Prophecy about Crucifixion
God chose Jacob for the Savior of the world Jesus Christ to come into this world, As this chosen Jacob was traveling to Paddan-aram to get married, and at Bethel, Jacob made a vow to God that he will give tithe of all the blessing that he receives, and this was first vow ever recorded in the Bible, and Tithe means offering 1/10 portion from our earnings to God, basically offering the best portion to God which is literally referring to Jesus Christ the Savior of the world - 20.Then Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21.so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, 22.and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you - Genesis 28:20-22
And at Paddan-aram, Jacob married Leah and Rachel, and their maids, and so by 4 wife Jacob blessed with 11 Sons and 1 daughter, and by living in 20 years in Paddan-aram Jacob also became so rich by having lot of flocks, that's when God commanded Jacob to go to his father's land, and here one of the notable thing is God himself reminding Jacob about his tithe which he vowed at Bethel - 10.And it comes to pass at the time of the flock conceiving, that I lift up my eyes and see in a dream, and behold, the male goats, which are going up on the flock, are striped, speckled, and spotted; 11.and the Messenger of God says to me in the dream, Jacob, and I say, Here I [am]. 12.And He says, Now lift up your eyes and see that all the male goats which are going up (awlaw(עָלָה)means ascending) on the flock are striped, speckled, and spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. 13.I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred - Gen 31:10-13
So, As Jacob was approaching to Bethel, Jacob gave huge portion from his flocks to his Brother Esau - 13.So he stayed there that night, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau, 14.two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15.thirty milking camels and their calves, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. 16.These he handed over to his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, Pass on ahead of me and put a space between drove and drove. 17.He instructed the first, When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you? 18.then you shall say, They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a present sent to my lord Esau. And moreover, he is behind us. 19.He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed the droves, You shall say the same thing to Esau when you find him. 20.and you shall say, Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us. For he thought, I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me. 21.So the present passed on ahead of him, and he himself stayed that night in the camp. - Genesis 32:13-21
And Esau also accepted the gift from Jacob - Jacob said, No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. Thus he urged him, and he took it - Genesis 33:10-11
Questions?
What is the significant that Jacob gave the best portion from all his earnings to his brother Esau?
Why Jacob gave the best portion to his brother Esau at the same place where he made a Tithe vow to God?
Both Laban and Esau was a threat to Jacob, then why Jacob gave the best portion to his brother Esau alone?
What Jacob gave to his brother Esau is kind of fulfilling his Tithe vow to God?
What Jacob vowed that he will give Tithe of all that he receives from God, So he should give one of his Sons also?
If yes, what Jacob gave to his brother Esau is a prophecy that one of the Jacob's sons(Jesus Christ) will be given many years later?
Prophecy fulfillment
Why this prophetical story written in the Bible? Because after 1500 years, this wonderful prophecy got fulfilled in the same land, the Son of God who is the image of Father, Son and Holy Spirit led by the high priest (Sons of Jacob) and handed over to Roman's authority (Sons of Esau) to be crucified - Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning - John 18:28a
This story also tells that to whom the heaven granted the crucifixion authority - Jesus answered, You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin - John 19:11
Jacob's wealth
From Jacob's Tithe we can also calculate his possession, it was really huge - So he stayed there that night, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau, two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milking camels and their calves, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys - Genesis 32:13-15