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.
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.
posted by Christinewjc at
9:09 PM
3 Comments:
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.
My sister and I were very different when growing up. She had issues with my parents where I mostly got along with them.
PERSONAL REFLECTION. How has resentment or anger from a broken relationship affected you?
It can really hurt...a lot! But I have found that holding on to resentment or anger damages me more than the person it is being directed at! It is better to forgive the other person in your heart...even if you don't necessarily tell them about the hurt and that you have forgiven them already. It takes so much pressure off and resentment and anger no longer have a hold on me!
Read Genesis 30:25 - 31:55.
1. Why does Jacob want to leave, and why does Laban want him to stay (30:25-30)?
Jacob wants to go back to his homeland. Laban wanted him to stay because he believed that the Lord has blessed him because of Jacob's presence there.
2. What arrangement does Jacob suggest for wages (30:31-33)?
Jacob could take the speckled and spotted lambs.
3. What is Laban's strategy in 30:34-38?
Laban removed the speckled and spotted lambs and gave them to his sons.
4. Describe Jacob's way of getting back at Laban to increase the strength of his own flocks (30:37-43).
He had the stronger female animals mate and he made seperate flocks for himself from the stronger herds. He gave Laban the weak ones back.
5. How do you think these two men could have reacted in a better way to prevent their growing conflict?
They shouldn't have chosen to deceive each other to get what they wanted. If they had been honest and divided the sheep evenly, perhaps both would have benefitted better.
6. What new factors in Jacob's situation now prompt him to quit working for Laban and return home (31:1-13)?
Laban's sons found out what he was doing and accused him of stealing all that their father owned. Laban's attitude towards Jacob changed negatively, too.
7. How does Rachel and Leah's reply confirm his decision (31:14-21)?
They were concerned about losing out on inheritance from Laban, so they encouraged Jacob to leave according to God's prompting.
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?
God had seen all that Laban had been doing to Jacob. God told him to leave and go back to his native land.
*******to be continued*******
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.
By
Christinewjc, at 9:36 PM
9. How can Jacob's experience give us hope when we are unfairly treated by our friends, spouse or employer?
God knows what we are going through. He is always with us no matter what. Jesus told us in Matthew 28:20 - "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen."
Knowing this is a great comfort. We can know that we are safe in His love and in eternity. We have his help to guide us. We just need to listen.
10. How do Laban and Jacob defend their actions (31:22-42)?
When Jacob was confronted by Laban because he secretly left with his wives, Jacob confessed that he thought that Laban would take back his daughters by force.
Laban came looking for the idol gods that Rachel took.
11. Why is it so difficult for us to see the other's point of view in a disagreement?
Sometimes we may not know all of the facts behind their attitudes and actions. We may be unaware (as when Rachel took the god statues) of the reasons why someone else suspects us of wrongdoing.
12. How do Jacob and Laban reconcile their differences, and how does their effort strike you (31:43-55)?
They make a covenant between the two of them. They took God as their witness for the covenant promises made. I found it interesting that Laban only referred to the LORD - Jacob's God as a witness between the two of them. Yet, Jacob mentioned both the God of Abraham and the "god of Nahor;" which referred to the god that Laban worshipped. We could regard Jacob's effort as respect for another's religious beliefs and that is not a bad thing, of course. As long as he doesn't equate Laban's god with the One True God. Political correctness and religious pluralism in ancient times!
13. What have you seen in this passage that can help you deal with a strained or fractured relationship?
It is better to be honest and forthright in a disagreement. You can respect a person without having to agree with or respect their sinful actions. Compromise is often the way that the world works when disagreements abound. But sticking to the truth and principle and listening to God's will and ways is far more valuable than having everyone like you. Prayer and communication with God; Bible reading, studying and application are the valuable tools that win the day as regards to arguements. People can ignore, debase, reject, defame, belittle or compromise God's Word in their lives and thus do the same to us, as Christians. However, they cannot overcome the absolute truth of God's Word; no matter how hard they try. The spiritual armor provided by God (see Ephesians 6:10-24) contains defensive pieces of armor. But the offensive piece is the Word of God.
Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
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.
I plan to share this study and the Bible verses that I have applied here in our disagreement!
By
Christinewjc, at 8:21 AM
CORRECTION ON QUESTION #12:
12. How do Jacob and Laban reconcile their differences, and how does their effort strike you (31:43-55)?
They make a covenant between the two of them. They took God as their witness for the covenant promises made. I found it interesting that Jacob only referred to the LORD - Jacob's God as a witness between the two of them. Yet, Laban mentioned both the God of Abraham and the "god of Nahor;" which referred to the god that Laban worshipped.
Jacob doesn't equate Laban's god with the One True God. Laban's effort to include both the One True God (Jacob's God) is an indication that he recognized the power of Jacob's God working in Jacob's life; however, Laban still showed his loyalty to the idol god of Nahor. Religious pluralism in ancient times! We can also see more of Laban's deception due to the fact that he took credit for putting up the pillar.
By
Christinewjc, at 6:37 AM
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