Jacob’s Wealth Increases

Jacob is experiencing some of God’s blessings.

Genesis 28:14-15 (NLT)
¹⁴ Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. ¹⁵ What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”

             Note: God’s blessings were not a promise of an easy, carefree life.

Genesis 30:25-43 (NLT)
²⁵ Soon after Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Please release me so I can go home to my own country. ²⁶ Let me take my wives and children, for I have earned them by serving you, and let me be on my way. You certainly know how hard I have worked for you.”
²⁷ “Please listen to me,” Laban replied. “I have become wealthy, for the Lord has blessed me because of you. ²⁸ Tell me how much I owe you. Whatever it is, I’ll pay it.”
²⁹ Jacob replied, “You know how hard I’ve worked for you, and how your flocks and herds have grown under my care. ³⁰ You had little indeed before I came, but your wealth has increased enormously. The Lord has blessed you through everything I’ve done. But now, what about me? When can I start providing for my own family?”
³¹ “What wages do you want?” Laban asked again.
Jacob replied, “Don’t give me anything. Just do this one thing, and I’ll continue to tend and watch over your flocks. ³² Let me inspect your flocks today and remove all the sheep and goats that are speckled or spotted, along with all the black sheep. Give these to me as my wages. ³³ In the future, when you check on the animals you have given me as my wages, you’ll see that I have been honest. If you find in my flock any goats without speckles or spots, or any sheep that are not black, you will know that I have stolen them from you.”
³⁴ “All right,” Laban replied. “It will be as you say.” ³⁵ But that very day Laban went out and removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted or had white patches, and all the black sheep. He placed them in the care of his own sons, ³⁶ who took them a three-days’ journey from where Jacob was. Meanwhile, Jacob stayed and cared for the rest of Laban’s flock.
³⁷ Then Jacob took some fresh branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled off strips of bark, making white streaks on them. ³⁸ Then he placed these peeled branches in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, for that was where they mated. ³⁹ And when they mated in front of the white-streaked branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted. ⁴⁰ Jacob separated those lambs from Laban’s flock. And at mating time he turned the flock to face Laban’s animals that were streaked or black. This is how he built his own flock instead of increasing Laban’s.
⁴¹ Whenever the stronger females were ready to mate, Jacob would place the peeled branches in the watering troughs in front of them. Then they would mate in front of the branches. ⁴² But he didn’t do this with the weaker ones, so the weaker lambs belonged to Laban, and the stronger ones were Jacob’s. ⁴³ As a result, Jacob became very wealthy, with large flocks of sheep and goats, female and male servants, and many camels and donkeys.

Examine the Scriptures

Jacob’s Wealth Increases

Genesis 30:25-43 (NLT)
²⁵ Soon after Rachel had given birth to Joseph,

• Jacob’s 14 year commitment to Laban had been fulfilled.

(Genesis 29-30 covers a time period of 20 years.)

Jacob said to Laban, “Please release me so I can go home to my own country. 

Remember the reasons Jacob had traveled to Paddan-Aram.

Fleeing from Esau.

Looking for a wife as instructed by his father.

God had said to Jacob, “One day I will bring you back to this land. (Canaan).

 Jacob appears to have a general understanding of God’s plan for his life.

• Jacob was ready to move back “home” to Canaan, the Promised Land.

²⁶ Let me take my wives and children, for I have earned them by serving you, and let me be on my way. You certainly know how hard I have worked for you.”

Jacob is making an appropriate, respectful appeal.

 ²⁷ “Please listen to me,” Laban replied. “I have become wealthy, for the Lord has blessed me because of you. ²⁸ Tell me how much I owe you. Whatever it is, I’ll pay it.”

• Laban understood that he was becoming wealthy because the Lord was blessing Jacob.

Genesis 30:27 English Standard Version (ESV)
But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.

 Genesis 30:27 New International Version (NIV)
But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.”

 The use of divination is sinful even though the information obtained is accurate.

Discover hidden knowledge by occult or supernatural means.

Laban knows that it is to his advantage for Jacob to continue working for him.

 ²⁹ Jacob replied, “You know how hard I’ve worked for you, and how your flocks and herds have grown under my care. ³⁰ You had little indeed before I came, but your wealth has increased enormously. The Lord has blessed you through everything I’ve done.

• Jacob also knew that Laban’s increased wealth was a direct result of the Lord’s blessing.

Note: God’s blessings were not a promise of an easy, carefree life.

Jacob worked hard for Laban.

• God’s blessings are not a promise of an easy, carefree life.

 But now, what about me? When can I start providing for my own family?”

 ³¹ “What wages do you want?” Laban asked again.

Laban did not want Jacob to leave.

• Laban wanted Jacob to stay, so that he, Laban, would continue to benefit from God’s blessings to Jacob.

Jacob’s Proposal

 Jacob replied, “Don’t give me anything. Just do this one thing, and I’ll continue to tend and watch over your flocks. ³² Let me inspect your flocks today and remove all the sheep and goats that are speckled or spotted, along with all the black sheep.

  Give these to me as my wages. ³³ In the future, when you check on the animals you have given me as my wages, you’ll see that I have been honest. 

• Jacob professes to be honest with Laban. 

If you find in my flock any goats without speckles or spots, or any sheep that are not black, you will know that I have stolen them from you.”

It would be obvious which animals were Jacob’s and which were Laban’s.

³⁴ “All right,” Laban replied. “It will be as you say.” 

• Laban verbally agreed to follow Jacob’s proposal.

• Jacob agreed to stay and work for Laban a little longer. (6 years)

Genesis 31:41 (NLT)
Yes, for twenty years I slaved in your house! I worked for fourteen years earning your two daughters, and then six more years for your flock.

³⁵ But that very day Laban went out and removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted or had white patches, and all the black sheep. He placed them in the care of his own sons, ³⁶ who took them a three-days’ journey from where Jacob was.

• Laban cheated Jacob from day one of this new arrangement.

Also, by removing the existing streaked and spotted male goats and the female goats that were speckled and spotted or had white patches, and all the black sheep from his flock Laban believed that he greatly reduced the probability of more of this type being reproduced.

Meanwhile, Jacob stayed and cared for the rest of Laban’s flock.

 ³⁷ Then Jacob took some fresh branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled off strips of bark, making white streaks on them. ³⁸ Then he placed these peeled branches in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, for that was where they mated. ³⁹ And when they mated in front of the white-streaked branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted. ⁴⁰ Jacob separated those lambs from Laban’s flock.

Scholars differ as to how Jacob is using sticks with peeled white streaks in them to do this.

The NIV concordance explained this outcome “because of Jacob’s superstition”.

And at mating time he turned the flock to face Laban’s animals that were streaked or black. This is how he built his own flock instead of increasing Laban’s.

 ⁴¹ Whenever the stronger females were ready to mate, Jacob would place the peeled branches in the watering troughs in front of them. Then they would mate in front of the branches. ⁴² But he didn’t do this with the weaker ones, so the weaker lambs belonged to Laban, and the stronger ones were Jacob’s. 

Jacob practiced selective breeding.

• Jacob’s actions are somewhat questionable.

• God uses flawed people.

• God’s sovereignty supersedes manipulative or godless behavior.

⁴³ As a result,

Genesis 31:9 (NLT)
In this way, God has taken your father’s animals and given them to me. 

• Jacob knew his prosperity came from God. 

Jacob became very wealthy, with large flocks of sheep and goats, female and male servants, and many camels and donkeys.

• God blessed Jacob with large flocks of sheep and goats, female and male servants, and many camels and donkeys.

 

Summary/Review:

• God’s blessings are not a promise of an easy, carefree life.
• God uses flawed people.
• God’s sovereignty supersedes manipulative or godless behavior.
• God always does what He says He will do.

Genesis 28:15 (NLT)
What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”

Genesis 28:14 (NLT)
Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.

Psalm 89:34 (NLT)
No, I will not break my covenant;
I will not take back a single word I said.

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)
… For God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”

 Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT)
⁷ “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
⁸ They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.

Jacob’s Many Children

A story of sin, conflict, and emotions.

Words included in this passage:

Unloved                                              Absence of:

Misery                                                             Affection

Jealous                                                             Love

Plight

Disgrace

Furious

Struggle

Winning

Stole

Leviticus 18:18 (NLT)
“While your wife is living, do not marry her sister and have sexual relations with her, for they would be rivals.

Note:
Polygyny is found in the Old Testament and over 40 important figures had more than one wife, but it almost always resulted in struggles and jealousies.

 

Jacob’s Many Children
 Genesis 29:31 – 30:24 (NLT)
³¹ When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children, but Rachel could not conceive. ³² So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has noticed my misery, and now my husband will love me.”
³³ She soon became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She named him Simeon, for she said, “The Lord heard that I was unloved and has given me another son.”
³⁴ Then she became pregnant a third time and gave birth to another son. He was named Levi, for she said, “Surely this time my husband will feel affection for me, since I have given him three sons!”
³⁵ Once again Leah became pregnant and gave birth to another son. She named him Judah, for she said, “Now I will praise the Lord!” And then she stopped having children.
^30:1 When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She pleaded with Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”
² Then Jacob became furious with Rachel. “Am I God?” he asked. “He’s the one who has kept you from having children!”
³ Then Rachel told him, “Take my maid, Bilhah, and sleep with her. She will bear children for me, and through her I can have a family, too.” ⁴ So Rachel gave her servant, Bilhah, to Jacob as a wife, and he slept with her. ⁵ Bilhah became pregnant and presented him with a son. ⁶ Rachel named him Dan, for she said, “God has vindicated me! He has heard my request and given me a son.” ⁷ Then Bilhah became pregnant again and gave Jacob a second son. ⁸ Rachel named him Naphtali, for she said, “I have struggled hard with my sister, and I’m winning!”
⁹ Meanwhile, Leah realized that she wasn’t getting pregnant anymore, so she took her servant, Zilpah, and gave her to Jacob as a wife. ¹⁰ Soon Zilpah presented him with a son. ¹¹ Leah named him Gad, for she said, “How fortunate I am!” ¹² Then Zilpah gave Jacob a second son. ¹³ And Leah named him Asher, for she said, “What joy is mine! Now the other women will celebrate with me.”
¹⁴ One day during the wheat harvest, Reuben found some mandrakes growing in a field and brought them to his mother, Leah. Rachel begged Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”
¹⁵ But Leah angrily replied, “Wasn’t it enough that you stole my husband? Now will you steal my son’s mandrakes, too?”
Rachel answered, “I will let Jacob sleep with you tonight if you give me some of the mandrakes.”
¹⁶ So that evening, as Jacob was coming home from the fields, Leah went out to meet him. “You must come and sleep with me tonight!” she said. “I have paid for you with some mandrakes that my son found.” So that night he slept with Leah. ¹⁷ And God answered Leah’s prayers. She became pregnant again and gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob. ¹⁸ She named him Issachar, for she said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband as a wife.” ¹⁹ Then Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob. ²⁰ She named him Zebulun, for she said, “God has given me a good reward. Now my husband will treat me with respect, for I have given him six sons.” ²¹ Later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.
²² Then God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children. ²³ She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. “God has removed my disgrace,” she said. ²⁴ And she named him Joseph, for she said, “May the Lord add yet another son to my family.”

Examine the Scriptures

Jacob’s Many Children 

Genesis 29:31 – 30:24 (NLT)

³¹ When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children,

God intervened.

• God enabled Leah to have children.

Psalm 127:3 (NLT)
Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him.

 but Rachel could not conceive. 

Rachel was barren.

Note the pattern:

Abraham and Sarah
Genesis 11:30 (NLT)
But Sarai was unable to become pregnant and had no children.

Isaac and Rebekah
Genesis 25:21 (NLT)
Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins.

•  God opens and closes the womb. 

³² So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has noticed my misery, and now my husband will love me.”

³³ She soon became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She named him Simeon, for she said, “The Lord heard that I was unloved and has given me another son.”

God acted on behalf of Leah.

Leah recognized that God was working in her life.

³⁴ Then she became pregnant a third time and gave birth to another son. He was named Levi, for she said, “Surely this time my husband will feel affection for me, since I have given him three sons!”

• Leah mistakenly thought Jacob would love her if she gave him sons. 

³⁵ Once again Leah became pregnant and gave birth to another son. She named him Judah, for she said, “Now I will praise the Lord!” And then she stopped having children.

Judah is an ancestor of Jesus the Messiah

Matthew 1:1-2 & 16 NLT
The Ancestors of Jesus the Messiah
¹ This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:
² Abraham was the father of Isaac.
Isaac was the father of Jacob.
Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. 

¹⁶ Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.

Luke 3:33-34 (NLT)
³³ Nahshon was the son of Amminadab.
Amminadab was the son of Admin.
Admin was the son of Arni.
Arni was the son of Hezron.
Hezron was the son of Perez.
Perez was the son of Judah.
³⁴ Judah was the son of Jacob.
Jacob was the son of Isaac.
Isaac was the son of Abraham.
Abraham was the son of Terah.
Terah was the son of Nahor. 

• Jacob is listed in the genealogy of Jesus in both Matthew and Luke.

^30:1 When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister.

Leviticus 18:18 (NLT)
“While your wife is living, do not marry her sister and have sexual relations with her, for they would be rivals. 

• Rachel became jealous of Leah.

She pleaded with Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”

Women in the Near Eastern culture believed that they were an embarrassment to their husband if they remained childless.

Childless women felt disgraced.
See verse 23:
²³ She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. “God has removed my disgrace,” she said. 

² Then Jacob became furious with Rachel. “Am I God?” he asked.

Rachel was devastated and Jacob was deeply frustrated.

• Jacob became furious with Rachel.

“He’s the one who has kept you from having children!” 

³ Then Rachel told him, “Take my maid, Bilhah, and sleep with her. She will bear children for me, and through her I can have a family, too.”

This did not work for Abraham and Sarah.
Genesis 16 Sarai and Hagar

• Rachel came up with a plan similar to a plan that did not work out well for Abraham and Sarah. 

⁴ So Rachel gave her servant, Bilhah, to Jacob as a wife, and he slept with her. ⁵ Bilhah became pregnant and presented him with a son. ⁶ Rachel named him Dan, for she said, “God has vindicated me! He has heard my request and given me a son.” 

Rachel claimed this son as her own. 

Rachel named the son.

God has given me a son.

 ⁷ Then Bilhah became pregnant again and gave Jacob a second son. ⁸ Rachel named him Naphtali, for she said, “I have struggled hard with my sister, and I’m winning!”

Winning!!!

• When Bilhah gave Jacob sons, Rachel felt vindicated by God and said she was “winning” in her struggle with Leah. 

⁹ Meanwhile, Leah realized that she wasn’t getting pregnant anymore, so she took her servant, Zilpah, and gave her to Jacob as a wife. ¹⁰ Soon Zilpah presented him with a son. ¹¹ Leah named him Gad, for she said, “How fortunate I am!”

Leah claimed Gad as her son.

Leah named the son.

 ¹² Then Zilpah gave Jacob a second son. ¹³ And Leah named him Asher, for she said, “What joy is mine! Now the other women will celebrate with me.”

Now the other women will celebrate with me.

• Leah was ready to celebrate when Zilpah gave Jacob a second son.

¹⁴ One day during the wheat harvest, Reuben found some mandrakes growing in a field and brought them to his mother, Leah. Rachel begged Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

• Rachel believed mandrakes would help her become pregnant.
  (Review Genesis 29:31)

¹⁵ But Leah angrily replied, “Wasn’t it enough that you stole my husband? Now will you steal my son’s mandrakes, too?”

Rachel answered, “I will let Jacob sleep with you tonight if you give me some of the mandrakes.”

Simply put, Leah pays Rachel so that Rachel would let her sleep with Jacob.

¹⁶ So that evening, as Jacob was coming home from the fields, Leah went out to meet him. “You must come and sleep with me tonight!” she said. “I have paid for you with some mandrakes that my son found.” So that night he slept with Leah. ¹⁷ And God answered Leah’s prayers. She became pregnant again and gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob. ¹⁸ She named him Issachar, for she said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband as a wife.” 

 ¹⁹ Then Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob. ²⁰ She named him Zebulun, for she said, “God has given me a good reward. Now my husband will treat me with respect, for I have given him six sons.” 

Now my husband will treat me with respect.

²¹ Later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.

 ²² Then God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children. ²³ She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. “God has removed my disgrace,” she said. 

God has removed my disgrace.

²⁴ And she named him Joseph, for she said, “May the Lord add yet another son to my family.”

•  Joseph became a major figure in the book of Genesis.

 Rachel gave birth to Benjamin at a later date, just before her death.
Genesis 35:16-20 (NLT)
¹⁶ Leaving Bethel, Jacob and his clan moved on toward Ephrath. But Rachel went into labor while they were still some distance away. Her labor pains were intense. ¹⁷ After a very hard delivery, the midwife finally exclaimed, “Don’t be afraid—you have another son!” ¹⁸ Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means “son of my sorrow”). The baby’s father, however, called him Benjamin (which means “son of my right hand”). ¹⁹ So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). ²⁰ Jacob set up a stone monument over Rachel’s grave, and it can be seen there to this day.

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

Genesis 29:1-30 (NLT)
Jacob Arrives at Paddan-Aram
¹ Then Jacob hurried on, finally arriving in the land of the east. ² He saw a well in the distance. Three flocks of sheep and goats lay in an open field beside it, waiting to be watered. But a heavy stone covered the mouth of the well.
³ It was the custom there to wait for all the flocks to arrive before removing the stone and watering the animals. Afterward the stone would be placed back over the mouth of the well. ⁴ Jacob went over to the shepherds and asked, “Where are you from, my friends?”
“We are from Haran,” they answered.
⁵ “Do you know a man there named Laban, the grandson of Nahor?” he asked.
“Yes, we do,” they replied.
⁶ “Is he doing well?” Jacob asked.
“Yes, he’s well,” they answered. “Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the flock now.”
⁷ Jacob said, “Look, it’s still broad daylight—too early to round up the animals. Why don’t you water the sheep and goats so they can get back out to pasture?”
⁸ “We can’t water the animals until all the flocks have arrived,” they replied. “Then the shepherds move the stone from the mouth of the well, and we water all the sheep and goats.”
⁹ Jacob was still talking with them when Rachel arrived with her father’s flock, for she was a shepherd. ¹⁰ And because Rachel was his cousin—the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother—and because the sheep and goats belonged to his uncle Laban, Jacob went over to the well and moved the stone from its mouth and watered his uncle’s flock. ¹¹ Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and he wept aloud. ¹² He explained to Rachel that he was her cousin on her father’s side—the son of her aunt Rebekah. So Rachel quickly ran and told her father, Laban.
¹³ As soon as Laban heard that his nephew Jacob had arrived, he ran out to meet him. He embraced and kissed him and brought him home. When Jacob had told him his story, ¹⁴ Laban exclaimed, “You really are my own flesh and blood!”

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

After Jacob had stayed with Laban for about a month, ¹⁵ Laban said to him, “You shouldn’t work for me without pay just because we are relatives. Tell me how much your wages should be.”
¹⁶ Now Laban had two daughters. The older daughter was named Leah, and the younger one was Rachel. ¹⁷ There was no sparkle in Leah’s eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face. ¹⁸ Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, “I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.”
¹⁹ “Agreed!” Laban replied. “I’d rather give her to you than to anyone else. Stay and work with me.” ²⁰ So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days.
²¹ Finally, the time came for him to marry her. “I have fulfilled my agreement,” Jacob said to Laban. “Now give me my wife so I can sleep with her.”
²² So Laban invited everyone in the neighborhood and prepared a wedding feast. ²³ But that night, when it was dark, Laban took Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her. ²⁴ (Laban had given Leah a servant, Zilpah, to be her maid.)
²⁵ But when Jacob woke up in the morning—it was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob raged at Laban. “I worked seven years for Rachel! Why have you tricked me?”
²⁶ “It’s not our custom here to marry off a younger daughter ahead of the firstborn,” Laban replied. ²⁷ “But wait until the bridal week is over; then we’ll give you Rachel, too—provided you promise to work another seven years for me.”
²⁸ So Jacob agreed to work seven more years. A week after Jacob had married Leah, Laban gave him Rachel, too. ²⁹ (Laban gave Rachel a servant, Bilhah, to be her maid.) ³⁰ So Jacob slept with Rachel, too, and he loved her much more than Leah. He then stayed and worked for Laban the additional seven years.

 Examine the Scriptures
Genesis 29:1-30 (NLT)
Jacob Arrives at Paddan-Aram

¹ Then Jacob hurried on, finally arriving in the land of the east. 

More than 450 miles (15 days at 30 miles/day)

Fleeing from Esau

Genesis 27:43-45 (NLT)
⁴³ So listen carefully, my son. Get ready and flee to my brother, Laban, in Haran. ⁴⁴ Stay there with him until your brother cools off. ⁴⁵ When he calms down and forgets what you have done to him, I will send for you to come back. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

Energized after receiving God’s blessing. (Genesis 28:13-15)

Jacob was also looking for a wife as instructed by his father. (Genesis 28:1-3)

Jacob was 77 years old. (Unger’s Bible Dictionary)

 

• Jacob hurried on.
  • Fleeing from Esau.
  • Energized after receiving God’s blessing.
  • Was looking for a wife as instructed by his father. 

 ² He saw a well in the distance.

Wells were a sign of life.

Three flocks of sheep and goats lay in an open field beside it, waiting to be watered. But a heavy stone covered the mouth of the well.

Protecting the valuable water from:

Evaporation
Sand and dust
Other animals falling in

³ It was the custom there to wait for all the flocks to arrive before removing the stone and watering the animals.

Wait for all the flocks to arrive before removing the stone.
Suggesting the stone was too heavy for females or young shepherds to move.
Efficient use of time and energy. 

 Afterward the stone would be placed back over the mouth of the well. 

 ⁴ Jacob went over to the shepherds and asked, “Where are you from, my friends?”

“We are from Haran,” they answered. 

• Jacob arrives at Paddan-Aram 

⁵ “Do you know a man there named Laban, the grandson of Nahor?” he asked.

“Yes, we do,” they replied.

God’s sovereignty – finding people from Haran who knew Laban.

Genesis 28:15 NLT)
What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”

⁶ “Is he doing well?” Jacob asked.

“Yes, he’s well,” they answered. “Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the flock now.”

Again God’s sovereignty or wow what a coincidence (tongue in cheek). 

⁷ Jacob said, “Look, it’s still broad daylight—too early to round up the animals. Why don’t you water the sheep and goats so they can get back out to pasture?”

Possibly Jacob wanted to be alone with Rachel for the meeting.

⁸ “We can’t water the animals until all the flocks have arrived,” they replied. “Then the shepherds move the stone from the mouth of the well, and we water all the sheep and goats.” 

⁹ Jacob was still talking with them when Rachel arrived with her father’s flock, for she was a shepherd. ¹⁰ And because Rachel was his cousin—the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother—and because the sheep and goats belonged to his uncle Laban, Jacob went over to the well and moved the stone from its mouth and watered his uncle’s flock.  

¹¹ Then Jacob kissed Rachel,

Relatives kissed.  Greeting a cousin.  Kissing a relative was a proper greeting.

• Jacob finds a relative.

and he wept aloud. 

• Jacob’s mission was going well.

Jacob may have remembered God’s promise, “I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” 

¹² He explained to Rachel that he was her cousin on her father’s side—the son of her aunt Rebekah. So Rachel quickly ran and told her father, Laban. 

¹³ As soon as Laban heard that his nephew Jacob had arrived, he ran out to meet him. He embraced and kissed him

Relatives kissed

and brought him home. When Jacob had told him his story,  

Genesis 24:50-51 (NLT)
⁵⁰ Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “The Lord has obviously brought you here, so there is nothing we can say. ⁵¹ Here is Rebekah; take her and go. Yes, let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed.” 

It was 97 years since Rebekah left home.  (MacArthur) 

Genesis 25:21 (NLT)
²¹ Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. (20 years) The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins. 

¹⁴ Laban exclaimed, “You really are my own flesh and blood!”

• Jacob tells Laban his story.

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

After Jacob had stayed with Laban for about a month, 

It was common for strangers to work for their host to pay to stay at their home.

• Jacob moves in with his relatives.

¹⁵ Laban said to him, “You shouldn’t work for me without pay just because we are relatives. Tell me how much your wages should be.” 

¹⁶ Now Laban had two daughters. The older daughter was named Leah, and the younger one was Rachel. ¹⁷ There was no sparkle in Leah’s eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face. 

Rachel was beautiful.

Genesis 12:11 Abram said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, you are a very beautiful woman.

Genesis 24:16 Rebekah Isaac’s wife) was very beautiful.

 ¹⁸ Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, “I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.” 

• Jacob falls in love with Rachel.

¹⁹ “Agreed!” Laban replied. “I’d rather give her to you than to anyone else. Stay and work with me.” ²⁰ So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days. 

• Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel.

 ²¹ Finally, the time came for him to marry her. “I have fulfilled my agreement,” Jacob said to Laban. “Now give me my wife so I can sleep with her.”

Note: Jacob said, “Give me my wife”, he did not say give me Rachel.

²² So Laban invited everyone in the neighborhood and prepared a wedding feast. ²³ But that night, when it was dark, Laban took Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her. ²⁴ (Laban had given Leah a servant, Zilpah, to be her maid.)

²⁵ But when Jacob woke up in the morning—it was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob raged at Laban. “I worked seven years for Rachel! Why have you tricked me?”

Jacob had deceived his father and brother.

Jacob was deceived by his mother’s brother.

20 years of drudgery, affliction, and deception lay ahead.

Genesis 31:38 (NLT)
 “For twenty years I have been with you, caring for your flocks. … “

Jacob’s sons deceive Jacob.

Genesis 37:32 (NLT)
They (Jacob’s sons) sent the beautiful robe to their father with this message: “Look at what we found. Doesn’t this robe belong to your son (Joseph)?”

You reap what you sow.

Galatians 6:7  (NLT)
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 

• Jacob was deceived by his mother’s brother.

 ²⁶ “It’s not our custom here to marry off a younger daughter ahead of the firstborn,” Laban replied. 

It was also the custom for the older brother to receive the birthright.
Jacob took that from his older brother. 

²⁷ “But wait until the bridal week is over;

A wedding feast usually lasted seven days.

then we’ll give you Rachel, too—provided you promise to work another seven years for me.”

²⁸ So Jacob agreed to work seven more years. A week after Jacob had married Leah, Laban gave him Rachel, too. 

Two wives in seven days. (along with two servant girls, Zilpah and Bilhah)

²⁹ (Laban gave Rachel a servant, Bilhah, to be her maid.) ³⁰ So Jacob slept with Rachel, too, and he loved her much more than Leah. He then stayed and worked for Laban the additional seven years.

•  Jacob marries Rachel.

Warning:
Leviticus 18:18 (NLT)
“While your wife is living, do not marry her sister and have sexual relations with her, for they would be rivals.

The story continues.

 

Jacob Leaves the Promised Land

Jacob

Leaving the Promised Land.

Forced to leave the security of home.

God’s Promises

To Jacob

To us

Jacob’s responses to God’s promises.

Our responses to God’s promises.

Genesis 28:10-22 (NLT)
Jacob’s Dream at Bethel
¹⁰ Meanwhile, Jacob left Beersheba and traveled toward Haran. ¹¹ At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night. Jacob found a stone to rest his head against and lay down to sleep. ¹² As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.
¹³ At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. ¹⁴ Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. ¹⁵ What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”
¹⁶ Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!” ¹⁷ But he was also afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!”
¹⁸ The next morning Jacob got up very early. He took the stone he had rested his head against, and he set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it. ¹⁹ He named that place Bethel (which means “house of God”), although it was previously called Luz.
²⁰ Then Jacob made this vow: “If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, ²¹ and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will certainly be my God. ²² And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me.”

Examine the Scriptures
Genesis 28:10-22 (NLT)
Jacob’s Dream at Bethel

¹⁰ Meanwhile, Jacob left Beersheba and traveled toward Haran. 

 Paddan-aram

The city of Haran, where Abraham and his father Terah settled after leaving Ur of the Chaldees, while en route to Canaan, according to the Genesis 11:31, was located in Paddan Aram

Haran, the home of Terah and his descendants.

 Genesis 28:2  (CEB)
Get up and go to Paddan-aram, to the household of Bethuel, your mother’s (Rebekah) father, and once there, marry one of the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother. 

Rebekah the wife of Isaac
Genesis 24:24  (NLT)
²⁴ “I am the daughter of Bethuel,” she replied. “My grandparents are Nahor and Milcah.

Genesis 24:29  (NLT) (Abraham’s brother)
²⁹ Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, who ran out to meet the man at the spring.

Review map and genealogy.

¹¹ At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night. Jacob found a stone to rest his head against and lay down to sleep. 

God’s Promises

 ¹² As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.

Interaction between heaven and earth.

¹³ At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, 

• God made His presence known to Jacob.

• God wants to make His known to us.

“I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. ¹⁴ Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.  

• God reiterated to Jacob the covenant made with Abraham and Isaac.

• God gave us the Bible which is full of His promises for us.

Psalm 89:34 (NLT)
No, I will not break my covenant;
I will not take back a single word I said. 

¹⁵ What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. 

• God promised Jacob His protection outside of the Promised Land.

• God promises us His protection wherever we go.

• God is not confined to the Promised Land. 

One day I will bring you back to this land. 

• God promised to bring Jacob back to the Promised Land.

• God promises to bring us to the Promised Land (Heaven).

John 14:1-3 NLT
¹ “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ² There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³ When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”

 Philippians 1:6 (NLT)
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

• God will finish the work he began in us.

• God promises to be with us wherever we go. 

Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

 Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

 Matthew 28:20
“Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)
^…  For God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

Zephaniah 3:17

 Jacob’s (our) responses.

¹⁶ Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!” 

 Psalm 46:10 (NLT)
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.” 

• Learn to recognize the presence of the Lord.

 ¹⁷ But he was also afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!”

Fear the Lord – reverent awe – ultimate respect.

Isaiah 6:3 (NLT)
They were calling out to each other,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

Proverbs 9:10  (NLT)
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.

Job 28:28  (NLT)
And this is what he says to all humanity:
‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;

• Develop a healthy fear of the Lord. (reverent awe, ultimate respect)

Psalm 33:8 (NLT)
Let the whole world fear the Lord,
and let everyone stand in awe of him.

Psalm 34:11 (NLT)
Come, my children, and listen to me,
and I will teach you to fear the Lord.

¹⁸ The next morning Jacob got up very early. He took the stone he had rested his head against, and he set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it. ¹⁹ He named that place Bethel (which means “house of God”), although it was previously called Luz.

 Typical O.T. behavior

²⁰ Then Jacob made this vow: “If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, ²¹ and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will certainly be my God. ²² And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God,

Worship

Psalm 100 (NLT)
¹ Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
²     Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
³ Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation. 

• Worship the Lord with gladness

 and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me.”

Give back

Malachi 3:10 (NLT)
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT)
You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

•  Give back to God a portion of everything He gives you.

 

Introduction and Review

Proverbs 21:30 (NLT) (repeat from the previous lesson)
³⁰ No human wisdom or understanding or plan
can stand against the Lord.

 Galatians 5:19-21 (NLT)
¹⁹ When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. 

• Following the desires of your sinful nature results in destructive consequences.

 Deuteronomy 5:33 (NLT)
Stay on the path that the Lord your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy.

• Following the path that God has set before you results in blessings and prosperity. 

Proverbs 19:21 (NLT) (repeat from the previous lesson)
You can make many plans,
but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

• The Lord’s purpose will prevail. 

Luke 11:28 (NLT)
Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

New Lesson

 Isaac Getting Back on Track

Genesis 28:1-9 (NLT)
¹ So Isaac called for Jacob, blessed him, and said, “You must not marry any of these Canaanite women. ² Instead, go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your grandfather Bethuel, and marry one of your uncle Laban’s daughters. ³ May God Almighty bless you and give you many children. And may your descendants multiply and become many nations! ⁴ May God pass on to you and your descendants the blessings he promised to Abraham. May you own this land where you are now living as a foreigner, for God gave this land to Abraham.”
⁵ So Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Paddan-aram to stay with his uncle Laban, his mother’s brother, the son of Bethuel the Aramean.
⁶ Esau knew that his father, Isaac, had blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to find a wife, and that he had warned Jacob, “You must not marry a Canaanite woman.” ⁷ He also knew that Jacob had obeyed his parents and gone to Paddan-aram. ⁸ It was now very clear to Esau that his father did not like the local Canaanite women. ⁹ So Esau visited his uncle Ishmael’s family and married one of Ishmael’s daughters, in addition to the wives he already had. His new wife’s name was Mahalath. She was the sister of Nebaioth and the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son.

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 28:1-9 (NLT)

¹ So Isaac called for Jacob, blessed him,

Isaac called for Jacob.
Isaac initiated this blessing.

• Isaac chose to bless Jacob 

and said, “You must not marry any of these Canaanite women. 

Abraham’s instruction for Isaac.
Genesis 24:3 (NLT)
Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women.
Now Isaac’s instruction for Jacob.

Later when the Israelites were moving into the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 7:3-4 (NLT)
³ You must not intermarry with them. Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters, ⁴ for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you. 

Isaac understood the consequences of marrying Canaanite women.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NLT)
¹⁴ Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? ¹⁵ What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:
“I will live in them
and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
¹⁷ Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
and I will welcome you.
¹⁸ And I will be your Father,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.” 

• Come out from among unbelievers,
  and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.

• Isaac was now looking out for Jacob’s welfare.

² Instead, go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your grandfather Bethuel, and marry one of your uncle Laban’s daughters. 

This is just like Abraham’s instructions for Isaac.
Genesis 24:4 (NLT)
Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.” 

³ May God Almighty bless you and give you many children. And may your descendants multiply and become many nations! ⁴ May God pass on to you and your descendants the blessings he promised to Abraham. May you own this land where you are now living as a foreigner, for God gave this land to Abraham.”

Isaac was passing on the blessing God had given to Abraham and Isaac.

Genesis 22:17 (NLT)
I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. 

Genesis 17:8 (NLT)
And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.”

• Isaac blessed Jacob with a blessing similar to the blessing he and his father had received from God.

⁵ So Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Paddan-aram to stay with his uncle Laban, his mother’s brother, the son of Bethuel the Aramean.

• Isaac was getting back on track God had set before him. 

⁶ Esau knew that his father, Isaac, had blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to find a wife, and that he had warned Jacob, “You must not marry a Canaanite woman.” ⁷ He also knew that Jacob had obeyed his parents and gone to Paddan-aram. ⁸ It was now very clear to Esau that his father did not like the local Canaanite women. ⁹ So Esau visited his uncle Ishmael’s family and married one of Ishmael’s daughters,

Partial obedience.

Esau’s new wife was not a Canaanite.

Esau kept the marriage in the family, just not the right part of the family.
Ishmael was born to Abraham and Sarah’s handmaiden Hagar (Genesis 16:3).

• Partial obedience is disobedience.

 in addition to the wives he already had.

Genesis 26:34-35 (NLT)
³⁴ At the age of forty, Esau married two Hittite wives: Judith, the daughter of Beeri, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon. ³⁵ But Esau’s wives made life miserable for Isaac and Rebekah.

Who were the Hittites according to the Bible?

The Hittites play a prominent role at key places in the Hebrew Bible:
Ephron the Hittite sells Abraham the family burial ground (Genesis 23);
Esau married Hittite women, and Rebecca despised them (Genesis 26:34);
Frequently they are listed as one of the inhabitants of Canaan (e.g., Exodus 13:5; Numbers 13:29; Joshua 11:3);
King David had Uriah the Hittite killed in order to acquire Uriah’s wife (2 Samuel 11);
King Solomon had Hittites among his many wives (1 Kings 10:29–11:2; 2 Chronicles 1:17)
Descendants of Canaan, (Genesis 10: 1-6)
Adversaries of the Israelites

Joshua 9:1-2 (NLT)
¹ Now all the kings west of the Jordan River heard about what had happened. These were the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who lived in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far north as the Lebanon mountains. ² These kings combined their armies to fight as one against Joshua and the Israelites.

 His new wife’s name was Mahalath. She was the sister of Nebaioth and the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son. 

• The Edomites were the descendants of Esau.

• The Israelites and Edomites became enemies.

Numbers 20:18-21 (NLT)
¹⁸ But the king of Edom said, “Stay out of my land, or I will meet you with an army!”
¹⁹ The Israelites answered, “We will stay on the main road. If our livestock drink your water, we will pay for it. Just let us pass through your country. That’s all we ask.”
²⁰ But the king of Edom replied, “Stay out! You may not pass through our land.” With that he mobilized his army and marched out against them with an imposing force. ²¹ Because Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their country, Israel was forced to turn around.

1 Samuel 14:47 (NLT)
Saul’s Military Successes
⁴⁷ Now when Saul had secured his grasp on Israel’s throne, he fought against his enemies in every direction—against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. And wherever he turned, he was victorious.

1 Kings 11:15-16 (NLT)
¹⁵ Years before, David had defeated Edom. Joab, his army commander, had stayed to bury some of the Israelite soldiers who had died in battle. While there, they killed every male in Edom. ¹⁶ Joab and the army of Israel had stayed there for six months, killing them.

 Do you want to do it God’s way, or do you want to do it your way?

 

 

 

Do you want to do it God’s way or do you want to do it your way?

Reminders:

• God’s sovereignty supersedes manipulative or godless behaviors. 

• Sin has many consequences and sin is always destructive. 

God communicated His plan for Jacob to Rebekah before Esau and Jacob were born.

Genesis 25:23 (NLT)
And the Lord told her, “The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.”

Sin is living outside of the will of God.

• Sin has many consequences and sin is always destructive. 

Did you ever hear the expression, “Do you want to do it the easy way or do you want to do it the hard way?”

Remember: You can plan, but what the Lord says is what will happen.

Proverbs 19:21 (NLT)
You can make many plans,
but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

 Proverbs 21:30 (NLT)
³⁰ No human wisdom or understanding or plan
can stand against the Lord.

 Isaiah 14:24 (NLT)
²⁴ The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sworn this oath:
“It will all happen as I have planned.
It will be as I have decided.

Job 23:13 (NLT)
¹³ But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind?
Whatever he wants to do, he does.

 Isaiah 46:9-10 (NLT)
⁹ Remember the things I have done in the past.
For I alone am God!
I am God, and there is none like me.
¹⁰ Only I can tell you the future
before it even happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass,
for I do whatever I wish. 

• You can plan, but what the Lord says is what will happen.

• Living outside of the will of God is sin.

“Do you want to do it God’s way or do you want to do it your way?”

Genesis 27:30-46 (NLT)
³⁰ As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and almost before Jacob had left his father, Esau returned from his hunt. ³¹ Esau prepared a delicious meal and brought it to his father. Then he said, “Sit up, my father, and eat my wild game so you can give me your blessing.”
³² But Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”
Esau replied, “It’s your son, your firstborn son, Esau.”
³³ Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably and said, “Then who just served me wild game? I have already eaten it, and I blessed him just before you came. And yes, that blessing must stand!”
³⁴ When Esau heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry. “Oh my father, what about me? Bless me, too!” he begged.
³⁵ But Isaac said, “Your brother was here, and he tricked me. He has taken away your blessing.”
³⁶ Esau exclaimed, “No wonder his name is Jacob, for now he has cheated me twice. First he took my rights as the firstborn, and now he has stolen my blessing. Oh, haven’t you saved even one blessing for me?”
³⁷ Isaac said to Esau, “I have made Jacob your master and have declared that all his brothers will be his servants. I have guaranteed him an abundance of grain and wine—what is left for me to give you, my son?”
³⁸ Esau pleaded, “But do you have only one blessing? Oh my father, bless me, too!” Then Esau broke down and wept.
³⁹ Finally, his father, Isaac, said to him,
“You will live away from the richness of the earth,
and away from the dew of the heaven above.
⁴⁰ You will live by your sword,
and you will serve your brother.
But when you decide to break free,
you will shake his yoke from your neck.”

Jacob Flees to Paddan-Aram

⁴¹ From that time on, Esau hated Jacob because their father had given Jacob the blessing. And Esau began to scheme: “I will soon be mourning my father’s death. Then I will kill my brother, Jacob.”
⁴² But Rebekah heard about Esau’s plans. So she sent for Jacob and told him, “Listen, Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you. ⁴³ So listen carefully, my son. Get ready and flee to my brother, Laban, in Haran. ⁴⁴ Stay there with him until your brother cools off. ⁴⁵ When he calms down and forgets what you have done to him, I will send for you to come back. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

⁴⁶ Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m sick and tired of these local Hittite women! I would rather die than see Jacob marry one of them.”

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 27:30-46 (NLT)

³⁰ As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and almost before Jacob had left his father, Esau returned from his hunt. ³¹ Esau prepared a delicious meal and brought it to his father. Then he said, “Sit up, my father, and eat my wild game so you can give me your blessing.”

This was not God’s will for Esau.

³² But Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”
Esau replied, “It’s your son, your firstborn son, Esau.”
³³ Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably

Isaac was sensing the reality of his actions.  Isaac was remembering what God had said.

A phrase I like to say is “busted’.

and said, “Then who just served me wild game? I have already eaten it, and I blessed him just before you came.

 And yes, that blessing must stand!”

That blessing must stand.

• Isaac’s blessing to Jacob must stand.

Isaac knew what had happened.

Isaac had to know that he had been tampering with God’s plan.

Isaac knew that he was wrong in wanting Esau to receive the blessing.
Isaac knew that the blessing was really from God and not from him.

• It was God’s will for Jacob to receive the blessing.

God’s blessing to Jacob.

• Jacob’s blessing came from God. (not from Isaac)

Genesis 28:13-15 (NLT)
At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you (Jacob) are lying on belongs to you. I (God) am giving it to you and your descendants.
¹⁴ Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. ¹⁵ What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” 

• Our blessings come from God

Ephesians 1:3 (NLT)
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

James 1:17 (NLT)
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

2 Corinthians 9:8-10 (NLT)
⁸ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. ⁹ As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
¹⁰ For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

 Psalm 23:1-4 (NLT)
¹ The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
² He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
³     He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
⁴ Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.

 John 15:5 (NLT)
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

 ³⁴ When Esau heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry. “Oh my father, what about me? Bless me, too!” he begged.
³⁵ But Isaac said, “Your brother was here, and he tricked me. He has taken away your blessing.”

Jacob did not take away Esau’s blessing.  God took it away.

³⁶ Esau exclaimed, “No wonder his name is Jacob,
for now he has cheated me twice. First he took my rights as the firstborn, and now he has stolen my blessing. Oh, haven’t you saved even one blessing for me?”

 Sounding selfish

 ³⁷ Isaac said to Esau, “I have made Jacob your master and have declared that all his brothers will be his servants. I have guaranteed him an abundance of grain and wine—what is left for me to give you, my son?”

Note:

• • Jacob’s blessing came from God.
  • Isaac’s blessings came from God.

Genesis 25:11  (NLT)
After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who settled near Beer-lahai-roi in the Negev.

 Genesis 26:2-4 (NLT)
² The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. ³ Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. ⁴ I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

 ³⁸ Esau pleaded, “But do you have only one blessing? Oh my father, bless me, too!” Then Esau broke down and wept.

 ³⁹ Finally, his father, Isaac, said to him,

Words he did not want to hear.  Words that sound more like a curse than a blessing.

“You will live away from the richness of the earth,
and away from the dew of the heaven above.

Esau would not enjoy the earth’s riches or heaven’s dew.

You will not live on good land.
You will not have much rain.

Jacob’s blessing
²⁸ “From the dew of heaven
and the richness of the earth,
may God always give you abundant harvests of grain
and bountiful new wine.

⁴⁰ You will live by your sword,

You will have to fight to survive.
The Edomites fought time and again with Israel.

Jacob’s blessing
²⁹ May many nations become your servants,
and may they bow down to you.

    and you will serve your brother.

Jacob’s blessing
May you be the master over your brothers,
and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.

But when you decide to break free,
you will shake his yoke from your neck.”

 But when you fight to be free,
you will break away from his control.

Unclear when or if this has happened.

Jacob Flees to Paddan-Aram

⁴¹ From that time on, Esau hated Jacob because their father had given Jacob the blessing.

Esau hated Jacob.

And Esau began to scheme: “I will soon be mourning my father’s death. Then I will kill my brother, Jacob.”

Esau plans to kill Jacob.

⁴² But Rebekah heard about Esau’s plans. So she sent for Jacob and told him, “Listen, Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you. ⁴³ So listen carefully, my son. Get ready and flee to my brother, Laban, in Haran. ⁴⁴ Stay there with him until your brother cools off. ⁴⁵ When he calms down and forgets what you have done to him, I will send for you to come back. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”
⁴⁶ Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m sick and tired of these local Hittite women! I would rather die than see Jacob marry one of them.”

“Do you want to do it God’s way or do you want to do it your way?”

Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing

There are multiple places in the Bible where God is referred to as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Exodus 3:15 (NLT)
God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.

Matthew 22:32 (NLT)
 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ So he is the God of the living, not the dead.”

Acts 7:32 (NLT)
‘I am the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’

This name of God is special because it emphasizes God’s covenant with Israel and showcases the special role Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the Israelites fill as God’s chosen people.

Being chosen by God does not guarantee protection from Satan’s temptations.

Being chosen by God does not guarantee making right choices.

Being chosen by God does not eliminate sin from a person’s life.

Today’s lesson includes:

Theft
Haughty eyes
Deception
Trickery
Scheming
Plotting evil
Lying
Wrongdoing
Sowing family discord

God hates the behaviors taking place in this lesson.

Proverbs 6:16-19 (NLT)
¹⁶ There are six things the Lord hates—
no, seven things he detests:
¹⁷ haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that kill the innocent,
¹⁸ a heart that plots evil,
feet that race to do wrong,
¹⁹ a false witness who pours out lies,
a person who sows discord in a family.

 Genesis 25:28 (NLT)
Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating the wild game Esau brought home, but Rebekah loved Jacob. (discord in the family)

 Reminders:

• God’s sovereignty supersedes manipulative or godless behaviors.
•  Sin has many consequences and sin is always destructive.

Genesis 27:1-29 (NLT)
Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing
27 One day when Isaac was old and turning blind, he called for Esau, his older son, and said, “My son.”
“Yes, Father?” Esau replied.
² “I am an old man now,” Isaac said, “and I don’t know when I may die. ³ Take your bow and a quiver full of arrows, and go out into the open country to hunt some wild game for me. ⁴ Prepare my favorite dish, and bring it here for me to eat. Then I will pronounce the blessing that belongs to you, my firstborn son, before I die.”
⁵ But Rebekah overheard what Isaac had said to his son Esau. So when Esau left to hunt for the wild game, ⁶ she said to her son Jacob, “Listen. I overheard your father say to Esau, ⁷ ‘Bring me some wild game and prepare me a delicious meal. Then I will bless you in the Lord’s presence before I die.’ ⁸ Now, my son, listen to me. Do exactly as I tell you. ⁹ Go out to the flocks, and bring me two fine young goats. I’ll use them to prepare your father’s favorite dish. ¹⁰ Then take the food to your father so he can eat it and bless you before he dies.”
¹¹ “But look,” Jacob replied to Rebekah, “my brother, Esau, is a hairy man, and my skin is smooth. ¹² What if my father touches me? He’ll see that I’m trying to trick him, and then he’ll curse me instead of blessing me.”
¹³ But his mother replied, “Then let the curse fall on me, my son! Just do what I tell you. Go out and get the goats for me!”
¹⁴ So Jacob went out and got the young goats for his mother. Rebekah took them and prepared a delicious meal, just the way Isaac liked it. ¹⁵ Then she took Esau’s favorite clothes, which were there in the house, and gave them to her younger son, Jacob. ¹⁶ She covered his arms and the smooth part of his neck with the skin of the young goats. ¹⁷ Then she gave Jacob the delicious meal, including freshly baked bread.
¹⁸ So Jacob took the food to his father. “My father?” he said.
“Yes, my son,” Isaac answered. “Who are you—Esau or Jacob?”
¹⁹ Jacob replied, “It’s Esau, your firstborn son. I’ve done as you told me. Here is the wild game. Now sit up and eat it so you can give me your blessing.”
²⁰ Isaac asked, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?”
“The Lord your God put it in my path!” Jacob replied.
²¹ Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come closer so I can touch you and make sure that you really are Esau.” ²² So Jacob went closer to his father, and Isaac touched him. “The voice is Jacob’s, but the hands are Esau’s,” Isaac said. ²³ But he did not recognize Jacob, because Jacob’s hands felt hairy just like Esau’s. So Isaac prepared to bless Jacob. ²⁴ “But are you really my son Esau?” he asked.
“Yes, I am,” Jacob replied.
²⁵ Then Isaac said, “Now, my son, bring me the wild game. Let me eat it, and then I will give you my blessing.” So Jacob took the food to his father, and Isaac ate it. He also drank the wine that Jacob served him. ²⁶ Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come a little closer and kiss me, my son.”
²⁷ So Jacob went over and kissed him. And when Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he was finally convinced, and he blessed his son. He said, “Ah! The smell of my son is like the smell of the outdoors, which the Lord has blessed!
²⁸ “From the dew of heaven
and the richness of the earth,
may God always give you abundant harvests of grain
and bountiful new wine.
²⁹ May many nations become your servants,
and may they bow down to you.
May you be the master over your brothers,
and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
All who curse you will be cursed,
and all who bless you will be blessed.”

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 27:1-29 (NLT)
Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing
27 One day when Isaac was old and turning blind, he called for Esau, his older son, and said, “My son.”
“Yes, Father?” Esau replied.
² “I am an old man now,” Isaac said, “and I don’t know when I may die. 

 At this time Isaac was between the ages of 130-137.  He died at the age of 180.

Genesis 35:28-29 (NLT)
²⁸ Isaac lived for 180 years. ²⁹ Then he breathed his last and died at a ripe old age, joining his ancestors in death. And his sons, Esau and Jacob, buried him.

³ Take your bow and a quiver full of arrows, and go out into the open country to hunt some wild game for me. ⁴ Prepare my favorite dish, and bring it here for me to eat.
Then I will pronounce the blessing that belongs to you, my firstborn son, before I die.”

The blessing that belongs to the firstborn son.

Isaac intended to bless Esau even though this was contrary to God’s plan.

• Isaac was willing to bless Esau, even though this blessing was not a part of God’s plan for Esau.

Genesis 25:23 (NLT)
And the Lord told her (Rebekah), “The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.”

 Isaac’s blessing for Esau in verse 29 clearly contradicted God’s plan.

• Esau knew that he had given up all of his rights as the firstborn.

Genesis 25:31-33 (NLT)
³¹ “All right,” Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.”
³² “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?”
³³ But Jacob said, “First you must swear that your birthright is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.

 All his rights would include the birthright as well as the blessing.

⁵ But Rebekah overheard what Isaac had said to his son Esau. So when Esau left to hunt for the wild game, ⁶ she said to her son Jacob, “Listen. I overheard your father say to Esau, ⁷ ‘Bring me some wild game and prepare me a delicious meal. Then I will bless you in the Lord’s presence before I die.’ ⁸ Now, my son, listen to me. Do exactly as I tell you. 

 Listen to me. Do exactly as I tell you.

Rebekah is responsible for her behaviors.

Jacob is responsible for his behaviors.

• Rebekah was willing to resort to deception and trickery to secure the patriarchal blessing for Jacob.

Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT)
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
and desperately wicked.
Who really knows how bad it is?

 Galatians 6:7 (NLT)
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

 1 Peter 2:1 (NLT)
So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.

 This behavior is never acceptable.

⁹ Go out to the flocks, and bring me two fine young goats. I’ll use them to prepare your father’s favorite dish. ¹⁰ Then take the food to your father so he can eat it and bless you before he dies.”

¹¹ “But look,” Jacob replied to Rebekah, “my brother, Esau, is a hairy man, and my skin is smooth. ¹² What if my father touches me? He’ll see that I’m trying to trick him, 

• Jacob knew that he was trying to deceive his father.

 Jacob is responsible for his behaviors.

 and then he’ll curse me instead of blessing me.”

¹³ But his mother replied, “Then let the curse fall on me, my son! Just do what I tell you.

 Let the curse fall on me, my son! Just do what I tell you.

Go out and get the goats for me!” 

• Rebekah intentionally schemed against her husband. 

¹⁴ So Jacob went out and got the young goats for his mother. Rebekah took them and prepared a delicious meal, just the way Isaac liked it. ¹⁵ Then she took Esau’s favorite clothes, which were there in the house, and gave them to her younger son, Jacob. ¹⁶ She covered his arms and the smooth part of his neck with the skin of the young goats. ¹⁷ Then she gave Jacob the delicious meal, including freshly baked bread.
¹⁸ So Jacob took the food to his father. “My father?” he said.
“Yes, my son,” Isaac answered. “Who are you—Esau or Jacob?”
¹⁹ Jacob replied, “It’s Esau, your firstborn son.

 Jacob replied, “It’s Esau, your firstborn son. (lying)

 I’ve done as you told me. Here is the wild game. Now sit up and eat it so you can give me your blessing.”
²⁰ Isaac asked, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?”
“The Lord your God put it in my path!” Jacob replied.

 “The Lord your God put it in my path!” Jacob replied. (lying)

 ²¹ Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come closer so I can touch you and make sure that you really are Esau.” ²² So Jacob went closer to his father, and Isaac touched him. “The voice is Jacob’s, but the hands are Esau’s,” Isaac said. ²³ But he did not recognize Jacob, because Jacob’s hands felt hairy just like Esau’s. So Isaac prepared to bless Jacob. ²⁴ “But are you really my son Esau?” he asked.
“Yes, I am,” Jacob replied.

“Yes, I am,” Jacob replied. 

• Jacob lied repeatedly to his father.

 ²⁵ Then Isaac said, “Now, my son, bring me the wild game. Let me eat it, and then I will give you my blessing.” So Jacob took the food to his father, and Isaac ate it. He also drank the wine that Jacob served him. ²⁶ Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come a little closer and kiss me, my son.”
²⁷ So Jacob went over and kissed him. And when Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he was finally convinced, and he blessed his son. He said, “Ah! The smell of my son is like the smell of the outdoors, which the Lord has blessed! 

²⁸ “From the dew of heaven
and the richness of the earth,
may God always give you abundant harvests of grain
and bountiful new wine.
²⁹ May many nations become your servants,
and may they bow down to you.
May you be the master over your brothers,
and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
All who curse you will be cursed,
and all who bless you will be blessed.”

 Consequences Jacob suffered:

Jacob never saw his mother again after this event

Esau wanted him dead

Laban his uncle deceived him.

His family life was full of conflict

He was exiled for years from his family.

• Sin has many consequences and sin is always destructive.

Reflect on the following verses.

 Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶ Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

 Proverbs 14:12 (NLT)
There is a path before each person that seems right,
but it ends in death.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

 Romans 6:23 (NLT)
For the wages of sin is death, (separation from God)

Psalm 19:13-14 (NLT)
¹³ Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
¹⁴ May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

 

Learning Life Lessons From Someone Who Never Stopped Digging Wells.

God has a plan.

God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him.

Romans 8:28 (NLT)
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

 Digging wells. A part of God’s plan for Isaac.

Genesis 26:17-35(NLT)
¹⁷ So Isaac moved away to the Gerar Valley, where he set up their tents and settled down. ¹⁸ He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.
¹⁹ Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh water. ²⁰ But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means “argument”). ²¹ Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”).²² Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the Lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.”
²³ From there Isaac moved to Beersheba, ²⁴ where the Lord appeared to him on the night of his arrival. “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” he said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you. I will multiply your descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will do this because of my promise to Abraham, my servant.” ²⁵ Then Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the Lord. He set up his camp at that place, and his servants dug another well.
Isaac’s Covenant with Abimelech
²⁶ One day King Abimelech came from Gerar with his adviser, Ahuzzath, and also Phicol, his army commander. ²⁷ “Why have you come here?” Isaac asked. “You obviously hate me, since you kicked me off your land.”
²⁸ They replied, “We can plainly see that the Lord is with you. So we want to enter into a sworn treaty with you. Let’s make a covenant.²⁹ Swear that you will not harm us, just as we have never troubled you. We have always treated you well, and we sent you away from us in peace. And now look how the Lord has blessed you!”
³⁰ So Isaac prepared a covenant feast to celebrate the treaty, and they ate and drank together. ³¹ Early the next morning, they each took a solemn oath not to interfere with each other. Then Isaac sent them home again, and they left him in peace.
³² That very day Isaac’s servants came and told him about a new well they had dug. “We’ve found water!” they exclaimed. ³³ So Isaac named the well Shibah (which means “oath”). And to this day the town that grew up there is called Beersheba (which means “well of the oath”).
³⁴ At the age of forty, Esau married two Hittite wives: Judith, the daughter of Beeri, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon. ³⁵ But Esau’s wives made life miserable for Isaac and Rebekah.

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 26:17-35(NLT)
¹⁷ So Isaac moved away to the Gerar Valley,

Different than the town of Gerar

where he set up their tents and settled down. ¹⁸ He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death.

Isaac needed life-giving water to survive in the land. But the Philistines had stopped the flow of water from the wells by filling them in. To get to the vitally needed water supply, Isaac had to work hard to re-dig the wells and overcome what the Philistines had done.

Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.

Wells:

Ancient wells were dug by hand, a laborious and dangerous task.

From the Well, the community drew water, the basic sustenance for life.

Wells were a sign of independence.

Those who owned wells could maintain larger flocks of sheep.

Wells are a sign of life.

A human can go without food for about three weeks but would typically only last three to four days without water.

At least 60% of the adult body is made of it and every living cell in the body needs it to keep functioning.

¹⁹ Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh water. 

 ²⁰ But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means “argument”). Contention or dispute

 ²¹ Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”). Hatred or opposition

 ²² Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means “open space” or “room enough”),

Isaac refused to fight back.

Romans 12:18 (NLT)
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. 

• Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)

 for he said, “At last the Lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.”

The Lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.

Luke 12:22-26 (NLT)
²² Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. ²⁴ Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! ²⁵ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? ²⁶ And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

 Philippians 4:19 (NLT)
And this same God who takes care of me (Paul) will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

• Don’t worry about everyday life, God will supply all your needs. (Luke 12:22-26 & Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

It may still require a lot of hard work on your part.

 ²³ From there Isaac moved to Beersheba, ²⁴ where the Lord appeared to him on the night of his arrival. “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” he said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you. I will multiply your descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will do this because of my promise to Abraham, my servant.” 

I (God) will do this.

A reminder:

God’s promise to his people.

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT) to Joshua
⁶ So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)
⁵ Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”

Isaiah 41:10-13 (NLT)
¹⁰ Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
¹¹ “See, all your angry enemies lie there,
confused and humiliated.
Anyone who opposes you will die
and come to nothing.
¹² You will look in vain
for those who tried to conquer you.
Those who attack you
will come to nothing.
¹³ For I hold you by your right hand—
I, the Lord your God.
And I say to you,
‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.

• Don’t be afraid or discouraged. (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5, Isaiah 41:10-13)

 ²⁵ Then Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the Lord.

 Worshiped

Luke 4:8 (NLT)
Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’”

• Worship the Lord.

Psalm 100 (NLT)
¹ Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
²     Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
³ Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

 He set up his camp at that place, and his servants dug another well.

 Galatians 6:9-10 (NLT)
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. 

• Don’t get tired of doing good.

Isaac’s Covenant with Abimelech

²⁶ One day King Abimelech came from Gerar with his adviser, Ahuzzath, and also Phicol, his army commander. ²⁷ “Why have you come here?” Isaac asked. “You obviously hate me, since you kicked me off your land.”

 ²⁸ They replied, “We can plainly see that the Lord is with you.

We can plainly see that the Lord is with you.

Look for God working in your life.

Psalm 46:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”

Ephesians 1:18-20 (NLT)
¹⁸ I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
¹⁹ I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power ²⁰ that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 

• Understand the incredible greatness of God’s power.

 So we want to enter into a sworn treaty with you. Let’s make a covenant.²⁹ Swear that you will not harm us, just as we have never troubled you.

• Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18 repeated)

We have always treated you well, and we sent you away from us in peace. And now look how the Lord has blessed you!”

God’s plans work out for the best.

Romans 8:28 (NLT)
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

• Know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

³⁰ So Isaac prepared a covenant feast to celebrate the treaty, and they ate and drank together. ³¹ Early the next morning, they each took a solemn oath not to interfere with each other. Then Isaac sent them home again, and they left him in peace.

 ³² That very day Isaac’s servants came and told him about a new well they had dug. “We’ve found water!” they exclaimed. ³³ So Isaac named the well Shibah (which means “oath”). And to this day the town that grew up there is called Beersheba (which means “well of the oath”). 

• Don’t stop digging wells.

³⁴ At the age of forty, Esau married two Hittite wives: Judith, the daughter of Beeri, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon. ³⁵ But Esau’s wives made life miserable for Isaac and Rebekah.

Digging wells – hard work

Family life – a hard life

How foolish was it for Isaac to want to bless Esau?

Like Father, Like Son

Difficult to date this passage.
After the death of Abraham.
While Esau and Jacob were young.

 Some things we do know about Isaac:

God asked his father Abraham to offer him as a burnt offering.

He had only one wife Rebecca

He had two sons, Esau and Jacob.

He was like a foreigner, living in tents.

His name was never changed.

He had many descendants.
           “Descendants as numerous as the stars of the sky”

“Through your descendants, all the nations of the earth will be blessed.” 

He died at the age of (Genesis 35:28) 180 years old.

He dug wells.

Isaac’s claim to fame.

His name was listed in the scriptures 144 times.
Abraham 269 (174 & 95)
Isaac        144 (121 & 23)
Jacob          362 (336 & 26)

Mostly in phrases like:

“Your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”

“For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors”

He was an ancestor of Jesus the Messiah.

Matthew 1:1-2 (NLT)
The Ancestors of Jesus the Messiah
¹ This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:
² Abraham was the father of Isaac.
Isaac was the father of Jacob.
Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers.

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 26:1-16 (NLT)
¹ A severe famine now struck the land, as had happened before in Abraham’s time. So Isaac moved to Gerar, where Abimelech, king of the Philistines, lived.
² The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. ³ Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. ⁴ I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. ⁵ I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions.” ⁶ So Isaac stayed in Gerar.
⁷ When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, “She is my sister.” He was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful.” ⁸ But some time later, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out his window and saw Isaac caressing Rebekah.
⁹ Immediately, Abimelech called for Isaac and exclaimed, “She is obviously your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?”
“Because I was afraid someone would kill me to get her from me,” Isaac replied.¹⁰ “How could you do this to us?” Abimelech exclaimed. “One of my people might easily have taken your wife and slept with her, and you would have made us guilty of great sin.”
¹¹ Then Abimelech issued a public proclamation: “Anyone who touches this man or his wife will be put to death!”
Conflict over Water Rights
¹² When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. ¹³ He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow. ¹⁴ He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. ¹⁵ So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham.
¹⁶ Finally, Abimelech ordered Isaac to leave the country. “Go somewhere else,” he said, “for you have become too powerful for us.”

Examine the Scriptures

Like Father, Like Son.
(A son’s character or behavior can be expected to resemble that of his father.)

Genesis 26:1-16 (NLT)
Isaac Deceives Abimelech
¹ A severe famine now struck the land, as had happened before in Abraham’s time.

90 years before:

Genesis 12:10 (NLT)
Abram and Sarai in Egypt
At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner. 

• Both Abraham and Isaac experienced living in a land struck by a famine.

So Isaac moved to Gerar, where Abimelech (most likely a title), king of the Philistines, lived.

 Isaac moved from Beer-lahai-roi to Gerar.  (Refer to map)

Genesis 25:11 (NLT)
After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who settled near Beer-lahai-roi in the Negev.

 90 years before:

Genesis 20:1 (NLT)
Abraham Deceives Abimelech
Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar. While living there as a foreigner, 

• Abraham and Isaac lived in Gerar.

 ² The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. 

Unlike Abraham.

³ Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. 

• Both Abraham and Isaac lived as a foreigner in a foreign land.

• God promised to be with Abraham and Isaac.

 I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. ⁴ I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 

Review God’s promises to Abraham.

Genesis 17:19 (NLT)
¹⁹ But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant.

 Genesis 12:1-3 (NLT)
The Call of Abram
¹ The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. ² I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. ³ I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 15:4-5 (NLT)
⁴ Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” ⁵ Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”

Genesis 22:16-18 (NLT)
¹⁶ “This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that ¹⁷ I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. ¹⁸ And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”

 All a part of “God’s plan for the world.

Acts 3
²⁴ “Starting with Samuel, every prophet spoke about what is happening today. ²⁵ You are the children of those prophets, and you are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors. For God said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendants all the families on earth will be blessed.’²⁶ When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways.”

• God’s promise to Abraham was confirmed with Isaac.

• Abraham and Isaac died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.

Hebrews 11:
⁹ And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. ^…
13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 

⁵ I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions.” 

• Our sovereign God wants our obedience.

 John 14:15  (NLT)
“If you love me, obey my commandments.

James 1:25 (NLT)
But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

Luke 11:28 (NLT)
Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

1 Samuel 15:22
… Obedience is better than sacrifice …

 ⁶ So Isaac stayed in Gerar.

 Obedience

⁷ When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, “She is my sister.” He was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful.” 

Deceit
Abraham (two times):

Genesis 12:11-13 (NLT)
¹¹ As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, you are a very beautiful woman.
¹² When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!’ ¹³ So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.”

Genesis 20:2 (NLT)
² Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.

 Genesis 20:11 (NLT)
¹¹ Abraham replied, “I thought, ‘This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.’

• Both Abraham and Isaac lied about the identity of their wives.

⁸ But some time later, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out his window and saw Isaac caressing Rebekah.

Not the behavior of a brother and sister.

⁹ Immediately, Abimelech called for Isaac and exclaimed, “She is obviously your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?”
“Because I was afraid someone would kill me to get her from me,” Isaac replied.

Fear mocks faith
Fear endangers God’s blessings

¹⁰ “How could you do this to us?” Abimelech exclaimed. “One of my people might easily have taken your wife and slept with her, and you would have made us guilty of great sin.”

Genesis 20:4-7 (NLT)
⁴ But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? ⁵ Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘Yes, he is my brother.’ I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean.”
⁶ In the dream God responded, “Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her. ⁷ Now return the woman to her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don’t return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die.”

Genesis 20:9-10 (NLT)
⁹ Then Abimelech called for Abraham. “What have you done to us?” he demanded. “What crime have I committed that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one should ever do what you have done! ¹⁰ Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?”

¹¹ Then Abimelech issued a public proclamation: “Anyone who touches this man or his wife will be put to death!”

Death penalty

• God used a pagan king to preserve His chosen seed.

Psalm 105
⁷ He is the Lord our God.
    His justice is seen throughout the land.
⁸ He always stands by his covenant—
    the commitment he made to a thousand generations.
⁹ This is the covenant he made with Abraham
    and the oath he swore to Isaac.
¹⁰ He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
    and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant:
¹¹ “I will give you the land of Canaan
    as your special possession.”
¹² He said this when they were few in number,
    a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.
¹³ They wandered from nation to nation,
    from one kingdom to another.
¹⁴ Yet he did not let anyone oppress them.
    He warned kings on their behalf:
¹⁵ “Do not touch my chosen people,
    and do not hurt my prophets.”

 Conflict over Water Rights

¹² When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. 

• God blessed Abraham and Isaac.

 ¹³ He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow. ¹⁴ He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. 

 ¹⁵ So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham.

Genesis 21:25 (NLT)
²⁵ Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had taken by force from Abraham’s servants.

Genesis 21:30 (NLT)
³⁰ Abraham replied, “Please accept these seven lambs to show your agreement that I dug this well.”

¹⁶ Finally, Abimelech ordered Isaac to leave the country. “Go somewhere else,” he said, “for you have become too powerful for us.”

Conclusion:

• You should be an example for others in every way by the good things you do.

Titus 2:7 (NLT)
And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.

1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)
Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Proverbs 22:1 (NLT)
Choose a good reputation over great riches;    being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.

• Imitate what is good.

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT)
And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

Esau Sells His Birthright

• God’s sovereignty supersedes manipulative or godless behaviors.

Genesis 25:27-34 (NLT)

Esau Sells His Birthright
²⁷ As the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter. He was an outdoorsman, but Jacob had a quiet temperament, preferring to stay at home. ²⁸ Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating the wild game Esau brought home, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
²⁹ One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. ³⁰ Esau said to Jacob, “I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!” (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means “red.”)
³¹ “All right,” Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.”
³² “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?”
³³ But Jacob said, “First you must swear that your birthright is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.
³⁴ Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 25:27-34 (NLT)
Esau Sells His Birthright
²⁷ As the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter. He was an outdoorsman,

 but Jacob had a quiet temperament, preferring to stay at home. 

 Distinctive personalities.

Skillful hunter and outdoorsman vs. a quiet temperament who preferred the comforts of home.

 Esau saw little or no value in the birthright.  Jacob sought after the birthright.

• Esau and Jacob had very different personalities. 

²⁸ Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating the wild game Esau brought home,

 but Rebekah loved Jacob.

 Ingredients for conflict and heartache. 

Romans 2:11 (NLT)
For God does not show favoritism.

Ephesians 5:1 (NLT)
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

James 2:1 (NLT)
A Warning against Prejudice
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

James 2:9 (NLT)
But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. 

• If you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin.

• Playing favorites is one of the most damaging problems in any group of people.

 Genesis 37:3-4 (NLT)
³ Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe. ⁴ But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.

 ²⁹ One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. ³⁰ Esau said to Jacob, “I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!” (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means “red.”)

 Esau was driven by his physical appetite for red stew.

 ³¹ “All right,” Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.”

 Birthright: The right of the first born.
(Different from the prophetic blessing in chapter 27.)

A double portion of the estate.

Was the head of the whole family.

Carried with it the covenant blessing (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob)

• Birthright: A man’s firstborn son receives privileges related to position and inheritance above those of his younger sons.

Before the time of Moses, the father could transfer this right to another son.

Rights of the Firstborn clarified by Moses

Deuteronomy 21:15-17 (NLT)
Rights of the Firstborn clarified by Moses
¹⁵ “Suppose a man has two wives, but he loves one and not the other, and both have given him sons. And suppose the firstborn son is the son of the wife he does not love. ¹⁶ When the man divides his inheritance, he may not give the larger inheritance to his younger son, the son of the wife he loves, as if he were the firstborn son. ¹⁷ He must recognize the rights of his oldest son, the son of the wife he does not love, by giving him a double portion. He is the first son of his father’s virility, and the rights of the firstborn belong to him.

After the exodus from Egypt, the birthright designated the oldest son priest of the family. (This was later changed.)

Exceptions:

Ruben

Genesis 49:3-4 (NLT)
³ “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength,
the child of my vigorous youth.
You are first in rank and first in power.
⁴ But you are as unruly as a flood,
and you will be first no longer.
For you went to bed with my wife;
you defiled my marriage couch.

1 Chronicles 5:1 (NLT)
Descendants of Reuben
The oldest son of Israel was Reuben. But since he dishonored his father by sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, his birthright was given to the sons of his brother Joseph. For this reason, Reuben is not listed in the genealogical records as the firstborn son. 

• Exceptions were made, transferring the birthrights from the oldest son to a younger son.

Genesis 48:20-22 (NLT)
²⁰ So Jacob blessed the boys that day with this blessing: “The people of Israel will use your names when they give a blessing. They will say, ‘May God make you as prosperous as Ephraim and Manasseh.’” In this way, Jacob put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
²¹ Then Jacob said to Joseph, “Look, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will take you back to Canaan, the land of your ancestors.²² And beyond what I have given your brothers, I am giving you an extra portion of the land that I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow.”

• Jacob was open and obvious in his pursuit of the birthright.

 ³² “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?”

• Esau allowed his physical appetite to control is decisions.

 ³³ But Jacob said, “First you must swear that your birthright is mine.” 

Jacob, the heel grabber, knew what was of value, knew what he wanted and did not hesitate going after it.

 So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.

 Esau did not value the birthright.

• Esau traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal.

 ³⁴ Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left.

 He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.

• Esau showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.

Hebrews 12:16 (NLT)
 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal.

 It is wrong to sacrifice spiritual provisions to satisfy one’s physical appetites.

• Keep your priorities in order.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

• God’s sovereignty supersedes manipulative or godless behaviors.