Village Schools of the Bible

Genesis: A Devotional Study
by Max Frazier, Jr

Our focus this week is upon a very special family. It had more than its share of ups and downs. One could say that family feuding was just a part of its chemistry. But God was to take a man and his family and mold it into a people that would bear His name forever. Of course, by now, you know this man as Jacob. And our study this week takes us into chapters 30 and 31 of Genesis.

Genesis 30

Key Words: "jealous"; "God remembered Rachel"

Key Verse: Verse 27 proclaims that God can bless others through one of His own.

Purpose Statement: This chapter continues the chronicle of the increase of Jacob - of his family (grew from four children to twelve); of his possessions (from a few sheep to many).

Outline: Jacob and His Family (continued)

III. Children by Leah (continued)
E. Issachar (vs. 14-18)
F. Zebulun (vs. 19-20)
G. Dinah (vs. 21)
IV. Children by Bilhah
A. Dan (vs. 1-6)
B. Naphtali (vs. 7-8)
V. Children by Zilpah
A. Gad (vs. 9-11)
B. Asher (vs. 12-13)
VI. Children by Rachel: Joseph (vs. 22-24)
VII. Jacob increases his possessions (vs. 25-43)

Questions to Probe: It would be interesting to discover how Jacob got his reproductive method with the sheep to work. Was it the method or was it God? Also, what was so special about the mandrakes?

Thoughts to Ponder: Oh the intense jealousy between Jacob's wives. Lack of fidelity did not seem to be a problem for them - in fact they encouraged it. God's way is still best - one woman for one man.

Both Leah and Rachel viewed having a family as a contest. After the birth of Naphtali to Bilhah, Rachel declares victory. Later Leah, after the birth of Zebulun, states that she has won. All of this occurred because of the jealousy that existed between the two women.

When Sarah tried to help God out by giving Hagar to her husband, the son born to the union was cast out and not included in God's blessings. However, now the children born to both Bilhah and Zilpah are included. God does work in strange ways.

Genesis 31

Key Words: "deceive". This whole chapter is full of deception: Jacob deceiving Laban; Laban deceiving Jacob; Rachel deceiving her father. No wonder there were problems.

Key Verse: Verse 13 shows God in control.

Purpose Statement: Twenty years of frustration on the part of Jacob and his family is played out here. Deception and selfishness seem to rule this family. And yet, God is over-seeing it all.

Outline: Jacob Begins His Travels Home

I. Jacob decides to leave Laban (vs. 1-21)
A. His treatment by Laban and his dream (vs. 1-13)
B. Laban's treatment of his daughters (vs. 14-16)
C. Jacob leaves (vs. 17-21)
II. Laban pursues Jacob (vs. 22-25)
A. God speaks to Laban (vs. 22-24)
B. Laban's dialogue with Jacob (vs. 25-30)
C. Jacob's reply (vs. 31-32)
D. Laban searches for his idols (vs. 33-35)
E. Jacob is angry with Laban (vs. 36-42)
F. Laban suggests a covenant (vs. 43-55)

Thoughts to Ponder: The tension between Jacob and Laban kept escalating. There was mistrust on the part of both. There was jealousy over each other's possessions. Both men feared each other. Jacob knew he had to leave and head back home. But, perhaps motivated by fear, he leaves in a less than honest way. The Scriptures state that he deceived Laban. Will Jacob ever learn that the practice of deceit only compounds problems; it never resolves them? Deceit is one of the strong tools of the enemy. Oh the damage to family and church relationships caused by it. The sad note in this story is that Jacob had so modeled deceit before his wives and children that they had adopted it as a legitimate way to handle problems. What a negative role model Jacob was at this time.

Verse 5 would lead us to believe that Abraham's brother, Nahor, was also a believer in God. An evidence of this fact can be seen in the reception Abraham's servant had in the home of Bethuel, Nahor's son (see Genesis 24), and by the dream of warning God gave to Laban, Nahor's grandson. But it was not a perfect walk with God as evidenced by the presence of some household idols in Laban's tent.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Keep an open mind, but don't keep it too open or people will throw a lot of rubbish into it.

Genesis 29 Return to Table of Contents Genesis 32-33