Today’s passage: Genesis 38:1-30

Helpful thoughts:

• The account written in this chapter seems like a major break in the ongoing narrative of Genesis.  But, it will become critically important as things move along.
  • In this chapter, we see a depravity of sin in Judah and his household (His sons).  But, then we also get to see a turning point in Judah’s life.  A turning point that leads to major changes in his actions that bring about major implications in the history of Israel.
• It’s possible Tamar was covering her face when she heard Judah was coming to show she still considered herself betrothed to Judah’s youngest son, Shelah.  Once she realized Judah had no intention to fulfill his agreement, she changed her strategy.
  • What Tamar did wasn’t right.  Judah still later acknowledged, “She is more righteous than I.”
• When Judah found out Tamar was pregnant through immorality, he was ready to put her to death.  His hypocrisy would soon turn into a humbling.

Questions to consider:

1. If this was truly of time of humbling and repentance in Judah’s life, how would we expect him to act differently going forward?  What does true repentance look like (Ephesians 4:17-24)?
2. Why had Judah kept Shelah away from Tamar in the first place?  Who did he see as the dangerous one?  Who were actually the ones who were dangerous?  Why?  How had Judah’ sin blinded him from reality?  How did the confrontation he received (And the Lord’s grace to open his eyes) cause him to begin to see things differently?
3. What have we come to expect from these unique accounts of twins and the firstborn status?  What is the reader to expect concerning Perez?  Who came from his lineage (Ruth 4:18-22)?

Today’s passage: Genesis 37:1-36

Helpful thoughts:

• Verse 1 makes clear, what wasn’t true of Esau (who moved to the land of Seir) was true of Jacob.  Jacob was the inheritor of the promise, and from here on out, the narrative will follow his descendants.  The chapter begins with the trademark, “These are the generations of…” Jacob.
• Joseph was “loved more than all his brothers” by Jacob, he gave bad reports (A tattle tale?), and he dreamed dreams where they all bowed down to him.  All this made for a poor relationship.
  • Even Jacob questioned the meaning of the dreams, but he did not disregard them.
  • The coat Jacob gave to Joseph likely designated him as the likely heir.
  • The brothers became jealous.
• Caught up in their anger and jealousy, the brothers conspired to kill and then sold Joseph into slavery.
  • The sons deceived their father with the blood of a goat, just as Jacob had deceived his father with the skin of a goat.
  • The deception continued as the sons sought to comfort Jacob during his mourning (Knowing what they had truly done).

Questions to consider:

1. What seemed to be true concerning the relationship Joseph had with his brothers?  What kind of young man was he?  Why did his brothers hate him so much?  How much (If any) of that was his own doing?
2. What could have motivated Reuben to seek to spare Joseph’s life?  What could have motivated Judah to do the same, but in the form of selling Joseph into slavery?  What might they have wanted?
3. Joseph is seen as a type of Christ in the Old Testament.  In what ways does the account of Joseph already remind us of what would later happen to Jesus Christ?

Today’s passage: Genesis 36:1-43

Helpful thoughts:

• Today’s passage closes the chapter on the life of Esau (“These are the generations of Esau”).  Once we finish reading his genealogy, we will move forward to the next generation.
• The wealth of Esau was such that his and Jacob’s household could not dwell in the same area.  The same proved to be true in Seir.  Esau’s descendants (The Edomites) took over the region.
  • Esau’s family produced fourteen chiefs (Or tribes) compared to Seir’s five.
• The shift away from tribal leaders to a monarchy happened in Edom long before it ever took place in Israel.

Questions to consider:

1. In what way had “two nations” been in the womb of Rebekah back in Genesis 25:23?  Why was it important for us to know what came of Esau’s lineage?
2. How was the nation of Israel to be different than all the other nations?  Who was to be their king?  How does this chapter show they often were the same (1 Samuel 8:19-20)?
3. With the account of where Esau’s descendants dwelled, what also becomes clear concerning Jacob’s and Esau’s place in inheriting the promise?  Though Esau became wealthy and his family became a nation, what did he not receive?  What part of the promise was far more significant than the land and the possessions (Hebrews 9:15)?

Today’s passage: Genesis 35:1-29

Helpful thoughts:

• In the midst of Jacob’s great fear of the retaliation of the surrounding people after his sons destroyed Shechem, God met his need.
  • Jacob and all his household move away from Shechem.
  • His household is purified.  All the false gods are done away with.
  • Jacob builds an altar where God first spoke to him (Bethel).  This altar and their worship was a sign of the faithfulness of God.
• At Bethel, God reiterated and confirmed His promise to Jacob.  God’s promise was given to Abraham, Isaac, and to Jacob and all who came from him (Israel).
• As this section of narrative comes to a close, many details to the account are wrapped up:
  • Rachel bears another son and dies in childbirth.
  • Reuben sins against God, his father and Bilhah.
    • This may have been an attempt to claim his place as the firstborn and heir of his father’s household/possessions.  It did not work (Genesis 49:3-4).
  • Isaac (Jacob’s father) dies at the age of 180.
    • Jacob and Esau are reunited again to bury him, without any further detail.

Questions to consider:

1. Why didn’t Jacob’s fears of retaliation come true?  What did God do to preserve Jacob’s household (And His promises)?
2. Why do you think the details in the second half of this chapter are so brief in their telling?  In what way are verses 9-15 the end of this chapter in God’s grand narrative?  What had come to a conclusion?
3. Even though it appears some people’s earthly stories ended in this chapter, how is the grand narrative continuing to move along?  Ultimately, what are we to be learning about God through these accounts, through this portion of the book of Genesis?

Today’s passage: Genesis 34:1-31

Helpful thoughts:

• The mention of Dinah wanting to meet the women of the land carries a negative connotation (27:46).  But it also assures the reader, Dinah had no intentions to spend time with any of the men.
  • Shechem sinned and violated Dinah.  He sinfully followed his selfish desires to take her in the first place.  Once he wanted Dinah to be his wife, he continued to follow his passions into making huge promises and offers.
• The sons of Jacob used deception as their father had many times.  But, their deception went further than anything their father had ever done.
  • Circumcision for the children of Israel was to be a sign of blessing.  It was used in this instance as a deception and path to destruction.
• Jacob previously feared Esau’s revenge.  Now he had reason to fear the revenge of the surrounding people in Canaan.  His household could have been known and regarded as invaders and killers.   The people could have felt threatened and fought back.

Questions to consider:

1. All the brothers (Or most) were involved in the deception and the looting, but Jacob specifically called out Simeon and Levi.  Why were they the focus of his rebuke?  What did they do that went beyond justice for Dinah’s defiling?
2. Did Simeon’s and Levi’s response to Jacob’s rebuke convey understanding or repentance?  Why were they right to be offended and desire to defend the honor of their sister?  Why were they wrong in how they went about it?
3. What was the condition of the sons of Israel?  Were they perfect angels?  Honorable men without sin?  What did they need from God just as we do (Romans 6:23)?

Today’s passage: Genesis 33:1-20

Helpful thoughts:

• Jacob saw Esau coming and sought to protect his family (Albeit, not in the greatest way.  Surely people noticed that Rachel and Joseph were kept in the back, furthest from potential action).
  • Jacob sought to do everything he could to keep Esau from attacking him and his family.  What a pleasant surprise to learn that Esau had no such harmful intentions!
• Esau already had been blessed with possessions, but Jacob sought to restore a blessing to him anyway.
  • Jacob had “tricked” Esau out of a blessing.  Now Jacob sought to give Esau a blessing.
• Jacob was not rid of his trickery.  He “kindly” refused Esau’s help and offer to go to Seir to live near Esau and instead traveled to Succoth and Shechem.
  • Once Jacob and his household arrived at their destination (In the Promised Land) Jacob did two significant things.
    • He bought land (The second land purchase after Abraham bought the land with the cave at Machpelah).
    • He built an altar to the Lord.  Jacob had vowed, if God brough him back safely, he would worship the Lord.  Jacob named the altar El-Elohe-Israel, “God, the God of Israel.”  This was a declaration of Jacob’s loyalty to worship God alone.

Questions to consider:

1. Why did Jacob need to refuse Esau’s offer and go back to Canaan (The Promised Land)?  Why wouldn’t it have been right to stay with Esau?  Did Jacob need to deceive in order to go his own way?
2. What reason would Esau have had to no longer be angry with Jacob?  Why didn’t he even want the blessing Jacob offered him?  How might this (And even the offer to take Jacob with him to Seir) have shown Esau still did not understand the true intention of the blessing of Abraham, passed down to Isaac and then Jacob?  Who was Esau not thinking about?
3. Why was Jacob right to build this altar to the Lord and name it what he did?  Who is the only One worthy of our praise and worship?  Is the Lord your Lord?

Today’s passage: Genesis 32:1-32

Helpful thoughts:

• After twenty years, it’s time for Jacob and Esau to meet again.
  • In Jacob’s prayer for protection, he appeals to the promises God made.  If God was going to keep His promises, Jacob and his family would need to escape any wrath Esau may hope to inflict.
  • Jacob sends gifts in waves before him to Esau, hoping the gifts and words of kindness will have a softening effect on his brother should any anger remain (The fact that 400 men were accompanying Esau made it appear that Esau was coming to battle).
• Jacob expected a fight with Esau, instead, he got one with the Lord!
• God didn’t reveal His name to Jacob when asked, but Jacob knew who it was.
  • Instead of Jacob hearing the name of God, God gave Jacob a new name.
  • Israel means, “He stives with God” or “God strives.”

Questions to consider:

1. In what way did Jacob reintroduce himself to Esau?  Who was the “lord” and who was the “servant?”  How did this introduction/greeting contrast with what they both knew had already happened and with what God had decreed?  What was Jacob giving Esau the opportunity to do?
2. In what way did Israel strive with God (Think Jacob…and then, the nation)?  How did God strive on behalf of Israel (The person and the nation)?
3. In Jacob’s prayer for protection and in his amazement at survival after the wrestling match of the century (Or all the B.C. years!) what does he acknowledge about himself, what he deserves, and about God?  How do these realities correlate with the gospel message?  What do we deserve?  What has God graciously gifted to us?  How has God accomplished it?

Today’s passage: Genesis 31:1-55

Helpful thoughts:

• The Lord had promised to be with Jacob all the years he was away from the Promised Land and He was.  Now, God promises to continue to be with Jacob on the journey back.
• Jacob gives greater detail to how the Lord told him it was time to go.  In Jacob’s explanation to his wives (The daughters of Laban), he contrasts the faithlessness of Laban and the faithfulness of God.
• The Hebrew words translated as “Tricked” in verse 20 are literally, “Stole the heart.”  Laban defines what his “heart” was when he claimed that Jacob had stolen his daughters, his grandchildren, and his flock.  Laban still saw all of these things as rightfully his.

Questions to consider:

1. What are the reasons why Rachel might have stolen the household gods from Laban (Given she just encouraged Jacob to follow the Lord’s command)?  How does Jacob evidence he knows nothing of the theft?
2. From what does this treaty protect both Jacob and Laban?  Why did they have to make a treaty of this magnitude?  What would have prevented them from simply giving their word?  How had they treated each other before?
3. How did God fulfill his promise to Jacob?  What did Jacob say he would do if God did this (28:20-22)?

Today’s passage: Genesis 30:25-43

Helpful thoughts:

• All of Jacob’s children (Expect for Benjamin) were born outside of the Promised Land.
• When it came time for Jacob and his household to leave, he made a deal with Laban.
  • Both men sought to trick the other to their own advantage.
    • Laban removed the sheep that would be prone to reproduce to Jacob’s advantage before entrusting any additional sheep to his care (Verses 35-36).
    • Jacob sought to use an old tradition to produce more and healthier striped, speckled and spotted sheep.
• God had chosen to bless Jacob (The real reason his trick “worked”).  Jacob left the Promised Land with just the promise of an inheritance.  Now, he would return home to his inheritance already independently wealthy.

Questions to consider:

1. Those striped sticks didn’t do anything to cause the sheep to reproduce to Jacob’s advantage…  Why did the sheep keep bearing lambs that were to Jacob’s advantage?  What was God doing?  Why was God doing this?
2. Why didn’t Laban have any reason to be upset with how many sheep Jacob would end up taking?  Why was Laban going to be upset anyway?  What did Laban want most?
3. What has God promised to us, his children?  How does wanting our own inheritance in Christ compel us to pursue the best things (No trickery needed!)?