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Genesis 29

1.     For the first time in his life, Jacob finds himself on his own.  What advice would you give Jacob or any young person who was leaving home for the first time?

Following his encounter with the LORD, Jacob continues his journey.  The word for continues literally means “to lift up” as in “Jacob lifted up his feet.”  What is the significance of using this verb to describe Jacob’s resuming his journey?

Can you remember a time when you did not feel like you could take one more step?  Please explain.

How were you able to take that next step?

2.    Now we learn a little more about their way of life.  When Jacob arrives, he goes to the well.  Why?

What did Jacob see when he came upon the well?

Why was there a stone covering the mouth of the well?

Can you learn what this well possibly looked like?

Why do you think these three shepherds were waiting instead of watering their sheep immediately?

How willing are we to wait upon others before satisfying our needs?

How does Jacob’s arrival at the well mirror Abraham’s servant’s arrival years before?

3.    What does Jacob ask the shepherds?

During this conversation, who approaches the well?

Do you think it strange that Laban’s daughter would be keeping the flock?  Please explain.

What do you think Jacob was feeling when they announced that Rachel was Laban’s daughter?

How many “coincidences” can you identify in Jacob’s journey so far that clearly show us that God is directing Jacob’s steps?

4.    What does Jacob want to do as Rachel approaches?

What was the custom surrounding the rolling away of the stone?

Not wanting to wait, what does Jacob do?

What does this tell you about the size of the stone?

What was involved in the watering of the sheep?

What do you believe Rachel was thinking as this stranger watered her sheep?

5.    Compare Jacob’s actions now with Rachel with his actions earlier with Esau.  How are they different?

Has Jacob changed and, if so, how?

What might have caused this change, if any, in Jacob?

6.    How does Jacob introduce himself?

How is Rachel related to Rebekah?  To Jacob?

Why do you think Jacob does tell his name?

What does Rachel do when she learns Jacob is family?

How does Laban receive Jacob?

7.    Verse 14 tells us that Jacob had been with Laban one month.  According to the customs of pastoral people, a stranger was welcomed for three days.  On the fourth day, he was expected to give his name and his reason for coming.  What do you think of such a custom?

If the errand required the person to stay longer than four days, the visitor was expected to work in some way.  What do you think of this custom?  Please explain.

How do our customs differ from these?

After Jacob works for a month, what does Laban say?

Why do you think Laban asks Jacob instead of telling him?

Why is Jacob interested in negotiating a “wage”?  In other words, how long does he plan on working for Laban?

Jacob will inherit all that his father Isaac has.  Yet, he is working for Laban for no wages.  How would this make you feel?

8.    What were the names of Laban’s daughters?

What does it say about Leah?  About Rachel?

What do you think it means that Leah had “weak eyes”?

Because Jacob was in love with Rachel, what did he set as his wages?

Why do you think Jacob simply did not ask for Rachel’s hand in marriage like Abraham’s servant did with Rebekah?

9.    What was Laban’s answer?

How do we know Jacob really loved Rachel?

Why do you think we are not told how Rachel feels about Jacob?

Can you think of an advantage of having to work and to wait for something we truly want?

10. Jacob works for seven years.  What does he say to Laban at the end of that time?

What does Laban do?

What do you believe Rachel and Jacob were thinking during the feast?

11.  At this point, Jacob, the deceiver, is himself deceived.  What does the father Laban do?

Do you think Leah knew what her father was going to do?  Please explain.

How do you think it possible that Jacob did not know that it was Leah?

Who was Zilpah?

12. Talk about the morning after….  What do you think Jacob was feeling when he awoke next to Leah?

How was his situation similar to what he had done to his brother Esau?

What does Jacob say to his father-in-law?

Why must Jacob control his anger toward Laban?

How were Laban’s actions similar to Jacob’s actions of seven years before?

13. How does Laban justify his deceitfulness?

Does Laban feel he has done anything wrong?  Please explain.

At this point, do you think Jacob feels he has done anything wrong?

What is ironic about the younger is not to be placed before the older?

14. What is Laban’s “solution” to Jacob’s situation?

When will Jacob marry Rachel?  Total, how many years did Laban exact from Jacob?

Do you feel sorry for Jacob?  Please explain.

What do you think this family will be like, with Jacob marrying two sisters?

Read Lev. 18:18.  Why do you think the LORD gave this instruction to Israel?

What do you think that week was like for Leah?

What do you think Jacob learned during these 14 years?

Who was Bilhah?

15. Verse 30 contains a very interesting statement.  It tells us that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah.  Verse 31 reads that Leah was not loved.  Other versions state that she was hated.  What do you think life was like for Leah?  For Rachel?  For Jacob?

What type of relationship do you think Jacob had with his father-in-law?

16. Up to this point, we have not “heard’ from the LORD.  Does this mean God condoned what had take place?  Please explain.

Verse 31 tells us that the LORD knew what was happening.  What did He do when saw that Jacob did not love Leah as much as Rachel?

What did she name her first-born son?

What do you think she meant when she said the LORD has seen her misery?

What does Leah hope when she gives birth to Jacob’s first son?

Jacob still does not love Leah, so God gives her a second son.  What is his name and what does it mean?

What was the name of her third son and what does it mean?

What was the name of her fourth son and what does it mean?

How many years have they been married? 

What do you think Rachel was feeling during this time?

17. After her fourth son, Leah stopped having children.  Did Jacob ever come to love his wife Leah?

What type of relationship do you think Jacob had with his sons?

This is interesting.  Jacob received the blessing through deception.  Leah becomes Jacob’s wife through deception.  Yet, through which son does God chose to carry the promise of Abraham?

What does this mean to you?

18. How does God reveal His will so we can learn what He likes and does not?

What have you learned about families from this chapter?