Genesis 33
Notes
Transcript
And not only that, but Rebekah conceived children through one man, our father Isaac. For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger. As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.
THE BINDING OF ISAAC
This chapter introduces 2 important concepts:
Substitutionary atonement (dying in the place of another to make things right)
Belief in the resurrection after death
Exodus 20:16 (CSB)
Do not give false testimony against your neighbor.
Remember that Genesis is building up to the rest of the Torah, which builds to Jesus. Abraham’s family is one of liars…so no surprise that not giving false testimony is a top ten commandment.
Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 20)
Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God, because the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.
In the previous chapter, we saw Jacob’s name is a wordplay on “heel”, since he was grabbing Esau’s heel when they were born (perhaps to stop him from being born first). As adults, Jacob buy’s Esau’s birthright (inheritance, clan leadership, etc.) for some lentil stew. Jacob is about to deceive his father, but deception is embedded in their family makeup.
Jacob’s (Ya’aqob) name is a play on heel (aqeb) and cheat (aqab). Jacob is called a cheater by Esau later on. The name Jacob probably is related to the phrase “God Protects” (Ya’qabal’el), and God does indeed protect Jacob. God will ultimately change his name to Israel (meaning “God struggles’).
Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 25)
But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said to her:Two nations are in your womb;two peoples will come from you and be separated.One people will be stronger than the other,and the older will serve the younger.
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What does your dream house look like?
How can you tell a couple is married?
Can children avoid the sins of their parents?
Have an example when in-laws actually were the bad guys?
Moms, how far would you go to protect your favorite son?
Have you ever accidentally done the right thing?
Why is gluttony a deadly sin?
How do you recover from parenting mistakes?
Why do we copy others? Why do we fail?
Do you get angrier at people who are close, or people who aren’t?
Have you ever made a deal with God?
What do people think heaven is like?
What magic beans do we chase?
What do you do after you have been betrayed?
If you shared a husband with your sister, and he was actually your cousin, how would you make it work?
Who are some unsung heroes?
Does your road with God slow down sometimes?
Do you reward your kids more than they deserve?
Do families have personalities? Do they change? Who changes them?
Has there always been a struggle between science and religion?
What ridiculous things have envy led you to do? What about that one coworker?
Are there moral lies?
Is hard work rewarded? Should it be?
Do life events change our personality?
Rachel; meaning “ewe”. Younger daughter of Laban. Second and favorite wife of Jacob. Mother of Joseph and Benjamin. One of the two matriarchs of Israel, along with her older sister Leah. Like her grandmother-in-law, Sarah, she is barren and jealous of another woman. Like her mother-in-law Rebekah, she is barren and a trickster. Rebekah asks the Lord for death during her pregnancy, and Rachel dies in pregnancy. Rachael is a pagan, loved by Jacob, while her sister Leah honors the Lord and is not loved by Jacob.
Leah, meaning “gazelle.” Older daughter of Laban and Jacob’s first wife. Leah bore six sons to Jacob (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun) and a daughter (Dinah). Her handmaid, Zilpah, bore two sons to Jacob (Gad, Asher), which by the law of that day were officially Leah’s. When Jacob returned to Palestine from Padan-Aram, Leah and her children were placed in front of Rachel and Joseph, evidently to absorb any violence from Esau, Jacob’s brother. This is indicative of the less-favored status of Leah to Rachel. Leah died in Palestine and was buried in the cave at Machpelah, where lay the remains of Abraham, Isaac, and their wives.
The main theme of Genesis 30 is sibling conflict between Jacob’s wives Leah and Rachel, who compete for his love and children. Another theme is God’s blessing on Jacob and his family, who multiply in number and wealth despite human schemes and deception. A third theme is God’s sovereignty over human fertility and destiny, as He alone opens or closes a woman’s womb and fulfills His promises to Jacob.
Rachel is barren and envies her sister Leah, who has four sons with Jacob. She gives her servant Bilhah to Jacob as a surrogate mother and names the two sons she bears: Dan and Naphtali.
Leah stops having children and gives her servant Zilpah to Jacob as well. She names the two sons she bears: Gad and Asher.
Leah’s son Reuben finds some mandrakes, a plant believed to enhance fertility, and brings them to his mother. Rachel asks for some of them and Leah agrees in exchange for Jacob sleeping with her that night. Leah conceives two more sons, and a daughter: Dinah.
God remembers Rachel and opens her womb. She conceives a son and names him Joseph, meaning “may he add”.
The main theme of Genesis 31 is Jacob’s departure from Laban and his return to his homeland. The chapter details several conflicts between Jacob and Laban over Jacob’s wealth, Laban’s idols, and a covenant they make at Mizpah. The chapter also shows how God protects and guides Jacob throughout his journey.
Jacob left Laban for several reasons. First, he heard that Laban’s sons were envying him for his wealth and accusing him of taking their father’s property. Second, he noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not friendly anymore. Third, he felt that it was time to return to his homeland and build his own household. Fourth, he received a command from God to go back to the land of his fathers and his relatives with a promise of God’s presence.
When do you not trust a handshake?
Have you ever lied about your period?
When do the bonds of family overcome family rivalry?
When God blesses you, are you upset that it took so long and you worked so hard?
Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he answered, “Why do you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. Jacob then named the place Peniel, “For I have seen God face to face,” he said, “yet my life has been spared.” The sun shone on him as he passed by Penuel—limping because of his hip. 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.
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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. He put the slaves and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. He himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times until he approached his brother.
But Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. Then they wept. 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.” Then the slaves and their children approached him and bowed down. Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.
When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.” ’ So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.
So Esau said, “What do you mean by this whole procession I met?” “To find favor with you, my lord,” he answered. “I have enough, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what you have.” 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. 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.
Then Esau said, “Let’s move on, and I’ll go ahead of you.” Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and I have nursing flocks and herds. If they are driven hard for one day, the whole herd will die. Let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a pace suited to the livestock and the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.” Esau said, “Let me leave some of my people with you.” But he replied, “Why do that? Please indulge me, my lord.”
That day Esau started on his way back to Seir, but Jacob went to Succoth. He built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth. After Jacob came from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at Shechem in the land of Canaan and camped in front of the city. He purchased a section of the field where he had pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver. And he set up an altar there and called it God, the God of Israel.
What should Jacob have done?
What memorials do you put up?
Jacob wanted food, clothes, and family. What do you want from God?
Are there similarities between these verses and your life?
What did Esau want from his father? Could God have replaced it?
What did you want from your father?
What are you giving your children?
Where was God in this story?
Christian Standard Bible Chapter 11
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
How do I keep from becoming like Isaac?
What should have Rebekah done differently?
Why would God use this mess?
Applications
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