BIBLE FELLOWSHIP TEACHING PLANS MARCH 13, 2016
CALVARY GENESIS 29:1-14A MARCH 13, 2016 TEACHING PLAN PREPARATION > Spend the week reading through and studying Genesis 29:1-14a. Consult the commentary provided and any additional study tools (such as a concordance or Bible dictionary) to enhance your preparation. > Determine which discussion points and questions will work best with your group. > Pray for Pastor Rob, the upcoming group meeting, your teaching, your group members, and their receptivity to the study. HIGHLIGHTS BIBLICAL EMPHASIS: After seeing God in a dream, Jacob traveled on to Haran where he met his uncle, Laban, and his future wife, Rachel. TEACHING AIM: The beginning of Jacob s struggle with Laban points us to the importance of trust in God s promises. Each step of Jacob s journey, no matter how inconsequential they seem, points toward the faithfulness of God. 2 Patriarchs Calvary
INTRODUCTION As your group time begins, use this section to help get the conversation going. 1 What is the most outlandish thing you have ever done to impress someone you were attracted to? Notes: 2 If you are married, do you remember the first time you met you spouse? If you are not married, what do you know about the first time your parents met? 3 Did you realize at the first meeting the significant influence and impact this person would have in your life? Most people meet their spouses in seemingly insignificant ways in class at school, in your neighborhood, through work. Though the grand plan is unknown to you when you meet people, it is known to God. We see a similar dealing in the Lord s faithfulness to Jacob. Committing to marriage is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. We have already seen the importance placed on this event in Genesis 24, when Rebekah was chosen for Issac, but today we will see a similar unfolding as Jacob first meets his future wife Rachel. Through the constant maneuvering of Jacob s uncle and Rachel s father Laban, Jacob has to take a less than direct route to marry his beloved. Through the encounter, as with much of Genesis, we see the Lord s faithfulness and blessing to the line of Abraham. 3 Patriarchs Calvary
UNDERSTANDING Unpack the biblical text to discover what Scripture says or means about a particular topic. > Have a volunteer read Genesis 29:1-8. Notes: This passage introduces the account of Jacob s life in Paddan Aram, where he will remain for 20 years obtaining family and wealth (29:1 31:55). After his stirring experience at Bethel we read about last week, the patriarch arrived safely at Haran, the former home of Abraham, and we continue on with Jacob s story here. Reflect back on Jacob s story that we ve been studying over the last few weeks. Where do we see the sovereign hand of God at work in Jacob s life? Why had he returned to this particular place? Look back through Genesis 24. What parallels do you notice in these narrative passages? Jacob was the younger of twin sons born to Isaac and Rebekah, where God had prophesied the older would serve the younger (Gen. 25:23). Jacob s name means trickster and as we have already seen, he lives up to his name. First, he steals his brother Esau s birthright (25:29-34), then he steals his blessing (Gen. 27). As a result, Isaac and Rebekah send Jacob away to the land of His ancestors in Haran. This narrative will comprise the next several chapters of Genesis, but this early section draws intentional parallels to chapter 24, where Abraham s servant finds a wife for Isaac. 4 Patriarchs Calvary
Describe the early events of chapter 29. Who are these shepherds? What kind of predicament does Jacob find these shepherds in? How is the Jacob we have seen in these verses different from the Jacob we have previously encountered? From these verses we realize that God placed Jacob in a position to meet his spouse. What does this remind us about God? About His involvement in our lives? Through his interaction with the shepherds, Jacob realizes he has made it into the land of his uncle Laban. When Jacob reached them, they were waiting to water their sheep, and needed to roll a large stone away from the watering hole. In previous chapters, Jacob, though tricky, has appeared meek and subdued, more interested in following his mother s direction than forging his own path. Here Jacob is gregarious and outspoken, quickly finding a kinship with the shepherds. God is faithful in all that He promises, and this inconsequential encounter with shepherds is no different, for it put Jacob in a position to meet Rachel, who was coming their way. LABAN Personal name meaning white. Rebekah s brother (Gen. 24:29) and father of Leah and Rachel (Gen. 29:16). Laban lived in the city of Nahor that was probably close to the metropolis of Haran. Laban is known primarily from the two stories in Gen. 24 and 29 31. Laban was directly responsible for the betrothal of Rebekah to Isaac. After Abraham s steward relates that he has come to find a wife for Isaac, Laban and his father give their permission for the marriage (Gen. 24:50-51). Later Jacob fled to his uncle Laban s house after stealing the birthright from Esau. > Have a volunteer read Genesis 29:9-14a. How did Jacob react when he first saw Rachel? How did Jacob show off for Rachel? Why would this feat of strength be exceptional? 5 Patriarchs Calvary
How did Rachel respond to Jacob? Should we make anything of the kiss they share? RACHEL How does Jacob s encounter with Laban and Rachel further the thread of God s promise to Abraham all throughout the patriarchs? Rachel was obviously a striking beauty based on Jacob s response to her. He quickly moved the stone, which the group of shepherds had been unable to move together, and ran to meet her. This meeting starts a chain reaction where she runs to grab her father Laban. The kiss shared was a traditional greeting that we should not make much of today, but all of these circumstances point to the guidance and sovereign hand of a faithful God we have seen all throughout Genesis. Each part of the story illustrates God s continued faithfulness to the line of Abraham. > Have a volunteer read Proverbs 16:9. How had Jacob attempted to plan his own way? Why it is always more important to see God s mission rather than our preferences? Personal name meaning ewe. Younger daughter of Laban, the second wife and cousin of Jacob, and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. In flight from his brother Esau, Jacob met Rachel when she brought the sheep to water. She immediately became the object of his attention. Two Old Testament passages outside Genesis mention Rachel. Ruth 4:11 calls her one who built up the house of Israel. Jeremiah 31:15 refers to her weeping over children being taken in exile. In the New Testament Matthew (2:18) cited Jeremiah s reference of weeping in connection with Herod s order to kill male children under two. How was Jacob often missing the big picture in his life? The word plan in this verse usually refers to wicked schemes and is in keeping with the type of manipulation we have come to expect out of Jacob. Instead of trusting the Lord s plan for His life, known from birth, Jacob continually tries to work the circumstances in His favor. God s plan for Jacob would have come to pass without Jacob s manipulation. Following God s plan 6 Patriarchs Calvary
keeps us from sin instead of walking into it. When we are tricksters like Jacob, we deny God the glory of being faithful to us. How has the Lord determined your steps? What does the Lord determining our steps mean? What does it not mean? The Lord determining your steps means He is there for you, faithful to you, and is guiding the circumstances of your life for your good and His glory (Rom. 8:28). What we should avoid, though, is the feeling of determinism, which sees everything that happens to us as external to us and fixed before hand. We must always take our next step of spiritual maturity and avoid coasting. God is faithful, and we are responsible to Him. APPLICATION Help your group identify how the truths from the Scripture passage apply directly to their lives. We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 1 How does God use all the circumstances of our lives, even things like chance meetings, to fulfill His promises to us? 2 How has your spouse blessed your life since the time you met him/her? How is he/she a sign of God s faithfulness to you? 3 Each event in Jacob s life furthered God s faithfulness to Jacob. How does each circumstance in your life do the same? Can you think of something you found insignificant at the time, but God used in a powerful way over time? 7 Patriarchs Calvary
4 Where are you right now following your own path or in step with God s path for you? Why are God s plans always better than our own? Notes: P R A Y Thank God for weaving every thread of our story together in a beautiful tapestry that reflects His grace and glory in our lives. Pray that we would learn from Jacob s example and see true life is found when we follow His path for us instead of the path we have established for ourselves. 8 Patriarchs Calvary
FOLLOW UP Midway through this week, send a follow-up email to your group with some or all of the following information: > Questions to consider as they continue to reflect on what they learned this week: How are you choosing God s mission over your preferences this week? > A note of encouragement, following up on any specific prayer requests mentioned during your group gathering. > The challenge to memorize Proverbs 16:9. > The text for next week s study, so group members can read it in anticipation of next weekend: Genesis 29:14b-30. 9 Patriarchs Calvary
COMMENTARY MARCH 13, 2016 GENESIS 29:1-14A 29:1-3. As we begin chapter 29, we remember God s promise to be with Jacob (28:15). We also remember that he has become a new man, changed by his dream at Bethel. Once again a well appears, continuing the three great symbols we have seen throughout the experience of the patriarchs (tents, altars, and wells). Not only that, but a large stone over the well causes us to recall the important stone in the Bethel experience. Notes: The phrase and of the eastern peoples seems curious, since we are accustomed to seeing specific geographical names. We should probably assume that Moses intends us to make a historical and mental connection with chapter 24 and Eliezer s appearance at a well in his search for a wife for Isaac. Later in this chapter we will get a picture of Jacob s physical strength, since we learn here that the shepherds would roll the stone away (apparently emphasizing its size and weight). But verse 10 says that Jacob went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well. 29:4-8. Not only do we find unusual strength in this chapter but also a strangely gregarious Jacob. In earlier descriptions he more or less stands in the background, taking orders from his mother and exhibiting little leadership. But in this situation he approached the shepherds and took charge of the situation right from the beginning. In God s sovereignty, Jacob was no longer just wandering through the land of the eastern peoples; he made contact with the people he was sent to find. Presumably this conversation took place in Aramaic, the language of Haran which Abraham apparently continued with his family in Canaan. At this point Jacob did what any red-blooded college boy would do when he gets ready to meet a coed get people out of the way so the meeting could take place in private. But they were in no hurry. In time the flocks would be pulled together, they would move the stone, and then they would 10 Patriarchs Calvary
COMMENTARY MARCH 13, 2016 water the sheep. The narrative seems to put Jacob s energy and eagerness in contrast with the somewhat laid-back shepherds. Three flocks had already arrived; presumably more were on the way. How many shepherds did it take to move that big stone? Notes: 29:9-14a. Rachel was obviously a striking beauty. The moment Jacob saw her and recognized who she was, he sprang into action. Our text varies from chapter 24 where the servant of Abraham prayed Rebekah into caring for his watering needs. Since a kiss was customary in that culture among relatives, we should not read anything romantic into verse 11. Our historian emphasizes their family connection three times in verse 10 alone, so we understand that meeting Rachel was not really the ultimate goal since Jacob had to make contact with Laban. Although the chronology of verse 12 seems unclear, we understand the author s intent. As soon as Rachel understood who Jacob was, she ran home to tell Laban. As soon as Laban heard the news, he hurried to meet him. Another kiss, a trip back to the house, a review of the whole story, and a fresh bonding of relatives after one hundred years. Rebekah had left home a century earlier, literally without warning. It is possible that the two sections of the family had no contact over that period of time, although they could have sent messages back and forth with trading caravans. Waltke points out that although the well scenarios of chapters 24 and 29 have some similarities, the differences may be even more significant. The presence of prayer and worship is a key point of comparison between the two well scenes. At each important moment the servant of Abraham prays for God s guidance and thanks God for his provision (24:12-14, 26-27). Of Jacob s encounter at the well, no prayers of praise or petition are recorded. The consequence of the lack of prayer seems apparent in the following scene, with the troubled and deceitful arrangements of Jacob s marriages. 11 Patriarchs Calvary
COMMENTARY MARCH 13, 2016 Was Laban s enthusiastic welcome motivated by genuine delight at meeting his sister s son or the prospect of a strong and healthy laborer? We don t know. We do not forget, however, that when Rebekah left, Laban was primarily interested in Eliezer s flashy jewelry (24:30). Notes: PROVERBS 16:9 This word for plans in Proverbs usually involves wicked schemes (v. 30; 24:8; cp. Ps 140:2; Nah 1:9), but it can also refer to good strategies and tactics (Pr 12:5; 16:3; 21:5) or thinking deeply about something (Ps 73:16; 119:59). Even good plans can only be established by the sovereign Lord (Pr 16:3; 19:21). 12 Patriarchs Calvary