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Genesis 28

1.     All right.  What is done is done.  Isaac has given a blessing to both of his sons, maybe not the way he wanted, but it is done.  Following the deceptions and the giving of the blessings, what does Isaac do for his son Jacob?

What instructions does he give Jacob?

Why do you think Isaac gave these instructions to Jacob and not to Esau?

What do you think is Isaac’s main purpose in sending Jacob away?

What other reasons might he have in doing so?

Do you think Rebekah had any input into this course of action?

2.    Look carefully at verses 3 and 4.  What is contained in this blessing?

What does Isaac say over his son this time that was not in the other blessing?

What was different about the giving of this blessing as opposed to the first blessing?

3.    What does Esau do when he learns about Isaac’s instructions to Jacob?

Why do you think he did this?

Again, we get an insight into Esau’s nature.  To please his father, what does Esau decide to do?

What did he hope to accomplish by marrying Mahalath?

4.    Time for a little review.  Who was Ishmael?

What was “wrong” about Esau’s choosing as a wife a descendant of Ishmael?

What does this tell us about Esau’s understanding of the covenant the LORD made with Abraham?

People still try to please others and even God by “doing the right thing.”  Can you give an example of this type of behavior?

Why did Esau’s decision not please Isaac?

Read Hosea 6:6 and Matthew 9:13.  How do these verses relate to Esau’s actions?

What meaning do these verses hold for us?

5.    Let us return to verse 7.  It states that Jacob obeyed his father.  Considering all that he had done to deceive his father, what does this verse mean to you?

Read the parable in Matthew 21:28-33.  Does this verse relate to Jacob in any way?  Please explain.

What can we learn about pleasing God from the actions of these two sons?

6.    As Jacob leaves his home and sets out for Haran, what do you believe he was thinking and feeling?  (Remember, his brother has vowed to kill him.)

This is the son of the promise of God.  What is his bed?  What is his pillow?  What is the significance of this?

Verse 11 tells us that when he had reached a “certain place” that he stopped for the night.  Why do you think God does not tell us the name of this place?

7.    What did Jacob dream that night?

What is the importance of the “stairway” going from the earth to the heavens with angels ascending and descending?

The LORD Himself appears to Jacob.  What does the LORD tell him?

Had you been Jacob, what would have meant the most to you at this time?

How does God “introduce” Himself to Jacob?  Why do you think God did not say, “I am your God”?

Before we said that it was very possible that Jacob did not have a fear of the LORD.  Do you believe that he does now?  Please explain.

8.    What goes through Jacob’s mind when he awakes?

What does it mean when he acknowledges that God was in that place but he did not know it?

Can you remember a time when you realized that God was in a place but that you were not aware of it?  Please explain.

What was the result of Jacob’s encounter with God?  (See verse 17.)

We read that Jacob was afraid of God.  This same word is used to describe the “fear” of the LORD.  What does it mean to you to fear the LORD?

Read Deu. 6:1-2. What part does fearing the LORD have in obeying God?

What is the relationship between fear of God and praising God?

How has this fear of God changed Jacob?

9.    What does Jacob say when he wakes?

Can you remember ever saying, “How awesome is this place”?  Please explain.

What does Jacob do?

What are some of the acts that we do to commemorate or bless a particular place?  Why do this?

What name does Jacob give the place?

What does it mean?

10. What vow does Jacob make to God?

Jacob begins by saying “if”.  Was he making a bargain with God?  Please explain.

This vow contains an “if…then” construction.  The “if” applies to God and the “then” to Jacob.  What does Jacob want God to do?

If God does this, what will Jacob do?

How do you react to this vow?

How effective are “foxhole” prayers, prayers that state, “God, if You will ….,  then I will serve you”?

The real issue is how God reacts to such vows.  Does God react to Jacob’s conditional vow?  Why or why not?

What does this show us about God?

11.  Based upon this one episode, how would you say Jacob has changed?

Why do you think God never mentions to Jacob his deception of his father?

What does it mean to you that God still desired to use Jacob?