Irmela

Q1. (Genesis 34) Why do you think Jacob is so silent after the rape of his daughter? What should he have done instead of being silent? What was right about the sons' reaction? What was wrong? What threat does the family now face if they stay in Shechem? In a way I assume he was in shock. Rash decisions are made, when in shock. Also if I look at other passages, decisions don't get made by one man. This effected the whole family, so would be looked at by the males in the family and a decision be made as how to handle matters. I don't think Jacob was too feeble as yet, despite his age. He still lived for many years after that and made many decisions and moves. Looking at what could have happened . Firstly, they had lived there for many years. They were probably not strangers to the townspeople. Reading between the lines the norm was that the women would not move around unattended. Here, we find this young, desirable, teenage girl, going to the town unattended (warning lights are on - question why - looking for trouble) This alone would already have been troubling to Jacob. He daren't just jump to conclusions, and just blame the young man. Dinah should not have been alone. Jacob was silent until his sons returned. By the time the sons returned, Hamor was there also ready to make right what his son had done wrong by his thoughtless cravings/actions. Apparently when the girl was raped and the man desired to marry her, he kept her in his home and after a period of time the marriage would take place. The idea that Jacob's sons had, could possibly be thought of as right, but revenge was in the air not a means to rectify the wrong action. So the only thing that could be taken as almost recommendable in their actions, is that they "stood by" their sister and were prepared to sort out her hopeless situation. There scheming for revenge was definitely not right or applaudable. Staying there meant that they were now vulnerable and would likely have to face feuding by others who were allies of the people they had so callously murdered. What seems strange to me is that the widows and children were all now included into the tribe, and needed their protection now also and needed to be looked after, even if they were taken as slaves. The responsibility of feeding etc lay on the family of Israel now. 😲

Q4. (Genesis 33:1-16) How has Esau changed since Jacob had gone to Haran? How has Jacob changed? How does the encounter demonstrate Jacob's "craftiness"? How does it demonstrate his faith? Can Jacob be humble and "crafty" at the same time? Esau no longer wanted to kill Jacob, instead he ran toward him and embraced him and welcomed him back. Esau had also now moved to Seir, where he was chieftain of the tribe and had his followers and flocks etc. Jacob too has changed. He is now humble and acknowledges God's part in His accumulation of servants, cattle, sheep and goats, the increase in his family etc. Both men have "grown up" and have come to the realization that there is room for both . One does not need to lord it over the other. In fact when Esau invites Jacob to come to Seir , Jacob does not fall in with the plan but goes at his own pace and decides to go as God leads. (not crafty, but wise) He does insist that Esau accepts his gifts, because in that way Esau will not easily come back later to fight him.(That too is wise and not necessarily crafty) So the two that he was 'careful' of have been sorted. Laban will not go beyond Mizpah and Esau will not fight him because he accepted a gift from him. For now the family is safe. Jacob now trusts the God of Isaac as his God and as his protector.

Q3. (Genesis 32:24-30) Who was the "man" Jacob wrestled with? What does the wrestling represent? Was it spiritual or physical? Why does the "man" wound Jacob permanently? What do you think the limp means to him? God in human form. We do find in different passages that He did appear to different people in this way. He appeared to Abraham when the birth of Isaac was imminent, when the warning was issued, about Sodom and Gomorrah. Now He also appeared to Jacob just before his meeting with Esau after the 20 years of absence. It was an important time, in fact a life changing time. That is an interesting way of describing the wrestling, in the notes. Yes, Jacob still had certain things to contend with. The battle definitely seems to be both physical and spiritual. He still needed to wrestle with those fears until he had totally given them over to God. The ' I ' still needed to be totally put to 'death' before he could meet Esau and really be strong , yet humble. Nothing could be done in his own strength anymore now that he was limping. He would permanently be reminded to let go and let God. Even though the thigh was out of joint Jacob clung to the Man and requested a blessing before letting Him go. This was the time when (v 27) He asked Jacob his name. The Amplified version : . . . . And in shock of realization, whispering he said, Jacob - supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler! . . . so now also his very nature is revealed and placed before God, Who gives him a NEW NAME - ISRA EL - that was when Jacob realized he had 'seen' God and lived. Forever he would be reminded of this with his limping.

Q2. (Genesis 32.9-12) What does Jacob's prayer tell us about his fears? About his faith? About his pride? What are the signs of spiritual growth you see in Jacob since he left Canaan to go to Haran years before? The fears are real. He acknowledges his fears for the welfare of his family and those entrusted to his care. He humbles himself before God, he is not demanding, but in humility acknowledges that GOD was the One Who increased his fortunes and it was upon God's instruction that he was coming back at this time. Now in faith he is resting upon God's protection and deliverance from the wrath of his twin brother. Twenty years before, Jacob had been prepared to take matters into his own hands, now he did not dream of that but relied completely upon God's leading and guiding him,

Q1. (Genesis 32:1-2) Why does God reveal the angel army to Jacob? What is the significance of the presence of this army? Why do you think he calls the place Mahanaim ("two camps")? Jacob had just had the encounter with Laban at Mizpah and God had proved true to His word, and protected them from Laban's wrath. Now Jacob was moving on and getting closer to home turf and to facing what he had run away from 20 years ago, Esau's threat to kill him. For peace of mind God shows him , yet again, that he was not alone. Jacob was reassured by the angels (God's Army). God had promised to never leave him, to protect him, to bring him back to the Land of Promise. God indeed proved to be a keeper of His Word. There were now two camps , viz., the protection unit , being the angels, and the home camp, being his own group of family and servants, together with his possessions.

Q5. Why do we often fail to see God's blessings during the everyday conflicts of our lives? Why do blessings and conflicts so often come at the same time? What hope do we have in the midst of our struggles? Too often our focus is on the conflicts and trying to cope (on our own, instead of relying on our Lord and Saviour). Many times we do not recognize something as a blessing because it was not what we had asked for. Sometimes a so called conflict/problem becomes a blessing in disguise. For a shoe to be of use it needs a foot; for a glove to be of any use, it needs a hand; for a gift to be of any use it not only needs to be opened (if wrapped) but needs to be used. So also for us to recognize a blessing, we need a so called conflict in our life. The hope we have is that we do not need to face these struggles alone. Christ has promised to be with us. So the struggles and storms may come BUT He is with us in these trials, troubles, storms, struggles etc.

Q4. (Genesis 31:44-55) What are the terms of the Mizpah Covenant? Of what is the Mizpah monument supposed to remind Jacob and Laban? That Jacob would not take other wives to humiliate Laban's daughters. That he would treat them respectfully. Neither Jacob nor Laban would pass the heap of stones or the pillar raised, to harm the other. The monument was to remind them that God is witness of their actions.

Q3. (Genesis 31:17-36 Why did Jacob and his family leave without saying good-bye to Laban? In what sense did they "deceive" Laban? (31:20, 27). Was anything they did unjust or unrighteous? If so, how? For 14 yrs all was fine. Jacob worked for Laban and seemingly got nothing for his labor, except two wives and they in turn each had a slave as a wedding gift. The rest was the bridal price which should some time or other come back to Leah and Rachel. (It of course never did) Then for 6 yrs Jacob worked for wages. In these yrs the agreed upon wage was changed 10 times. (by Laban) By this we can see that Laban is shrewd and untrustworthy. In spite of this Jacob had been blessed by God and had accumulated vast livestock and servants. Because of Laban's untrustworthy nature Jacob and his family decided it was best to leave while Laban was busy elsewhere. That was one reason. The main reason was that God had impressed on Jacob to leave, almost as a sense of urgency; In v 31 we read that Jacob acknowledged fear that Laban would take Leah and Rachel away from him, by force. According to the way Laban saw it, the deceit was in the fact that they left without disclosing to Laban that they would leave. Laban also claimed that the household gods were stolen. Should Jacob have them, he could in fact claim the estate of Laban. This was the biggest thing for Laban. He wanted those idols back to secure his property. Of course the taking of the idols , by Rachel, was very wrong , in more ways than one. I assume that was her way of claiming back their bridal price, which you can say Laban had stolen from them and never paid them.

Q2. (Genesis 30:25-43) At what point do you think Jacob realizes that his breeding techniques are not the cause of his growing wealth? According to Deuteronomy 8:17-18, what danger are we in when our income and assets begin to increase? I guess he realized it before he suggested his wages to Laban. Before he reached Laban , God had promised him that other's would be blessed by him. Jacob saw that his uncle was blessed by him having taken care of the flock. There was a great increase in the herd/flock. Breeding techniques alone are not what are needed for a strong herd or flock. A shepherd/farmer knows his animals and "selective breeding" has been done as in "forever". Jacob too, kept the stronger animals to breed a better flock/herd. Jacob was not the only one tending to the big herd. He was obviously the overseer. He put his experience / knowledge into practice eg., for bigger/stronger kids he would not let the roes breed more than once a year; he would try to not have them breed before they were a yr old; he would possibly keep the stronger buck to mate with several of the does etc. Ultimately it was God that helped increase the herd, he just put the talents and experience God had given him to good use. The danger is that we begin looking to ourselves as being the source of the increase.

Q1. (Genesis 29) Why do you think God allows Jacob to be tricked into 14 years of labor for two wives? What purposes do you think God is working out through these circumstances? God's ways, are not our ways, but they far surpass ours. What we know of Jacob so far, is that he desired the right things and bent the rules to get them. Now he was at the place where he was learning that he would need to do things the way they were generally done, and this was not necessarily the way he approved of them or wanted them to be. Leah , as older daughter, had to marry first. He was a good choice to marry her to, as he would still desire Rachel. This way a good worker was secured for a further 7 years. Back at home God was also working in Esau's life. So the time away from home was a time where both Jacob and Esau were being reformed as it were. When they met again, there was no bloodshed but rather forgiveness. God also knew that through Rachel there would be only 2 sons and through Leah many more and the Redeemer would ultimately be through her line and not Rachel's. What God has said will be, we do not need to get there through trickery and scheming. Jacob needed to see or learn this first-hand. Laban was indeed a master-schemer. Jacob was going to learn that he could not out-scheme God. God uses what we see as bad circumstances, for good, or to get to fulfill His plans or to reach His ultimate goal.

Q4. (Genesis 28:22) What does Jacob's promise to tithe indicate about his commitment? Presumably, Jacob has been a believer in Yahweh all his life. In what sense is this incident at Bethel a conversion experience for him? What is the relationship of tithing to conversion? I believe that Jacob's promise to tithe was his way of commitment to give back to God, as his King, part of what God had honored him with. The text puts it as follows : Jacob's vow to tithe all that God gives him is both a statement of faith that God will meet his needs, and a vow of loyalty and submission to the Lord as his King and God. Tithing for the Christian represents something similar. We see ourselves as stewards of what actually belongs to God. And the tithe of our income is a way of demonstrating our allegiance, our love, and that we serve God rather than money (Matthew 6:24). Tithing is about discipleship. It is an indicator to us that we trust God and have committed our lives to Him. He has supplied our needs We tithe in thankfulness for what He has supplied (using a tenth of it) and having faith that He will continue to supply our needs.

Q3. (Genesis 28:18-21) What did it mean to Jacob to set up the stone? What did anointing the stone mean to him? Why does he do these things? What does he promise God in his vow? Jacob worshiped the God Who appeared to him. Then he erected the stone into a pillar, as a memorial of the great experience he had had that night. The anointing of the stone was to consecrate it to the Lord. Symbolically pouring out his life in devotion to the Lord, i.e. dedicating his life to the Lord from that time onward. In his vow he promises that the Lord would be his God; this place, Bethel, will be a sacred place to him; when he returns he will give a tenth of the increase of his possessions to God.

Q2. (Genesis 28:12-15) What did Jacob's dream of the angels ascending and descending from heaven signify to Jacob? What did God's blessing mean to him? In what way was this a conversion experience for him? To Jacob it meant that he was not alone. God was with him. The God of Abraham and Isaac. His angels were there to serve and guard him. God's blessing assured him that God would not forsake him, but He would be with him and protect him and would eventually bring him back. God also confirmed the Covenant blessing with him, which he had made with Abraham and Isaac.

Q1. (Genesis 28:3-4) Why does Isaac bless Jacob, especially after Jacob's deception? How does this blessing compare to other blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? What are the main elements of Isaac's blessing? In the whole passage it never points out that Jacob is not loved by Isaac. The claim is made that Esau is the favourite son of Isaac. If Rebekah is aware of Esau's intentions, I am sure that Isaac too is aware of the tension between his sons. For this to ease, the best will be to send Jacob away for a while, even if it is on the pretext of getting a wife from his mother's kin. So when sending Jacob away , it would be appropriate to do so with a blessing. Also, Isaac has very likely realized by now that Jacob was the son through whom the BLESSING of Abraham would continue. The blessing is inclusive as he states to be blessed with the blessing He gave to Abraham. The specific elements mentioned are, being fruitful and inheriting the land.

Q6. Whose character flaws most remind you of your own? Isaac's, Rebekah's, Esau's, or Jacob's? Why? How is God working to improve your character? When I read that question first, I really thought . . . That's just too much . . . Having given it some thought, I understand a bit better and I see something from each of them rearing its head. I do not like confrontation anymore and will sooner walk away than stand up for myself, just as Isaac did. In one way that is keeping the peace and in another way it is others that are also loosing out because of my actions. Just like Rebekah found it hard to wait and see how God would bring about His promise, I also find it hard to sometimes just wait as He is in control and will bring about what He has promised, in His way and in His time. That was interesting what was mentioned about Esau having disregard for his birthright, I have shown disregard for my body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. So there also I have been like him in a despicable way. God's still working on me To make me what I ought to be It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars, the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars How loving and patient He must be, He's still working on me.

Q5. (Genesis 25:28) What happens when your children sense that you love one child more than another? Did such discrimination happen to you when you were growing up? If so, how are you finding healing? How can we as parents love our children equally but differently? I tried and am still trying my level best to treat my children fair and that one is not favoured over the other. It must be terrible to have this in the home thinking you are not wanted or not good enough or something similar. Strife , jealousy and misconduct will be the order of the day.

Q4. (Genesis 27:33) Why couldn't Isaac reverse his blessing once he discovers Jacob's trickery? What is Isaac's role in this blessing? What is God's role in it? Isaac knew that God had said the older would serve the younger, before the boys were born. Yet he was sti;; prepared to give this blessing to Esau. The blessing Isaac spoke over Jacob was more than a father's blessing to a 'first-born' son, it was a prophecy over him, words God placed in his mouth. These were irrevocable. Isaac was the mouthpiece in this blessing. I think he realized this when Esau came and asked for the blessing of the first born which he now expected but had despised so many yrs before when he sold his birthright to his twin. Isaac began to shake. Could it have been because he realized that God had intervened and stopped him from making a mistake to try blessing the older instead of the younger with what God had said was the younger's due. God remains in control.

sorry this should not have happened. dont know how to get it away

Q3. (Genesis 27:6-29) God had told Rebekah that Jacob is supposed to rule over Esau (Genesis 25:23). To what extent does this excuse her plan to deceive her husband Isaac? How much responsibility does Jacob bear in the deception? God is able to fulfill His plans and prophecies without our crooked scheming interventions. Rebekah's plan is not excusable. She took things into her own hands and we see the long term consequences of this. A feud that would last. The Amelekites and Edomites were Esau's descendants. (Herod was a descendant and he had all the male children killed, hoping in so doing to destroy the Christ child). Jacob did try with bringing in different problems to thwart the scheme. He was just as responsible as his mother, because he was old enough to make a choice to do the right thing. This is a very good example of what not to do, for it only brings heartache and problems with it. We might be forgiven but there are horrible consequences.

Q2. Was Rebekah a spiritual woman, that is, interested in spiritual things? Was Isaac a spiritual man? Which do you think was the more spiritually sensitive? What evidence of spirituality do you see in Jacob? In Esau? These questions have sure opened a proverbial can of worms. From what we read up to this part of the story, which does not reveal very much, we know that Isaac was the child of promise. When Sarai did not conceive and she tried helping God , Ishmael was born. In spite of this God honored His promise and when both Abraham and Sarah were well advanced in years, Isaac was born. More children were born to Abraham after Sarah died. We read that Abraham had children with Keturah. Abraham did make sure his other children were cared for but sent them away so there would be no trouble with Isaac being the next leader of his tribe/people. This is the background Isaac grew up in. We only know that Rebekah was family of Abraham and Sarah and that she did not hesitate to leave her family behind to go with Abraham's servant to be wife to a man she had never met, viz., Isaac. We do read that Isaac prayed much to the Lord for his wife, who was barren for many years. She fell pregnant. Then she in turn inquired of the Lord because there seemed a big struggle inside her. She also heard the Lord answer her. The founders of two nations were in her womb. The older would serve the younger. Esau and Jacob already struggled in the womb. Esau was born first and Jacob held onto his heel. So the births were in quick succession. As growing lads we read that Esau was a cunning and skilled hunter. A man of the outdoors. Isaac was partial to Esau. (He ate of his game) Jacob in turn was plain and quiet, dwelling in the tents. Rebekah loved Jacob. After this we are given some more background of Isaac. He hearkened to God's voice and did not go down to Egypt. He seemed to be a peace loving man and did not want confrontation. Rather moving on. I do believe that he was a spiritual man. He also did, as his father before him, pretend that Rebekah was not his wife. Of the boys at this stage we find that Esau despised his birthright. which is definitely not spiritual. We find Jacob conniving to get the birthright from Esau by offering him food in exchange for it. This too is not very spiritual. Things do change at a later stage, but a big feud is started. Of the two, Jacob was more spiritually sensitive at this stage for he yearned to receive the blessing God had promised for the firstborn.

Q1. Why does the New Testament condemn Esau for selling his birthright? (Hebrews 12:16-17) What did selling the birthright represent? What does this transaction say about Esau's character and values? What does it reveal about Jacob's character and values? A birthright was sacred, it was important, and Esau did not treat it as such. Selling the birthright meant forfeiting what God had intended to be your blessing. viz., leading the family, being the one to carry the spiritual blessings God had promised Abraham and then this was passed onto Isaac. For the moment it meant nothing to Esau. He was hungry. Selling the birthright meant that the bowl of soup was worth more to Esau than God's blessing. At that time and place Esau's values were selfish. Not only did he forfeit his spiritual inheritance but also that of his children. This transaction showed that spiritual things did not matter much to Esau and it showed that Jacob was prepared to get the spiritual blessing , even if it meant scheming to get it and not receiving it God's way. Both Jacob and Esau were wrong in their actions. Neither was prepared to wait. Both wanted what they wanted when they wanted it.

Q5. (Proverbs 11:14) Why is it valuable to counsel with spiritual people in the Christian community when we're learning to discern God's voice? How is having a spiritual mentor helpful? What is the danger of always going to another person to confirm God's word? Why is out-growing a mentor a common occurrence? This thing with having a mentor is scary. Sharing something with someone is really making oneself stand "naked' before them , hiding nothing. Krissi I can understand what you are saying and can understand it to become a fear. The big thing is to be open before the Lord and if He directs you to someone, know that you will have peace in revealing your innermost being with them and praying together, the big thing is not to cling to that person and use them as a pillar to lean on. That's dangerous. Always use God and Him alone as Your ultimate pillar. I have answered the above questions in a general way. I have had a wonderful mentor and have learnt things now that would have been nice if I rather didn't know. Be careful. I was told that many times. A good illustration I was given was to bring it all to God in prayer. Our life journey is like a pathway strewn with pebbles, rocks, boulders etc. Sometimes little shrubs or bushes whose roots have become strong or just weeds with little roots are in the path. The pebbles are quite easy to move out the way. Some of the rocks also. Big boulders are easier removed with help. (Just so the weeds with weak roots are easy to pull out, but not the roots that are embedded into hard ground) That was where the help of the mentor came in. Together you bring it to God in prayer. Sometimes it will need a few sessions of agonizing prayer. Maybe going in deeper about the reason for that problem. To remove the problem. Roots and all needed to be pulled out. The ground had become hard. So guidance, prayer and tears was an easier option than trying to walk the road alone. I trust that God will place a true prayer partner in your/our path. Thank goodness He is there and He is faithful and true.

Q4. (Mark 14:36; 1 Peter 3:7) Why is it necessary to recognize and then surrender our desires when we are seeking God's will? What happens if we neglect to do this? How can holding on to sin distort what you think you are hearing from God? If we do not recognize and surrender our desires first then we are likely to hear only what we want to hear instead of truly seeking and hearing God's will. Holding onto sin can also distorts things. We can twist the voice we hear as okaying something which we see from Scripture is wrong. Basing excuses on half a Scripture here and elsewhere and taking things completely out of context.

Q3. (Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 2:16). Give an example of what the voice of the flesh -- our lusts and desires -- might sound like. Give an example of what the voice of the world might sound like. Give an example of what the voice of the devil might sound like. Why is a knowledge of the Scripture necessary for discernment of these voices? It will reveal to us or point out to us something that we desire. (in an unhealthy way). It will not be the same for everyone. For one it might be ******* after a companion, be it opposite gender or same gender, in an unhealthy way. For another it is ******* after possessions. Always having the latest in electronic equipment or the latest in the weird fashions of the day. Keeping up with the proverbial Joanses. For another again it can be craving food. An obsession of food. It could be work, cars, acclaim from your superior, etc. The voice of the world, would again point out to the fact that others are doing it it must be right so you can also do it. This could be something you might have difficulty with deciding if you should take part in them, eg., yoga, dancing, drinking, painting yourself, having an abortion, tattooing, drugging, going to discos etc. The voice of the devil will of course strengthen the other voices and assure one that there is nothing wrong with it. Will point out that the people taking part in activities you're uncertain about are such wonderful people. Surely there can be nothing wrong with it. So he often masquerades as an angel of light. It is important to be grounded in Scripture and in prayer, so that when you doubt something you can immediately weigh it up with . . . is this glorifying God . . . would I be able to do this with Christ as my companion , , , would Jesus be found taking part in this activity.

Q2. (Hebrews 5:14) Why will a person have to make mistakes in the process of learning to discern God's voice? If mistakes are part of the process, how can this be of God at all? When practicing anything , be it a language, a sport, to knit or sew or whatever it could be, we are bound to make mistakes. Mistakes make us learn something. The proverb learning from ones mistakes is real, unless one is stubborn and does not want to learn, then they can lead to our downfall and not our progress. So too we learn to discern God's voice in the midst of our day to day living. The more we dwell in / on His Word, the more we learn to decipher His Voice day by day.