But his family grows, and so does his wealth. Clever as Laban is, Jacob is more clever. He gradually builds a small fortune; and while it is the result of his own ingenuity and hard work, it can also be said that he would never have had the opportunity if it had not been for his father-in-law. Above all, Jacob enjoys the favor and blessing of God. And while his pursuit of God’s purposes is sometimes misguided, it is to Jacob’s credit that he never loses sight of what is best.
PRAYER: Help me this day to keep my eyes fixed on your will, O Lord, that my life may fulfill your purposes; to your glory. Amen.
Make a list of similar characteristics you observe in Laban and Jacob.
| GENESIS 31–33 | Week 3, Day 2 |
Almost all of us have some unfinished business in our lives, and the sooner we deal with it, the better off we’ll be. Jacob had more than his share. These chapters report his handling of each matter.
First, there’s his father-in-law, Laban. When Jacob sensed that trouble was brewing with his brothers-in-law, he fled the territory, but Laban soon caught up with him. In truth, both Jacob and Laban had poor records, and they settled matters in a rather tentative way, a truce of suspicion.
Chapter 32 records the story of Jacob’s encounter with God, but it begins with Jacob’s unfinished business with his brother, Esau. Over twenty years have gone by since Jacob defrauded him and since Esau vowed murderous revenge. Jacob apparently wants to make things right; but when he sends emissaries ahead, he learns that Esau is coming to meet him with four hundred men.
Jacob organizes a diplomatic mission, but he is not at peace. That night he separates himself from every living person, only to find himself confronted by a Stranger.
Jacob and the Stranger wrestle through the night until at last Jacob wins by giving up. The Stranger gives Jacob a new name, Israel, the name that will ever after be that of his people.
Who was the Stranger? Centuries later Charles Wesley, putting himself in Jacob’s place, said, “ ’Tis Love! ’tis Love! Thou diedst for me.” We aren’t surprised that Jacob’s meeting the next day with Esau was successful. Having done business with God, he was ready to meet his brother.
PRAYER: Conquer my soul, O God, till I know your name is Love. Amen.
What connection do you see between Jacob’s apprehension at the coming meeting with his brother Esau and his experience with the Divine Stranger?
| GENESIS 34–36; PSALM 20 | Week 3, Day 3 |
If you believe that the Bible is the story of God’s dealings with our human race, as I do, you may wonder why Chapter 34 is included. It is a primitive story, full of violence. It makes clear, however, that Israel was already committed to a higher level of sexual morality than the other nations, and that at least to a degree, there was more respect for women.
But it’s also clear that they expressed their convictions in crude fashion, leaving Jacob in a perilous position. In this crisis Jacob returns to Bethel, with instructions to build an altar. It is as if the bad prospects were forcing him to re-examine his past, remembering his two major encounters with God, and to renew his vows. He remembers that God sustained him in other difficult times, and he turns to God again. It’s good to be able to call back some experiences of mercy to carry one through a current crisis.
Now Benjamin is born, and the family of Israel is complete. Here are the twelve tribes around which the nation’s history will revolve for centuries.
The long list of Esau’s family, constituting the nation of Edom, is not our favorite form of reading, but Genesis considers it essential to the story. As time goes by, the Edomites will appear again and again, generally in strife with Israel. So although Esau and Jacob are at peace (35:29), their descendants will dwell with the sword.
PRAYER: Grant me the grace, I pray, to hold deep convictions with a kindly spirit; to your praise. Amen.
What significance do you find in Jacob’s being called, at this point in his life, to build an altar at Bethel?
| GENESIS 37–38; PSALM 21 | Week 3, Day 4 |
We human beings are a complex lot, and we weave strands of life that continually entangle us. Jacob was inclined, it seems, to love much but not wisely; so even as he had loved Rachel to Leah’s hurt, now he loves Rachel’s son Joseph to the resentment of his siblings and to Joseph’s own pain.
And Joseph, though very bright, is nevertheless not tactful enough to handle his dreams and his ambitions well. The smoldering resentment grows into disaster, and the teenager is sold into slavery. Jacob thus pays dearly for his favoritism. He will spend the next long years of his life mourning the son he thinks is dead, while in truth that son is preparing the way for his family’s well-being. Probably much of our mourning comes from our ignorance. If we knew better how faithfully God is working behind the scenes, we would have more peace.
Not only does God work behind the scenes, but also the divine hand reworks many of our misshapen doings. So it is in the story of Judah and Tamar. Again, the story is told with candor; feelings and reputations are not protected. Judah denies his daughter-in-law the protection of the laws that were intended to provide for women, and Tamar uses a clever plan to make her case. Not much can be said for Judah’s conduct, but at least this: He acknowledged his sin (38:26). The end of the story—God at work behind the scenes—comes in the Gospel of Matthew, when we discover that out of this incestuous relationship came a child who is in the line of the Messiah, our Lord Christ (Matthew 1:3).
PRAYER: Give me the faith to see you at work, O God, even in our human sins and shortcomings; in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Putting yourself in Jacob’s place, list the positive qualities you see in Joseph. Now, putting yourself in the places of Joseph’s brothers, list the negative qualities you find in him.
| GENESIS 39–40; PSALM 22 | Week 3, Day 5 |
Joseph the dreamer must now see his dreams broken and delayed. At first all goes well: “The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man” (39:2). But his very success and his being “handsome and goodlooking” make him attractive to Potiphar’s wife. Joseph is admirable in resisting her enticing, and his reasons are admirable. He feels a debt to his master and he knows that if he were to lie with his mistress it would be a “sin against God” (39:8-9). He has obligations to both God and society, and he means to fulfill them.
But in doing so he loses his position and, even worse, is thrown into prison. Doing what is right does not necessarily bring immediate reward. Perhaps not even on this earth, else what’s a heaven for? Even in prison Joseph’s character and God’s blessing combine for achievement; he is soon as trusted there as he was in Potiphar’s house. A wise writer will say later that if people’s ways please the Lord, even their enemies will be at peace with them (Proverbs 16:7). Joseph seems to demonstrate the point, and when the opportunity comes to exercise his gift of insight