Genesis: Week 45

Sunday, June 8, 2025

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

Read Genesis 29:1-30 

Genesis 29:1-30  

LAUNCHING QUESTION

After gathering together on Sunday morning (through prayers, worship in song, interaction with others, listening to the sermon, participating in Sunday School class, etc.), in what ways were we helped to wholeheartedly follow Jesus Christ by knowing Him and making Him known? How can the main idea of the message help equip us in this mission?


Main Idea: God works His perfect plan in all things even when it’s hard to see.

Three Questions - From Genesis 29:1-30

  1. What does this passage teach us historically?

    1. Pastor Jason saw the message organized in three scenes - Encounter Place (vv.1-12), Favorable Plan (vv.13-20), and Corrective Problem (vv.21-30)

    2. What expectations does Jacob have as he arrives in Haran? Pastor Jason talked about customs and social structure from Jacob’s interaction with the shepherds and Laban’s household. What are a couple examples of these customs that you see in vv.1-30? 

    3. How would you describe Jacob’s personality and intentions in vv.1-30? Impulsive? Deceptive? Strategic? Sincere? What were some clues Pastor Jason gave us that helped describe Jacob? 

    4. How does Jacob’s life in this passage mirror earlier events in his life (think: Esau and Isaac)? What did Pastor Jason mean by “Jacob got Jacobed”? How did God allowing Jacob to be deceived contribute to the storyline?

  2. What does this passage teach us theologically?

    1. What role does God play in vv.1-30? Pastor Jason mentioned the importance of the word “behold” used in vv. 2, 7, 22. What was Jason’s (and the text’s point)? How does divine providence unfold in this passage?  How does this passage demonstrate the idea that God uses flawed people and messy situations to fulfill His perfect plan?

  3. What does this passage teach us practically?

    1. Pastor Jason brought the message home by using the repeated word “behold” (things we need to see/pay attention to).  He mentioned three expressions of God’s work in Jacob’s life (and in our lives). What work of God are we to see: 

      • In the times when our expectations were overturned? When you were disappointed over outcomes, how did you respond? Angry? Doubting? Hopeful? Indifferent? How can this passage form our hearts into expectations of hope and even joy when we don’t “get what we want”? 

      • In the times when we enjoyed favorable outcomes? When things are going well, Do we have self-congratulating feelings and expressions? Are our hearts poised to experience God-gratitude? Jacob cried when he stepped into God’s work (v11). What condition was his heart in when he cried over Rachel? How can this scene help us to see God accurately and penetrate our own hearts practically? When was the last time you cried over favorable outcomes? How can you pray for one another to have such a tender heart toward God? 

      • In the times when we experienced corrective problems? Look up and read Hebrews 12:5-11. What is God up to when our experiences seem unjust or out of His control? How will we encourage each other as we experience temptations to read God’s providence in an unbiblical way?         

                                                                                                

Passages to memorize and meditate upon

Proverbs 16:9; Psalm 139:16; Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:28, 32; Isaiah 64:4; Lamentations 3:20-23; Genesis 50:20; Romans 12:10


PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER ~ Psalm 119:18, 71