Bob Feather February 8th, 2008

English Language Bible Study Guide for February 8, 2008

Jacob and his family blend in with their neighbors. Or not.

Genesis 34

I.  The prince’s Di (1-5:)

1: “Going out” is not a crime is it? Wanting to “see” what’s going on around you is not a crime is it?

2: A significant point is that Shechem “defiled” Dinah. (Compare “defiled”/”humbled” in verses 5 & 13, “folly” in verse 7, “as with a harlot” in verse 31.)

3: Is this affection a turn of events?

II. The pre-wedding proposal (6-17:)

6, 8-12: Negotiating for a bride

9-10: Why can’t we just get along with one another?

11-12: Shechem speaks with Dinah’s father

14-17: Using religion as an excuse for sin

III. Love and greed can make a man do the most painful things (18-24:)

19: At least Shechem wasn’t thinking about the money as were his neighbors

23: It’s like a big corporate takeover–we give a little with this circumcision thing, but then we get a lot when we have our people in place.

IV. Slaying the innocent with the guilty (25-31:)

25: How much boldness does it take to charge the enemy when his pants are down?

26: Dinah was in the house? Voluntarily?

27-29: Spoiling the enemy. Or were they?

30: Sons #2 and #3 disgrace themselves, dishonor their father and endanger their families.

31: Yes, Shechem had done wrong. But that doesn’t justify Simeon and Levi’s conduct.

Meditation Points:

1. Innocent amusement often leads us into trouble, whether we ask for it or not.
2. It may not be possible, at this late date, to determine Dinah’s part, if any, in encouraging Shechem; but surely her brothers thought that she had been mistreated.
3. Laban said that custom forbad Rachel’s marrying before Leah’s; Jacob’s sons go one better and plead that religious custom requires all in-laws to be circumcised.
4. Greedily the men consented to circumcision, not suspecting what would occur 3 days later
5. Can anyone justify the mass murder that took place?
6. Simeon and Levi remove themselves from the line of Messiah’s descent.

Genesis 35

I. Out with the images once for all (1-5:)

2: Jacob knew that people in his household were holding (and using) idols/images

4: But all false religion must be put away if he and they were to walk with God

4: Earrings?

5: Fear of God in the hearts of would-be attackers kept Jacob’s family safe

II. The covenant confirmed (again) (6-15:)

6: As instructed, Jacob journeyed back to Bethel

10: The name change revisited

11: El-Shaddai. The God of Abraham

14: The drink offering is poured out–not drunk.

III. The twelfth son (16-20:)

18: With her dying breath Rachel named him “Benoni”, but Jacob called him “Benjamin.”

20: Jacob erected another pillar

IV. Jacob visits his father before Isaac dies (21-29:)

22. Reuben, the firstborn, removes himself from the line of descent

23-26: Jacob’s 12 sons listed

27: Finally back home

28-29: Isaac died at age 180.

Meditation Points:

1. Do you have any idols or images which you should bury?
2. Are your father and grandfather believers?
3. Pillars, reminders of having met God. Do you carry any reminders of precious seasons of fellowship with God?
4. Often, when we are trying hardest to please God, others close to us jump into sin.
5. Isaac was old and weak-eyed at the time of Jacob’s departure. But God graciously granted that Jacob could see his father again after more than 20 years apart.

Tags: Dinah

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Bob Feather February 7th, 2008

Trinity International Baptist Church of Athens, Greece

English Language Bible Study Guide for February 7, 2008

Jacob returns home

Genesis 32

I.  Jacob sees angels (1-2:)

1: Angels are messenger-servants of God (Hebrews 1:14) who go where God sends them

2: Jacob recognized them for what they were

II. Jacob sends messengers to Esau (3-8:)

3: Jacob had his own “angels” whom he sent to prepare the way for a reunion with his estranged brother Esau.

6: Abraham had victory with 300 men against armies; what will Esau do with 400 men against Jacob’s household?

7-8: Jacob determines to divide his group into two companies

III. Jacob asks God to protect him (9-12:)

9: Jacob reminds God that He has been faithful to Jacob’s Grandfather and Father

10: Unworthy

12: Jacob relies on God’s faithfulness to His promises

IV. Jacob sends peace offerings to Esau (13-23:)

14-19: The gifts are sent in waves, one after the other

20: Jacob’s goal was to buy Esau’s favor

V. Jacob wrestles with God (24-32:)

24: A restless night wrestling with God

25: Can Man win a contest like this?

26: Determination to receive God’s blessing

27-28: Name changed from “Jacob” to “Israel”. Jacob’s grandmother was named “Princess” by God; now Jacob is named “Prince”.

29: Jacob wanted to know God’s name. Did he learn it?

30: Is it possible to see God face to face?

31: Jacob’s limp

32: A dietary custom

Meditation Points:

When we pray and mention God’s specific promises we are praying in faith, asking and believing that God will do all that He promised.

Why would someone who knows God have to fight with God?

Genesis 33

I. Jacob meets Esau (1-4:)

1-2: Jacob sends the handmaids and their children first, followed by Leah and her children and then Rachel and Joseph.

3: He runs ahead of the women and children to meet Esau

4: Esau greets Jacob like the long-lost prodigal brother that he was

II. Jacob introduces his family (5-7:)

5-7: Jacob gives God credit for such a large family

6-8: The women in turn present themselves and their children before Esau

III. Jacob insists that Esau keep the gifts (8-13:)

8: Esau asks the meaning of the groups of animals that had preceded Jacob and his family; and Jacob personally declares them to be a gift intended to allay Esau’s wrath

9-11: Jacob insists that Esau accept the gifts which Jacob has received from God.

11-12: Esau agrees to keep the animals, and suggests that Jacob and his family go home together

13: Jacob asks to be excuse from the journey for the sake of the women and children

Meditation Points:

Should we attempt to buy someone’s affections?

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Bob Feather February 6th, 2008

Trinity International Baptist Church of Athens, Greece

English language Bible study guide for February 6, 2008

Genesis 31: Jacob and his family leave the house of Laban

I.  Jacob discusses leaving with his wives (1-16:)

3: It is the Lord who tells Jacob that it’s time to leave

4-13: Jacob tells Rachel and Leah what’s on his mind

5: His relationship with Laban is not what it used to be

6: He has served Laban faithfully

7: He has had his wages changed ten times

7, 9, 11, 13: God has protected, provided and prophesied to him

13: God remembers Jacob’s vow

14-16: Rachel and Leah bemoan the fact that their father has treated them like slaves

16: The wives agree that Jacob should do what God has told him to do

II. Jacob leaves, and Laban catches up a week later (17-24:)

17-20: Jacob leaves with his wives and children, his servants and his flocks–without telling Laban

19: Rachel steal’s her father’s images. More on this later

22. Jacob had a three-day lead, and Laban caught up with him after seven days’ journey

24: God strictly warned Laban not to badger Jacob

III. Jacob is accuses of having stolen Laban’s idols (25-35:)

26: Laban requires an explanation for Jacob’s sudden departure

27: He suggests that there should have been a grand farewell party first

28: He regrets not having kissed his family before their departure

29: Laban boasts of his power to hurt Jacob, but concedes that God forbids it

30: He understands that Jacob might be homesick; but Laban wonders why Jacob would steal Laban’s gods (cp. "images" of verse 19).

31: Jacob says he was afraid of what Laban might have done to prevent his family from traveling with Jacob

32: And, denying any knowledge of the missing idols, Jacob allows Laban to search the camp

34-35: Rachel claims to be unable to get up from her seat (over the idols) when Laban walks in, and thus successfully keeps the idols hidden

IV. Jacob defends himself against Laban’s accusations (36-42:)

36: When Laban cannot find the missing teraphim (idols, images), Jacob lashes out at such offensive false accusations

38: Jacob was supposed to visit Laban only a brief time, until Esau calmed down; but instead, Jacob stayed with Laban for 20 years.

42: Even now, Jacob says, if God were not on his side Laban would be stealing from him.

V. Jacob covenants with Laban never to harm him (43-55:)

44: A formal covenant of peace is made between Jacob and Laban

49: The Mizpah blessing. But was it that?

Meditation Points:

1. Jacob stuck at his job for 20 years; and God miraculously provided for his retirement.
2. Rachel and Leah felt that their father "sold" them.  That is what happened, isn’t it?
3. Jacob had vowed to serve God if God would protect him all the time in the foreign land; and now God is calling Jacob to be true to his word.
4. Good advice: do whatever God says to do.
5. Leaving without saying goodbye.
6. God stops Laban from hurting Jacob. Can God overrule the so-called free will of sinful man?
7. Do you see that these household images/idols/gods are VERY important to Laban? And Rachel knew it to be so! Man is so carnal that he thinks God must be carnal, too; and man makes images of God.
8. Rachel stole and then lied to cover it up. One sin often leads to another.
9. Setting up markers to remind us of our promises to others.

Tags: idol, image, Jacob, Laban, teraphim

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Bob Feather February 5th, 2008

Trinity International Baptist Church, English language Bible study guide for February 5, 2008

Unlike the old chewing gum jingle which promised “double the pleasure, double the fun” when a good flavor was doubled, Jacob’s life is askew when there are two wives in his household.

I. Rachel asks Jacob to have a child with her servant Bilhah (1-8:)

1-2: The envious complaint: “Give me children, or else I die.” The angry response: “Am I in God’s stead?”

3-5: Take my handmaid…and he did

6-8:  Jacob’s sons with Bilhah

• Dan
• Naphtali

II. Leah asks Jacob to have a child with her servant Zilpah (9-13:)

9: Take my handmaid…and he did

10-13: Jacob’s sons with Zilpah

• Gad
• Asher

III. Rachel bargains for mandrakes, and trades off her man (14-21:)

15:  True or False: Rachel took Leah’s husband

17-21: Jacob’s last three children with Leah

• Isaachar
• Zebulon
• Dinah (a daughter)

IV. Rachel has a child of her own (22-24:)

Jacob’s first son with Rachel

• Joseph

V. Jacob and Laban conduct an exit interview with salary negotiation (25-36:)

25: The birth of Joseph sparks homesickness in Jacob

26: He asks leave of Uncle Laban, wishing to take his (4) wives and (12) children with him

28: Laban offers to give Jacob for his service

31: Jacob does not want Laban to “give” him anything

32-33: They agree that Jacob will tend Laban’s animals one last time, with the understanding that Jacob is free to take all the animals with spotted or speckled hide.

35-36: Jacob will start with unblemished animals (the blemished animals are culled from the herds and flocks).

VI. A lesson in animal husbandry (37-43:)

37-41: Unusual selective breeding techniques at work

42: Jacob kept the strong animals for himself

Meditation Points:

1. Does God control who can have children and when those children will be born?
2. Remember the trouble that Sarah started when she urged Abraham to have a child by their servant Hagar? Rachel follows Sarah’s bad example; and not long afterwards, Leah follows too.
3. Only this time, the animosity in the home was not between the wife and the servant, but rather between the two wives.
4. Food got Esau into trouble over a birthright, and food got Isaac into trouble over a blessing. Rachel’s craving for fresh fruit gets her into trouble over Jacob
5. Notice the significance of the various names found in today’s reading.
6. Laban knows that God has blessed him because Jacob was around.
7. As Abraham didn’t want anything from the king of Sodom, so Jacob doesn’t want anything given to him by Laban.
8. Animals in heat surrounded by folks in polka dot dresses don’t bear spotted-skinned offspring.
9. Was Jacob’s breeding technique inspired or “lucky”?

Tags: Jacob, Rachel

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