amshum

Welcome to the Soul Cysters Bible Study Group!


Week 5: 7/18 thru 7/24
Genesis Chapter 26 - 35
Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Esau
Click here to review the complete syllabus.

Please read the above chapters of Genesis. To discuss the reading with your fellow cysters, please reply to THIS thread only to post your comments, interpretation, etc.

If you would like, you may read the NIV Rainbow Study Bible Outline for Genesis by CLICKING HERE.

I must stress again, this will not be allowed to turn into a debate forum. This is for all of us to learn and study together.

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As far as the syllabus... I welcome any suggestions for the next book, Exodus. I know that some of you are reading ahead, but please keep in mind that there are lots of people who have joined this group and some aren't able to keep a fast pace because of work, school, family, etc. and I wanted to try to move a little slow thru the first book because of this. Feel free to read ahead, and take notes as you go along, so that when those discussion threads are posted, you have yours ready to post. Thank you all for your understanding regarding this.

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amshum

Hi ya'll,

I realize I'm late, but where's everyone else? I hope I'm not alone from here on out. I hope to see some other posts, as the discussions up until now have been fantastic.

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My thoughts:

Genesis Chapter 26: It seems a very popular way of escaping potential death was to lie and say your wife is actually your sister. Its just kind of hard for me to stomach how easy it was for these men to put their wives up to save themselves.

Genesis Chapter 27: So, I'm a little confused by a couple of things. Back in 25:29-34 Esau sold his birthright to Jacob. So why is it in this chapter Rebekah (Jacob and Esau's mother) helped Jacob deceive his father into believing that he was actually Esau, in order to get Esau's blessing and birthright. I thought that deal had already been made over some stew. Perhaps I'm just not understanding...

Also, I suppose Rebekah favored her youngest son Jacob and that's why she was so willing to help him deceive his father?

And so Jacob flees at the urgent request of his mother because he betrayed his brother and father, and his brother has the intent to kill him.

Genesis Chapter 28: And so Jacob is blessed again by Isaac. On his journey, he has a dream. I found this helpful: Genesis Chapter 29: When I read that Jacob didn't want Leah because she wasn't as attractive as her younger sister Rachel, it made me wonder why. All the versions I have read was something regarding her eyes, and so I found this:It just goes to show you the different versions of the translation. Pale and weak eyes from KJV and the NIV, and The Message says Leah had "nice eyes". So from what I get, he instantaneously love Rachel because he was more attracted to her the Leah.

At any rate, so he works his tail off for seven years to get Rachel, but her father sneaks Leah into his bed. I for one would think you'd know who you're sleeping with, but I digress... So Jacob is deceived as he once deceived. What goes around comes around? And he has to continue to work another seven years to gain his real love Rachel. 14 years of work... for two wives... who are sisters... Oy!

Genesis Chapter 30: And so its the battle of which sister can pop out the most children! Talk about sibling rivalry! And again we see the use of their maids as surrogate mothers. Isn't it bad enough you share your hubby with your sister, but now you're telling him to sleep with your maid? Sheesh.

So after Jacob works all this time for Laban (Rachel and Leah's father), he doesn't want Jacob to leave with his daughters. And after Laban's sheep scheme doesn't work... Jacob flees again.

Genesis Chapter 31: Jacob tells his wives to pack their bags cause they're outta there! Unbeknownst to Jacob, Rachel stole the "household idols" KJV - "household gods" - NIV from her father's home. Does this mean a false God? Were they worshiping idols instead of God?

And so when Laban catches up the them, he accuses them of stealing. Jacob allows him to search and he comes up with nothing because Rachel is literally sitting on her stolen "gods"/"idols". She asks her father to please allow her to continue sitting because AF was visiting. Haha!

And when Laban finds nothing, Jacob gets hopping mad! He and Laban finally make a covenant before God calling a truce. And a figurative line is drawn in the sand.

Genesis Chapter 32: Jacob is on his way home, and terrified of what Esau would do. After all, he feels cheated out of his birthright, right? So he sends him gifts to soften the blow of his return home.

I love the story of Jacob's wrestle with God the night before he was to meet his brother. I find myself wrestling with God and my faith all the time, so that story hits home with me. I just hope he doesn't have to knock my hip outta joint before I gain the lesson...

I found this very interesting regarding Jacob's name change: Genesis Chapter 33: And so the brothers are reunited...Genesis Chapter 34: So Dinah (Leah and Jacob's daughter) is raped by Shechem, her brothers are very angry.. and rightly so! Shechem expresses love for Dinah *after* he rapes her and wants to take her for his wife. How horrible would that be to have to marry your rapist? Well, after Dinah is given over, two of Jacob's sons massacre all the males and lute the city. I understand being upset and getting your sister back, but whoa... Why the whole city?

Genesis Chapter 35: And so again Jacob and his family have to go... But God protects them from any retaliation surrounding cities may plan on for the deaths cause by the sons. And God again names Jacob Israel...

Rachel dies in childbirth. Just as she drew her last breath, she named her newly born son "Son of my Sorrow". I can't blame Jacob for renaming his child "Son of my right hand". I'm sure growing up with a name assigned to his mother's passing would've caused him great anguish for the rest of his life.

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Alrighty... Thanks for reading my thoughts for this week's discussions. Sorry I was late but I am having some problems with my medications which has caused me lots of problems. I'm behind with *everything*, but I've been to the doctor and we're getting all of that worked out. I hope that these discussions will continue. Please post soon!