What were Isaac's two actions toward Jacob? (Genesis 28:1)
What was the content of Isaacs prayer of blessing, for Jacob? (Genesis 28:1-5)
Who spoke to Jacob in his dream? (Genesis 28:13-15)
How did Jacob react when he woke up from his dream? What did he declare about the place? What names did he give to the place? (Genesis 28:16-19)
Where does Jacob arrive? (Genesis 29:1-14)
What is the custom mentioned in this passage regarding watering the flocks? (Genesis 29:2-3)
How does Jacob react when he sees Rachel? (Genesis 29:9-12)
What does this passage tell us about Laban's behaviour towards Jacob? (Genesis 29:15-30)
What do we observe about the rivalry between Rachel and Leah in this part of the passage? (Genesis 30:1-15)
Observe the names given by Leah & Rachel to their sons. What is the meaning of their names? (Genesis 29:31to Genesis 30:24)
Does Laban see God’s hand on Jacob? (Genesis 30:25-30)
What specific proposition does Jacob make to Laban regarding his wages? (Genesis 30:31-36)
Observe how Laban set up for Jacob to fail?
What unusual method does Jacob employ to influence the livestock's breeding? (Genesis 30:37-42)
INTERPRETATION
What does it mean?
What is the Blessing of Abraham mentioned in Genesis 28:4? What does it mean for a New Testament believer? (Ref: Genesis 12:2-3, Genesis 15:5-6, Galatians 3:29)
What does God's promises in Genesis 28:14-15 reveal about His character?
What does this passage reveal about Jacobs character? (Genesis 28:16-22)
How does God's hand seem to be at work in Jacob's journey and his meeting with Rachel? (Genesis 29:1-14)
What does Jacob's angry retort to Rachel ("Am I in the place of God?") reveal about his understanding of God? (Genesis 30:2)
What does the competition between Rachel & Leah illustrate? (Genesis 30:1-15)
How do the names of Leah & Rachels children demonstrate their perception of God? (Genesis 29:31to Genesis 30:24)
What does Laban's desire for Jacob to stay & his actions reveal about him and his understanding of God? (Genesis 30:25-36)
How do Jacob's elaborate breeding techniques (peeled branches, selective breeding) reflect his shrewdness?
Did Jacob attribute his blessings to his shrewdness or to God? (Ref: Genesis 31:7,9)
APPLICATION
What will I do?
How does this passage demonstrate God's grace and faithfulness even though like Jacob, we may be unfaithful many times?
What do Genesis 28-30 teach us about God's power to work through imperfect people to fulfil His divine will even when the odds are against us?
How do we define "blessing" or "success" in our own lives? Do we attribute it to God or to our own efforts?
Laban saw that God was at work in Jacob’s life. How are we as believers called to live our lives in this world? (Ref: 1 Peter 2:12, Mathew 5:16, Colossians 3:23-24)
