1.11 Genesis 27-31

Cassie Bryant

January 11

Genesis 27-31

Summarize what you read in one paragraph:

In our reading today we saw Isaac giving his son Esau clear instruction on how to get his blessing. Rebekah uses this information to get Jacob to take the blessing from his brother. Jacob follows the instructions and impersonates his brother to his blind father who gave Jacob Esau’s blessing. After Esau found out Jacob fled to Harran to find a wife from his mother’s people. He finds Rachel pleasing and asks for her hand in marriage. Her father, Laban, agreed as long as Jacob worked for him for 7 years. Jacob did and married Laban’s daughter but didn’t realize he was marrying Leah who was Laban’s older daughter. Jacob then had to agree to work 7 more years for the hand of Rachel. God was faithful to Leah and gave her many sons from Jacob. Even both wives’ servants gave sons to Jacob. Rachel was barren for many years until God remembered her and allowed her to have a son. Laban would acknowledge that God was working through Jacob and even still cheat Jacob in his wages. God saw Jacob’s mistreatment and blessed his livestock and sent Jacob home. So, Jacob took his family and left to his father’s land. Laban followed them and confronted Jacob. Together they made a covenant to not harm each other. 

What is one key verse?

“The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’ And he said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.” 

Genesis 31:11-13

How does what you read change your vision of God?

I find it interesting that God continued to bless Jacob even though he gained his father’s blessing through deception. Also, God chose to keep Rachel barren all while blessing Leah and the servants with sons. Clearly, God sees what we can not and works in ways we do not understand for his good. When we make a vow to God to follow him he remembers us.

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others?

People are sinful yet God loves then and uses them still. God loves us all. I need to see God’s love for people even in their sinful times. I need to see myself with God’s grace. He can work through all of us and he never gives up just because we sometimes do stupid things.

How will you Go With God because of this reading? (What is an action step?)

I will look for how God is trying to use me and follow him. I will work hard for the Lord knowing that he sees what I am doing and knows what is best.

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters? (What made you think about Jesus?)

Jesus spent time with sinners and valued uneducated men with his message. He kept using men, like Peter, who denied him and forgot their way yet he kept them around and trusted them with spreading the gospel.