This week, we have 2 lectures to keep pace for those following the Come Follow Me schedule.

Text: Genesis 24-33

Supplemental Text: The Third Thousand Years chapters 1-5

BYU Lecture 11: One of the purposes of a college education is to learn how to think and not to be deceived; what is true and what is false, and what is good and what is evil.

Who are God’s chosen people? Just one word describes them – Obedience! God is no respecter of persons and chooses those who are obedient, and they become “the seed of Abraham” and recipients of the Abrahamic Covenant. If you are born in the covenant you have a tremendous responsibility to be a soldier of God. The characteristics of obedient children of God are reviewed.

Abraham and Isaac are quickly reviewed, with the introduction of Esau and Jacob.

BYU Lecture 12: Rebekah leaves her family and home for Isaac, but is unable to bear him children. This becomes a great trial for her. She receives a priesthood blessing and a revelation. She then conceives and bares twins, Esau and Jacob. Abraham dies and is buried. Esau, the elder and farmer, marries a Canaanite against his father’s desire. He is careless with his rights and sells his birthright to Jacob, the shepherd. Isaac gives Jacob the covenant blessing. A priesthood blessing cannot be given by deception, as Isaac confirms the blessing he gave to Jacob and commands him not to marry a Canaanite woman as Esau did. He instructs Jacob to travel to Haran, Rebekah’s homeland, to find a Shemetic wife. On the way, Jacob has a visitation from the Lord who promises a continuation of the Abrahamic Covenant through Jacob’s posterity. Jacob arrives in Haran and meets Rachel. He promises to work for her father Laban 7 years for her hand in marriage. By deception, Laban weds Jacob to his oldest daughter Leah instead of Rachel. After a week, Jacob then marries Rachel and works another 7 years for Laban. Children are born to Jacob through Leah, Bilhah (Rachel’s handmaid), Zilpah (Leah’s handmaid), and finally Rachel conceives and has a son named Joseph.