Teacher: Rusty Kennedy Series: Bible Stories |
Rusty's Notes | |
- Abraham and Sarah
- Isaac (& Ishmael) and Rebekah (Laban’s sister)
- Jacob (& Esau)
- Map
GENESIS 28:6-9
- Jacob was instructed not to marry a Canaanite woman.
- Esau went to Jordan area and married Ishamel’s daughter.
GENESIS 28:10-22
10 Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11 He reached a certain place and spent the night there because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from the place, put it there at his head, and lay down in that place. 12 And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching the sky, and God’s angels were going up and down on it. 13 The Lord was standing there beside him, saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land on which you are lying. 14 Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out toward the west, the east, the north, and the south. All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven.”
18 Early in the morning Jacob took the stone that was near his head and set it up as a marker. He poured oil on top of it 19 and named the place Bethel, though previously the city was named Luz. 20 Then Jacob made a vow: “If God will be with me and watch over me during this journey I’m making, if he provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear, 21 and if I return safely to my father’s family, then the Lord will be my God. 22 This stone that I have set up as a marker will be God’s house, and I will give to you a tenth of all that you give me.[1]
GENESIS 29:1-30
- Jacob goes to Haran and comes to a well in the field.
- Men who know Laban speak to Jacob and point to Rachel who is coming to feed Laban’s sheep.
- Jacob rolls the stone away from the well and waters Laban’s sheep for Rachel and then kisses her.
- Jacob weeps loudly and shares with Rachel that he is Rebekah’s son. (Laban’s nephew).
- Laban runs to greet Jacob.
- Jacob lives and works there for a month.
- Laban has two daughters, Leah and Rebekah.
- “Leah had tender eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.”[2] (Genesis 29:17)
- Jacob offered to work for Laban for 7 years to be able to marry Rachel.
- 7 years seemed like days to Jacob.
- Jacob requested to sleep with Rachel.
- A wedding feast was had… wine served.
- Laban led Leah into the bed of Jacob.
- When he awoke, he realized it was Leah.
- Laban told him if he stayed and worked another 7 years, he would give Rachel to him that week.
- Jacob agreed and also married Rachel.
- Laban gave both Leah and Rachel slaves as their own.
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was neglected, he opened her womb; but Rachel was unable to conceive. 32 Leah conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has seen my affliction; surely my husband will love me now.”
33 She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “The Lord heard that I am neglected and has given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon.
34 She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “At last, my husband will become attached to me because I have borne three sons for him.” Therefore he was named Levi.
35 And she conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.[3]
GENESIS 30:1-24
- This similar scene unfolds for years to come.
- Jacob & Leah – Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah
- Jacob & Bilhah (Rachel’s slave) – Dan, Naphtali
- Jacob & Zipah (Leah’s slave) – Gad, Asher
- Jacob & Leah (after mandrakes) – Issachar, Zebulun & Dinah
GENESIS 30:25-43
- Jacob negotiated with Laban to split the flock that Jacob had grown and made Laban wealthy.
- After years, Jacob ended up with the healthier flock.
- Jacob’s flocks have multiplied over and over and Laban’s have decreased.
- Laban began to look at Jacob with “attitude”.
- Jacob, Rachel, and Leah flee to Canaan while Laban is out shearing his sheep.
- Rachel even steals his household idols.
- Laban comes after Jacob and the crew.
- He overtakes them in Gilead (west of Jordan River)
- He was told by God the night before not to say anything or harm Jacob.
- He accuses Jacob of stealing his idols.
- He searches all the tents.
- Jacob doesn’t know Rachel stole idols.
- Rachel is sitting on her camel with the idols in the saddlebags.
- She tells her father she can’t get up because she is on her period.
- Laban never discovers idols.
- Jacob and Laban discuss and agree to mark this place where neither man will cross to hurt the other man.
- Laban kisses and blesses his family and returns to his home.
GENESIS 32:1-24
- Jacob travels south towards Esau and plans to meet with him.
- He devises this plan that splits his possessions into two camps.
- He sends servants ahead with a portion of his flock to appease Esau before they meet.
- At night, he crossed the river Jabbock with his wives.
GENESIS 32:24-32
24 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not defeat him, he struck Jacob’s hip socket as they wrestled and dislocated his hip. 26 Then he said to Jacob, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 “What is your name?” the man asked.
“Jacob,” he replied.
28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” he said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”
29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.”
But he answered, “Why do you ask my name?” And he blessed him there.
30 Jacob then named the place Peniel, “For I have seen God face to face,” he said, “yet my life has been spared.” 31 The sun shone on him as he passed by Penuel,—limping because of his hip. 32 That is why, still today, the Israelites don’t eat the thigh muscle that is at the hip socket: because he struck Jacob’s hip socket at the thigh muscle.[5]
GENESIS 33:1-19
1 Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slave women. 2 He put the slaves and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3 He himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times until he approached his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. Then they wept. 5 When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?”
He answered, “The children God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the slaves and their children approached him and bowed down. 7 Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.
8 So Esau said, “What do you mean by this whole procession I met?”
“To find favor with you, my lord,” he answered.
9 “I have enough, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what you have.”
10 But Jacob said, “No, please! If I have found favor with you, take this gift from me. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face, since you have accepted me. 11 Please take my present that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have everything I need.” So Jacob urged him until he accepted.
12 Then Esau said, “Let’s move on, and I’ll go ahead of you.” [6]
- Jacob and his crew slowly made their way to Succoth and built a temporary compound.
- By the end of the chapter, he has relocated to Canaan.
- Throughout Jacob’s story, he communicates with God, and God communicates with him.
- God made a promise to Jacob, and He always keeps His promises.
- Jacob keeps moving ahead with some fear, some doubt, some preparation… but he always trusts that God will keep His promises.
[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 28:10–22.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 29:17.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 29:31–35.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 30:22–24.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 32:24–32.
[6] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 33:1–12.