TEXT: Genesis 29:1 – 30:43, KJV

Key Verse: “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.” Genesis 32:10, KJV

“When I left here and crossed the Jordan I only had the clothes on my back, and now look at me—two camps!  Genesis 32:10, MSG

Introduction:

Youth Focus this week: Learning the first 10 books of the Bible

Torah	Genesis – Deuteronomy	Torah
Nevim	Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai Zechariah, Malachi	The Prophets
Ketuvim	Job – Chronicles	The Writings

Previous Points:

1. God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit created man, the highest earthly species in His own image and For specific Purpose
2. Man’s purposes on earth are to, Reproduce (Gen 1:28), Replenish (1:28) to Be Responsible (1:28) and Responsive (1:29 Behold – 2:17)
3. Angels are also created beings capable of love, logic and liberty
4. Lucifer, once a gifted Angel was removed from Heaven and has become the enemy of God known as satan or the devil
5. Satan only has one power….. to convince us that we have none which he does by tempting us to sin through 3 tricks: Lust of Flesh, Lust of Eyes and Pride of Life!
6. God has given man the power to resist sin with love, logic and liberty!
7. CR: Job 2:3 The Hebrew Word: Chazaq (khaw-zek) means to grow firm inculcating that God will often teach us life lessons through curriculums we may not like.

THREE PRIMARY LESSONS WE LEARN FROM STUDYING GENESIS

• God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit created everything in this world For Purpose!
• Man has been given Love, Logic and LibertyI
• Holding to Gods unchanging Hand through hard times is the harbinger of Biblical Christianity

Chapter 23 Abrahams Wife Sarah dies & they bury her in the land of Canaan                                                              Chapter 24 Abraham sends a servant to find Isaac a wife that wasn’t from Canaan                                                     Chapter 25-26 Abraham dies                                                                                                                                                Chapter 27 Issac gives the blessing to Jacob instead of Esau                                                                             Chapter 28 Jacob leaves home and heads to his Uncle Laban’s but sees a ladder on the way                                                                                                                                                             

“14 Growing Pains of Gods People”

Chapter 29 

¹ Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

Name Jacob means Con-Man And he’s headed to see Laban which means pure

In the next chapter we will see that Jacob isn’t a con-man and Laban definitely isn’t pure

• Growing Gods way requires Change (not to infer one isn’t Saved but that one is not successful in love, joy and peace CR: Rom 14:17)

² And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth.

³ And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in his place.

⁴ And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

⁵ And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

Laban is Issacs mother Rebekahs brother: Isaacs Uncle! 

According to the text he doesn’t know where he’s going or what Laban looks like

iow- Just go that way and the Lord will lead you

• Growing Gods way requires walking in one direction (GPS doesn’t keep us from getting lost it keeps us from staying lost)

⁶ And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter [Laban’s daughter] cometh with the sheep.

⁷ And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.

⁸ And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.

Issac tries to tell them how sheep or fed in his country/culture but they clap back

• Growing Gods Way requires resistance to anything that compromises Christian Culture

⁹ And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep; for she kept them.

Name Rachel means “Ewe” which is Lamb; used 4X in Old Testament=Beautiful, Baby, Pure

We know from Chap 31:1 that Jacob had sons

Why is the beautiful baby girl of a rich man doing the nasty job of tending sheep?

Its Not because she HAS TO but because She Wants TO! She’s Volunteering

• Growing Gods Way requires self-less & sacrificial service.

¹⁰ And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.

¹¹ And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

¹² And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father.

¹³ And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.

¹⁴ And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

¹⁵ And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

Issac works an entire month before he asks for money

• Growing Gods Way involves us giving, more than we take away

¹⁶ And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

¹⁷ Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

¹⁸ And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

¹⁹ And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

²⁰ And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

• Growing Gods Way includes working while we’re waiting

²¹ And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

²² And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

²³ And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

²⁴ And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

²⁵ And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold [LOOK] , it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

• Growing Gods Way informs us that all things are working for our good no matter how BAD they look at the time

²⁶ And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

²⁷ Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

²⁸ And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

After seven years and one week, Isaac finally gets Rachel as his wife then works seven more years

• Growing Gods Way often includes being hurt the worst by those you’ve helped the most          

Wife says, you’re too non-chalant and cold  & as one who lacks feelings

CR: Ps 18:2,NIV

²⁹ And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

³⁰ And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

³¹ And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

• Growing Gods Way realizes that God don’t like Ugly

Every person on the face of this earth deserves to be treated with dignity

³² And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

³³ And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.

³⁴ And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.

³⁵ And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

Leah	Zilpah	Rachel	Bilhah
Reuben
Simeon
Levi
Judah

Chapter 30 

¹And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

• Growing Gods Way involves learning to Shouting on the Sidelines

-Remain faithful

-Rejoice fervently 

-Resist foolishness (jealousy)

-Remain fruitless

² And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

³ And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

⁴ And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

⁵ And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.

⁶ And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.

⁷ And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.

⁸ And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

Leah	Zilpah	Rachel	Bilhah
Reuben			Dan
Simeon			Naphtali
Levi
Judah

⁹ When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.

¹⁰ And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a son.

¹¹ And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.

¹² And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a second son.

¹³ And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

Leah	Zilpah	Rachel	Bilhah
Reuben	Gad		Dan
Simeon	Asher		Naphtali
Levi
Judah

¹⁴ And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son’s mandrakes.

¹⁵ And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son’s mandrakes.

¹⁶ And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son’s mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.

¹⁷ And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.

¹⁸ And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

¹⁹ And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.

²⁰ And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

²¹ And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.

Leah	Zilpah	Rachel	Bilhah
Reuben	Gad		Dan
Simeon	Asher		Naphtali
Levi
Judah
Issachar
Zebulun
Dinah

²² And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

²³ And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:

²⁴ And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.

Leah	Zilpah	Rachel	Bilhah
Reuben	Gad		Dan
Simeon	Asher		Naphtali
Levi
Judah
Issachar
Zebulun
Dinah
		Joseph

²⁵ And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.

²⁶ Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.

²⁷ And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake.

²⁸ And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.

²⁹ And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.

³⁰ For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the Lord hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?

• Growing Gods Way involves Following Well before Leading Well

Con-Men curse people they don’t Bless them

• Growing Gods Way realizes an identity through following that wouldn’t have been identified otherwise

³¹ And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock.

Why did Laban want to give Jacob something so bad?

• Growing Gods Way is to want wisdom over worldly goods  

³² I will pass through all thy flock today, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.

All speckled, spotted & brown sheep and goats were given to Jacob

³³ So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.

³⁴ And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.

³⁵ And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.

³⁶ And he set three days’ journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.

Laban’s sons took care of Jacobs speckled, spotted and brown cattle

Jacob took care of Labans cattle

• Growing Gods Way involves sleeping while God is driving

³⁷ And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.

³⁸ And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.

³⁹ And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.

⁴⁰ And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban’s cattle.

⁴¹ And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.

⁴² But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s.

⁴³ And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

• Growing Gods Way is to be Saved and Successful in every area of life

Leah	Zilpah	Rachel	Bilhah
Reuben	Gad		Dan
Simeon	Asher		Naphtali
Levi
Judah
Issachar
Zebulun
Dinah
		Joseph

ILLUSTRATION:                                                           

FOR FURTHER STUDY:

CONCLUSION:                                                                                                                                        

PRAYER LIST:     

QUESTIONS?  

HOMEWORK:    Learn names of all 12 sons of Jacob