Lesson 12 – Jacob’s Family

Through Jacob’s family, God brought forth the Savior, Jesus Christ, who endured lies, deception, and the schemes of sinful mankind to work our salvation on the cross.

Opening

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

This lesson will use the Bible, the Bible Exploration Guide and the Lesson 12 Leaflet from the Student Pack. The front cover shows how the artist sees Jacob meeting one of his relatives. Also paper and pencil will be needed.

This lesson is about Jacob, the large family God gave him and God's work in Jacob's life

Prayer:  Lord God, You made us part of Your big family through Holy Baptism and faith You gave us in Christ, our Savior. Give us patience and kindness as we learn and grow together in Your family. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

God Speaks

Jacob was his mom's favorite. Isaac loved Esau best. Esau gave Jacob his first-born birthright (an extra share of the family wealth, designation as family leader, Worship leader, and carrier of the messianic promises) fora bowl of soup.

Rebekah and Jacob conspired to get sickly Isaac to give Jacob the blessing Isaac had intended for Esau. Esau ended up with leftovers, and he felt angry enough to want to kill Jacob. Hearing this news, Rebekah helped Jacob run away to her brother Laban, telling Isaac she wanted Jacob to marry a wife from their people.

Read Genesis 29:1-12.

By himself, Jacob moved the heavy rock covering the well. What does this tell you about him? Jacob was excited to meet a family member (cousin) and have his journey come to an end. He may have experienced an adrenaline rush, which allowed him to remove the well cover that usually took many people to move.

Think about a time you met some relatives for the first time. How did you feel about meeting them? Did you feel excited? Nervous? Why?

On page 2 of the leaflet, read directions and chose a person to draw or write about.

Read Genesis 29:13-30 verses.

You may remember that Jacob's name means "he cheats" or "he takes by the heel" because he came out of the womb holding his brother Esau's foot. How did he live up to his name? Jacob and Esau always seemed to struggle in their relationship. Jacob tricked Esau out of his birthright. Some say he stole it; others say Esau gave it away. Both may be true. Jacob and Rachel also deceived Isaac and stole Esau's firstborn blessing.

What did Laban say when he met Jacob and heard his story (v. 14)? "Surely you are my bone and my flesh!"

What do you think Laban meant when he said this? Laban obviously saw something in Jacob that reminded him of himself. It may have been their propensity to cheat and deceive, as Laban was an all-star deceiver.

How did Laban cheat Jacob? Laban made Jacob work seven years to marry his daughter Rachel, but substituted Leah, the older and less-attractive sister, at the wedding. Layers of veils, similar sister appearances, darkness, Leah's deceptions, and drinking may have prevented Jacob from recognizing his bride.

What did Jacob do when he realized he had married Leah? Jacob confronted Laban.

How did Laban justify his deception? He said that their customs said the older daughter has to marry first. He lied or misrepresented the situation.

How did they resolve their conflict? After the week-long wedding feast, Laban gave Rachel to Jacob as a wife, but he had to work seven more years. Jacob could have rejected Leah, but he kept her as a wife and refused to humiliate her.

The custom required a groom to pay a bride price to the bride's family as sign of the covenant, as reimbursement for losing a worker, and as prepaid alimony in case the husband left his wife. In this case, Jacob paid the price for two brides with years of work.

God allowed Jacob to have two wives, but God does not approve of everything He tolerates.  These decisions brought many negative consequences for the family, but God used the situation to bring about His purposes. From Jacob's children, the twelve tribes of Israel resulted and Jesus, the Messiah, was born.

How ironic that Jacob the cheater and deceiver became deceived. Sin was at work in this family and their relationships. Still, the Lord worked through these situations to bring good from them, just as He does today.

How do you think it worked for two sisters to marry the same man, especially when he loved one more than the other?

Continue with A growing family on page 3 of the leaflet.

Read Genesis 29:31-30:24.

Then add her son's names underneath the name of their mother.

Leah

 1. Reuben, "See, a son!"

 2. Simeon, "heard"

 3. Levi, "attached"

 4. Judah, 'praise"

 9. Issachar, "wages, hire"

 10. Zebulun, "honor"

 Dinah, a daughter

 Zilpah (Leah's maid)

 7. Gad, "good fortune"

 8. Asher, "happy"

Rachel

 11. Joseph, "may he add"

 12. Benjamin, "son of the right hand"

 Bilhah (Rachel's maid)

 5. Dan, "judged"

 6. Naphtali, "wrestling"

Benjamin was born later to Rachel, but sadly, Rachel died while giving birth to him.

Once more, sin erupted into deceit, anger, hated, and unhealthy rivalry. What personal beliefs and attitudes seem to motivate this family? The Bible says Leah was hated (Genesis 29:31); Rachel was Jacob's favorite. Leah desperately sought Jacobs’s affection and hoped to get it by giving him children. The sisters competed with bickering and bitterness for Jacob's attention and by having children. They involved their maids in the conflict so they could count their children as their own. And they gave their children names that jabbed at their sibling.

How did God use this group of sinners to do His work in the world? God used the situation to bring about His purposes. Jacob's sons became eleven of the twelve tribes of Israel. God set the third son, Levi, and his descendants aside to serve Him as priests in the tabernacle and later in the temple. Joseph's two sons became separate tribes. From these people, through the family of Judah, God brought His Son into the world.

God's Son, Jesus, took flesh and was born in Bethlehem. Although He never sinned, Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins and reconcile us to God the Father. Through Jesus, we receive redemption and the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7). Jesus rose from the dead to give us a new life, and because He rose, we too will rise from the dead.

We Live

Read "The Twelve Tribes of Israel" and "The Twelve Sons of Jacob (Israel)" on pages 27-29 of the Bible Exploration Guide.

Read Meaning 4 of the First Article of the Apostles' Creed from Luther's Small Catechism  on page 4 of the leaflet.

Closing

What gifts does God give you and your family in good and bad times? They include God's spiritual blessings, such as forgiveness of sin, faith, and peace. also  material goods, such as a home, food, and clothing.

As a closing prayer, listen to the video "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow".