaning divinization, or deification, or making divine) is the process of a believer in emulating the life example of Jesus Christ and of following the gospel of Christ in one's daily life; the process of seeking to become more holy.
- Fallen nature is a misdirected original nature
- Abel and Cain have to restore the relationship between Adam and Lucifer – find themselves in a similar situation with similar emotions but have to act differently. Pattern of restoration There is tradition in rabbinic and church fathers that Cain son of Satan
- Messiah born to lineage of Abel. God couldn’t send Messiah unless people proved deserved it. Otherwise Satan accuse. What must I do to gain eternal life? I.e. be saved. Reborn by messiah. Love God & love neighbour. FofF = 1st 5 commandments FofS = 2nd 5 commandments Pietism - spiritual life of the individual, coupled with a responsibility to live an upright life.
- Abel made acceptable offering and afterwards felt incredible joy and blessing. He was very happy. Cain didn’t do it acceptably and afterwards felt down, angry and empty. He was now in position of Lucifer. Had to be in a similar situation to Adam and Lucifer but this time reverse what Lucifer felt and did. Hebrews 11:14 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, Twin Sisters Broken fences
- 1 John 3:12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. God expected Cain to be able to overcome fallen nature. Even after killing Abel God gave him a chance. Where is your brother Abel? If broke down in tears and repentance could have been forgiven. But hardened heart just as Adam and Eve did. When God asks question giving person chance to repent. God doesn’t judge or condemn. Just asks questions.
- 1 John 3:12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. God expected Cain to be able to overcome fallen nature. Even after killing Abel God gave him a chance. Where is your brother Abel? If broke down in tears and repentance could have been forgiven. But hardened heart just as Adam and Eve did. When God asks question giving person chance to repent. God doesn’t judge or condemn. Just asks questions.
- 1 John 3:12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. God expected Cain to be able to overcome fallen nature. Even after killing Abel God gave him a chance. Where is your brother Abel? If broke down in tears and repentance could have been forgiven. But hardened heart just as Adam and Eve did. When God asks question giving person chance to repent. God doesn’t judge or condemn. Just asks questions.
- 1 John 3:12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. God expected Cain to be able to overcome fallen nature. Even after killing Abel God gave him a chance. Where is your brother Abel? If broke down in tears and repentance could have been forgiven. But hardened heart just as Adam and Eve did. When God asks question giving person chance to repent. God doesn’t judge or condemn. Just asks questions.
- God had no idea that fall wouldn’t be quickly restored. Expected A& E to repent. Expected C&A to sort it.
- God had no idea that fall wouldn’t be quickly restored. Expected A& E to repent. Expected C&A to sort it.
- Again God had no idea take such a long time before could again intervene. 1600 years later the earth is terrible. Noah descended from Seth. 10 generations.
- God wanted to start all over again. But he couldn’t because he created people with eternal soul. Anyway people his creation, his children, his responsibility. But things so desperate had to use desperate method. So found a good family which was to restore Adam’s family
- Talmud says 120 years of preaching while building the ark. But people didn’t listen. Noah’s family represented Adam’s family Purpsoe of the flood to eliminate sinful humanity. Restore number 40 (10 times 4)(10 generations of 4 position foundation which were lost to Satan) Went in as men and women - living separate quarters. No conjugal relations.
- Came out as husband and wife. God allowed to continue with conjugal relations. Rainbow sign of the covenant.
- Noah had made the foundation of faith. TO be able to stand in the position of Abel Ham had to inherit Noah’s foundation by demonstrating unity of heart with him.
- So what is going on here. Why was Ham’s act so wrong??
- Why was this all a problem? After the fall Adam and Eve felt ashamed that they were naked. Feeling of shame due to sexual fall. Indicates impurity. When Ham felt ashamed of Noah being naked showed that he was impure. Why did he have this feeling? What sin had he commited so that Satan could invade his inner life? Why could Satan invade Ham and thus Noah’s family? Qur’an and Jewish Talmud says that Noah told his sons and daughters-in law that for 40 days they should have no sexual relations. Ham and his wife had sexual relations: “After the sacrifice was completed God blessed Noah and his sons. He made them to be the rulers of the world as Adam had been, and he gave them a command, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply upon the earth,” for during their sojourn in the ark, the two sexes, of men and animals alike, had lived apart from each other. This law of conduct had been violated by none in the ark except by Ham, by the dog, and by the raven.” (Ginsberg) If Ham had kept his purity for the 40 days he would not have felt ashamed at seeing Noah naked. This ‘fall’ was the condition for Satan to invade Ham’s feelings so that he felt ashamed when he saw Noah naked. So if one has wrong feelings, look back and see if one made some bad condition and clear it up before one makes a mistake.
- Left Ur -> haran
- One of the curious events in Abraham’s life was his visit to Egypt. Abraham told Sarah to tell people she was his sister. Like A&E. pharoah came and took sarai for his wife.
- Before the fall Adam and Eve were like brother and sister. Eve was more attracted to Lucifer who appeared sophisticated.
- Abraham told Sarah to tell people she was his sister. Like A&E Sarah had to choose between a life of luxury as the wife of Pharaoh or a life of hardship as the wife of Abram. She overcame the temptation and so Pharaoh had to release her. Thus she overcame what Eve could not overcome.
- Walk before. Not follow. Take initiative. Responsible. Independent.
- After fall restored Abraham in position of unfallen Adam and so could restore f of faith When God said to Abraham, “look toward heaven and number the stars , if you are able to number them. So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” So Abraham had absolute faith in God. Then God told Abraham that he would possess the land of Canaan. “But he said, ‘O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” Abraham did not have absolute faith. And so God told him to make an offering to lay a foundation of faith. However Abraham fell asleep and the offering was invaded by Satan. So instead of occupying the land as previously promised his descendants had to live in a foreign land for 400 years first to indemnify Abraham’s mistake. “Your descendants will be… enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.” Genesis 15:13
- Abram 86 year old
- Because the Foundation of faith has not been established it was not possible for Isaac and Ishmael to establish the foundation of substance. So they parted and the problem has been passed on till today. God also made a covenant with Ishmael because the failure was not his fault. Muhammad is the prophet to the Arabs.
- Sarah 90. Abrham 100
- This time God told Abraham to do something more difficult. Condition of greater indemnity. If we make a mistake and try to rectify it immediately it is usually easy – often just an apology is needed. If don’t it becomes more difficult to put right – Jesus parable of man with debts. “Take…your only son, Isaac, whom you love…and sacrifice him as a burnt offering…” Genesis 22:2 Isaac inherited Abraham’s and position as he didn’t try to run away but trusted his father. Test to see if Abraham loved God above all else. Test of Isaac “Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” Genesis 22:9-12
- Next Isaac had to put Rebekah in situation to restore Eve’s position. This time with Abimelech the King of Gerar
- Important to stress that Jacob bought birthright. Showed how much Esau despised the birthright. When Isaac called Esau he should have said that he had sold the birthright – the right to the blessing – to Jacob. By not doing so Esau was trying to trick Jacob out of what was rightfully his. Rebekah remembered her dream and knew that Jacob should receive the blessing, not Esau Picture by Flink
- On the other hand Jacob hadn’t won the respect of Esau such that Esau would tell Isaac that Jacob was the one who deserved and was most qualified to receive the birthright. So Jacob had restored the birthright and blessing externally but not internally. So just as Cain killed Abel, Esau wanted to kill Jacob
- Rebekkah told Jacob to escape to Laban. On the way he had the dream at Bethel. God made same covenant with him as he made with Abraham and Isaac. “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your decsendants; and your descendants shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and by you and your descendants shall all the families of the earth bless themselves.” He also said he would bring Jacob back to the land. Raffaello
- Jacob was tricked many times by Laban. But he didn’t get angry and try to kill him or run away. Instead he endured and developed a deep character. He also married Rachel and Leah and with their maids as concubines had 12 sons and 1 daughter. He also worked very hard and was a good husbandman so that despite Laban’s trickery he became wealthy.
- Jacob came up with a plan. He made a large present of cattle, sheep and camels for Esau, divided them up and sent them to him, one gift of animals after another. Esau must have wondered if perhaps his brother had changed.
- Wrestling with the angel – victorious. The angel had defeated Adam but Jacob defeated the angel Jacob Chagall, Ford of Jabbok
- Jacob went to meet Esau and bowed before him 7 times. Jacob really humbled himself. His experiences with Laban had removed all his old arrogance. So he made it easier for Esau to overcome his own fallen nature and resentment and forgive him and love him. So the foundation of substance – removing fallen nature and uniting was established.
- Principles of restoration are based on principles of creation Restoration involves restoring what went wrong at the fall so that is why have to establish Foundation of faith and substance. These are principles which are the basis of the patterns that appear again and again in the Bible and human life. There is an interesting, the story behind the location of the Temple (today known as the Temple Mount) - was chosen because it was an area where 2 brothers lived and farmed. One brother noticed that his brother's hay stack was lower than his, so at night, he snuck off to give his brother hay. The next night the brother who received the hay noticed his hay stack was higher than his brother's, so he snuck off at night to give his brother his hay. This went on for many nights, until one night the brothers met midway, with stacks of hay in the hands of both. They both realized what was happening and embraced and cried out of the love. The spot where the tears fell - that is where the Temple of Jerusalem was built.
- This is God’s grace to set up a way to restore people. This though cannot happen magically or by an act of fiat. God has to cooperate with human beings, or rather God has to find human beings who will cooperate with him.