Jacob and the divine trickster

Jacob and the divine trickster

By John Edward Anderson

Book Description

In the biblical narrative of Jacob, we encounter one of scripture's most perplexing figures: a cunning deceiver who simultaneously becomes God's chosen vessel for an entire nation. John Edward Anderson tackles this profound theological puzzle by examining how the divine itself participates in the very deceptions that shape Jacob's story.

Through careful literary analysis of Genesis 25-35, Anderson reveals a startling pattern where God operates as what he terms the "Divine Trickster." Rather than standing apart from Jacob's schemes, the divine actively orchestrates and participates in deceptive activities to fulfill the ancestral promises made to Abraham. From the ambiguous oracle given to Rebekah that sets family conflicts in motion, to the complex manipulations between Jacob and Laban, Anderson demonstrates how these deceptions serve a greater divine purpose.

This scholarly exploration challenges conventional understandings of divine character by showing how God's trustworthiness coexists with strategic deception. Anderson argues that the divine employs trickery to ensure the continuation of blessing, progeny, and land promises that will ultimately benefit all nations.

For readers grappling with questions about divine justice, moral complexity in scripture, and the mysterious ways spiritual transformation occurs, this work offers fresh insights into how the sacred operates through unexpected means. Anderson's "theology of deception" invites us to reconsider our assumptions about how the divine works in human affairs, revealing a God who is both utterly reliable and surprisingly subversive.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~6 hours)

📄 Length: 210 pages

What You'll Discover

  • ✓ Explore Gottesvorstellung
  • ✓ Explore Religious aspects
  • ✓ Explore Election (Theology)
  • ✓ Study Bible from spiritual perspective
  • ✓ Explore Criticism, interpretation
  • ✓ Explore Trickster
  • ✓ Explore Bible, criticism, interpretation, etc., o. t. pentateuch
  • ✓ Explore Theologie

Topics Covered

Gottesvorstellung Religious aspects Election (Theology) Bible Criticism, interpretation Trickster Bible, criticism, interpretation, etc., o. t. pentateuch Theologie Attributes Truthfulness and falsehood Deception in the Bible Judaism Exegese God (Judaism) Jakobserzählung Jakob-Erzählung Täuschung

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