Notes: Genesis 28-29

Trinity International Baptist Church of Athens, Greece

English language Bible study Guide for February 4, 2008

 

Continuing the narrative of Genesis 27, we find Isaac personally blessing Jacob and sending him to find a wife.

Genesis 28

I.  Jacob’s father blesses him (1-5:)

1: Be careful whom you marry

3-4: Remember your grandfather’s God

II. Jacob’s brother despises him (6-9:)

As though marrying two Hittite women wasn’t enough, Esau adds an Ishmaelite wife.

III. Jacob’s dream, in which God visits him (10-22:)

12:

John 1:51  And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

13-15: God’s covenant with Abraham now becomes God’s covenant with Jacob

16: Surely the Lord is in this place

19: Bethel-house of God

20: A conditional vow-If God will do this…then I will do this…

  • God must be with me and keep me and feed and clothe me
  • I will, then, accept the Lord as my God and I will give 10% of all of God’s blessing back to the ministry

 

Meditation Points:

  1. Christian parents should do what they can to introduce their children to children who will not be an evil influence
  2. Marrying cousins was not illegal in those days
  3. “Faith of our Fathers” is a wonderful song; but if the only faith you have is that of your fathers, then you have no faith of your own, you have no faith at all
  4. Does not God promise to keep his children today and to be with them forever?
  5. Recognizing the presence of God
  6. A commitment to tithe

 

Genesis 29

I. Jacob meets Rachel (1-11:)

10: Jacob’s gentlemanly ways charm Rachel

II. Jacob meets Rachel’s father (12-20:)

15: Laban invites Jacob to stay and offers him a job with the stipulation that Jacob be paid

18: Jacob offers to work 7 years for Laban provided that Rachel may be his wife after the 7 years

III. Jacob marries Rachel’s sister (21-28:)

23: Laban tricks Jacob

26: Laban makes a lame excuse

27: Laban offers Rachel

IV. Jacob marries Rachel (29-30:)

29: True to his word (this time), Laban allows Jacob to marry Rachel, too

30: Jacob loved Rachel more than he loved Leah

V. Jacob has four sons with Leah (31-35:)

31: Rachel was barren (Remember Sarah and Rebekah)

32-35: Leah’s sons

  1. Reuben
  2. Simeon
  3. Levi
  4. Judah

 

Meditation Points:

  1. Isaac’s bride came because of camels; Jacob’s bride came because of sheep.
  2. Sometimes lying, conniving men can be gentlemen
  3. Laban’s warm welcome is short-lived. Was there bitterness over the loss of Rebekah?
  4. How can you love someone with all your heart when there are two “someone”s?

 

 

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