BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 17, Day 5: Genesis 27:42-46

Summary of Genesis 27:42-46:

Rebekah sends Jacob off to live with her brother, Laban, in Haran once she hears that Esau is plotting to kill him. She tells Jacob to stay until she sends for him that it’s safe to return. She then complains to Isaac about Esau’s Hittite wives and says if Jacob takes a Hittite wife, her life will not be worth living.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 17, Day 5: Genesis 27:42-46

13) He would then be the only one whom God’s original promise could go through. He’d in effect have the birthright and all the wealth that entails. No one knows the consequences of this action, but it could have been severe. God might have killed Esau as retribution. No one knows, but when you go against God, you should expect the utter worse in consequences.

14a) Hebrews 12:6-11 shows that discipline is for our good so that we can grow in righteousness with God. Jacob has to work to earn Rachel as his wife. He also was tricked into marrying Leah, Rachel’s sister. That causes much pain and rift in the family. Rebekah disappears after this incidence in the Bible, skipping over her death as well, except to mention her burial place  Genesis 49:29-31. Suffice it to say, with Jacob gone and her relationship with Esau strained, she probably led a very lonely life at the end of her years.

b) Things work out as God had planned them despite our bumbles. Although there may be consequences for our actions, we are to learn from them and grow in Him despite of ourselves. We turn towards God in these situations, not away from Him.

15) I’m just gonna throw this out there, but since we are all sinners, God has no choice but to use us as part of His plan if He is using humans at all. You should look at this as God using us despite our sins and flaws, and we should be privileged that He does. God uses us to teach us lessons, to grow our faith, and to draw us closer to Him. Otherwise, He could do it all Himself without the messes.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 17, Day 5: Genesis 27:42-46

Because of previous actions of manipulation, Jacob must flee, most likely to never see his mother again. All because of a scheme to receive Isaac’s earthly blessing. We need to strive for God’s heavenly blessing, not earth’s.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 17, Day 5: Genesis 27:42-46

We must remember that travel during ancient times is rough and takes a long time with no real paved roads and all of it mostly on foot. Thus, when Jacob leaves to Haran, odds are, he wouldn’t be back soon.

Jacob ended up staying in Haran for 20 years, marrying Leah and Rachel, Laban’s daughters. Rebekah tells Isaac that Jacob is leaving to find a wife, not to save his life from Esau. The tragedy here is that she may have died without ever seeing Jacob again (her death is not recorded in the Bible).

It seems like such a waste of time, effort, and energy to go against God. So why do all of us do it?