Archetypes

The definition of "archetype" is: the original pattern or model of which all subsequent things of the same kind are representations or copies. The Greek roots of this word "archetype" in English are "to begin, to rule" + "type". This week's sabbath reading deals with the same thing, and is titled Toledot, meaning "generation(s)". However, the meaning of toledot is really more about "archetypes", and since we are in Genesis, or B'resheit, the Book of Beginnings, we will see the beginning of two archetypes that are still being represented today, even after many generations. Not only is an archetype the beginning of a pattern, as its Greek meaning shows, but an archetype also rules the subsequent copies. The sabbath reading of Toledot starts in Gen. 25 with the account of Isaac, Abraham's son and heir, and his wife and kinswoman, Rebekah. Rebekah had not been able to have children: "Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived." (Gen. 25:20-21). Rebekah noticed that something was strange about her pregnancy. There was a struggle within her womb. so she inquired of the LORD, and the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger." (v. 22-23). Rebekah indeed gave birth to twins, Jacob and Esau, who struggled against one another before they were born, and after. Esau was the first born and the older of the two, with Jacob born holding onto Esau's heal (v. 26). The twins' personalities were different also. Esau was described as "a skillful hunter (yada + sayid), a man of the field (ish + sade)". Jacob was "a mild man (tam/tamam), dwelling in tents (ohel/ahel)" (v. 27). Here we have our two archetypes. The descriptions from the Hebrew tell us that Esau was knowledgeable in taking prey, and "making a provision for the journey", a man in contrast to God, husband, attached to the ground. He provided for himself. In the Hebrew words used, Jacob is described as "perfect, undefiled, upright, complete, morally innocent, coupled together, completely crossed over, and an inhabitant of the tabernacle, the sacred tent of Jehovah, clear, shining, and bright". The Word of God presents Jacob as one who is spiritually perfect and complete, and inhabiting the tabernacle of God. Although both men were of the same generation from Abraham because they were his twin grandsons, they were a different kind of generation from each other regarding toledot, or archetypes. Because they were archetypes, there will be copies or representations that proceed from each of these two men. Jesus would also speak regarding the generations, or toledot, of Abraham as we will see. In last week's sabbath reading, we saw that Abraham was referred to as elohim nasi, meaning "the risen God of forgiveness and atonement, who suffered and laid sin upon Himself" (see last week's post titled "Kings"). The New Testament tells us that Abraham, along with Isaac and Jacob, dwelled in tents/tabernacles, and was waiting for the city whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:9-10). Abraham was not "attached to the ground", as Esau was, but considered himself as a foreigner and a visitor in it (Gen. 23:4). In this same spirit, Abraham gave his nephew, Lot, his choice of land first, and Lot chose the finest land to the eye (Gen. 13:9-11). Because Abraham showed that he did not covet a place in the earth, God then gave him and his descendants all the land as far as the eye could see (Gen. 13:14-15). It is also mentioned in this part of this week's sabbath reading that the older brother Esau sold his birthright to his younger brother Jacob for a simple meal when his own hunting for provision had yielded nothing. Scripture says of this: "Thus Esau despised (baza) his birthright (bekora/bekor/bakar)." (Gen. 25:34). The birthright refers to the inheritance rights of the first born, also called primogeniture. In the Hebrew meaning, "birthright" also includes the idea of being "first fruit, new fruit, to bear early, to rise early". Esau considered being the firstborn of Isaac, who was "the child of promise/covenant", as we are also, to be contemptible and vile, from the meaning of "despised" (see Gal. 4:28). In another portion of this week's sabbath reading, the LORD clearly states: "Yet Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated, and laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness." (Mal. 1:2-3). Although the LORD clearly condemned the archetype of Esau, and those who came after him, spiritually modeling themselves after him, He also has a problem with the children of Jacob, whom He favored, and to whom He gave the birthright promises. The LORD said that these generations of Jacob did not regard the LORD with respect and love in return for the love and favor that He had shown them: "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is My honor? If I am a Master, where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts to you priests who despise My name..." (Mal. 1:6). The Hebrew word for "despise" used in this verse is the same word with which Esau despised his birthright - baza. From another of this week's sabbath readings, the Book of Obadiah, a prophetic word regarding the destruction of the land of Esau, or Edom. This destruction comes on "the day of the LORD", and that "...no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau, for the LORD has spoken." (v. 15, 18). As the prophet wrote, future generations modeled themselves after their archetype Esau, in despising the covenant promise of God, the birthright. This would lead to their destruction. As we saw with Esau, birthright is not determined by the facts of the flesh, but by the spirit of a man, and the archetype of Esau is still with us. Jesus spoke about the difference between those who come from "above", and those who come from "beneath". As with Jacob and Esau, there is no similarity between the two. Esau had contempt for the model of Abraham, who was called by the term elohim nasi in scripture (see above), even though Esau was a direct descendant of Abraham. Esau was initially born with the birthright, and while it meant nothing to him, it meant everything to Abraham. The Word says this of another, Jesus, Who came in His Father's name, meaning "God is Salvation", Who laid our sins upon Himself, and became our forgiveness and atonement: "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the power/right (exousia/exesti - power, authority, jurisdiction, strength, permission, to be lawful) to become sons/children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (Jn. 1:10-13). We see more as Jesus said to those who did not receive Him: "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.' Then they said to Him, 'Who are You?' And Jesus said to them, 'Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning..." (Jn. 8:23-25). The account of Jacob and Esau is not about the the assuredness of the covenant and salvation by the flesh. If assuredness in the flesh existed, Esau would not have been able to sell it., because nothing could change the fact that Esau was the firstborn. However, the supernatural birthright of the covenant from "above" given to Abraham, and confirmed through the archetype of Jacob over Esau, speaks of those who are born from "above", rather than "beneath", and of the Spirit, rather than of the flesh. Do we model ourselves after our Archetype, Jesus, Who was born from Above? Or do we despise it, neglect it, and eventually "sell" it, preferring instead those things that are attached to the ground, as Esau did? Paul said to the believers in Galatia: "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth...Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect in the flesh?...Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture...preached the Gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed.' So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham." (Gal. 3:1-9, excerpt). If you would like to know more about being modeled after our Archetype from Above, Jesus, and being blessed with "believing Abraham", you can join me in prayer: "Blessed and Great Father, because of Your Son, I have received the birthright of eternal life that comes from You. You sent Your Son, Jesus, to be an Archetype from which many would come. Let me be one who is modeled after Christ. I am so thankful, especially in this season of Thanksgiving, that you gave me the legal right to be called Your descendant, Your son, and I don't ever want to take it for granted, or forget the honor of that gift. Help me to not be attached to the things of the ground, the world, but to have my eyes upon You, and the things of the Above, dwelling in Your tabernacle. Having begun in Your Holy Spirit, keep me from walking after the flesh. I ask these things in Jesus' name. AMEN."