I didn’t post this yesterday after reading/listening to this episode of the Companion because I didn’t think it significant enough to mention at the time. Nevertheless, I’ve taught our children (& congregations) that, while I don’t think this is the only picture we can glean from Rachel’s taking Laban’s idols, I believe it certainly is one of the pictures. First, the answer I’ve presented stems back to why Jacob had two wives instead of just one. As different persons as they were, I believe Leah and Rachel presented two aspects of Christ’s beloved bride, His church (Eph 5:22-33). Leah was Jacob’s fruitful bride while Rachel was Jacob’s suffering bride, being less “fruitful” until the latter years of her life, suffering a barren womb until Joseph, and even the sorrows of death at the birth of Ben-Oni (Benjamin). Stealing away Laban’s idols is exactly what Christ’s church does as the pillar and ground of truth (1 Tim 3:15). Since idolatry, being the second commandment, is the chief of sins, it is essentially esteeming anything equal to or greater than Jesus Christ; and by preaching the truth of Christ crucified, the church effectively shows the vanity, weakness, and worthlessness of idols. They can be stolen away; they need protection and pursuit from its adorers (as you had well-mentioned in this episode); and they have no value but to be sat upon (or in our backslidden state by the corruptions of our flesh, hidden from others under the secrecy of our guilt’s darkness). Anyway, just thought I’d offer that.
BTW, brother, purchased your book, BREATH OF HEAVEN, on Kindle and read it on my flight to California on the way to MacArthur’s Shepherd’s Conference. Loved it! Ordered enough (I hope) to give a paperback to each family and single in our congregation. Just got them in the mail today. Thank you for your faithful service to the Lord. My prayers are with you, your family, and Christ’s congregation under your care. Have a blessed day!
Thanks for sharing, Jon. Dispensationalists like to assign one of Jacob's wives to Israel and the other to Gentiles. It breaks down quickly, so I've always shied away from considering Rachel and Leah as types.
I hope the book is a blessing to your people, brother. How did you enjoy the Shepherd's Conference? Any significant takeaways?
Shepherd's Conference was very good. It was my first time to go. A brother who had been suggested I attend, and the congregation sent me. Funny you should mention Dispensationalists. That was the only downside to the conference at the very end. John MacArthur spoke and he presented some thoughts on Zechariah, showing himself to be absolutely, 100%, without a doubt, Dispensational; and he implied with a veiled suggestion that any other view was wrong. He used the same "literal" tropes while allegorizing dispensationally in the same breath. Other than that, loved it.
Interestingly, I actually wanted to attend the recent Foundations Conference where you spoke. Paul Washer is an old friend of mine, and it would have been good to see him. We have a lot of BJU alumni in our congregation, and at the time, even one student from one of our families enrolled, but something came up and I couldn't attend. I did listen to a few of the messages live, and the rest when they were posted on SermonAudio. Your message was a particular blessing to me.
Yes, I heard about Dr. MacArthur's remarks. Not the first time he has taken aim at Amillennialism at the Shepherd's Conference. Perhaps he feels the creeping influence of covenant theology. Long may it continue 😄
Perhaps you can make it to Greenville another time. It's not as long or anywhere near as large as the Shepherd's Conference, and the focus of the messages is different. But I think you would enjoy it.
Maybe Rachel's goal was to deny Laban his false gods in hopes that he would turn to the true God.
You are not the first to suggest that, John.
I didn’t post this yesterday after reading/listening to this episode of the Companion because I didn’t think it significant enough to mention at the time. Nevertheless, I’ve taught our children (& congregations) that, while I don’t think this is the only picture we can glean from Rachel’s taking Laban’s idols, I believe it certainly is one of the pictures. First, the answer I’ve presented stems back to why Jacob had two wives instead of just one. As different persons as they were, I believe Leah and Rachel presented two aspects of Christ’s beloved bride, His church (Eph 5:22-33). Leah was Jacob’s fruitful bride while Rachel was Jacob’s suffering bride, being less “fruitful” until the latter years of her life, suffering a barren womb until Joseph, and even the sorrows of death at the birth of Ben-Oni (Benjamin). Stealing away Laban’s idols is exactly what Christ’s church does as the pillar and ground of truth (1 Tim 3:15). Since idolatry, being the second commandment, is the chief of sins, it is essentially esteeming anything equal to or greater than Jesus Christ; and by preaching the truth of Christ crucified, the church effectively shows the vanity, weakness, and worthlessness of idols. They can be stolen away; they need protection and pursuit from its adorers (as you had well-mentioned in this episode); and they have no value but to be sat upon (or in our backslidden state by the corruptions of our flesh, hidden from others under the secrecy of our guilt’s darkness). Anyway, just thought I’d offer that.
BTW, brother, purchased your book, BREATH OF HEAVEN, on Kindle and read it on my flight to California on the way to MacArthur’s Shepherd’s Conference. Loved it! Ordered enough (I hope) to give a paperback to each family and single in our congregation. Just got them in the mail today. Thank you for your faithful service to the Lord. My prayers are with you, your family, and Christ’s congregation under your care. Have a blessed day!
Thanks for sharing, Jon. Dispensationalists like to assign one of Jacob's wives to Israel and the other to Gentiles. It breaks down quickly, so I've always shied away from considering Rachel and Leah as types.
I hope the book is a blessing to your people, brother. How did you enjoy the Shepherd's Conference? Any significant takeaways?
Shepherd's Conference was very good. It was my first time to go. A brother who had been suggested I attend, and the congregation sent me. Funny you should mention Dispensationalists. That was the only downside to the conference at the very end. John MacArthur spoke and he presented some thoughts on Zechariah, showing himself to be absolutely, 100%, without a doubt, Dispensational; and he implied with a veiled suggestion that any other view was wrong. He used the same "literal" tropes while allegorizing dispensationally in the same breath. Other than that, loved it.
Interestingly, I actually wanted to attend the recent Foundations Conference where you spoke. Paul Washer is an old friend of mine, and it would have been good to see him. We have a lot of BJU alumni in our congregation, and at the time, even one student from one of our families enrolled, but something came up and I couldn't attend. I did listen to a few of the messages live, and the rest when they were posted on SermonAudio. Your message was a particular blessing to me.
Have a blessed day, dear brother!
Yes, I heard about Dr. MacArthur's remarks. Not the first time he has taken aim at Amillennialism at the Shepherd's Conference. Perhaps he feels the creeping influence of covenant theology. Long may it continue 😄
Perhaps you can make it to Greenville another time. It's not as long or anywhere near as large as the Shepherd's Conference, and the focus of the messages is different. But I think you would enjoy it.