When God Whispers

This is a prime example of “telling everything you know, isn’t always wise.”  Joseph told his family about his dream and although we know it will come true, that his brothers would someday bow down to him, they sure didn’t want to hear it from him and or even think about it since he was just a teenager at the time of the dream. They were jealous of his relationship with his father and that his fat...

We see here the generations of Esau, who became the Edomites.  We also see that Esau and Jacob both had so much wealth in the form of livestock and servants that they couldn’t dwell close together and both be able to feed and care for their livestock well. I have to admit when I read this the first time it was just a list of names I struggle to pronounce, but when I reread the verses I saw that we...

Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin.  Isaac has died. Jacob, or now Israel as God has renamed him, has 12 sons and a daughter and traveling.  Talk about a hard life.  When have you felt like life wasn’t treating you fairly? Were you able to look back later and see God at work? What helps you through those times when you feel alone with all your problems?

We see God gave protection to Jacob by keeping his enemies from pursuing him and his sons.  God is always there protecting us, but there are times we don’t even realize He has reached out and held our enemies back. When have you felt God’s protection in a miraculous way? Why do you think God allowed Jacob’s sons to get away with plundering the entire city and not just punishing the ones who violat...

What a horrible thing happened to Dinah.  At first glance it looks as if the brothers aren’t treating it with the gravity they should but wait…they have a plan.  They learned from their father Jacob and will handle these people. When something bad happens, we have a tendency to blame God or sometimes the one the bad thing happened to.  Jesus tells us we will have trouble, but He reminds us that He...

Jacob is back home.  At least what was home to him the first years of his life.  It was a foreign country to his wives, children and servants.  Do you think his hesitation was more about him caring for his flock and wanting to be sure they didn’t perish, or about possibly still having reservations about his relationship with Esau?  Why do you think he stopped and built his home before going on to...

Jacob realized God had dealt graciously with him.  How often do we not see clearly the mercy and grace God gives us?  Do you ever find yourself blaming God because He didn’t warn you of a trial or give you a heads up that things were going to get better so you didn’t have to worry?  This world is becoming more and more of a society that blames others for their mistakes or even their intentional sh...

How we wrestle with so many things that God doesn’t intend for us to wrestle with.  Here Jacob’s concern for uniting with his brother Esau is touching.  He knew he had tricked Esau and taken advantage.  Why do you think he wanted to make it up to him to such a degree?  Was it fear of his brother’s wrath?  Fear of God’s wrath?  Realizing what Laban did to him was similar to what he had done to Esau...

Now we read about an opportunity for the brothers to be reunited. At last Jacob calls upon God and asks him to deliver him from the hand of Esau. Think back about the treatment Esau received at the hand of his mother and Jacob. Think about how difficult the relationship between Jacob and Laban was, how difficult the relationship between Leah and Rachel had become and how manipulation caused all of...

Jacob pretty much left the land of his uncle’s without saying goodbye. What do you believe drove this decision? How could things have been so much better between the two men so that the departure could have been so much sweeter? As we live daily, has God ever protected you, even when you were partly or wholly responsible for your predicament? What a mighty God we serve!

Jacob makes his exit. What was different this time? How did God speak to Jacob? How did Rachel and Leah react? Why do you think they recognized the dishonesty of their father? Has God ever allowed you to become discontent with your circumstances in order to move you somewhere else?

Once again Laban cheats Jacob. He removes the livestock that was to be counted as Jacob’s wages.  Jacob sets about to manipulate the breeding of the remaining animals. He uses sticks and barks placed in the drinking water of the animals. Again, just as Rachel used the mandrakes to increase her fertility, this action appears to be useless. God alone blessed Jacob with large flocks, camels, donkeys,...

This passage indicates that Jacob is now ready to return home. He seems to be done with the manipulations of Laban. The last several passages have shown us clearly the dangers of trying to control a situation instead of crying out to God for help. Where in your life have you struggled with manipulation? Can you look back and recognize the problems that manipulation has created in your own life? Be...

As you read this passage, think about the struggles between family members that are a direct result of manipulation by others in the family. This jealousy that Rachel carried toward her sister, Leah, continued to grow due to Rachel’s inability to bear children. How crushing that must have been for Rachel. Nothing in this passage indicated that Rachel cried out to God. How often do we find ourselve...

Once again, we see deception as the method used by man to get the results HE desires. God is ignored and Laban believes he knows what is best. Sometimes, we, too, refuse to wait and manipulate a situation. As you reflect on your life, perhaps you remember a time or two where you manipulated a situation. Ask God for forgiveness. Call upon the Lord and wait patiently. God’s plan is always best.

This is such a sweet encounter. Jacob was in a foreign land, looking for relatives that he did not know. Again, God directed his path and Jacob was pleased to meet his uncle and cousin. He would soon learn that the manipulations of his mother would pale in comparison to those of his uncle. Jacob was not without blame. He had been deceptive with his brother, greedy in receiving his brother’s blessi...

Wow! God appears to Jacob in a dream. This encounter allows Jacob to gain a personal knowledge of God and gives us the famous “Jacobs ladder”. Notice the condition Jacob places on his relationship with God. “If God…”, which appears in verse 20, says so much about the spiritual maturity of Jacob. IF God met these conditions, Jacob would follow God. Do you find ourselves in a similar situation? Is i...

Once again, we see that Rebekah manipulated the situation by insisting that Jacob leave the country and go find a bride in Haran. She did not come clean with her husband about the difficulties of their sons’ relationship and Jacob’s lies. Jacob did not realize that God was with him, but God continued to protect Jacob regardless of his faults. This is such good news as God is with us daily as well....

This scripture really shows us the sin-filled hearts of humans. Rebekah used her own flesh and blood to get her way. Think about families and the anger, resentment, hurt and perhaps withdrawal that can occur in our families today. If you feel you have been wronged by a family member, is God calling you to forgive and reach out to this person so that the family unit can be made whole once again? Pe...

Isaac’s blessing had been given away to an imposture.  As you read, think about the heartbreak that occurred. Describe the happenings that occurred in these scriptures.  What were Isaac’s reactions when he learned he had been tricked by his own son? What did Esau ask of his father? What was Isaac’s response and how did he describe Esau’s future? Does this leave you pondering how Rebekah felt after...

The deception continues in these verses.  As you read and study today’s verses, pray that wrongs or deceptions in your life may be resolved through truth.  When presented the dish requested, what were Isaac’s concerns? How were Isaac’s reservations fulfilled regarding whether this was Esau that granted his wish? Isaac did end up giving his blessing to the imposture Jacob.  What did the blessing in...

This passage of scripture reminds us of the servant praying specifically and urgently.  He recognized his prayer was answered before he even finished praying.  He then takes time to give thanks to the Lord God.  How often do we pray with great anticipation, laying our specific requests at the feet of our Heavenly Father?  When the prayer is answered, some might think it’s a coincidence, while in f...

Abraham’s servant shows faithfulness and gratitude as we find him once again giving thanks to God in these scriptures. Why did Rebekah’s family trust the servant? Why do you think Rebekah’s family asked that she be allowed to stay 10 days before leaving with Abraham’s servant? During a period of time when women’s opinions were not taken into consideration, what do you find interesting about them a...

These scriptures certainly reassure us of a love story unfolding.  Reread this short passage again before answering these questions. Verse 63 mentions that Isaac went into the fields to meditate in the early evening.  What do you think his meditations included? Why do you think Rebekah covered herself when she learned it was her husband to be coming to meet them? The scripture mentions that Isaac...

Even thousands of years ago sibling rivalry, birthrights, favoritism, and deception was present.  We see it in these scriptures once again.  What did Isaac request of Esau in these scriptures and why? Is there anything in these scriptures that might change your first impressions of Rebekah’s character? Favoritism can exist in families between siblings and parents.  We see an example in these scrip...