------------------------------------------------------------------ Life of Jacob E-Mail Bible Study ------------------------------------------------------------------ Week 1 - Genesis 25:19-34; 27:1-40 CHEATING Studying Esau's and Jacob's natural character, with thoughts about predestination and personal responsibility. ------------------------------------------------------------------ If you haven't read the Old Testament much, you'll be pleased to find that God can speak to you here -- loud and clear. Try to accept the fact that the culture described here is nearly 4,000 ago and they did things differently then. But you'll quickly see that the people -- and their problems -- haven't changed much. The story of Jacob is a great opportunity to learn important lessons about ourselves -- and our God. Here are some questions that will help guide your study of the text this week. I want to encourage you to share your answers with the rest in your group. Much of the value of this study is sharing ideas, testing them with others, and learning from the insights of others. At the end of the week, I'll sum things up with my own thoughts on the passage. But for the most part, during the week, my job is not to give you the answers, but point you to them through my questions. This is not the kind of Bible study for the faint of heart. We'll be look at some issues that don't have nice, neat answers. But life is like that. My prayer is that you'll grow through this process. That you'll become closer, more sensitive to, more obedient to God. And that you'll learn to study your Bible in a new way. May God richly bless us and open our eyes as we study His word together. In Jesus' name. Amen. MONDAY ------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ LEVEL 1: OBSERVATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES THE TEXT SAY? ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.1 Who are the main characters in this story? Write down at least two pieces of information you learn about each from the text. 1.2 In what way do the twins' names reflect their futures? TUESDAY ------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ LEVEL 2: INTERPRETATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES THE TEXT MEAN? ------------------------------------------------------------------ COMMENT: Birthright -- The right of the firstborn son to have a double share of the father's property, and to become the accepted leader of the clan after the death of the father. See Deuteronomy 21:16-17. The role of the firstborn son receiving the birthright built into the family structure a plan for succession of property and authority, and thus probably prevented a good bit of verbal and physical fighting. But sometimes the firstborn son wasn't really worthy of leadership. 2.1 Was Rebekah a spiritual woman? Was Isaac a spiritual man? Which was the more spiritually acute? Give evidence from the text to support your answers? 2.2 What evidence of spirituality do you see in Jacob? In Esau? If you could select a primary character trait for Jacob and for Esau, what would it be? What is the driving force of each life? 2.3 Why do you think the New Testament is so scornful of Esau selling his birthright? (Hebrews 12:16-17) What did selling the birthright represent? What did it say about his character and values? WEDNESDAY ---------- 2.4 Why do you think Jacob valued the birthright so much? Whose influence was most important here? His own inner drive? His mother? Something else? 2.5 Was Jacob guilty of cheating Esau over the birthright? Why or why not? 2.6 God had told Rebekah that Jacob is supposed to rule over Esau (Genesis 25:23). To what extent does this excuse her deceit towards her husband Isaac? How much responsibility does Jacob bear in the deception? THURSDAY -------- 2.7 Why couldn't Isaac reverse his blessing once he discovers Jacob's trickery? (27:33) What is Isaac's role in this blessing? What is God's role in it? 2.8 EXTRA CREDIT: Do the ends justify the means here? Is there ever an excuse for sin? The larger question is: can God work through man's evil and still maintain his righteousness? Hint: study what leads up to Genesis 50:20. 2.9 EXTRA CREDIT: Can Jacob be both guilty of sin and blessed as a result of it? If God has predestined us to sin, are we guilty if we do it? Example: Judas. NOTE: While this passage figures centrally in Paul's explanation of predestination and foreordination in Romans 9:6-13, we're not going to get bogged down here in a discussion of the subject. If you want to discuss predestination further, don't do it on the e- mail list, but use our online forum at http://www.joyfulheart.com/HyperNews/get/studies/5.html That way the discussion on predestination won't overbalance the other important issues this passage -- issues that affect us in a way that we can actually change as a result. FRIDAY ------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ LEVEL 3: APPLICATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME? ------------------------------------------------------------------ 3.1 What happens when your children sense that you love one more than another? Did this happen to you when you were growing up? If so, how are you finding healing? How can we as parents love our children equally but differently? 3.2 Whose character flaws most remind you of your own? Isaac's, Rebekah's, Esau's, or Jacob's? Why? How is God working to improve your character? SATURDAY AND SUNDAY ------------------- No online study. Worship, rest, re-create, spend time with your family. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright 1998, Ralph F. Wilson, all rights reserved. Joyful Heart is a trademark of Joyful Heart Ministries. For reprint permission contact pastor@joyfulheart.com