Just How Far Does Defilement Spread? Part Three

Genesis 34:19-31

19 - Hamor and Shechem were in agreement with Simeon and Levi’s request of circumcision.

20 - Hamor and Shechem talk with the rest of the city. They had power of influence.

21-23 - Hamor and Shechem admit that through this partnership they will not only get the ladies of the family but also the cattle and business trading which would result in an economic boost for them.

24 - All the men of the city were in agreement and circumcised

25-29 - Simeon and Levi killed all the men and animals. They took back Dinah, who was being held prisoner. They took the ladies and children, they spoiled the land of belongings and destroyed the city.

30-31 - Jacob worries that other cities will now fight against them for Simeon and Levi’s actions.

Just How Far Does Defilement Spread? Part Two

Genesis 34:8-17

8 - Hamor does not reprimand his son, Shechem, for his sin with Dinah

9-10 - Shechem’s request/idea was to share the girls for wives, share land and business gain

11 - Shechem asks for grace concerning the dowry and marriage of Dinah

12-13 - Simeon and Levi answer deceitfully. It is not right to sin in response to someone sinning toward us.

14 - 17 - Circumcision was just the avenue to weaken Shechem and the rest of the people. Simeon and Levi were not really planning to unite with Shechem.


Just How Far Does Defilement Spread?

Genesis 34:1-7

1 - Dinah has friends in Shechem and she hangs out with them

2 - Shechem defiles Dinah. Defile= troubled, corrupted, damaged

3 - Shechem loved Dinah and speaks kindly to her. Cleave = overtaking, joining

4 - Shechem demands that his dad, Hamor, get Dinah to be his wife

5 - 6 - Hamor and Jacob talk after finding out what happened to Dinah

7 - Dinah’s brothers heard what happened and were very wroth and grieved. Wroth - angry. Grieved - sorrow

Jacob Faces Another of His Giants

Genesis 32:1-9

1 - Jacob was going on his way, which this time, was God’s way. Angels met Jacob

2 - Jacob saw these angels and he named the place, Mahanaim. It means double camp/two hosts of camps, his camp and the angels’ camp

3 - Edom is south of the Dead Sea and they are descendants of Esau

4 - Jacob sends a messenger to Esau

5 - Jacob wants to find favor with his brother, Esau

6 - The messengers tell Jacob that Esau is coming toward them with 400 men

7-8 - Jacob is afraid for his life and the lives of his wives and children. He comes up with a plan.

9 - Jacob begins with prayer

The God Who Intervenes, Part 3

Genesis 31:43-55

43- Laban claims Jacob’s wives and the children as his own. He forgot God, Jacob, and Isaac

44 - Laban wants to make a covenant. They made a non-aggression pact.

45 - 47 - They are on Mt. Gilead, the place marked by a pillar of stones

48-49 - God is the witness to the promise

50-54 - They shared a meal while making this covenant. Laban also requests that Jacob not take other wives.

55 - Laban leaves. This is the last we hear of Laban in the Bible.

The God Who Intervenes

Genesis 31:17-35

Key points:

Laban was not left destitute; he still had some flocks to care for. Vs. 19: He was shearing his sheep when he heard of Jacob’s leaving

Rachel took the idols that belonged to her dad, Laban. Why did she take them?
Could’ve been a sign that the family inheritance would go to her husband.
Could’ve been because Rachel didn’t trust completely in God. She may have felt like she needed the gods.
Could’ve been Rachel’s way of getting even with her dad and making him mad.

Jacob went across the river. This is the Euphrates River. He was headed toward Gilead, where he crossed the Jordan River and then went to Mount Gilead. The other name for Mount Gilead is Mount Gilboa (where Saul and Jonathan were killed during battle).

Laban had to get his servants and family together before going after Jacob. He intended to kill Jacob and get his daughters and grandchildren back, plus his flocks and wealth.

God spoke to Laban in a dream and told him not to speak to Jacob bad or good. This shows God’s protection over Jacob. God knew what Laban wanted to do and knew Laban’s heart and real intentions.

Laban accuses Jacob of taking his daughters by force with swords and stealing away (sneaking) during the night.

Laban is most likely lying when he says he would have had a going-away party for the family before they left. As we know from the previous chapter, Laban was willing to do most anything to keep Jacob from leaving.

Laban searches the tents for his gods but didn’t find them.

If you can steal someone’s god and sit on it, then it’s not a god.


God Enriches and Protects His Servant

Genesis 30:35-43, 31:1-18

35-43 - Laban separates the flocks according to the deal he and Jacob had made. They separate three days’ journey from each other. Jacob trusts God for the cattle increase, even though he places the rods. God blesses Jacob with animals and servants

1-2- Laban’s sons accuse Jacob of stealing animals. Jacob could tell Laban’s feelings for him had changed.

3 - God begins to speak to Jacob with the message to head home.

4-6 - Jacob tells Rachel and Leah the message from God. He acknowledges that God has been with him, providing the blessings and also protection against Laban.

7-8 - Jacob tells Rachel and Leah the contract that he and Laban had made.

9-18 - Rachel and Leah are ready to leave. They say their dad’s money and their inheritance is gone. The girls saw their dad give the separated cattle to their brothers. This would have been part of their inheritance.

Stop Our Sibling Rivalry

Genesis 3):1-13

God can use our bad choices for His will.

Even though Jacob had more than one wife, God used this to fulfill His purposes.
Judah was born from Leah and Jesus was born from Judah’s line. Joseph was born from Rachel and he ended up saving the Israelites from the famine.

Rachel and Leah envied each other. This ultimately affected the twelve sons who never really got along, even today.


One Source of Friction in a Home

Genesis 29: 22-35

The patriarchs have all been sinners that have had faith. God used them to magnify Him.
He chooses the weak to confound the wise.

vs. 22 - Jacob got tricked by Laban, but he is learning what it is like to be tricked.
God still used this and allowed it.
Jesus was born from Leah’s son, Judah.

The Holy Spirit came and went from believers in the Old Testament
The Old Testament people also had encounters with God that we don’t have today.

A self-chosen way has consequences
Here, Lean and Rachel have jealousy
There is contention, confliction and hatred.

This hatred ended up up filtering down through the generations as Joseph’s brothers hated him.

God hates hate. Because of Rachel’s and Leah’s feelings for each other, God shut Rachel’s womb.

31- God controls the birth of children.
Leah acknowledges that God has seen her afflictions and she praises God for her boys.

The boys’ names have meanings.
Reuben - son
Simeon - hearing
Levi - attachment
Judah - praise

Looking for Love in the Right Way, Part 2

Genesis 29: 10-21

10-14 - Laban, in the past, was influenced by money and wealth

15- Laban offers to give Jacob wages for his work

16-17 - In the future, Leah ends up giving birth to Judah. Jesus will eventually be born from the line of Judah.

18 - Jacob promises to work for Rachel for seven years

19-20 - Time flew for Jacob because of his love for Rachel

21 - Jacob desired Rachel so much. These desires are put there by God.

Meeting The Lord God Should Change Everything, Part Seven

Genesis 22: 10-22

The changes in Jacob:
1. Jacob interacts with God now
2. God is personal to Jacob. Not just personal to Abraham and Isaac.
3. Jacob recognizes God as his fathers did.
4. Jacob makes a vow to God, to give a tenth back to Him.
5. Now this place is important to Jacob
6. Jacob now knows that God is with him every day.
7. Jacob is now a different person

James 2:21-24: Our works prove us to others, that we are saved. We know that Abraham was saved by his faith when asked to kill his son, Isaac. Abraham’s works did not save him, but it is proof to us.

Meeting the Lord God Should Change Everything, Part Five

Genesis 28, Hebrews 12:4-17

Were Old Testament saints “born again”?
John 3:9, Ezekiel 36:23-26 OT saints were not born again in the same way as the NT saints.
Jeremiah 32:31-34 - describes the future aspect of the new birth

Malachi 1:1-5 - God loves Israel. Does that mean that all Israelites are saved?

Mark 12:24-27 - Jesus says He is the God of the living, including Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But they are not living anymore. Is God still their God?

Matthew 8:12 - Jesus says the children of the kingdom are cast out. The children of the kingdom are the Israelites, but they are cast out if they do not believe on Jesus’ death and resurrection to save them.

Acts 7:32-34 - God says, He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God says He is going to “deliver” them. “Deliver” is used to describe deliverance from a present-day difficult situation, as well as for the future deliverance of the church.