Passages:- https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+30%3A25-43&version=ESV, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+31%3A1-42&version=ESV
Discussion Questions with suggested answers:-
- Reflect on how Jacob’s life has changed (What he was before - a great deceiver?, etc (Genesis 25, 27) and what he is now (Genesis 30:25 - Genesis 31)). What was God’s role in it and what was Jacob’s role in it? In general, connect it to how a life transforms after a person becomes Christian.
- We have seen in Genesis 25 that Jacob would rather have his own brother dead so that he can have birthright. And in Genesis 27 he deceived greatly his own father & brother, even blasphemed by lying the name of God (Genesis 27:20). Such was the great wickedness that lay in him. From there, read how his life changed from:- Genesis 30:33: "So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come to look into my wages with you. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, shall be counted stolen” " Genesis 31:36-42 “What is my offense? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me?37 For you have felt through all my goods; what have you found of all your household goods? ... 38 These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, and I have not eaten the rams of your flocks. 39 What was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it myself. From my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.40 There I was: by day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. 41 These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. … God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night.”
- Jacob on his part worked very hard with great integrity and work-ethics (Genesis 31:36-42), during his time at Laban’s place as his employee. And in the process, God blessed him and protected him (Genesis 31:5-9, 31:42).
- God used treacherous Laban to discipline & transform Jacob.
- So clearly, Jacob has been a work in progress, and his inner character has transformed greatly (from a great deceiver to a man of integrity) in his time at Laban’s workplace. "Talking of repentance". Likewise, when a person becomes a Christian, he/she will be challenged to grow and transform, with Jesus as a role model. Prior to becoming a Christian, a person may have a very “shady” past (i.e., the thief on the cross - Luke 23:39-43). But, again, God gives second chances to all, and we all are work in progress, since the day we become a Christian. The goal for all Christians is to become Christ-like.
- Did Esau’s life also transform for good? If not, then is that why God choose Jacob over Esau as Isaac’s successor (Genesis 29)?
- What “work-place” challenges did Jacob face and how did he overcome them? Do you see similar challenges at your own “work-place”? (i.e., "crazy" boss, adversities, feeling stuck, bearing fruits, trusting God, depending on God - (Yes, Jacob felt it all))
- Jacob must have felt “stuck” forever at Laban’s workplace. After more than fourteen years (many of which was because of Laban’s treachery), when he expressed his desire to leave (Genesis 30:25), Laban would still try to keep him back.
- Jacob's "boss" Laban tried to thwart Jacob’s prosperity and growth. When Jacob made a deal with Laban, that "every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb and every spotted or speckled goat" (Genesis 30:32) will be his wages, Laban tricked him by attempting to ensure he won't have them - Genesis 30:35-36 ("That same day he removed all the male goats that were streaked or spotted, and all the speckled or spotted female goats (all that had white on them) and all the dark-colored lambs, and he placed them in the care of his sons. Then he put a three-day journey between himself and Jacob, while Jacob continued to tend the rest of Laban’s flocks.").
- Laban’s son tried to create great trouble for Jacob (Genesis 31:1), via false accusations. All this despite of the fact that Jacob displayed great integrity and work-ethics at Laban’s workplace (Genesis 31:36-42)
- In the process Jacob must have learned to counter all the adversities by trusting God and depending on Him and His ways. He worked hard & worked smart. And God protected & rewarded him, in the process.
- How was God glorified through Jacob’s works / work-ethics?
- God was glorified by Jacob’s display of great integrity and honest work-ethics at Laban’s workplace, as per Genesis 31:36-42
- All this lifted up God’s name in Laban’s neighborhood, as people there saw that it was God who blessed Jacob and Laban through Jacob (Genesis 30:27). So Jacob was a great witness for the Lord, at his workplace - something we must learn for our own spiritual lives.
- How did adversities at Jacob’s workplace led to his prosperity? (v 43)
- Reflect on Jacob’s work-place ethics (Like earlier, was he still deceptive?)
- He trusted and depended on God and His ways (Genesis 30:33, Genesis 31:36-42). Like earlier with is dealings with Esau (Genesis 25, 27), here he did not seem to be deceptively taking things in his own hands.
- What all do we learn about God’s sovereignty from Genesis 29 - Genesis 31
- Laban tricked Jacob into working with him for many years (Genesis 29 - 31), and God allowed that. However, when God decided it was time for Jacob to leave, Laban could not stop Jacob (Genesis 31). So, even though it may have seemed that Laban tricked poor Jacob into working for him for many years, God was the one who was actually in full control all the way along. Jacob was released from Laban, in God's perfect timing.
MISC
- Note how Rachel invited trouble in two ways:-
- Stole (idols) from Laban's house (Genesis 31:19), and then lied to Laban (Genesis 31:35)
- Brought IDOLS (which God hates, and invites troubles) along with Jacob and all