Tag: bsf genesis lesson 19 day 2

jacob agrees to work for rachel for 7 years genesis 29 www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 19, Day 3: Genesis 29:15-20

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Summary of Genesis 29:15-20:

Laban asks Jacob after a month what his wages were be (in sum, what he actually wants and why he is here). Jacob responds that he will work 7 years for Rachel’s hand in marriage. Leah was the older daughter, she is described as having weak eyes, while Rachel is lovely in form and beautiful. The time flew for Jacob so in love was he.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 19, Day 3: Genesis 29:15-20

6) Apparently Jacob was working for Laban for free.

7a) It taught him patience to have what he wants, and it’s a fair price for his work.

b) Jacob could have offered to pay Laban; instead, he works for what he wants, which is the opposite today in this world of instant gratification

8a) Proverbs says God disciplines those He loves for His reasons and their good. Romans 8:28 is the famous verse of all things work for your good. James tells us that we are tested to develop perseverance. Peter tells us that grief proves our faith to be genuine and results in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus is revealed. We are filled with joy becaues of our faith.

b) Stay the course. Keep praying. Keep working. Keep following His lead despite the hardships and the setbacks.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 19, Day 3: Genesis 29:15-20

I think Jacob’s mistake is not leaving as soon as he could, like Abraham’s servant did with Rebekah. It gave Laban time to plot.

man in desert www.atozmomm.com

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 19, Day 3: Genesis 29:15-20

While on the surface, Laban seems to be generous, he’s seen the good work Jacob could do and wants to see what Jacob wants in exchange for continued work.

Bible scholars debate what Leah’s eyes being weak or delicate actually mean. Does it mean she has a problem with her vision? Does it mean she has no life to them like her sister? Is it just a nice way to say she wasn’t pretty? Either way, we can guess that if Rachel is more beautiful than Leah that there was a sibling rivalry between the two.

Jacob offers to work for 7 years for Rachel as a dowry. This is over-the-top generous, which was probably his downfall. It showed how much he really wanted Rachel, which Laban would exploit next. Yet it shows his love for her. He was willing to wait. This is a long time in today’s culture and rare is this “I want it now” culture seen today. Time flew for him too.

We can surmise that Jacob and Rachel probably did not see each other much. First, in these times and culture, women did not spend time with men and were often relegated to the home, whereas the men worked the fields. Second, there were no date nights back there. Social propriety was strictly enforced to ensure no one questioned the woman’s purity. However, since both were shepherds, they could have spent some time together and got to know each other more.

Jacob is now 77 years old at this time and he kept sheep for Laban Hos. 12:12 Rachel was very young, maybe even barely marriageable age, which may be another reason Jacob wanted to wait.

jacob meets rachel in paddan aram www.atozmomm.com genesis 29

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 19, Day 2: Genesis 29:1-14

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Summary of Genesis 29:1-14:

Jacob arrives at Paddan Aram, the land fo the eastern peoples. He saw a well where flocks of sheep were gathered. All the shephards would roll the stone away when it was time to water the sheep and then replace it. Rachel, who was a shepherdess, came to the well to water her flocks. Jacob moved the store for her so her flocks could drink. He told Rachel as he wept for joy that he was a relative of her father and a son of Rebekah. She ran to tell Laban, her father. Laban rushed out to meet Jacob, embracing him and kissing him.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 19, Day 2: Genesis 29:1-14

3) Jacob stopped by a well that was to water sheep, not people, like Abraham’s servant stopped by. Rebekah did water the servant’s camels for him as Rachel watered (with Jacob’s help) her father’s sheep. Abraham’s servant prayed at the well for God’s sign. Jacob moved the stone to help Rachel. Laban hurried out to meet Abraham’s servant as he did Jacob as well and welcomed him.

4) Providence is “the protective care of God or of nature as a spiritual power, or timely preparation for future eventualities.” Divine providence is God’s intervention in the universe, God’s guidance or God’s care of the world and all that is in it.” God is orchestrating the meeting of Jacob and Rachel. Jacob stops at a shepherd’s well, and Rachel is a shepheress. She comes to water her flocks when Jacob is there. He helps her, and he finds the family of his mother as he was seeking.

5) He has led me to a new home. Hoping for new opportunities this year with my writing. God has provided all I need faithfully in these tough times.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 19, Day 2: Genesis 29:1-14

Granted the world population in ancient times is a fraction of what it is today, but it still amazes me how easily people find each other in the Bible without cell phones, roads, or any sort of technology. God most definitely guides, that’s for sure.

map of jacob fleeing to haran www.atozmomm.com genesis 28End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 19, Day 2: Genesis 29:1-14

Providence brought Jacob to the exact place he needed to be. In an age before navigation, this was, indeed, a miracle. Covering the well helped to preserve water from evaporation in this desert region. It may have been to prevent theft of water since water was so precious. Laban probably suspected that Jacob had a lot of money since he knew his father was wealthy, which explains his eagerness to meet Jacob.

BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 19, Day 2: Genesis 24:1-9

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2012/2013

Summary of passage:  Abraham had his servant swear not to get a wife for Isaac from the Canaanites but from his country and his relatives.  Abraham said not to take Isaac back to his fatherland and that God would send an angel before him to find the wife.

Questions:

3a)  In every way.  God will make his descendants as numerous as the stars.  They will take possession of the cities and all nations will be bless because of Abraham. (Genesis 22:16-18)

b)  From Psalm:  Blessed are those who take refuge in Him (Psalm 2:12).  Blessed is the man who does not walk with in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  Blessed are those who delight in the Lord and who meditates on the law.

Psalm 37:  They will inherit the land; He makes his steps firm;  man will not fall for the Lord upholds him in His hand.

Malachi:  God throws open the floodgates of blessings when the tithe is brought.

Ephesians: Blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

c)  Personal Question.  My answer:  With my sweet babies and my husband being home for a stretch of time.  With my band.  With my friend whom I saw a movie with.  With job opportunities.  Maybe for a way for me to do something outside the home.  Options for schools.  Nice park weather.  Food, clothing, shelter.  My dog.  Many more.

4a)  By directing his children (Isaac) to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just so that the Lord will bring about what He has promised to Abraham.  By getting a wife not of foreign birth who would know the One, True God.

b)  Finding one from the Canaanites because of they were pagan worshippers.  And having Isaac go back to the “home” country from where Abraham came from.  Isaac had to stay to fulfill God’s desires for man.

c)  Our number one priority is to raise our children to know the Lord.  He must be first in their lives.  We must raise them to follow God’s laws and not the ways and laws of the world.  They must strive to be more like Jesus every day of their lives and to do what he would do.

5)  He makes sure his son has the right wife pleasing to God.  He keeps his son in the Promised Land so he and his descendants can inherit it.  He shows his servant that the Lord will guide him in his quest.

Conclusions:  Surprisingly, I did like 3c.  It’s always good to remember our blessings because so often we forget them in the humdrum of life.  It was a good exercise to write them down so we do realize we are incredibly blessed even when we don’t feel blessed at all.

The blessings God has for us are innumerable and it would behoove us to remember that (me at least).

Great reminders on responsibilities we have as parents to raise our kids right.  This goal can easily get lost in the day-to-day caretakings of our children whose needs are immediate.  Great prayer to start the day with!