Origin Stories: Jacob, the “Deceiver”
This series will explore familiar stories and people in the opening books of the Bible, asking these primary questions: What do these stories tell us about God? What do they tell us about humanity? What can we learn about our relationship with God?
1. In Genesis 28:13-15, God gives Jacob the same promise God gave Abraham and Isaac before him. Yet, as Pete said in his sermon this week, Jacob continues to take matters into his own hands instead of trusting God. Has fear (of scarcity, or of losing control perhaps) ever kept you from fully relying on God? What has been the result—more peace, or more pain?
2. Jacob “the deceiver” meets his match with Laban, his father-in-law. Laban tricks Jacob into marrying his less desirable, older daughter Leah, and staying to work for him for 14 years in order to marry Rachel. In Genesis 30:25-43, Jacob returns the favor by tricking Laban out of much of his livestock and then running away. We return to a familiar question from this series: why do you think God chooses to work though such a dysfunctional family? How and/or why does God work through our sin?
3. Read Genesis 32:22-29. This is one of the more mysterious passages in scripture. It is clear though that through this encounter, Jacob is transformed. No longer the “heel-grabber”, Jacob is re-named Israel: “one who strives with God.” Though he had been a deceiver, we may now see what God sees in Jacob—his desire and determination. God transforms Jacob so that now, Jacob may testify to God’s sovereignty. In what ways have you wrestled with God? How has God transformed you as a result?
4. Read Genesis 32:30-31. What kind of impact does wrestling with God leave? Why? Are there any ways that you, like Jacob, “walk with a limp” because of your encounters with God?
5. In Genesis 33, we see the beautiful reconciliation of the two estranged brothers, Jacob and Esau. How does coming to terms with God, like Jacob does in the previous chapter, make room for reconciliation between these brothers? How does Esau model the forgiveness of God? Finally, “wrestle” with this: why do you think Jacob still chooses to go a different direction than Esau (verses 15-17)?
6. As we move on from Jacob and close our series on Genesis next week with his most famous son, Joseph, discuss how we can allow the tumultuous life of Jacob to provide inspiration and maybe reassurance for us, and grace for others. Thinking about this quote may help: “to love a person is to love a process.”
