Joseph & His Brothers: Pride & Prejudice

Genesis 37 - 38

We often see how children tend to duplicate the weaknesses as well as the strengths of their parents. This trait is as evident in Old Testament families as it is today.

GROUP DISCUSSION. What strengths and weaknesses have you experienced in your own family?

PERSONAL REFLECTION. How have the strengths and weaknesses of your family affected you?

Jacob suffered as a boy from parental favoritism. Now we see how he perpetuates this practice in his relationship with Joseph - with disastrous results. Read Genesis 37.

1. How would you describe family relationships at the outset of the story (37:1-4)?

2. What kind of boy does Joseph appear to be?

3. In 37:5-11 how are the symbols in Joseph's two dreams interpreted by his family?

4. What are the varied reactions of Joseph's brothers when they see him coming (37:12-22)?

5. How do you think Joseph feels as he overhears their conversation (37:23-27)?

6. What plan does Judah propose, and why does it appeal to his brothers (37:25-28)?

7. What various motives do you see in the way the brothers report the news of Joseph's disappearance to their father (37:29-35)?

8. To what extent are you involved in a family situation with some of these elements, and what can you do to relieve the tension?

9. Read Genesis 38. When Judah finds his lineage in jeopardy in spite of having three sons, what does he do about it (38:1-11)?

10. What strategy does Tamar work out to establish her status as matriarch of Judah's line (38:12-30)?

11. In what ways today do you see God working his purposes for good in spite of evil and tragedy?

12. How can these chapters encourage us to trust God in the midst of difficult circumstances?

Thank God for his long view in working out his plans in spite of our sins and failures.

Now or Later
Look at the parallels in the deceptions of Isaac by Jacob and of Jacob by his sons, and the results.

Jacob's Compromise & Commitment: The Cost of Discipleship

Genesis 34-36

In our Christian life both compromise and commitment can be costly. When we falter, the consequences take their toll on us personally and often on our family and friends. Nevertheless, God graciously calles us to repentance and renewed commitment.

GROUP DISCUSSION. Share a situation in which your compromise of a principle produced unfortunate results for others as well as yourself.

PERSONAL REFLECTION. Trace a way that God has enabled you to cope with the consequences of a compromise and continue on the right path.

Read Genesis 34.

1. What is Shechem's attitude toward Dinah, and how does his father try to compensate for the wrong done to her (34:1-12)?

Shechem raped Dinah which is impulsive and evil. It is lust not love. His father tries to convince Jacob to let Shechem marry Dinah. Hamor thought he was being generous by stating that their families can intermarry. He also offered land to Jacob's family members.

2. How do you respond to the reaction of Jacob's sons and the measures they take for revenge (34:8-29)?

Because the sons believed that their family was 'set apart by God', they didn't want to intermarry with the pagans there. Taking matters into their own hands led to sin and bloodshed.

3. What does Jacob's response to this tragedy show about the public consequences of a private action?

Private sexual sin can lead to devastating consequences. Pain deceit and murder followed as a result. The desire for justice should have been left up to God. We are not to return evil for evil as these men did.

4. Read Genesis 35:1-15. What were God's instructions to Jacob, and what was the cost of carrying them out (35:1-7)?

He was to build an altar to God and destroy the idol gods that the Israelites still clung to in their homes.

5. What "foreign god" in your life might be taking the place of God?

When I see some of my friends gorgeous houses where everything is new and perfect and, I find myself wanting the same for my family.

6. What specific step of obedience do you need to take along the path of discipleship?

Not focus on material things!

7. What specific promises does God affirm to Jacob and his descendants (35:8-15)?

a. Fruitful and increase in number. b. Nation and community of nations come from him. c. The land of Abraham and Isaac given to him. d. Land for descendants, too.

8. Read Genesis 35:16-29. Describe the new griefs that now come into Jacob's life.

Rachel had trouble in childbirth and she died. Rueben slept with his father's concubine Bilhah. Isaac died.

9. What does changing his child's name from "son of my trouble" to Benjamin, "son of my right hand," tell us about Jacob's attitude toward his youngest son?

He wanted to raise him right and named him according to better expectations for his character.

10. How can we, like Jacob, transform the pain of losing someone we love into courage for the future?

We are to stay close to God despite the pain, suffering and losses we experience here on earth. Our hope is not of this world anyway, it is in our Father's Kingdom. We do all we can despite the problems and difficulties and see them as opportunities for growth.

11. What final picture do we have of Isaac and his sons in 35:27-29?

Esau and Jacob were the ones who came back when he was dying and then buried him.

12. What is the most significant lesson you have learned from the lives of these two brothers, Jacob and Esau?

Even if a brother relationship was bitter and angry at one time, reconciliation can happen in later years.

Now or Later
Looking back over the life of Jacob, trace the ways in which the consequences of his actions and God's gracious intervention shaped his character to make him a man of faith.

Jacob Meets Esau: Planning, Prayer & Struggle

Genesis 32-33

The Christian life is a mysterious mixture of God's work and ours, his gracious provision and our effort. Sometimes we are perplexed over who should make the next move.

GROUP DISCUSSION. In what situation have you felt called to combine prayer and planning for an important activity?

PERSONAL REFLECTION. How has God revealed his will to you through a special set of events?

Jacob felt the tension of how to follow God's will as he returned to his father's house after a twenty-year absence. Read Genesis 32:1-21.

1. What effect would meeting the angels of God have on Jacob as he nears his encounter with Esau (32:1-2)?

2. How would you describe the tone of Jacob's message to Esau (32:3-5)?

3. How does Jacob react to the report in verses 6-8?

4. How does Jacob's prayer reflect his relationship with God (32:9-12)?

5. In what ways can Jacob's prayer be a model for our own praying?

6. To what extent do you think Jacob's plans are consistent with his prayer?

7. Read Genesis 32:22-32. How does this struggle with the unknown man give insight to Jacob's personality?

8. In what ways does Jacob emerge both stronger and weaker?

9. How does the change of name from Jacob to Israel indicate the development of his character?

10. What speaks to you from Jacob's experience about your own struggle to trust and obey the Lord?

11. Read Genesis 33. How does this meeting between Jacob and Esau contrast with the last time they saw each other (33:1-4)?

12. When Jacob settles in Shechem (33:18) he builds an altar. How do you think his encounter with Esau helped him understand the faithfulness of God (33:12-20)?

13. In what ways can Jacob's actions toward Esau be a model for us of repentance and reconciliation?

Ask God to show you how Jacob's story can help you face a difficult relationship in your own life.

Now or Later
Reflect on an experience in your own life that helps you appreciate God's faithfulness.

Jacob Versus Laban: Rivalry & Its Results

Lesson 17
Genesis 30:25-31:55

After marrying both Leah and Rachel, Jacob was obligated to serve their father for another seven years. Now he wants to return to his homeland with his family. We will see how the rivalry between these two men escalates to the point of open conflict.

GROUP DISCUSSION. Tell about a strained or fractured relationship with a family member, friend or colleague at work.

PERSONAL REFLECTION. How has resentment or anger from a broken relationship affected you?

Read Genesis 30:25 - 31:55.

1. Why does Jacob want to leave, and why does Laban want him to stay (30:25-30)?

2. What arrangement does Jacob suggest for wages (30:31-33)?

3. What is Laban's strategy in 30:34-38?

4. Describe Jacob's way of getting back at Laban to increase the strength of his own flocks (30:37-43).

5. How do you think these two men could have reacted in a better way to prevent their growing conflict?

6. What new factors in Jacob's situation now prompt him to quit working for Laban and return home (31:1-13)?

7. How does Rachel and Leah's reply confirm his decision (31:14-21)?

8. Looking at 31:11-21, how do you see that God has protected and provided for Jacob in the midst of his unjust treatment by Laban?

9. How can Jacob's experience give us hope when we are unfairly treated by our friends, spouse or employer?

10. How do Laban and Jacob defend their actions (31:22-42)?

11. Why is it so difficult for us to see the other's point of view in a disagreement?

12. How do Jacob and Laban reconcile their differences, and how does their effort strike you (31:43-55)?

13. What have you seen in this passage that can help you deal with a strained or fractured relationship?

Thank God that even in the midst of unfair treatment he does not desert his children.

Now or Later
Decide now what steps you can take toward a person with whom you are in conflict, and pray for courage to follow through.

Jacob in Exile: God's Mercy & Justice

Lesson 16
Jacob in Exile: God's Mercy & Justice
Genesis 27:41 - 30:24

GROUP DISCUSSION. Describe a family you know with stress and division dividing parents and children.

A friend whose husband has had multiple marriages. He has children with his wives and then leaves them for other women.

PERSONAL REFLECTION. How could you help a friend caught in a difficult family situation?

Listen to them. Help them when I can. Spend time together and support her efforts to reconcile or her choice to leave the marriage.

1. When Rebekah hears of Esau's plan to kill Jacob, what strategy does she come up with, and how does she persuade Jacob and Isaac to carry it out (27:41-46)?

Rebekah told Jacob to flee to her brother Laban in Haran. She told Isaac that the reason she sent Jacob there was to find a wife.

2. In what specific ways would Isaac's instructions encourage Jacob as he leaves home and sets out on his long journey (28:1-5)?

Isaac encouraged Jacob to find a wife from Laban's family. He also asked God's blessing upon him to make him fruitful and that God would give him and his decendants the blessing given to Abrahm to take possession of the land.

3. In 28:6-9 what effect does Isaac's action have on Esau?

Esau learned that he had displeased his father by marrying Canaanite women, so he hoped that also marrying two women from Ishmael's family would please Isaac.

4. Read Genesis 28:10-22. Describe what happens to Jacob on his first night away from home (28:16-22)?

He had a dream that reiterated his father Isaac's blessing upon him. After having a dream, Jacob surmised that the LORD was in this place.

5. From Jacob's response to the dream, what clue do we get about his relationship to God at this point (28:16-22)?

His words indicated that he treated God more like a servant who would perform for him rather than genuine worship and respect for the LORD. He appeared to be bargaining with God with the attitude that, "Because you have blessed me, I will follow you." It isn't clear whether or not he was bargaining or pledging his future to God.

6. A past sin or disobedience to God can leave us with a burden of guilt and aq sense of failure. How can Jacob's experience renew our confidence in God's grace?

Jacob was going have some difficult lessons to learn throughout his journey in life. We learn that sometimes past sin can haunt us later in life, but God's mercy shines through despite our past sin.

7. Read Genesis 29. What impresses you about Jacob's initial actions and reception in the account of his arrival in Paddan Aram (29:1-14)?

He asked if Laban was well. Jacob saw Rachel and rolled the stone away so that she could water the sheep. This story was similar to when Isaac first spotted Rebekah. Each time, the first woman they saw was the one they were (or wanted to) marry.

8. In what way does Laban's trickery repay Jacob for deceiving his father (29:15-24)?

After working for 7 years, Laban told Jacob that he first needed to marry Leah before he could have Rachel. He then had to work an additional 7 years. Deception has its consequences, and Jacob learned that what goes around often comes around!

9. How is this situation resolved (29:29-30)?

Jacob had to have a bridal week with Leah, then Rachel was given to him in marriage although he had to continue to work for Laban for another 7 years.

10. What do we learn about Leah from the names she gives her sons (29:31-35)?

Rueben sounds like the Hebrew for he has seen my misery, the name means see, as son. Simeon probably means one who hears. Levi sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for attached. Judah sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for praise. Dan here means he has vindicated. Naphtali means my struggle. Or "A troop is coming!" Gad can mean good fortune or a troop.

In OT times, parents often gave names that reflected the situation at the time of birth.

11. Read Genesis 30:1-24. How would you describe the relationship between the two sisters?

Rachel was jealous that Leah was bearing all of these children and Rachel was barren. She told Jacob that she will die if she doesn't have children. The sisters were in rivalry all along.

12. How does this traumatic triangle work its hardship on each person involved?

Both wives gave their maidservants to Jacob as concubines. Even though this custom was acceptable during this day, it wasn't right or wise in God's eyes. People could be spared much heartbreak if they only looked ahead at the potential consequences of their actions. This happens all the time in this day and age. Some people do not even give it a second thought. They marry, commit adultery with others and then divorce like it doesn't matter that they had previously made a commitment to the spouse.

13. Spiritual maturity often comes through suffering. IN what difficult situations fo you see God now working to strengthen your faith and character?

I realize that people I love often have to go through a time of suffering and I have to rely on God to work it out in their lives. This strengthens my faith because it is not through my own effort that those who I'm praying for reach their own individual spiritual maturity. I can only help them along by recalling to their minds God's good and perfect will in the midst of the consequences they are facing due to a current or past sin. I can comfort them by letting them know that God works through our suffering for our good.

Looking back over your life, in what ways have you experienced growth and deepening of your relationship with God?

It is easy to know that God is there when things are going well, but having faith and trust in Him to work out the times of suffering and consequences that I had experienced through past sins can be difficult to do. However, looking back on these experiences shows me that I would not have gained the spiritual maturity level that I currently have. I now know that one never "arrives" when it comes to spiritual maturity. It is a lifelong process of sanctification that increases it, but knowing how much more there is to learn by studying God's Word shows me that I cannot be prideful in all that I have learned. There is always so much more to learn! Even after 15 years of study, God isn't finished with teaching me yet...or ever!