The Book of Genesis:Perspectives

Chapters 27:1-31:55

“Life of Jacob”

“in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”

Announcements– Sympathy to Lowell Rickey and Jane Mauch in the loss of their wife and

sister, Jean Rickey, who passed away Wednesday, January 27. The funeral was February 1 in Sapulpa, OK.

– Did you notice the new West Side sign?

– Ladies are invited to Pajama Rama Movie Night Friday, January 29, 6:30 PM, in the chapel. RSVP to the office.

– Youth Super Bowl Party & Devo Sunday, February 7, 4:30 PM, at the home of Bill & Kelli Helms. Everyone bring sodas, guys bring finger foods, and girls bring desserts.

– Those wanting a CHRISTeens t-shirt can sign up at the table, by the chapel. Cost is $12.00 each. The deadline to order a t-shirt is Feb 10th.

– Please sign up for CHRISTeens Housing. CHRISTeens is the last weekend of this month and 25 families have signed up so far. The sign up list is in the foyer.

– Help Needed: a single mom needs a couch or love seat. Please contact Vicki Betterton, 967.2149 or 747.2149.

“in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”

Prayer List• Carolyn Williams – St. Mary’s #201.

• Bill Hilton – St. Mary’s #377 after surgery for a broken hip.

• Paul Hogan – transferred to Legacy Lodge #49 February 2.

• Don Todd – knee replacement February 4, at AR Surgical Center.

• Lagrand Strickland, Jennifer Humphrey’s friend, Afghanistan

GenesisWeek Date Topic

1 09 Dec 09 Introduction and the Creation: 1:1-2:25 (Ben)

2 16 Dec 09 The Fall: 3:1-5:32

3 23 Dec 09 Elder Selection Discussion (Herb)

4 30 Dec 09 The Flood: 6:1-9:29

5 06 Jan 10 Table of Nations/Tower of Babel: 10:1-11:9

6 13 Jan 10 Life of Abraham – Part 1: 11:10-16:16

7 20 Jan 10 Life of Abraham – Part 2: 17-23; 25:1-10

8 27 Jan 10 Life of Isaac: 24; 25:11-26:35

9 03 Feb 10 Life of Jacob: 27:1-31:55

10 10 Feb 10 Jacob and Esau: 32:1-36:43 (Ben)

11 17 Feb 10 Life of Joseph – Corruption: 37:1-38:30

12 24 Feb 10 Life of Joseph – Exaltation: 39:1-41:57

13 03 Mar 10 Life of Joseph – Salvation: 42:1-50:25

Today’s Objectives• Provide a review of last week’s lesson• Review a map of the area where Isaac lived• Provide a summary of Genesis 27-31• See how Jacob steals his fathers blessing• Find out the real reason Jacob flees to Haran• Learn how Jacob meets Rachel and what Laban

wants from Jacob in return for Rachel• Learn why the relationship between Laban

deteriorates• Learn why Jacob leaves Haran to return home and

see what happens in route

Last week• Provided a review of last week’s about Abraham

and Sarah

• Studied a map of the area where Isaac lived

• Reviewed Genesis 24-26

• Learned how Isaac and Rebekah came to be married

• Learned how God blesses Isaac

• Reviewed the account of Ishmael

• Learned about the birth of Esau and Jacob

• Learned why Esau sells his birthright

• Learned about God's covenant with Isaac

Authorship • Bible scholars attribute Genesis to Moses

– Inspired by God, Moses was the human instrument through which God spoke

– Also attributed to writing the first five books of the bible

• Date of writing– Uncertain– Probably between 1500-1400 BC– Spans more time than any other book of the Bible– Approximately 2370 years, more time than the other 65

books combined– Oldest and most detailed record of ancient history in

existence

Terminology• Bereshith

– Hebrew name for the book meaning “in the beginning”

• Septuagint– Oldest Greek translation of the OT, around 270 BC

• Torah– Hebrew word for “the law”, refers to the first five books

• Pentateuch– Greek name for the first five books of the OT

• Dead Sea Scrolls– Ancient manuscripts found in 1947 contain parts of all

books of the OT except Esther, confirming translations

1

2 2

3

3

4

4

Travels of Jacob

Genesis 27 Highlights

• Transitions to the life of Jacob

• We find examples where he lives up to the Hebrew meaning of his name – deceiver– He first stole his brother’s birthright

– Now he steals his fathers blessing due (27:1-25)

• Esau becomes very angry (27:34-36)

• As a result, Rebekah advises Jacob to flee to Haran where her brother, Laban, lived (27:43-45)

Isaac’s Blessing (27:1-13)

• It is time for Isaac to bestow a blessing on Esau as the first-born (v. 1-4)– Isaac is around 137 years old– Asks Esau to provide him a meal before he is blessed– Blessing could not be given away once received

• Rebekah overhears Isaac and Esau – Instructs Jacob to hurry and provide a meal so he can

receive the blessing first (v.10-13)– Try to deceive Isaac, but why?– God had already said that Esau would serve Isaac, she

was trying to make sure

Stolen Blessing (27:14-33)• Jacob carries out Rebekah’s wishes

– Prepares the meal (v. 14-17)– Dresses to give the smell and touch of Esau

• Isaac blesses Jacob– Although Isaac somewhat suspect he was Jacob (v. 22)– Much deception on Jacob’s part– Claims he was Esau– States God had brought the food to him– Isaac still blesses him (vs. 28-29)

• Isaac returns soon thereafter– Prepared a meal, but discovers that Jacob had already

received the blessing, by deception (v. 30-33)

Esau’s Discovery (27:34-46)

• Esau becomes very bitter– Learns that Jacob will rule over Esau (v. 37)

• Isaac’s blessing upon Esau– He would have material blessings from God (v. 39)– Would live by the sword, but would prevail (v. 40)– Would serve Jacob, but would break away from his

control in time (v. 40, also see II Ki 8:20-22)

• An angry Esau decides to kill Jacob (v. 41)

• Rebekah advises Jacob to flee to Haran (v. 43)– But tells Isaac a different reason for Jacob’s departure (v.

46)

Chapter 28 Overview

• Jacob at Bethel

• God confirms the covenant with Jacob with Abraham

• Isaac sends Jacob to Padan-Aram (1-5)

• Esau marries the daughter of Ishmael (6-9)

• The vision of Jacob’s ladder (10-19)

• Jacob makes a vow to God (20-22)

Jacob’s Travels to Padan-Aram (28:1-9)

• Isaac sends Jacob away (1-5)– Did not want Jacob to have a Canaanite wife– Padan-Aram, home of Rebekah– Reminder of the blessing

• Esau marries the daughter of Ishmael (6-9)– Infers that his previous wives were Canaanite women– Saw Isaac’s wishes in Jacob’s being sent to Padan-Aram– Marries Mahalath, daughter of Ishmael

Jacob at Bethel (28:10-22)

• Jacob travels towards Haran– Remains over night and uses a stone for a pillow– Dreams about a ladder reaching to heaven– God was at the top of the ladder– God confirms the covenant with Jacob (v. 13-15,

compare with Gen 22:18 and 26:4

• Jacob wakes up– Took the stone he used for a pillow and poured oil on it– Set it up for a pillar– Named the place Bethel (v. 19)

• Jacob’s vow to God (v. 20-22)

Chapter 29

• Jacob acquires wives and starts having children with those wives

• Jacob comes to the well of Haran (1-8)

• Meets Rachel and finds Laban (9-14)

• Jacob’s covenant with Laban for Rachel (15-30)

• Leah’s sons (31-35)

Jacob and Rachel (29:1-14)

• Jacob arrives at the well of Haran (v. 2)– Several flocks of sheep with herdsman– He inquires about Laban (v. 5)– Rachel arrives with sheep (v. 6)

• Jacob and Rachel meet– Kisses Rachel, informs her that he is related to her father – She ran back to inform her father, Laban

• Laban runs to meet Jacob– Jacob stays with Laban for a month

Jacob’s Covenant with Laban (29:15-35)

• Jacob states that he should not work for free– Discussed pay with Laban– Jacob asks for Rachel in return for work (v. 18)– Jacob says he will work for seven years as payment for

Rachel, which he does (v. 17-20)

• Laban goes back on his word– Does not give him Rachel, gives him Leah– Jacob did not realize it until the morning, but he was

committed to Leah, works another deal for Rachel– Costs him another seven years (v. 30)

• Leah gives birth to Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah

Chapter 30

• Children of Jacob

• Other children born to Jacob including Joseph by Rachel (1-24)

• Jacob’s new agreement with Laban to work for him for cattle (25-43)

Children of Jacob (30:1-24)

Jacob’s New Agreement (30:24-43)

• Once Joseph was born, Jacob asks Laban for permission to back to Canaan (v. 25)– Laban did not want this

• Jacob relates to Laban how much Laban’s wealth has increased since Jacob was around (v. 30)– Jacob ultimately concedes and stays for a price– All speckled and spotted livestock, brown livestock– Laban separates the spotted livestock, implying Jacob

would only get future offspring– Jacob concocts a mixuture that causes animals to be born

speckled and spotted, providing many more livestock

Chapter 31

• Jacob returns to his homeland after working for Laban for twenty years

• Jacob’s secret departure from Laban (1-21)

• Laban’s pursuit of Jacob (23-35)

• Jacob’s complaint of Laban’s conduct (36-42)

• Covenant between Jacob and Laban at Galeed (43-55)

Jacob Leaves Haran (31:1-21)

• Laban’s family not happy with what Jacob was doing (v. 1-2)– Jacob’s scheme was working too well– Laban was no longer pleased with him

• God directs Jacob to return home (v. 3-16)– Jacob explains his plan to his wives (v. 4-10)– Gives reasons (Laban changing the agreement)

• Jacob departs with his wives (v. 17-21)– In packing, Rachel had stolen idols belonging to Laban– Jacob did not tell Laban he was going– Laban then goes out after Jacob

Laban Pursues Jacob (31:23-55)

• Laban catches up with Jacob– Near the hill country of Gilead (v. 23)– God warns Laban about his contact with Jacob (v. 24)– Confrontation between Jacob and Laban (v. 25-29)– Big issue were the idols/gods (v. 30)

• They agree to a covenant– Jacob would not harm Laban’s daughters, take other

wives besides his daughters (v. 50)– Not traverse the land beyond the Galeed (v. 51)– Jacob and his family proceed to Canaan (v. 55)

Review• Provided a review of last week’s lesson• Reviewed a map of the area where Isaac lived• Provided a summary of Genesis 27-31• Saw how Jacob deceived Isaac and stole his blessing• Rebekah advises Jacob to flee for Haran or else Esau

may kill him• Jacob meets Rachel, ask Laban if he can marry her;

however, he must labor many years• Jacob and Laban’s relationship deteriorates• Jacob leaves Haran to return home, Laban catches

him, and a covenant is made• Next week – Jacob and Esau, Gen 32-36