Background
- Review of Genesis 25-27: After the death of Abraham, his son Isaac sojourned into the land of Abimelech and the Philistines in order to escape a famine. He came out prosperous just as his father had done previously, and Abimelech acknowledged that God was with him. Additionally, Isaac became the father of Jacob and Esau. Jacob was shrewd and succeeded in snatching away both the birthright and blessing that were meant for Esau.
- Setting for Genesis 28: Rebekah had suggested for Jacob to flee to the land of her brother Laban for a few days, so that Esau's anger might calm down.
Study Preparations
- Timer: Assign a timer who will focus the group on spending 15 minutes in each chapter.
- Prayer: Open in prayer and invite God to provide understanding into Genesis 28-30.
Genesis 28
Read: Choose a reader to read Genesis 28.
Discussion
- First Impressions: What stood out to you in the reading of Genesis 28?
- Canaanite Wives: Notice how Esau seemed to have made a new discovery upon learning that his parents are opposed to the marrying of Canaanite women.
- Where do you think the breakdown occurred that resulted in Esau taking Canaanite wives?
- Note Esau's attempt to please his parents by taking a wife from Ismael. Why do you think that this is mentioned?
- Ladder to Heaven: Consider all the elements of Jacob's dream:
- What do you think is the meaning or significance of angels ascending and descending upon the ladder to heaven?
- Can you recite all the key pieces of God's blessing for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Give it a try!
- What was Jacob afraid of at the time that he awoke?
- What stood out to you in Jacob's actions on the next morning?
- What do you think Jacob has in mind when he says, "This pillar shall be God's house" (verse 22)?
Transition: The leader ties Genesis 28 into the full picture of Genesis, and transitions the group into Genesis 29. Suggested themes and foreshadows include:
- God's promised blessing extends to Jacob
- Parent-pleasing (when Esau took an Ishmaelite wife)
- Heaven's influence on the earth (the angels' traversal of the ladder from heaven seems to be implicitly linked with God's establishment of Jacob)
- Practice of consecrating a divine place (Jacob pouring oil on the pillar)
- Practice of setting up a house for God (i.e. Jacob's pillar)
- Tithing
Genesis 29
Read: Choose a reader to read Genesis 29:1-30.
Discussion
- First Impressions
- What stood out to you in the reading of Genesis 28?
- What do you think about Jacob's reaction to seeing Rachel for the first time?
- Finding a Wife: Compare Jacob's search of a wife with Isaac's search of a wife.
- Compare the circumstances that led each to seek out a wife.
- Compare the watering of the animals between the two stories.
- Compare the passage of time between the two stories.
- Jacob & Laban
- What do you think about Jacob's relationship with Laban?
- What do you think about Laban's statement, "surely you are my bone and flesh" (verse 14)?
Transition: The leader ties Genesis 29 into the full picture of Genesis, and transitions the group into Genesis 30. Suggested themes and foreshadows include:
- Family deception (Laban deceives Jacob regarding Rachel)
- Family alikeness ("surely you are my bone and flesh")
- Polygamy
Genesis 30
Read: Choose a reader to read Genesis 29:31-30:43.
Discussion
- First Impressions: Which of Jacob's sons' names did you find most interesting?
- Childbearing Competition: Do you think Leah's & Rachel's childbearing competition is simply meant to be an entertaining story, or do you think it holds any long term significance for the tribes of Israel?
- Blessing Through Jacob
- What do you think about Laban's strategy for securing God's blessing through Jacob?
- Do you think that Laban's approach was praiseworthy or disapproved in God's eyes?
- Jacob's Sheep-Breeding Strategy
- What do you think about Jacob's sheep-breeding strategy for securing a flock of his own?
- In light of modern science, how do you explain Jacob's breeding success? Was it a miracle? Was it due to epigenetics? Was it simply that Jacob's methods had nothing to do with the outcome? Or is this merely a myth that proves the writer's ignorance of how science really works?
- Do you think that Jacob's approach was praiseworthy or disapproved in God's eyes?
Transition: The leader ties Genesis 30 into the full picture of Genesis, and helps the group anticipate what may be coming in the next study. Suggested themes and foreshadows include:
- Pursuit of motherly self-worth through child-bearing
- Motherly self-centeredness exhibited in their naming of children
- Competition among wives within polygamous families
- Laban's exploitative approach to securing blessings from God using his association with Jacob
- Manipulation of agreements (Laban & Jacob both seek to manipulate the flocks for self-gain)
- Genetic engineering (Jacob's sheep-breeding methods)
Closing
Looking Forward: What do you think will be the outcome of the struggle between Jacob and Laban for God's blessing?
- Do you think Laban will come out of his relationship with Jacob with blessings from God, as a reward for acknowledging God as the source of blessing (i.e. "In Jacob nations will be blessed")?
- Do you think Laban will be punished by God for his exploitation of Jacob?
- Do you think there will be different outcome from those mentioned above?
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