Verses Used:
- Genesis 25:19-24
- Genesis 18:13-15
- Genesis 32:22-31
- Hebrews 11:21
Takeaways:
Creation: Jacob’s Origin
- God had chosen Jacob to be the continuation of the promise to Abraham and Isaac
- Jacob swindled Esau out of his birthright for a bowl of soup.
- Instead of Esau having the first born birth rights, God told Rebekah that it would be reversed and that Jacob would have it.
Fall: The Deceiver
- Jacob’s name means deceiver
- He lied because he thought it gave him power or control over situations
- Jacob didn’t need to lie to deceive his father and get a blessing. God had already told his parents that the older would serve the younger
Redemption: Wrestling Match
- Jacob will no longer be called Trickster. Heel-Grabber. His new name is Israel.
- Esau and Jacob make amends and Esau doesn’t kill Jacob like he feared.
Restoration
- Jacob finished better than he started.
- How you finish is far more important than how you started.
Discussion Questions:
- Who were some of the people in Jacob's life that were hurt by the lies? How were they affected?
- Why does lying come so easily to us? Why is it harder to tell the truth or do the right thing?
- Why do you think God stopped Jacob from running away from Esau in the middle of the night?
- Why do you think an encounter with God could change our perspective?
