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dinah is raped by shechem genesis 34 www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 22, Day 2: Genesis 34:1-12

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Summary of Genesis 34:1-12:

Dinah, daughter of Jacob, decided to go visit the women of the land (unsure why).  Shechem, the son of the ruler of the area, Hamor, took her and raped her. He fell in love with her. Jacob and his sons were angry over this. Hamor asked Jacob for Dinah’s hand in marriage for his son, Shechem, and invited them to intermarry with them, trade, and own property in the land.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 22, Day 2: Genesis 34:1-12

3) “They were filled with grief and fury.” Who wouldn’t be angry that their sister had been raped? Plus, Dinah would not be able to marry not being a virgin in that time.

4a) Shechem wanted to marry Dinah. Hamor offered Jacob and his family to settle among them, marry their daughters, live in the land, trade in it, and own property.

b) God’s people were called to not intermarry with the pagan cultures around them because then they will turn away from God to other gods.

5a) All cruelty bothers me.

b) Definitely pray about it. It can be overwhelming the sheer amount of evil in the world, but knowing God’s god it gives me peace. Help those I can.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 22, Day 2: Genesis 34:1-12

Unsure why Dinah went to town in the first place, and it sounds like she went by herself so she violated that rule/culture at the time. Now, they had little choice but to let Dinah get married.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 22, Day 2: Genesis 34:1-12

map of Shechem www.atozmomm.com Genesis 34This story is used to prove the verity of the Bible. After all, who would record such evil deeds except God?

God had called Jacob to Bethel (Genesis 31:13), not Shechem. Inevitably, when you disobey God, bad things can happen.

It falls on Jacob for allowing Dinah to go unsupervised to the city. Yet, nothing is mentioned of that fact. In those times, it seems unsupervised women were raped. Dinah, as a teen, did rebellious things that have consequences as most teenagers do.

Was it love since Shechem raped Dinah? This was probably more a desire to have something more so than love.

Jacob’s sons are more angry than Jacob himself it seems. Jacob should have done something. Instead, the sons felt obligated to, and their choice was infinitely worse without guidance from the head of the family. In ancient times, however, the revenge of the brothers was commonplace.

The marriage proposal threatened God’s plan for all of humanity. God did not want intermarriage of his people, wanting them distinct from other cultures. The fix proposed by Shechem was not a fix at all. It would set a dangerous precedent.

They thought money could erase what happened. Imagine how Dinah felt. Being raped is one of the most vile crimes on this planet, leaving a lifetime full of sorrow and pain. Dinah probably wanted nothing to do with Shechem.

isaac blesses jacob www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 17, Day 3: Genesis 27:14-29

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Summary of Genesis 27:14-29:

Jacob went all out on the deception, putting on Esau’s clothes and goat skins on his hands and neck in order to appear hairy like Esau. He brought the food Rebekah had prepared to Isaac, who wondered how Jacob had gotten the food so quickly. Note the lie here: God had blessed him with success. Isaac does touch his hands and says how the voice is Jacob’s, but his hands are Esau’s. After eating the goat stew, Isaac kisses him and then smells the scent of Esau from the clothes. He then blesses Jacob with blessings, riches, and having nations serve him.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 17, Day 3: Genesis 27:14-29

7a) Rebekah was showing that she’d do whatever it took to get her way (or God’s in this case), even lie and trick others. She was showing that she knew best over Jacob and was showing him no respect as the head of the household.

b) Jacob didn’t hesitate to lie at all to get the blessing. He went along with everything Rebekah told him to do. Isaac ignored God’s soverignty by trying to give Esau the blessing instead of Jacob. There was no respect. There was no seeking God. They simply did not care who they hurt in their actions.

8 ) It shows the dangers of favoritism amongst parents towards their children. Still, at the heart of man, it comes down to putting your will above God’s and doing anything to make that happen. Funny how God always wins.

9) Even though the methods were wrong, Jacbo still received the blessing that God intended. God always works things out as they are supposed to be despite our attempts to do it for God or for other reasons. God is good.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 17, Day 3: Genesis 27:14-29

This story shows the heart of man perfectly. No matter how God-centered you are, you always have to be wary of letting your will and intentions usurp God’s.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 17, Day 3: Genesis 27:14-29

Isaac probably knew it was Jacob in his heart of hearts, as we see with the repeated questions. However, Isaac believed Jacob instead. Jacob tells several lies to get what he wants, justifying it by how he’s doing God’s will. The means does not justify the end.

Isaac cannot see and his sense of touch was not good. Thus, he relied on his sense of smell. Back in the day when no one showered or did laundry, the distinct smell that every human has was pronounced, which is what Isaac smelled on Esau’s clothes.

Isaac passes on the blessing God had given Abraham.

The blessing itself is one of richness, bounty, and God’s presence.

In the end, God blesses who He wants to blesses and curses who He wants to curses; our actions here on earth are truly meaningless outside of God’s will.

marriage of isaac and rebekah www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 15, Day 5: Genesis 24:52-67

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Summary Genesis 25:52-67:

The servant showered the entire family with precious and costly gifts for the dowry. The next morning Laban and Bethuel tried to delay the trip, but they left immediately on Rebekah’s acquiescence. The family blessed Rebekah and sent her on the long journey to Canaan.

Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi. He, whom we can assume had been praying for a wife as well, greets the return party, hears the tale of the servant, and marries Rebekah.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 15, Day 5: Genesis 24:52-67

13) The servant wants to hurry back so that his task can be completed and so that God’s will to make Abraham’s descendants into a great nation can be fulfilled. Rebekah, who will most likely never see her family again, agrees to go right away, knowing this is God’s will, too.

14) Personal Question. My answer: Moving a lot has cost friendships and connections, as well as a lost church family. Truly, in the grand scope of things, God has it, and it all works out in the end.

15) Personal Question. My answer: Isaac obeyed God too in knowing this was the wife He chose for him. God’s timing is not our own, and if we are patient, God does bring great things.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 15, Day 5: Genesis 24:52-67

It’s surprising that they left the decision up to Rebekah whether to leave right away since she’s a woman who in ancient times had no say.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 15, Day 5: Genesis 24:52-67

lovebirds www.atozmomm.com

After a long journey, most of us just want to get home as soon as possible. The servant knew that Abraham was old and perhaps in ill-health, so he was hoping to get back in time in order for Abraham to know he had succeeded. Rebekah showed remarkable faith and strength to leave the only things she ever knew and to probably never see her family again to follow God’s will.

Rebekah covers herself with a veil as was customary until she was married.

We have been nothing about Isaac since his near death experience at the top of Mount Moriah. (Genesis 22:19) Presumably, he was growing strong in the Lord.

Here, in Isaac and Rebekah, we can see this as a picture of Jesus as the bridgroom and us as the people.

  • God chose a wife for his Son (the people)
  • The son died and was resurrected for them
  • A servant, or God’s helper, was the mediator
  • The bride (us) were called and cared for until the wedding day
  • The bride (us) were loved by the bridegroom (Jesus)

map of beer lahai roi www.atozmomm.com

Note that this marriage was an arranged one that God arranged through prayer. Modern-day love is important, but it’s not the end-all, be-all.

Last go-around in BSF’s study of Genesis, we were asked how this passage relates to God, Jesus, and us. Here was my response:  A father desires a bride for his son.  Abraham for Isaac.  God for us.  A son was dead and then raised from the dead.  Isaac and Jesus.  The bride is chosen for marriage before they knew it (Ephesians 1:3-4).  Rebekah and us.  The bride is divinely chosen, called, and then lavished with gifts. (Revelation 19:7-8)  Rebekah and us.  She is entrusted to the care of the servant before she meets her bridegroom.  Rebekah and us.

Note how God had a plan for Rebekah from the beginning  (Ephesians 1:3-4) for His eternal purpose (Ephesians 3:10-11). She shared in the glory of the son because of her faith (John 17:22-23). She was loved. Just like the church.

Isaac and Jesus were both promised, born from a miracle, sacrificed, resurrected, and prepared a place for the bride for eternity.

Fun fact: Isaac was 40 when he married.

Love came last here, after marriage.

Good read on Bride of Christ HERE

rebekah watered the camels in bible www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 15, Day 3: Genesis 24:15-27

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Summary of Genesis 24:15-27:

Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. She was beautiful and a virgin. She had gone down to fill her jar with water. Eliezar approached her and asked her for a drink. She gave him one and offered to water his camels, too. After the camels had drunk, Eliezar asked Rebekah if he could stay at her father’s house. He offered gold as payment. She said they have plenty of room. Eliezar praised God for His faithfulness to Abraham with this sign and for leading him to the house of his master’s relatives.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 15, Day 3: Genesis 24:15-27

6) Rebekah offered him a drink and offered to water all of his camels when asked, which was the sign Eliezar asked for.

7) Personal Question. My answer: Our new house, new career, new direction in life, new connections

8 ) Personal Question. My answer: Immediate prayer and gratitude by the servant. A serving heart and open heart by Rebekah.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 15, Day 3: Genesis 24:15-27

God answers reasonable prayers to show his guidance. The best part of this story is the heart of the servant. I would wager he was probably treated well by Abraham but servants in ancient times had extremely rough lives and had no social status nor class. They were nothing in the eyes of many. So the willingness of this servant to serve his master is a great picture of how we are to serve the Lord. Everything is credited to God. The servant is merely the instrument in God’s work. This is how we need to approach life.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 15, Day 3: Genesis 24:15-27

God knows our needs before we do and sometimes answers before we even know it.  Isaiah 65:24

Rebekah was the granddaughter of Abraham’s brother, Nahor. When the Bible says she was beautiful, she most definitely was. Other women the Bible says are beautiful include:

The servant made sure Rebekah was a woman of her word and finished the job of watering his camels and did not give up half-way through. Then he knew God had answered his prayers. He offers gifts to Rebekah, thanked God for answering his prayers.