Bereans of Trinity

It's time for Jacob to go home. God has finished the work He was doing in Jacob's life for twenty years in Paddan-aram. But Jacob cannot leave easily. His fear of what Laban will do causes him to act deceptively and leave secretly. Was this really necessary? What if you had been there to see Jacob cross the Euphrates River twenty years earlier? How would you have accessed Jacob, compared to this second crossing? Why does the narrator stress so emphatically Jacob's belongings? What were Laban's teraphim, and why did Rachel steal them? How were Jacob's and Rachel's actions paralleled by the narrator? How did the irony of Laban's teraphim being stolen escape his notice? (55 min.)

Things take a turn for the worse in Jacob's relationship with Laban and his sons, and Jacob's situation becomes tenuous, even dangerous. How does God use our circumstances to direct us? What is the significance of God being "with" someone? What are the three reasons that Laban's wealth was transferred to Jacob? What part did Laban play in that transfer. What lesson can we learn from Rachel's and Leah's realization that they no longer had a portion or inheritance in their father's house? What, ultimately, will happen to all the riches of the world? (56 min.)

The Bible contains a number of very difficult passages to understand. This is one of them, and is difficult on several levels. What should we do when we encounter very difficult passages? What exactly was Jacob doing with all those rods and sheep and goats? Did what Jacob do have any affect on the outcome, and if so, how? We look at a number of puzzling cases in Scripture similar to this one with Jacob. What can we learn from all these examples of human devices? What relevance or application does this passage have to our lives today? (66 min.)

God "remembered" Rachel. What does that mean? Had He forgotten her? Rachel's son becomes central to the unfolding story about the Children of Israel. Jacob now enters into negotiations with Laban regarding his desire to return home, but does Jacob really have a home? How was Jacob's sojourn changed as a result of his encounter at Bethel. What does Jacob possess that Laban desperately wants? What exactly is the agreement that Jacob and Laban reach? What does Laban do as soon as the agreement is made? How do we respond when we are wronged or taken advantage of by others? How should we view things when that happens?

The unfolding story of the birth of Jacob's sons continues. But Rachel is jealous of her sister, Leah, and Leah is jealous of her sister, Rachel. What are the results of discontentment and jealousy? What exactly is jealousy? How can we distinguish legitimate yearnings from discontentment? With whom are are really struggling when we struggle with others? What could Rachel have done for Leah? Is it reasonable to expect her to do that? What can we learn from this confusing and difficult story?

Laban's plan to trick Jacob into marrying Leah instead of Rachel is very risky. So much could have gone wrong. How did he pull it off? Where was God in this, and why didn't He intervene? In a sudden moment, when least expected, Jacob's great anticipation and hope is shattered. Can any good come out of this? What is God doing in Jacob's life, in the future of Israel, and in Leah's life? Speaking of Leah, she was complicit in this scheme. Why? What is Jacob's attitude to Leah, and was it justified? Why does Paul warn husbands not to be embittered towards their wives? What great good comes in Leah's life? How did she respond? (62 min.)

As we proceed through our story about Jacob in Haran, we encounter continuously repeated references to the family relationship. Why is that? What does Jacob do during that first month he stays with Laban. What are the differences between Laban's two daughters, and how does that play in the unfolding events? Things finally seem to be going pretty well now for Jacob, and he is filled with hope and expectation. Why does God allow him to experience such hope and anticipation, only to allow the rug to be pulled out from under him? What is God doing? (58 min.)

Having left his Bethel experience Jacob travels on to arrive in the "land of the peoples of the east." Why is Haran uniquely referred to in this way in this passage? How will the experience of Bethel change Jacob, and what will it take? What kinds of things do we discover about Jacob's character in this account at the well? How does this account of the well compare and contrast with the earlier account in chapter 24 about Abraham's servant? Why is that important? What difference does it make whether or not we see God's hand in the things He does in our lives?

Jacob leaves Beersheba and heads to Haran. He is a fugitive from his brother's wrath. Putting yourself in Jacob's sandals, what would you be thinking about one hour out of Beersheba? Three days later he arrives at a nondescript place and lays down to sleep. What he encounters in his dream that night alters his own life and the history of Israel. What is the ultimate fulfillment of that dream? Whom does he encounter, and what is he promised? Why does he erect a memorial in this place? Will what happens this night influence him only for a time, or will it have a life long impact? he came to this place a fugitive, but he leaves Bethel a pilgrim. What will it take for him to return to his family in peace and be reconciled to Esau?

The wrong done to Esau leaves him with deep wounds and a festering bitterness. How he deals with it reveals him to be, like Cain, of the seed of the serpent. Rebekah's discovery of Esau's murderous intent leads her to take quick action. What are the two things from which Rebekah seeks to protect Jacob? Why does Rebekah tell Isaac that if Jacob marries a daughter of Canaan that her life will be nothing to her? How does Esau respond to the discovery of his father's displeasure? As an aside, to whom is the prophet referring when he speaks of God loving Jacob and hating Esau, and for what did God choose Jacob, and why is it important to know?