Into the Word with Bryce Ferguson

*sensitive topic warning*

After Shechem commits sexual assault against Jacob’s daughter, Jacob and his brothers find out.  Then, Shechem and his father, Hamor, ask Jacob if he will give Dinah in marriage to Shechem.  Jacob’s sons take matters into their own hands for the response.  

Additional Scripture: Genesis 17:1-14, James 4:12

*sensitive topic warning*
After Jacob’s family settles in Shechem, his daughter Dinah goes out into the town and is violently assaulted.  The predator then acts as if he loves her and wants to marry her.  

Additional Scripture: Genesis 1:26-28, Hebrews 12:6, Revelation 3:19, Proverbs 10:6, Proverbs 3:29-34

After the reconciliation with Esau, Jacob does not follow Esau to his home, but continues on into the heart of Canaan.  Jacob knows God has called him and he wants to be obedient to the call.

Additional Scripture: Romans 14:23, Hebrews 13:5-6, 1 John 4:8, Psalm 23:4, Proverbs 14:15, James 4:12

Jacob finally meets Esau and is surprised by Esau’s countenance.  Esau welcomes Jacob to prove God matures those He has called, and also to prove there is no value in fearing the unknown.  Both men have been blessed and it is God who has provided.

Additional Scripture: Matthew 9:9-15, 19-34, Genesis 32:13-15

After Jacob sends his family and belongings on ahead of him, Jacob stays behind for the night alone.  But in his struggle, a mysterious encounter changes him forever and removes his name for another. 

Additional Scripture: Luke 14:26

After prayer, Jacob sends forth a series of appeasing gifts toward Esau, in hope to dissuade what Jacob fears (but does not know), because he thinks it may help.

Additional scripture: Col. 3:5-6, John 16:33, John 1:1-5

Jacob travels toward Canaan and deals with a spectrum of emotion, from faith to fear.  God has called him to look ahead, but he starts looking down, when God has called him to look ahead.  He prays, confessing his fear and heralding the truths God has promised to him before.

Additional Scripture: Luke 18:1-8, John 10:10, 1 John 4:18, 2 Tim. 1:7, Matt. 6:33

After Laban disobeyed God’s rebuke, after Jacob rightly also rebukes Laban, Laban proposes a protective agreement with Jacob now out of Laban’s fear.  Laban sees he is outside of God’s favor, and he confesses Jacob is within God’s favor.  

Additional Scripture: James 5:12, Mark 4:24, Philippians 4:8, Deuteronomy 31:1-8, John 10:27

After Laban catches up to Jacob, and derides Jacob, Jacob responds with the plain truth.  Jacob has endured mistreatment from Laban for up to 20 years, and God has been a witness to it all.  The agreements Laban made multiple times with Jacob, according to Laban, meant nothing.

Additional scripture: Matthew 12:34, Ephesians 4:26-27, 31, 1 Peter 5:5, James 4:12, Matthew 5:38-42, 43-46a

Jacob answers God’s call to leave for Canaan.  When Laban finds out, he pursues Jacob in anger and because he believes Jacob has stolen his pagan idols.  But God speaks to Laban in a dream, warning him not to speak to Jacob.

Additional scripture: Matthew 22:35-39, Genesis 31:3-13, Exodus 20:3-16

After 20 long years, God calls Jacob to go.  Jacob relays the commission to his wives, also recounting the oppression of their father, and affirms that as they go, God will go with them.  

Additional scripture: Genesis 29, Genesis 30, Exodus 29:45, Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 37:25-27, James 5:12

After 14 years in service to Laban, Jacob requests his leave.  Laban, taking control, refuses Jacob to leave and continues his abominable behavior against Jacob and his family.

Additional Scripture: Romans 1:18-20, Genesis 29:14-25, Proverbs 12:20

After ten sons by other women, because the Lord opened Rachel’s womb, Jacob and Rachel have a son, Joseph, who is eleventh in the birth order, but will be the chosen one to lead the covenantal family line of faith behind Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Additional scripture: Proverbs 16:9, Hebrews 13:8, Exodus 20:18-21

Rachel and Leah continue in a polygamous marriage with Jacob, and add both of their servants as another two wives in the family.  This is not God’s design, and yet, God opens the wombs of these women and gives Jacob ten sons, who would be the first ten of the future twelve tribes of Israel.

Additional Scripture: Psalm 37:4

Faced with a terrible situation and a stressful life, Rachel lashes out in anger and runs to sin by essentially giving Jacob yet another wife, instead of turning to God.  Jacob speaks truth to Rachel that the Lord is the one in control, yet Jacob participates in Rachel’s plan.

Additional scripture: Genesis 16:1-6, Ephesians 4:26, James 4:11, Proverbs 16:9

Once Leah and Rachel both marry Jacob, the Lord opens Leah’s womb and she conceives, while Rachel cannot.  And the Lord loves them both.  

Additional Scripture: Psalm 24:1, 1 Samuel 16:7, Proverbs 31:30, and Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

*Sensitive topic warning* 

Jacob pursues Rachel through an arranged seven-year-long engagement, and, when the day of marriage arrives, Jacob is deceived in an act of evil by her father, Laban.  And this controlling act of Rachel’s father will impact the lives of Jacob and Rachel for a very long time – because Laban chose evil.

Jacob leaves with his parent’s blessing to journey to Haran to meet Laban and marry one of his daughters.  Before he arrives to his house, Jacob meets one of the daughters at a well, she, who is "beautiful in form and appearance," Rachel.

Additional Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-2, 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

As Jacob flees from the great anger of his brother, he lays down to sleep in the wilderness and has an incredible dream.  The dream is incredible because it is from the Lord, and the Lord speaks to Jacob as He reveals Himself at the top of a ladder in heaven. 

Additional Scripture: Genesis 15:18-19, 26:4, 13:14-16, 22:17, 12:3, and John 1:43-51