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PENTATEUCH

LECTURE 9

ISAAC AND JACOB - (GENESIS 25:12-37:1)

Students will be able to

1. describe events and lives of Isaac and Jacob.

2. explain how the Abrahamic covenant was carried between generations.

Content of Lecture

VIII. The Account (Toledoth) of Ishmael (Gen. 25:12-25:18)

This passage briefly tells of Ishmael's descendants who settled in what is now Saudi Arabia. They lived in conflict with their neighbors (brothers) according verse 18.

IX. The Account (Toledoth) of Isaac and Jacob (Gen. 25:19-35:29)

A. Esau Sold His Birthright (Gen. 25:19-25:34) (TN#1)

Esau was more concerned for his own immediate physical needs than for his birthright or the covenant.

B. The Covenant Passed to Isaac (Gen. 26:1-26:35)

Isaac served as a transition figure between Abraham and Jacob. Isaac lived longer than any other patriarch, but less is written about him. He still stands as one of the great figures of the Old Testament.

C. Jacob Received the Blessing From Isaac (Gen. 27:1-28:9)

Jacob means "deceiver" or "one who grabs." Jacob lived the first part of his life in a selfish way----deceiving Esau out of his birthright and blessing. (TN#2) He walked without regard to God's leadership. (DQ#3)

D. The Covenant Passed to Jacob (Gen. 28:10-28:22)

As in the lives of all the patriarchs, God personally confirmed the covenant. In Jacob's case, it was through a dream. He named the place of his dream, Bethel ("house of God). (DQ#4)

E. Jacob Married (Gen. 29:1-31:55)

1. Rebekah sent Jacob to Paddan-Aram to keep him from marrying any Canaanite women (as his brother did).

2. Jacob was deceived into marrying Leah after working 7 years for her father, Laban.

3. Jacob married Rachel after working an additional 7 years for Laban.

4. The 12 sons of Jacob:

   
Mother Son
Zilpah (Leah's servant) Gad
  Asher
Leah Reuben (oldest)
  Simeon
  Levi
  Judah
  Issachar
  Zebulun
Bilhah (Rachel's servant) Dan
  Naphtali
Rachel Joseph
  Benjamin (youngest)

The descendants of Jacob's sons became the twelve tribes of Israel. (TN#5)

F. Jacob Became Israel (Gen. 32:1-37:1)

Jacob wrestled with God (Gen. 32:22-32) prior to his encounter with Esau, symbolizing his lifelong struggle with God. Jacob receives a blessing from God.

Jacob's name was changed to Israel which means: "one who struggles with God and prevails. (DQ#6)

ASSIGNMENT

Read Genesis 37:2-50:26 and identify the formative events of Joseph's life. What were the strengths and weaknesses of his early life? What are the most important lessons which one can learn from Joseph's story?

Discussion Questions:

#3 Why would God choose to work through the second born rather than the first born son of Isaac?

#4 How can God bless someone like Jacob who received the blessing and birthright by means of manipulation and dishonesty? How do you feel about God using dishonest people?

#6 How is the meaning of Israel's name descriptive of the nation's history? Could the account of Jacob's struggle at Jabbock be used to suggest that if people struggle long enough with God they will get what they want? Or that in one's struggle with God, people will be changed?

 

Teacher' Notes:

#1 The birthright consisted of the privileges of the oldest son, including leadership of the family, prestige and a double portion of the family inheritance (Deut. 21:15-17).

#2 A blessing was a legally binding bequest to a son often made on the father's deathbed. The blessing had both legal and spiritual meaning in the oriental world. (summarized from The NIV Study Bible, 46-47)

#5 The twelve tribes of Israel:

  1. Reuben
  2. Simeon
  3. Judah
  4. Issachar
  5. Zebulun
  6. Gad
  7. Asher
  8. Dan
  9. Naphtali
  10. Ephraim (son of Joseph)
  11. Manasseh (son of Joseph)
  12. Benjamin
  13. (Levi became the priestly line, but was not allocated any land.)

The favoritism of Jacob is displayed in his adoption and blessing of Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manesseh (Gen. 47:27-48:22).

Resources:

 

Credits and Copyright This online text book is provided by the Division of Student Ministry of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, 333 N. Washington Dallas, Texas 75246-1798 214.828.5100 Use the text to meet your academic needs. If you copy any part of this online text, please give credit to the Division of Student Ministry of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Any donations which you give will be used in the Division of Student Ministry Summer Missions Programs.

Credits and Copyright This online text book is provided by the Division of Student Ministry of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, 333 N. Washington Dallas, Texas 75246-1798 214.828.5100 Use the text to meet your academic needs. If you copy any part of this online text, please give credit to the Division of Student Ministry of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Any donations which you give will be used in the Division of Student Ministry Summer Missions Programs.