The LORD Establishes Jacob's House
Comments for Study 20
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A wood engraving by Gustave Dore (1832-1883) titled "Jacob's Dream". The Bible was titled: "The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments, according to the authorized version. With illustrations by Gustave Doré.
The artist, Gustave Doré (1832-1883), has placed his signature at the lower left of the woodcut, and the engraver's signature, Héliodore Pisan (1822-1890), is located at the lower right.
Dore's drawings are now in public domain. This one was scanned in by creationism.org.
>1. How did Jacob meet and marry Rachel and Leah? (29:1-30) What does this reveal about him?
Genesis 29:1-3 "Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. There he saw a well in the field, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well. The stone over the mouth of the well was large. When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well's mouth and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well."
* "Jacob continued on his journey" -Jacob left home very quickly taking nothing with him to a strange far away land that he only vaguely knew the location of because his brother had made threats to kill him. (See previous study.) He would never see his beloved mother again. When he did return over twenty years later his father was a very old man. All this was the result of a family that could have acted better. Not only was he running for his life, but his parents gave him direction to find a wife of good character from Rebekah's family and return when Rebekah would send word that his brother's anger had dissipated.
* "the land of the eastern peoples" -Isaac's uncle home was in Paddan Aram (28:5), north-east of south-western Canaan, Isaac's tent location. According to 24:10-11 Rebekah was from "the town of Nahor" somewhere within the Paddan Aram's borders. As mentioned in a previous Genesis study in the 1930s Frenchman discovered clay tablets mentioning the Nahor. Nahor was not far from Haran. It is near the modern day Turkey/Syria borders in between the Euphrates and the Tigris Rivers. Job lived among the people of the east. (Job 1:1, 2:11)
* "a well in the field... the stone over the mouth of the well was large" -The people of this area raised sheep. Each family had their own flocks. Alfred Edersheim's Bible History states, "Prof. Robinson has made this personal observation, "Over most of the cisterns is laid a broad and thick flat stone, with a round hole cut in the middle, forming the mouth of the cistern. This hole we found in many cases covered with a heavy stone, which it would require two or three men to roll away."
* "shepherds" -both young adult male and female children were responsible for tending the flocks, an dishonorable and unwanted job. Responsibilities included being alone for long periods of time in all sorts of weather with continual danger from predators and thieves. (1 Sam. 17:34-35)
Genesis 29:4-6 "Jacob asked the shepherds, "My brothers, where are you from?" "We're from Haran," they replied. He said to them, "Do you know Laban, Nahor's grandson?" "Yes, we know him," they answered. Then Jacob asked them, "Is he well?" "Yes, he is," they said, "and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep."
* "where are you from" -Jacob only vaguely knew of where his mother was from. The fact that he came to the well where his relatives sheep were was providence.
* "with the sheep" -Rachel was a hard worker.
Genesis 29:7-8 ""Look," he said, "the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture." "We can't," they replied, "until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep."
* The large stone would take several of the young men to roll. Jacob was a grown man of apparently considerable strength.
Genesis 29:9-12 "While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and Laban's sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle's sheep. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud. He had told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and a son of Rebekah. So she ran and told her father."
* "Then Jacob kissed Rachel" -This shows Jacob's desire to have a wife as well as his romantic and emotional character.
* "began to weep aloud" -joy that his journey and mission was about over.
Genesis 29:13-14 "As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things. Then Laban said to him, "You are my own flesh and blood." After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month,"
* "as soon as Laban heard the news" -Laban remembered how much wealth Abraham's servant brought with him. He might have been jealous that his sister, Rebekah had married into wealth. (24:30, 35-36)
* "told him all these things" -Moses, the author does not say what he told. I do not believe Jacob told about his problems with his brother. More on this later.
* "Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month" -to be strengthened and exchange family history would be the reasons for staying at least a little while.
Genesis 29:15-18 "Laban said to him, "Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be." Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was lovely in form, and beautiful. Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "I'll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel."
* "Laban said to him" -Laban initiated the conversation. He grew impatient with Jacob. One week turned into four without Jacob given any signs of his desire to obtain a wife (though all knew Jacob's purpose in traveling so far). So Laban took the initiative to end Jacob's stay. His words implied that the time for Jacob to leave had arrived.
* "should you work for me for nothing" -Laban must have put his nephew to work in the month he lived in his home. Laban knew why Jacob had come the long distance, to get a wife. I wonder if it ever occurred to him that his nephew came with nothing but the shirt on his back.
* "tell me what your wages should be" -Laban gave the customary appearance of generosity for work that Jacob must have been doing for a month. Laban's request does not include asking for anything. Laban only offered to pay for a month's work. He suspected and probably hoped that Jacob would take one of his daughters as a wife, most likely Leah because she was the oldest. Why Leah? More on why next. What work might have Jacob been doing? Laban was a herdsman as most were in the area. Jacob must have been tending the sheep with Rachel. Did Leah tend the sheep? The Bible does not say she did. We can only assume she didn't. Later Jesus, the Messiah would tell his Apostles, especially Peter, "Feed my sheep." (John 21) Many of in the church would follow Jesus' command to, "Feed my sheep (ewes and goats)."
* Everyone knew that he came to get a wife as his father did. The bride was sometimes given freely and sometimes with a price depending on the circumstances. (Ex. 22:16-17, Deuteronomy 22:28-29)
* Nowhere does it say that Jacob told the ill reasons for his leaving home. Who would want to tell the future father-in-law, "I ran away from home with nothing but the shirt on my back because my brother wants to kill me for stealing the inheritance and blessing of my father. Now can I marry one of your daughters and bring her back with me? Oh, my mother, your sister told me to wait her until she's sure my brother won't kill me." In fact at no time after this does the Bible record that Jacob ever told anyone about his past. I suspect that Jacob must have kept his family problems secret and thus obtained the appeared of a man of mystery to his relatives. The sad reality was that most of his life Jacob was not entirely honest about anything, a trait that it seems all of Terah's children possessed. Yet are we any different? Don't we hide who we truly are under masks of false appearances? How many unpleasant things do we keep hidden from each other? Jesus said a day is coming when all that is done in secret will be exposed. (Luke 8:17)
* "Leah... Rachel" -Herdsman of the time often named their children after domesticated animals. Leah means cow and Rachel means ewe.
* "weak eyes" -Either not good to look at, that is not very attractive; or that she had a condition that cause her eyes to be unattractive and weak. The frame of the two must have been similar for Jacob later did not to notice Leah wasn't Rachel. (23) Sticking with the premise that Leah is Judah and Rachel is Ephraim; then it is true that the Jews, first bride of the LORD (JHWH) did not see the Messiah as well as the church, the second bride, because they accepted Jesus and his teaching. (I'll explain this more later in the study.)
* Jacob based his decision on the flesh, that is looks, rather than on spirituality. His is no different than most.
* "younger daughter Rachel" -Leah was older. The older was customarily married off first. Interestingly, this is how God made it so both young women had not been married yet. Leah had "weak eyes" (wasn't attractive) so no one asked to marry her. As long as Leah was single, so would Rachel be single until Jacob arrived to marry them. God works in ways we are not aware of.
* Leah, in the end would prove to be the one that the Messiah, Moses, and the priestly line would come from. She was the one who showed the strongest faith in the LORD. Rachel, when they left Laban would secretly take idols with her (31:19, 34-35) another trait of Ephraim.
* "seven years" -Why did Jacob submit the very unusually amount of seven years when one year of betrothal was the norm? Perhaps because Jacob had been told by his mother, "Stay with him for a while until your brother's fury subsides. When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I'll send word for you to come back from there." Seven years probably seemed to him like the time needed for his brother to forgive and forget. Jacob must have been happy with how things were turning out for him.
* "seven years" -The LORD thru Moses used seven to designate completeness. (i.e. seven days of the creation week, Pentecost seven weeks after Passover, seven years of seven until a Jubilee year, etc.)
Genesis 29:19-21 "Laban said, "It's better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me." So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to lie with her."
* Laban must have been completely surprised. He expected to pay gold for the month's service. Instead he got a servant for seven years in exchange for his youngest daughter in marriage.
* "give her" -How could he have used that term when Jacob just asked to work for his daughter in marriage.
* The fact that their father would barter them away like a possession did not play well with the sisters (31:14-15).
* "they seemed like only a few days" -Romance was in the air. Times were good for Rachel and Jacob. But what of Leah? How did she feel as the seven years ticked away and no one came to her to ask for her hand in marriage? No one wanted and loved Leah.
* "my wife" -Jacob did not say Rachel. However, he never gave indication that his wife would have been Leah.
* "and I want to lie with her" -Both Jacob and Rachel did not have sex during the entire seven years. The unmarried of today should follow this example. (Acts 15:29, Gal. 5:19-21)
Genesis 29:22-24 "So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and Jacob lay with her. And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter as her maidservant.
* "all the people" -Either he was wealthy or went in debt. The former seems likely in light of 30:30. The reason he brought so many together was not because of joy but because of his plan. With so many people to witness the wedding Jacob could not have rejected Leah when the deception was discovered.
* "feast" -Marriages has changed little over the ages with the exception of how long a marriage feast lasted. Seven years waiting to be married was a long time, usually it was one year. During the one year the betrothed bride and bridegroom were considered legally married. Yet they would not live together, nor have sex together. They would not leave their parent's families until the year was concluded. Before they were married they were to be sanctified. The bride became sanctified by having the ceremonial mikvah (water immersion). While they were betrothed the couple must remain pure and devoted to each other. The bridegroom would prepare a house for them to raise a family in, and the bride would take care of the bridegroom’'s needs. At any time during the betrothal year if the bride decided that she didn’'t want to be married to the bridegroom, she could call the marriage off and there would be a legal separation.
When they were finally married there would be two witnesses, friends of the bridegroom. Their role was to prepare the bride and escort her to meet the groom underneath the chupath (wedding canopy) where the marriage would occur.
When they married they would have a ketuba (marriage contract/covenant) which states the terms and conditions of the marriage. During a traditional Jewish wedding the couple would state their love for each other. The marriage was completed (kiddushin meaning sanctified) when the bridegroom gave something of value to the bride and she accepted it, usually a ring that had a precious stone on it if he could afford it. Then there would be a great wedding banquet, a feast which was held which lasted usually seven days. (John 2:1-11) Usually at the end of the seven days the marriage was consecrated when the two came together.
* "he took Leah" -Laban broke the contract. His actions would put his two daughters against him and each other, jealously seeking their husband's love (Doesn't this seem like the continual state of realations between Jews and Gentiles?). Fathers' not acting in love and respect to his children and God is the cause of much trouble and heartache in his life and his family member's lives.
* "Jacob lay with her" -The girl usually wore a veil and it was probably very dark so Jacob would not have known. Excitement and wine might have blurred his vision too. The two women's frames must have been similar.
* Verse 24 was common custom of the time.
Genesis 29:25-27 "When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn't I? Why have you deceived me?" Laban replied, "It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. Finish this daughter's bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work."
* "Why have you deceived me?" -Jacob learned what it was like to be deceived.
* Jacob had deceived to get the rights of the firstborn and now he had been deceived to marry the firstborn. God's humor and education. Jacob eventually, I hope, had learned this.
* "custom" -Laban's excuse was a pour one for he acted as though he did it out of love for Leah and custom. However, in reality he sold his daughters. By using the word custom during the wedding Laban was pointing out that all the people there were witness to the joining. Jacob could not back out without losing face.
* Later Malachi pronounces divorce to be more tolerable than polygamy. (Malachi 2:14.)
Genesis 29:28-30 "And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. Laban gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant. Jacob lay with Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years."
* "And Jacob did so" -Jacob did what was right to Leah. But only because he loved and wanted Rachel.
* John Calvin wrote, "For, however excellent Jacob might be, he had no other offspring than that which sprung from an impure source; since, contrary to nature, two sisters are mixed together in one bed; in the mode of beasts; and two concubines are afterwards added to the mass. We have seen indeed, above, that this license was too common among oriental nations; but it was not allowable for men, at their own pleasure, to subvert, by a depraved custom, the law of marriage divinely sanctioned from the beginning. Therefore, Laban is, in every way, inexcusable. And although necessity may, in some degree, excuse the fault of Jacob, it cannot altogether absolve him from blame. For he might have dismissed Leah, because she had not been his lawful wife: because the mutual consent of the man and the woman, respecting which mistake is impossible, constitutes marriage. But Jacob reluctantly retains her as his wife, from whom he was released and free, and thus doubles his fault by polygamy, and trebles it by an incestuous marriage. Thus we see that the inordinate love of Rachel, which had been once excited in his mind, was inflamed to such a degree, that he possessed neither moderation nor judgment."
* "he loved Rachel more than Leah" -The word "more than" indicates that Jacob didn't hate or despise Leah. He did love her and did not blame her for obeying her father. He must have honored her for obeying as he obeyed his parents even though she partook in the deception as he partook in the deception of his brother.
* "he lay with Rachel also" -It seems this was at the end or after the week's feast was over and before he started to work the seven years (30).
>2. What was the problem between Leah and Rachel? What did each want? (29:31-30:24) How did God use the struggle between them to increase the number of sons in Jacob's family?
>3. Who were the sons of Jacob?
>4. What do you think the atmosphere in Jacob's home was like?
Genesis 29:31-35 "When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, "It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now." She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too." So she named him Simeon. Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." So he was named Levi. She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "This time I will praise the LORD." So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children."
* "LORD" - YHWH in Hebrew also known as Jehovah or Yehowah. YHWH was the LORD of the covenant to the nation Israel. (Note: The Jewish original manuscripts do not have the vowels for Israel reveared the name and did not speak or write it completely.)
* "the LORD saw" -God knows what goes on. He works among and around us.
* Both Leah and Rachel wanted Jacob's love and both wanted children. But they did not get both. Each got one but not the other.
* In the struggle between Rachel and Leah the Lord built the house of Jacob.
* Several times in Israel's history this scenario played out. (i.e. Samuel's mother, 1 Sam. 1:1-8)
* "not loved... Now at last my husband will become attached to me" -The Wycliffe Bible Commentary (1328-1384 AD) states, "'Now my husband will love me'. But no word of recognition or appreciation come from Jacob. The word for hatred (sane in Hebrew) indicates 'less affection,' or 'less devotion.' It does not indicated positive hatred."
* "not loved... my misery" -To be married to someone and yet not loved by them is misery. She was not loved because of nothing she had done for all she did was obey her father.
* "Levi" -became the priestly line.
* "Judah" -the Messiah came from his line.
* "This time I will praise the LORD" -She sought the love and praise of the LORD. Many of Leah's children's names show faith in the Lord and love for the Lord.
* Four children was probably four years.
* A blessed Bible scholar should pay close attention to Leah's children compared to Rachel children from their births to the time that Jacob blesses them. The LORD used them to recorded the future of all of those who would call on the name of the LORD, Jews and Gentile (the church). Judah, Leah's son was the main source of the Jews (southern tribes/nation) through a Canaanite women, Tamar (chapter 38). Joseph, Rachel's firstborn would have two sons through an Egyptian bride (41:45), the main source of the northern tribes/nation of Israel. Ephraim, Joseph's oldest would sometimes be the name for the northern nation. Ephraim would become a sign and fulfilment of the LORD's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that all nations would be blessed because of Abraham's faith. Ephraim would eventually be known as the gentile believers (aka the church of Jesus, the Messiah).
Genesis 30:1-2 "When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I'll die!" Jacob became angry with her and said, "Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?""
* The compaction between Rachel and Leah was probably hard on all involved, especially Jacob. No one was happy. Meanwhile Jacob's brother, Esau was amongst his parents with little troubles as he would later confess. (33:9)
* "jealous of her sister" -Leah had nothing to do with it. Human nature is to blame others before turning to the LORD in humility.
* Envy, discontent, petulance marked Rachel's voice, her language, and her facial expression.
* Rachel's comments to Jacob is hilarious and tragic. Later she would die giving birth to her second child.
Genesis 30:3-6 "Then she said, "Here is Bilhah, my maidservant. Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and that through her I too can build a family." So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife. Jacob slept with her, and she became pregnant and bore him a son. Then Rachel said, "God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son." Because of this she named him Dan."
* "God has vindicated me" -Rachel used "Elohim" rather than "JHWH" showing her lesser faith as compared to Leah's faith when she named her children used the word JHWH.
* Rachel's suggestion was also Sarah's to Abraham and custom of some of the rich in that age.
* God works in strange ways. The way he built Jacob's house becomes odder and odder.
* Rachel's human attempt to solve her problems only created more problems as did Sarah's attempt to solve her problem in the same way.
Genesis 30:7-8 "Rachel's servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, "I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won." So she named him Naphtali."
* The struggles of the human race is self inflicted.
Genesis 30:9-13 "When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her maidservant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. Then Leah said, "What good fortune!" So she named him Gad. Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. Then Leah said, "How happy I am! The women will call me happy." So she named him Asher."
* Leah did not speak of the LORD as she had done when her first sons were born. He faith was slipping as can be seen by the use of her servant.
* Jacob must have felt like a piece of meat to be dived out. His wives must have seemed to him to love fighting each other rather than seeking his affection.
Genesis 30:14-18 "During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes." But she said to her, "Wasn't it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son's mandrakes too?" "Very well," Rachel said, "he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son's mandrakes." So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. "You must sleep with me," she said. "I have hired you with my son's mandrakes." So he slept with her that night. God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. Then Leah said, "God has rewarded me for giving my maidservant to my husband." So she named him Issachar."
* "wheat harvest" -in the fall. Later the LORD instructed Israel, "Celebrate the Feast of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year." (Exodus 34:22)
* "mandrake plants" -The mandrake has fleshy, forked roots that resemble the lower part of the human body and were therefore superstitiously thought to induce pregnancy when eaten. Rachel tried to obtain what she wanted by magical means.
* "hired you" -Showing just how little Jacob cared for Leah compared to Rachel.
Genesis 30:19-24 "Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. Then Leah said, "God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons." So she named him Zebulun. Some time later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah. Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, "God has taken away my disgrace." She named him Joseph, and said, "May the LORD add to me another son."
* "sixth son" -This most likely was six or seven years since their marriage if the chronology of verse 25 is correct. However, it could have been more. The later son's born to Leah could have happened during the seven years of labor for sheep. Either way Leah averaged one child every one or two years.
* "God" -Leah used "Elohim" not "JHWH". Her faith had slipped.
* "with honor" -Leah sorrow for lack of love from her husband was deep.
* "Joseph" -double meaning; "the remover" and "adding".
* "he listened to her... may the LORD" -Rachel did begin praying to the LORD of the covenant.
* "taken away my disgrace" -In that age not having children, especially sons was considered a disgrace and lack of blessing from God.
* "she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah" -not the only daughter as 37:35 and 46:7 indicates. She is the only one mentioned because of her later role in Jacob's life.
* Abraham's family tree is in a book by Goeree, Willem (1635-1711). The book is titled: "Mosaize historie der Hebreeuwse kerke : zoo als dezelve was in de stam-huyzen der H. Vaderen des Ouden Verbonds, voor en onder de belofte : en in alle die plegtelijke toebereydzelen van het dienstbaar Ierusalem ... : uyt d'aller oudste geheugnissen der Hebreen, Kaldeen, Zabeen, Egyptenaaren ... en Romeynen opgehelderd, en doorgans met veel naauwkeurige printverbeeldingen gestofferd ..."
A diagram of Abraham's family and descendants, including the ancestors of Jesus according to Matthew's genealogy.
Courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University: http://www.pitts.emory.edu.
>5. What new contract did Jacob make with Laban after 14 years of service? (30:25-34) Why? (30) How did Laban try to take advantage of Jacob? What did Jacob do to build up his own flocks and herds?
Genesis 30:25-43
* "After Joseph was born" -seven years since marriage.
* "divination" -The Wycliffe Bible Commentary states, "Laban claimed to have received special knowledge (AV, learned by experience), by magic or divination or from his household gods, that he must keep Jacob around to guarantee success and prosperity." The NIV Study Bible says, "The attempt to discover hidden knowledge through mechanical means (see 44:5), the interpretation of omens (see Exodus 21:21) or the aid of supernatural powers (see Ac 16:16). It was strictly forbidden to Israel (Lev. 19:26; Dt. 18:10, 14) because it reflected a pagan concept of the world controlled by evil forces, and therefore obviously not under the sovereign rule of the Lord."
* LORD" -People have often claimed spiritualism (paganism) as truly from the LORD. It does not make it so. People also try to put the LORD (Jesus is the LORD incarnate) equal to other pagan Gods. This is a great sin. Exodus 20:1-3 states, "And God spoke all these words: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. "You shall have no other gods before me."
* God increased Jacob's wealth and Laban lost his. Laban's divination did not give his prosperity as he wanted it too.
* The Lord blessed Jacob's father in-law whenever Jacob was with him.
* Some had claimed that Jacob's actions with the branch was foolish, but God blessed it anyway. However, scientific investigation has revealed that sheep are influenced by colors placed before them.
>6. Why did Jacob finally decide to return to his own country? (31:1-3) How did he explain his wealth and his decision to return to his family? (31:4-13) What does this reveal about his faith?
Genesis 31:1-2 "Jacob heard that Laban's sons were saying, "Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father." And Jacob noticed that Laban's attitude toward him was not what it had been."
* Jacob was afraid of Laban's sons. This was God's doing.
Genesis 31:3-4 "Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you." So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were."
* This is the first time since Jacob left over twenty years earlier that the LORD spoke to Jacob.
Genesis 31:4-13
* Jacob's reasons for his blessings were: The God of his father had blessed him, he worked hard, and his father-in-law cheated him (God gave his justice). Through this Jacob's character is revealed, as well as the fact that he kept faith in the Lord.
Genesis 31:14-42
* Jacob confesses his God to Laban.
>7. How did Jacob leave? How did God protect him from Laban? Describe their final parting. (31:43-45)
Genesis 31:43-55
* God worked in many ways to keep his words to Jacob.
* God changed Jacob through this.
>8. How had God been working in Jacob's life? Did God honor Jacob's prayer in 28:20-22? To what degree? Why? What can we learn of God through this?
>9. How had Jacob's faith been revealed in all that had happened in this lesson? What can we learn of his character? How is he like Abraham and Isaac? How is he different? What can we learn of God who works in the lives of all of his people no matter how different they are?
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