Warming Up to God
What words would you use to describe the mercy of God? Thank him for each way he has shown mercy to you.
- Mercy. He forgives me every time I mess up. Whether it's a big sin or a small one, they are all forgiven. Completely, every time.
- If I live in the place where my sin takes over me, my selfishness begins to fester. It builds and builds until I can see little other than my wants. In this place, I am an ugly person. Undesirable to be around and eventually I don't even like myself. In his mercy, God brings me to that breaking point and I see myself clearly. Then I begin to come back into his arms. Sometimes it is a long time before I am able to pull myself out of this trap. Usually, if I am not daily living in the word and seeking God, I see nothing wrong with my selfish living.
Discovering the Word
When Rebekah hears of Esau's plan to kill Jacob, what strategy does she devise, and how does she persuade her son and husband to carry it out (27:41-46)?
- She tells Jacob that Esau will kill him if he stays.
- She tells Isaac that she is bereaved because of the evil women of the land. She does not want Jacob to marry them.
Describe what happens to Jacob on his first night away from home (28:10-15).
- When the sun goes down, he finds a rock to use as a pillow and lays down to sleep.
- He dreams of a latter that ascends into heaven. Angels are going both up and down this latter and at the top, God stands.
- God reiterates his promise to the line of Abraham. He tells Jacob, that even though he is leaving for a season, he will return to the land that God has promised him.
From Jacob's response to the dream, what clue can we get about his relationship to God at this point (28:16-22)?
- His response makes me think that perhaps up to this point, he did not have much to do with God. He went above and beyond in his promises; he shall be his God and he will give a tenth of what he earns to God.
- If God provides for Jacob, Jacob will follow him.
In what ways is Jacob's initial experience in Haran similar to and different from that of Abraham's chief servant many years earlier (29:1-18; see also 24:10-28)?
- They both journeyed far and then found themselves at a well.
- The servant asked God for a sign to find the right woman. Jacob was not necessarily looking for a match.
- Rebecca watered the servant's camels, while Jacob watered Rachel's sheep.
- Both matches seem to be love at first sight.
- Rebecca freely gave herself to Isaac, Jacob had to work for Rachel's hand.
Jacob meets his match and means of discipline in Laban. In what way does the latter's trickery repay Jacob for the exploitation of his father's blindness (29:19-24), and how is this situation resolved (29:25-30)?
- Jacob deceived his father in his blindness, Jacob was similarly blind when he took in Leah. Be it the veil that Leah wore or the drink he consumed at the celebration, Jacob was "blinded" from knowing who he was taking into the wedding chambers.
- Laban agreed to give Jacob his other daughter in exchange for 7 more years of work. Sadness upon sadness for Leah.
What impresses you about the relationships between Rachel and Leah (30:1-24)?
- There is a constant battle between the two women.
- Seemingly their only value is in how many children they can conceive. They are very manipulative in the ways that they relate to one another.
- The mandrake is an interesting story. Rachel effectively prostitutes Jacob to get Leah's precious mandrakes...which generates the opposite effect: Leah becomes pregnant and Rachel remains barren. Mandrakes are supposed to help you become fertile and they are very rare.
- There is never any love expressed between them. I think it would be hard to love someone with whom you are constantly competing with and sharing a husband. I am a very fortunate woman.
Applying the Word
A past sin or disobedience to God can leave us with a burden of guilt or failure. How can Jacob's experience renew our confidence in God's grace?
- I don't know. Jacob's experience is pretty daunting. His life with his two wives seems pretty miserable. The consequences of his lies and deceit are great.
- But, if what is meant here is his dream...well, God can give us vision to face the trials that that we face, whether they are consequences for our sins or just sad life situations.
- I am not necessarily paying for any sins now, but I remember the guilt and shame that I would feel when I was in college when Brian and I would get too intimate with one another. Thank God I am with him now, otherwise those feelings would still plague me today. I didn't know it, but God orchestrated my life so that I would end up with Brian, Hallelujah!
Spiritual maturity often comes through suffering. In what difficult situation do you now believe God is working to strengthen your faith and character?
- Kids. My beautiful bouncing (and bouncing and bouncing and....) baby boys. They have more energy than they know what to do with and they test my limits daily. I think I have become a more patient person through this. I have certainly learned how to manage my time better!
Responding in Prayer
Spend time thanking God for his care and discipline in your life.
- Thanks! Thank you for discipline? There is something backward about that! True, however. I can see it in the high school kids that I teach. The kids that are given free reign to do anything that they want have major authority issues and they don't really feel like anyone's opinion is worth anything.
- So yes, thank you. There is so much in this life to learn. There are books upon books of how to make yourself a better person, a more successful person, a more happy person. Thank you for a direct line to the source of all happiness and contentment. Overall, I am pretty content!
