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Lesson 36

Judah and Tamar

Genesis 38

In our day of instant communication via Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and email, there is caveat to their use. We are warned that we must be careful of what we put out online for the world to see.  The problem is that once the information is sent it is out there in cyber space forever.  To think that what a person does as a teenager or worse as an adult expressing his/her anger, frustration or treatment of family will be broadcast so that even potential employers could see it which could impact them for the rest of their lives is a sobering thought.  Not only do we share way too much information but we also are bombarded with books, magazines and TV in which celebrities share the most intimate details of their lives.  Personally I would not want all of the stupid and foolish decisions that I have made available for the world to see.  I do not know why anyone would want their lives to be such an open book.  It is one thing to make yourself vulnerable and open to trusted family members and the closest of friends, but to go beyond that is bringing undue attention to oneself.  Sadly this kind of display, in my opinion, borders on narcissistic behavior.

The body of Christ is certainly not exempt from having its name sullied by the activities that go on within its walls.  We are all familiar with mistakes that church leaders and others have made that have impacted the church’s reputation and some cases actually destroyed that congregation. The tools that God has given to us to be used to glorify Him can also turn to instruments that demean His name because they are misused.  There are also outside evil forces that can take our communication and twist it to promote their own agenda.  To think that what we might say and do could affect the reputation of the Christ’s church in the minds of some should be appalling to all of us. 

Our lesson today is a perfect example of what has been mentioned above.  To think that one of the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel would have his story told down to our present day should indicate to us that God knows what we do and if it suited His purpose could expose all of us because of the decisions we have made. Because of His grace He chooses to forget our sins.  Sadly the world is not as gracious and unforgiving.  Let us not have our deeds not written out in the tabloids of this world but in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  If Judah’s life story was to end with this chapter we would not think much of him.  Thankfully for him, as is for us, there is grace and second chances. 

Genesis 38:1

Judah made a decision that would impact his life and those around him down to the present day.  He moved away from his family which had been his support group for his whole life.  Of course the reasons for his decision are not known.  The possible answer may be found in the events that had occurred in his family.  He may have moved to run away from the guilt and the constant reminder of his part in selling Joseph to the Midianites. His brothers may have blamed him for what was then happening because it had been his suggestion to sell his brother. Seeing his father’s ongoing displays of grief may have been too much for him to handle.  The last possibility may have had something to do with the struggle with Reuben to see who would become the leader of the family since the heir apparent now out of the picture.  Rather than having the conflict do any further damage to the family, he left. 

Drifting away from the security of his family, he made friends with a man named Hirah.  He was a Canaanite from the family of the Adullamites.  Judah, one of the chosen people, moved in among the pagan Canaanites. 

1. Why did Judah choose to move away from his family?
2. What part did he play in what was happening to them?
3. What do you think of the reasons shared?
4. What was the danger of making the move he did?
5. How did he violate the instructions of God?
6. Why did he not have any problem moving in among the Canannites?

Genesis 38:2-5

Once he had moved away from home it was not long before he made a second mistake that would be costly in his own life. It showed was taking place in the life of Judah. Whatever relationship he had with God, seemed to be waning or nonexistent. It also set up a chain of events that required God’s intervention.  He married a Canaanite woman the daughter of Shua.  She bore him three sons, Er (the watcher), Onan (Strength) and Shelah (He that breaks). Notice all three of the sons were named by Shua indicating that Judah had abdicated the leadership role in the family.  The boys were probably raised and influenced in their behavior by their pagan mother.

1. What kind of mistakes can one make when separated from the influence of family?
2. What consequences could the marriage to Shua have on the life of Judah and his descendents?
3. Who seems to be the dominant parent and partner in the marriage?
4. What are some the evidence that this is true?
5. Growing up in a pagan home what type of behavior could be expected of the Er, Onan and Shelah?

Genesis 38:6

Er grew into manhood and Judah decided it was time for him to take a wife. This was not something he wanted to leave to his pagan wife to do. He chose Tamar whose name means “Palm Tree” which would probably indicate that she was a woman of great beauty and character.  Since she was listed in the genealogy of Jesus found in Matthew, in all probability, her name did represent the kind of person she was.

1. Why did Judah suddenly decide to become part of his son’s life and take a son for him?
2. What does her name seem to say about Tamar?
3. Why would God allow her to be part of the ancestry of Jesus?
4. Why is it important to choose her person of good character for a wife or husband?
5. What is the qualifying characteristic that should be upper most in making this selection?

Genesis 38:7-10

Judah’s attempt to produce an heir through Er failed miserably.  The young man was so evil in the sight of God that the Scripture said that, “The Lord took his life.”  Having failed the first time he tried to force his next oldest son, Onan, to take Tamar as his wife and have children in his brother’s name.  This is called the Levirate marriage and is spelled out in the book of Deuteronomy 25:5-10. Onan refused to marry Tamar or to have children by her to keep his brother’s family name alive.  Because of his refusal he died also.

1. Why did the Lord stop Er from producing an heir for Judah?
2. Why did the Lord take the life of Er?
3. What was the reason Onan refused to follow the Levirate custom of marrying the wife of one’s brother and raising children in his name?
4. Why did Onan become the second brother to die because of his actions?

Genesis 38:11

The actions taken by Judah after the death of his two older sons indicated that he held Tamar responsible for what happened to them.  If they had not both married her they would probably still be alive.  All he wanted at that point was to get her as far away from his family as he could. Instead of having her live with his family he sent her back to her father’s home to live as a widow.  To do so meant that she was still contractually under the control of Judah.  Judah promised her that once Shelah was old enough she would be given to him as a wife. 

1. Why would Judah blame Tamar for the deaths of his two sons?
2. Why did he not see it was the judgment of God on their evil ways that brought about their death?
3. What did he hope to gain by sending her back to her father’s house?
4. Why did he promise to give Tamar to Shelah?
5. Why was she still obligated to Judah?

Genesis 38:12-14

After many years of marriage Judah’s wife the daughter of Shua died.  When he had completed the time of mourning he returned to his normal activity. Along with Hirah he went to where his sheepshearers were at Timnah. 

Tamar who had waited patiently for Judah to fulfill his promise realized that she was not going to be given to Shelah as his wife.  At that point she decided to take the matter of having children born into the family of Judah into her own hands. She heard that Judah was going up to Timnah.  She removed her widow’s clothes and covered her face with a veil to keep from being recognized.  Then she waited on the road where she knew he would be travelling.

1. What part did the death of Judah’s wife play in the narrative?
2. What could be the reason that God removed her from the scene?
3. What did Tamar come to realize about her future?
4. Why did she decide to take matters into her own hands?
5. Why did she feel it was necessary to meet Judah on the road to Timnah?

Genesis 38:15-19

Judah saw Tamar sitting by the road and concluded that she was a harlot.  She picked a spot that was not actually in the city to hide her identity and because she was there for one purpose.  She wanted to meet Judah.  When he came to where she was he did not recognize her because of the veil over her face.  He turned aside and asked if he could go into her.  Before agreeing to acting out the part of a harlot Tamar asked what she would receive.  He promised to send her a young goat.  To make sure he would not go back on his promise, she took a pledge from him consisting of his seal used for signing his name, his cord used to carry the seal about his neck, and his staff.  She may have also concluded that she just might, in the future, need them to protect her reputation.

From that sexual encounter Tamar conceived.  Immediately she returned to her father’s house and once again put on the garments worn by a widow.    

1. What did Tamar have to do to accomplish her goal?
2. Why assumption did Judah make?
3. Why did Tamar demand a pledge from Judah?
4. What was the importance of the three items he left with her?
5. What happened from their encounter?

Genesis 38:20-23

True to his word Judah used his friend to deliver the goat.  When he went to Timnah he could not find her. The men of that region were unaware that there had been a temple prostitute by the roadside. Judah’s response was that he had tried to keep his promise.  He also concluded that it was better for her to keep the pledge than for him to lose his reputation.

1. By what act did Judah show he still had some integrity?
2. Why did he use his friend to deliver the goat?
3. Why did he believe it was better to let the harlot keep the pledge than to pursue finding it?

Genesis 38:24-26

After three months Judah became aware that Tamar was expecting.  His reaction was one of feigned self-righteousness.  How could she violate her status of being a widow and sully the good name of his family.  The only recourse was to have her burned.  Fortunately for her she had possibly seen what would happen to one who had committed an act of immorality and had gotten pregnant.  The pledge she had received turned out to be her salvation.  Just at the right time she sent them to Judah to identify.  Of course he recognized them.  His words indicated that he was the guilty one by not following through with his promise to give Tamar to Shelah as his wife. 

Tamar had done what Judah should have done in providing for the means to continue his family.  In a way he became the Levirate husband for Tamar to produce his own son. After that one occurrence of immorality, Judah never had a relationship with her again.

1. What do you think of Judah’s reaction to the news of Tamar’s pregnancy?
2. In what way was he hypocritical?
3. How did Tamar’s forethought save her from being burned?
4. What do you think of Judah’s words upon seeing the evidence of his immorality?

Genesis 38:27-30

At the time when she was about to deliver the child, it was discovered that she was carrying twins.  A strange thing occurred with the two boys. It appeared that as one of the boys was about to be born a string was tied around his wrist to indicate that he was the first born.  He however withdrew his arm and his brother was born ahead of him.  One was named Zerah which means “a dawning or brightness.”  His brother was called Perez which means “breach” because he bypassed his brother and was born ahead of him.

Although it is not spelled out in the Bible it is obvious in hindsight that God had intervened in the life of Judah to make sure that the offspring that would be in the lineage of Jesus would not come from a pagan wife and children.  Perez is always listed in the genealogy of Jesus before his brother.

1. What is the significance of the red string?
2. Who was in control of the order of birth between the two twins?
3. How did God act for His glory even in the case of the sinful actions of Judah and Tamar?
4. What lessons did Judah learn from this incident?

 

• Like Hebrews 10:25 says in essence, stay attached to those who build you up, encourage you and instruct you so that you will not drift from the path of righteousness.
• Before taking any type of action consider if what you do will please God.
• Remember that although people may forget what you have done, un-repented sin will always be remembered by God.  It is only those sins for which you have asked forgiveness that will be forgotten.
• Take care when choosing the types of people with whom you make friends.
• Take responsibility for your decisions good or bad and blame others when you do those things that are sinful.
• Confess and ask forgiveness when you sin.
• Remember God can turn a bad situation into that which serves His purpose.
• Do not base your life on that truth because your actions may bring unintended consequences in the short term.

Thankfully God is in the business of forgiving each of us.  If that were not true the doors of a church might as well close.  All of us have drifted away from God, even though present in our physical bodies.  He still is all about restoration and a second chance.  Judah is a perfect example of one who turned his back on all that provided the checks on his behavior.  The Body of Christ is the place where all the Judah’s of the world can find hope and peace. 

Friendships with the church are those that provide for encouragement when needed and comfort when facing a great need.  To turn ones back on that kind of community is to open the door for making choices that can be devastating.  Let us learn from the life of Judah, a man adrift because of his part in bad decision making.  Like us he was a man who God loved and eventually would turn him into a different type of person.  Christ, through His body, can and will do the very same for us if we will but let Him.

Additional Notes:

BL- Chapter 38 outlines the shameful life of Judah.  His marriage to a Canaanite woman produces three sons, Er, Onan, and Shelah.  Er, v. 7 tells us, was wicked in God’s sight, and so the Lord puts him to death.  Judah tells Onan to lie with Er’s wife, Tamar, in order to carry on Er’s line; but Onan refuses to create an heir for his brother and the Lord kills him for his disobedience.  Judah promises Tamar that as soon as Shelah is old enough, Tamar can take him as her husband; then he sends her back to her father to wait.  However, the years pass, Shelah becomes a man, and Judah never sends for Tamar, fearing that she is a jinx who will cause him to lose his one remaining son.  The jilted Tamar then takes matters into her own hands–disguised as a temple prostitute, she lures Judah into sleeping with her and giving her his staff, cord, and seal as a pledge for future payment.  When Judah sends a friend to pay her, however, the “temple prostitute” is nowhere to be found. 

  Several months later, the unmarried Tamar’s pregnancy is obvious to everyone.  Judah demands she be burned to death for her indiscretion until Tamar produces her trump card–Judah’s staff and seal!  Caught in his adultery, Judah realizes “. . . she is more righteous than I” because she kept her promise to wait for Shelah, a promise that Judah never delivered on.  Judah leaves her in peace to have her baby.  When the time to deliver arrives, Tamar gives birth to twins, Zerah (the firstborn) and Perez.  Perez, the younger, is important because he is listed in Matthew 1:3 as one of the ancestors of Christ (as is Tamar, one of only five women in Christ’s genealogy–and a Canaanite woman at that!)

C-Judah married a Canaanite woman name Shua and had three sons by her, Er, Onan and Shelah. (Gen. 38:1-5)

C-Judah’s son Er married Tamar.  Because of the evil Er and Onan committed the Lord took their lives. (Gen. 38:6-10; 1 Chro. 2:3)

M-Man must realize that Satan is relentless in his attack. Joseph was faithful even when falsely accused. (Gen. 39:10-18)

C-Of course upon the death of his sons, Judah like any father grieved for his sons and became overly protective of his third son, Shelah. He then promised Tamar that Shelah would eventually become her husband. When Shelah had become a grown man he did not marry her. (Gen 38:11)

C-Judah’s wife Shua died. (Gen.38:12)

WM-Judah was an ungodly and immoral man.  He lacked the self-control when it came to sexual activity.  Although he had no problem with his own lifestyle, he felt he had the right to condemn Tamar to death for her supposed harlotry.  She was only trying to raise up a family for her dead husband and ultimately for Judah as provided in the Levitical Law. (Gen. 38:15-18, 24-26)

UE-God’s plans for mankind are not certainly the same as what is expected.  God had his Son born from a tribe and family of Judah whose son Perez was born out of an adulterous relationship.  (Gen. 38:14-19, 24-30)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson 35

Odd Man Out

Genesis 37

Thankfully, I have not experienced a great deal of persecution in my lifetime. The one incident that showed how a non-believer might act around a follower of Christ occurred many years ago.  At that time I was a supervisor of a manufacturing storeroom and because of my position was invited to a management gathering.  During one of the conversations that night the plant manager spoke to some of us, who were believers, in a way that indicated that he did not have much regard for us.  He indicated that rather than at the bar, which many were enjoying, our meeting place could be found at the exit. I felt at that point, as I am sure the others did also, that I was an outsider and would never really be accepted by him and others like him. 

What I have discovered is that even though others might attempt in keep me on the periphery of life my Father never will.  He loves me and has a purpose for me.  Others may not understand me but He does and is working in my life to make me more like Him.

We do live in a world that wants to exclude the church from the mainstream of life. This is especially true if we remain a body that follows faithfully the teachings of God given to us through His word.  Those teachings will always be at odds with the humanistic secular worldview.  As they are more and more convicted of their sin end results will be persecution against the church. They will in more ways than one try to point us towards the exit.

As we shall see today, in many ways Joseph was the odd man out in his own family. His faithfulness pointed to a stark contrast between his brothers and him.  The natural reactions of godless men were bound to become apparent.  Let us begin looking at one of the most important men in the Old Testament.  His story covers about twenty percent of the Book of Genesis.

We will follow him from the age of seventeen and until his death at one hundred ten.  So let us begin.

Genesis 37:1-2a

Jacob had finally returned to the land of his birth and settled down somewhere around Hebron, where is father Isaac had spent his last years. There is a transition spelled out in verse two.  A new chapter in the life of Abraham’s descendents was about to begin.  Looking ahead the writer indicates that Jacob’s family will now take center stage in history.

1. Why was it important for Jacob to finally settle down in Canaan?
2. What is the change that is about to take place to which the writer refers?
3. Who was to take center stage in the history of the nation of Israel?
4. What does this chapter indicate about the relationship of God with His people?

Genesis 37:2b

Joseph was to take front and center stage in the narrative of the Jacob’s family.  At the age of seventeen he began to learn the family business and with the sons of Jacob’s concubines Bilhah and Zilpah as they pastured the flock.  One commentator suggested that the brothers were not very reliable men and thus needed watching.  Joseph was given the responsibility to keep his father informed.  The writer does not spell out what the brothers did, but it bothered Joseph to the extent that he brought the information to his father.

1. Why does the writer indicate the age of Joseph?
2. Why did Jacob put Joseph with those particular brothers?
3. What responsibility was he given?
4. Why are we not told what the brothers did that concerned Joseph enough to tell his father?

Genesis 37:3-4

Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his older brothers.  One reason was given.  His father was much older when he was born.  The other is not shared in Scripture.  He was the son of Rachel, the wife Jacob loved more than the others.  The varicolored coat given to Joseph by Jacob showed not only his love for his son but had a greater meaning. It symbolized to the others that Jacob intended to give his son all the rights and privileges of the first born.  At some point Joseph would get the inheritance and blessing of his father.  The others would serve him as the head of the family.

Jacob’s actions did not go over well with the ten other sons.  It reached a point that they began to hate Joseph and could not even speak to him in a civil tone.  Although Joseph had no control over the preferential treatment given to him by his father, he still became the focal point of the brother’s hatred.

Beneath their outward actions there probably was a deep resentment toward their father.  The treatment and disregard for them had been building for years.  Just look back at Jacob’s previous actions regarding his family, especially when he met his brother, Esau.  They could not lash out at Jacob, because he was the head of the family. The only way they could express how they felt was to attack the one who he loved more than them.

1. Why did Jacob love Joseph more than his brothers?
2. What did the varicolored coat signify?
3. Why would Jacob make the decision to promote Joseph in the eyes of his brothers at such a young age?
4. What could be expected from showing such favoritism?
5. In what ways have you or someone you have known experienced this kind of favoritism?
6. What were the results in their lives?  

Genesis 37:5-8

Joseph did not help the situation by sharing with them a dream he had where the sheaves they were binding bowed down before his sheave. It could have been the act of a typical teenager who does not think of the consequences of his words.  The other possibility was that God was speaking through a word of prophecy that would take place years down the road.  Whichever one it was his words elicited from them a expected result.  Their questions seem to indicate a desire to ask, who do you think you are?  They wanted to know if he really thought he would become their ruler.  He may have been important in the eyes of his father, but they certainly did not regard him as anyone special.

1. Who do you think was the source of the dream?
2. What was the reason he was given the dream at that point in his life?
3. What are your thoughts on the wisdom of sharing the dream with his brothers?
4. Why did they take offense at the dream?
5. What was God doing?

Genesis 37:9-11

Again Joseph had another dream in which it seemed that his whole family, including his father, was going to bow before him.  This time even Jacob was upset and rebuked him. Joseph had gone too far with the second dream.  Jacob wanted to know if Joseph was so impudent that he thought he would rule over even his parents. He did however keep in his mind what Joseph had said.  The second dream did not help the relationship Joseph had with the brothers.  Adding to their hatred, they now became jealous of him.  Because of the two dreams they were beginning to suspect there was something special going on with Joseph and they did not like it.

1. In what way was the second dream different from the first?
2. Seeing the reaction of the brothers to the first dream why would Joseph tell the whole family of the second one?
3. What do you think of Jacob’s initial words and then the fact that he remembered what Joseph had said?
4. Why would the brothers become jealous?

Genesis 37:12

With the situation that existed in the household, it was a good move for the brothers of Joseph to separate themselves from the object of their hatred.  They took the flocks back to Shechem to pasture them.  By returning to the area of Shechem, they knew that they would have the freedom to do as they pleased.  Their father would surely not bother them there.

1. Why was it wise for the brothers to leave?
2. Why would they go to Shechem?
3. Why is it good sometimes to remove yourself from an explosive situation?
4. When you have done so how are you then able to approach what has occurred?

Genesis 37:13-14a

The decision to send Joseph to check on his brothers and the welfare of the animals in their possession indicated one of two things about Jacob.  It is possible that he did just did not know how his sons felt about Joseph. It is hard to believe but he may have been totally oblivious of their feelings. One would have to be so isolated from those around him, if not physically emotionally, to not see the hatred they had toward their brother. It surely would have manifested itself in their lack of respect for him because of his lack of love and trust of them.

Into that environment Jacob was going to send Joseph. In obedience to his father, he was willing to go. He had to know that he would face the hostility of his brothers. They would not have taken kindly to having their younger brother monitor their activity. What do you think of the decision to send Joseph to check on his brothers?

1. What does this show us about Jacob’s awareness of what was taking place in his family?
2. How is it that he did not see how he favored Joseph affected his relationship with his other sons?
3. Why would Joseph be willing to go?
4. What could he expect, since they would know why he had been sent?

Genesis 37:14b-17

Joseph then went to the Shechem where he expected to find them. Not finding them there he was at a loss of knowing what to do next.  A man found him wandering around and told him that his brothers had moved on to Dothan.  With the new information Joseph sought to carry out the desires of Jacob and went on to Dothan.  He found them at Dothan.

1. What did Joseph discover in Shechem?
2. Why would the brothers have moved on from Shechem to Dothan?
3. Why did Joseph continue on with his trip?
4. What would you have done under the same circumstances?
5. How could he even be sure that he would locate his brothers at Dothan?
6. What do you think his reaction would have been finding them at Dothan?

Genesis 37:18-20

Seeing their brother coming they immediately came up with a plot to kill him.  In their minds they did not see him as one to understand but one who they viewed as the “dreamer.”  This term represented all they did not like about Joseph.  His dreams had only added to their sense of insecurity.  By killing Joseph any possibility of his dreams being fulfilled would be ended and they would become the loved ones in the family.  This has been the mindset of society since man began.  If the person who gets in the way is removed then everything will be better. As part of the plot, they even went so far as to decide what they would tell their father. Surely no one would question the story of a poor lad wandering around being killed by wild animals.

1. What opportunity did Joseph’s appearance give the brothers?
2. How were they able to come up with the ideas so quickly?
3. Why did they use the name “dreamer” in discussing what they planned to do?
4. How does what they planned to do reflect the mindset of so many in our society today?
5. What is ever gained by destroying another person either physically or his reputation?

Genesis 37:21-22

At that point Reuben stepped in and tried to diffuse the situation.  He attempted to convince his brothers not to kill Joseph.  His plan was to rescue him from his brothers and return him home safely.  To buy time he suggested that they throw him into a pit that was in the field where they were.

1. What does Reuben’s plan say about him?
2. Why did he agree to have him thrown into the pit?
3. What was he trying to do for the whole family by his actions?
4. What are some occasions in your life when you may have intervened to keep someone from making a foolish mistake?
5. In what ways was Reuben looking out for the welfare of all concerned?

Genesis 37:23-24

As soon as Joseph arrived they stripped him of his varicolored coat.  This was a way of removing from him the symbol of all the status that Jacob had given to him. It was their intent to bring him down to their station in life.  They then proceeded to throw him into the pit. He was now at their mercy and like a prisoner had no rights.

1. Why did they remove the coat of many colors?
2. What had it symbolized?
3. In what position did it then leave Joseph?
4. What did this act say about the regard they had for their father?

Genesis 37:25-28

Two dynamics were taking place.  God was acting behind the scenes to protect the life of Joseph.  He used an unlikely source to bring it about. As the brothers sat down to eat, an opportunity unexpectedly presented itself.  A caravan of Ishmaelites on its way to Egypt carrying aromatic gum, balm and myrrh to sell passed by where the brothers were eating.  At the suggestion of Judah they decided to sell Joseph to the traders for twenty shekels of silver.  This would accomplish getting rid of him and saving them from the guilt that would come if he was murdered.  

The second thing that was occurring was the vying of the two brothers, Reuben and Judah for the position of leadership of the family.  With Joseph out of the picture they assumed that one of them would step in to fill the void left by his departure.

1. In what ways can we see God at work in the events that were taking place?
2. Why is it sometimes not obvious to us when God is working even in difficult situations?
3. Why was Joseph still in danger of being killed if the Ishmaelites had not come to the rescue?
4. What would be gained by selling him to the traders?
5. Why did I state that there was a minor power struggle going on between Reuben and Judah?
6. Who at that point seem to be winning?
7. With Joseph out the way what did each of them conclude?

Genesis 37:29-30

Following the departure of Joseph, Reuben returned to the pit presumably to rescue him and to take him back to his father.  It is not clear how his brothers would have reacted to effort to undermine their plan. Not finding Joseph he found them to discover out what they had done with him.  At that point he did not know whether they had disregarded his advice and had killed him anyway. 

When he found out that they had sold their brother into slavery, Reuben panicked.  He certainly did not want to face his father without his brother.  Being the oldest he knew that Jacob would have held him personally responsible for what had happened to Joseph.

1. Why did Reuben panic when he did not find Joseph in the pit?
2. Why did he feel such a responsibility for him?
3. What did he think his father would do?
4. What does this whole episode say about the brothers’ mentality?
5.  How did they think their actions would affect other people?
6. What are some of the consequences you have experienced when you did not pray about or think through your actions?

Genesis 37:31-32

At that moment, the big lie took shape that would haunt the lives of the brothers for many years. They dipped the coat that they had stripped from Joseph dipped in the blood of a male goat they slaughtered and brought it to their father to identify.  Although they did explain how the blood got on the coat they allowed Jacob to think the worse. He did not fail them.  Jacob’s natural reaction was that his son had been killed by a wild beast. For the brothers to say anything different would have caused them to have to admit what they done.  They allowed Jacob to believe what he wanted to think happened.  How cruel was such an act they committed against their father.  The deceit showed how little regard they seem to have for him.

1. Why did the brothers allow Jacob to believe that Joseph was dead?
2. What does it show of their relationship with their father?
3. What does this whole episode show about the kind of men they were?
4.  What long term affect would this have on them and Jacob?

Genesis 37:34-35

As would be expected, Jacob went into a time of deep mourning.  Hypocritical as it was his whole family, including the brothers, who had brought on the reason for the grieving, tried unsuccessfully to comfort him.  He truly believed that the grief he felt for Joseph would last him the rest of his life and go with him to the grave.

1. Why did Jacob go into such a deep period of grieving?
2. What do you think of the brother’s acts of consolation?
3. Would he have felt that way about the death of his other children? Why or why not?
4. In what ways have you acted in a way to cover up something that you have done?

Genesis 37:36

The next phase of Joseph’s life begins with being sold to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s body guard.  Joseph, at that point, had gone from being the favorite son being groomed to take his father’s place as head of the family to that of a slave.

1. How can we say that God was working in the life of Joseph?
2. Why did He allow him to go from his position as favorite son to that of a slave?
3. When has there been times when God seemed to be far away from you?
4. When things do not happen as we expect, what is to be our attitude during those times?

We have only touched the surface of all that is available to us from this chapter.  I have only covered the family relationships.  From what has been said the following thoughts hopefully will be helpful as each of us relate to those around us.

• Be careful that you do not play one person against another to obtain your agendas?
• Treat each person with whom you have contact fairly.
• Read James 2 to see what God thinks about partiality.
• Pray and think about how your decisions will affect those around you.  Joseph’s brothers made a decision that would impact them for the rest of their lives.  It not only affected them but those around them.
• Look at the relationships that you have in your own family and make sure you love each person equally.  Each person is different but must be loved for who they are.

Each Sunday guests come through the doors of every church in this country.  Many are looking for a place where they can build true relationships with those inside the building.  There are also instances where a person may come for weeks, months and even years and never feel a part of a body of Christ because we all too often ignore them.  We may not mean to do this, but it happens because they may try to become a part of a close knit group, whether it is a Bible Study Class or in the larger context the whole church. Many of these folks have needs that need to be met.  They may also be hungry to become true disciples and are looking for the family that can help them grow.  May we, in whatever context we find ourselves, be the ones to help meet needs and to see lives transformed through the sharing of God’s good news.  What is going to be the part that you and I are willing to play in accomplishing the task?

Additional Notes:

GC- Joseph, once he overcame the childish need to brag, which was a sign of immaturity and the problems that can be generated from being the favorite, did not let any circum- stance overwhelm or destroy him.  He responded in true humility born of a confidence in his heavenly Father.  His was a life lived out in the will of God.  Giving Joseph the benefit of doubt, his initial reaction to his brothers when they went down into Egypt to buy food seemed a little out of character in its cruelty.  In reality, knowing his brothers as he did, he may have felt that unless he did something drastic, they would have returned home and to save face with Jacob they would have never told him about the encounter with Joseph.  By acting the way he did, he ensured the likelihood he would see his father again.  It also showed his brothers that he had the authority to do what he deemed necessary and how making false accusations and mistreating people, as they had, was so destructive.  They had lived with the lie surrounding the selling of Joseph and deceiving Jacob for 22 years.  Joseph had stayed faithful during those difficult and trying 13 years from the time he left Canaan until Pharaoh called him out of jail.  He was a different person at 30 when he began to direct the activities in Egypt.  The years of wrestling and struggling had produced a man of wisdom and sensitivity to become God’s man in the midst of an unsaved heathen nation. (Gen. 37-50)

BL- Buddy started out by asking us, how important are dreams?  In particular, how important are dreams in this Biblical passage concerning Jacob/Israel and his children?
And if the dreams of Jacob and Joseph were significant, why didn’t Reuben, Simeon, Levi and the other sons receive dreams, as well?  Buddy told us that most dreams are just dreams–our brains processing extraneous bits of information that we have taken in during the day.  But when GOD sends dreams, they have great significance!  Everything that God does has a purpose, including the dreams He grants to certain individuals-and for that reason, the dreams God sent to Jacob and Joseph might more accurately be called “visions.”  They were not just meant to inspire or encourage the individuals who had them; they were indicative of future events that would take place, because God always accomplishes what He sets out to do.
  However, it would be many years before Joseph’s dreams would come to fruition!  While God had chosen him to be the family’s spiritual leader, Joseph would have to endure some hard lessons in humility before he was ready to assume that role.  Certainly, he had some good points-he was not lustful like Reuben or prone to violence like Levi and Simeon.  Also, class members pointed out that Joseph did not return to his brothers the hatred they felt for him, nor did he play the victim and feel sorry for himself when he was so cruelly mistreated. However, it was probably not wise of Joseph to share his dreams with his brothers when they so clearly resented him!  Was there a touch of pride in Joseph that God would have to break before He could accomplish His purpose? 
And what methods would He choose to do so?  We touched on one of them in Genesis chapter 37, in which Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery; but God still had more  lessons in store for Joseph! (Gen. 37) 

BL- In chapter 37, we begin to see the fallout of the lifelong favoritism Israel has displayed among his children.  Joseph, the child of Israel’s old age and son of his beloved wife, Rachel, is loved above his brothers; and Israel makes it worse by giving Joseph a richly ornamented robe. Verse 4 tells us that the brothers, rather than directing their anger at their father, grow jealous of Joseph—it says, “. . .they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.”  Joseph adds fuel to the fire by “tattling” on them in verse 2 and then sharing his dreams with them—neither of which increases his popularity!  In the first dream, his brothers’ sheaves of wheat bow down to his, which they interpret to mean he desires to rule over them.  In the second, the sun, moon, and eleven stars bow down to Joseph, which his father interprets to mean that Joseph will rule over his father, mother, and brothers one day!  Following this revelation, Joseph’s brothers grow even more jealous and his father rebukes him; but verse 11 tells us that Israel ponders over what Joseph has told him.  After all, Jacob has had a few dreams of his own, and he knows that this may indeed be a prophecy from God!  

  In vv. 12-17, Jacob sends Joseph to find his brothers, who are grazing their flocks near Shechem.  Joseph finally locates them at Dothan, but as he approaches them, their hatred inspires them to plot his murder.  Reuben, the eldest, proposes that they throw Joseph into a cistern without killing him, with the intention of rescuing Joseph and returning him to their father.  The others take his suggestion, and after stripping Joseph of his beautiful coat, they throw him into the cistern and comtemplate what to do with him over dinner.

  In verse 25, an Ishmaelite caravan appears, bound for trade in Egypt.  Judah comes up with a plan to get rid of Joseph without bloodshed since “. . .after all, he is our brother . . .”  They’ll sell him to the Ishmaelites! This they do, for twenty shekels of silver.  However, they still have to explain Joseph’s absence to their father–so they kill a goat, dip Joseph’s coat in it, and return home to show it to their father.  Jacob concludes that Joseph has been killed by a wild animal and vows he will mourn for the rest of his life for his beloved son.  Shamelessly, the other children try to comfort their father–but none of them divulges what really happened to Joseph!

WM-Joseph like most young people at the age of seventeen was immature.  His words reflect this.  The first record of it was the bad report he brought to his father concerning his brothers. We do not know what had happened but one thing for certain it did not endure him to them. (Gen. 37:2)

WM-Jacob did not love all of his children equally.  Rachel’s son, Joseph, was his favorite and he showed it openly by giving the coat of many colors.  This attitude set the stage for the possibility of all kinds of family problems. (Gen. 37:3-4)

UE-The older brothers acted in ways that were more like children than grown adults. They hated Joseph not so much for what he did as it was a way to hurt their father who first loved Rachel more than he had Leah and the handmaids given to him.  After the death of Rachel he poured out all of his affections on Rachel’s son Joseph.                (Gen. 37:3-4)

C-Joseph’s brothers came to hate him because he was his father’s favorite child.  They would not even talk with him in a friendly manner. (Gen. 37:3-4)

WM-Joseph’s brothers did not display the kind of maturity that you would expect or hope for in grown men.  Their reaction to everything he did was one of jealousy.  This jealousy caused them to hate and be completely intolerant of him especially when he shared the dreams he had had.  In those dreams they were to bow down to him. (Gen. 37:4-8, 11)

M-Man ruled by self will be one who is prone to jealousy.  This emotion can very easily lead him to hate the subject of his jealousy. (Gen. 37:4, 8, 11)

RT- The fact that Joseph shared his dreams with those who would respond as the brothers did, as difficult as it may seem, was part of God’s plan for his life.  We have to understand that Joseph’s actions in no way caught God by surprise. (Gen 37:5)

C-Joseph’s dreams enflamed the hatred the brothers had for him. (Gen.37:5-7)

UE-God once again turned the social order on its head.  Joseph’s dreams were a prophecy to be played out in about twenty years.  The brothers who ridiculed Joseph because of his dreams would indeed come to the one they hated and now were to bow down before him. (Gen. 37:5-11)

M-Even though Joseph displayed youthful insensitivity in telling his dreams, God was setting the stage for what was to come in the life of Jacob’s family and Joseph in particular.  It may also be said that even though his actions indicated youthful immaturity, the fact is that he was beginning to hear what God was saying and what He was going to accomplish in Joseph’s life. Many varied experiences would take place in his life before his dreams would come to fruition, but the stage was being set. (Gen. 37:5-10)

GC-As we mature in our life as a follower of Jesus we learn to be more careful with our words.  We learn when to speak and when to listen.  Great care must be taken to ensure that our words never cause others to stumble.  One of the areas in which we must be especially careful is appearing to some type of inside track on God’s knowledge or that He has given some special revelation of what He plans to do.  It amazes me of the number of people who categorically state that God has told them to take a particular action. (Gen. 37:6-7, 9-10)

 GC-Immaturity as displayed by both Joseph and his brothers and the lack of discretion will bring about strife, division and jealousy. What can mean by the fact that I mentioned immaturity of the brothers?  How did they show it? (Gen. 37:5, 7)

RT-Jacob did not have any trouble with the idea that the “nations would bow down before him” or the fact that his brother would do also.  Later when Joseph told of his dreams his father became upset by Joseph’s prophecy. (Gen. 37:10)

M-Jealousy unchecked may lead a man to commit murder.  One focused on his own agenda will inadvertently or blatantly become part of the devil’s ploy and attempt to undermine the purpose of God.  It is good that the brothers were not allowed to succeed with their plans.  They were to benefit from the life that Joseph was going to lead.      (Gen. 37:18-20)

C-The love that the brothers may have had for Joseph when he was a young child had been replaced by hatred and jealousy.  This hatred led to the plot to kill him.              (Gen. 37:18-20)

WM-The brothers allowed their hatred of Joseph to cloud their judgment.  They became determined to rid themselves of him. (Gen. 37:18, 20)

UE-The hatred for their brother and the disrespect for their father brought them to the point that they contemplated murdering him.  Even though they did not kill him, they hoped by selling him to the Ishmaelites they could basically accomplish the same thing.  They thought we are rid of the pest once for all.  There was not concern about the affect it might have on Jacob until they had actually carried out their plan. (Gen. 37:18-35)

RT- As a result of all of the events that had occurred in the lives of his brothers they tried to eliminate the object of their hatred thinking things would be better for them with Joseph gone. (Gen. 37:20)

M-Reuben may have had many other faults, but he had no desire to part in the murder of his brother. (Gen. 37:21-22, 29-30)

M-When we look at the sweep of history involving Jacob’s family what Joseph’s brothers did to him would be a minor thing in comparison to what he was going to experience.  They stripped him of his coat and threw him in a pit until they could decide what to do with him. (Gen. 37:23-24)

M-Evil men plot evil actions. It was only because an alternative plan presented itself to them that they were saved from committing murder. (Gen. 37:26-28)

DM-The decision to sell Joseph was the turning point in the lives of his ten brothers.  From that time onward they lived every day with the consequences of that action.       (Gen. 37:26-35; 42:21-22)

C-With the decision to sell Joseph, His life would be altered in a way of which he would have never dreamed.  No longer would he be living in the protective environment under the watchful and loving care of Jacob.  He was thrust into a new and strange world in Egypt.  A world that would be totally unlike anything he had ever experienced.         (Gen. 37:25-28:42:21-22)

RT- The brothers may not have had to cover up their actions with what was supposed to be the blood of Joseph if they had actually killed him.  They did, however, use the blood of an animal to attempt to hide their sinful act of selling Joseph to the Midianites.  Using the blood the animal did not remove the guilt they experienced because of their actions.  The only thing that it did was to buy them time to deceive Jacob. (Gen. 37:26-27, 31-32)

WM-There was no respect for either Joseph or Jacob.  By selling Joseph they also put Reuben in an awkward position as the eldest son.  They did not care what the Ishamelites did with their brother as long as he was out of their hair. They certainly had spent any time in thinking how deeply their actions would affect Jacob.  The only ones about whom they were concerned at this point were themselves and the results and how their actions accomplished the goal. (Gen 37:27-35)

C-Not only was Joseph’s life changed, but his brothers would now live with the guilt of what they had done for the rest of their lives. (Gen. 37:29-36)

GC- Joseph, once he overcame the childish need to brag, which was a sign of immaturity and the problems that can be generated from being the favorite, did not let any circum- stance overwhelm or destroy him.  He responded in true humility born of a confidence in his heavenly Father.  His was a life lived out in the will of God.  Giving Joseph the benefit of doubt, his initial reaction to his brothers when they went down into Egypt to buy food seemed a little out of character in its cruelty.  In reality, knowing his brothers as he did, he may have felt that unless he did something drastic, they would have returned home and to save face with Jacob they would have never told him about the encounter with Joseph.  By acting the way he did, he ensured the likelihood he would see his father again.  It also showed his brothers that he had the authority to do what he deemed necessary and how making false accusations and mistreating people, as they had, was so destructive.  They had lived with the lie surrounding the selling of Joseph and deceiving Jacob for 22 years.  Joseph had stayed faithful during those difficult and trying 13 years from the time he left Canaan until Pharaoh called him out of jail.  He was a different person at 30 when he began to direct the activities in Egypt.  The years of wrestling and struggling had produced a man of wisdom and sensitivity to become God’s man in the midst of an unsaved heathen nation. (Gen. 37-50)

BL- Buddy started out by asking us, how important are dreams?  In particular, how important are dreams in this Biblical passage concerning Jacob/Israel and his children?
And if the dreams of Jacob and Joseph were significant, why didn’t Reuben, Simeon, Levi and the other sons receive dreams, as well?  Buddy told us that most dreams are just dreams–our brains processing extraneous bits of information that we have taken in during the day.  But when GOD sends dreams, they have great significance!  Everything that God does has a purpose, including the dreams He grants to certain individuals-and for that reason, the dreams God sent to Jacob and Joseph might more accurately be called “visions.”  They were not just meant to inspire or encourage the individuals who had them; they were indicative of future events that would take place, because God always accomplishes what He sets out to do.
  However, it would be many years before Joseph’s dreams would come to fruition!  While God had chosen him to be the family’s spiritual leader, Joseph would have to endure some hard lessons in humility before he was ready to assume that role.  Certainly, he had some good points-he was not lustful like Reuben or prone to violence like Levi and Simeon.  Also, class members pointed out that Joseph did not return to his brothers the hatred they felt for him, nor did he play the victim and feel sorry for himself when he was so cruelly mistreated. However, it was probably not wise of Joseph to share his dreams with his brothers when they so clearly resented him!  Was there a touch of pride in Joseph that God would have to break before He could accomplish His purpose? 
And what methods would He choose to do so?  We touched on one of them in Genesis chapter 37, in which Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery; but God still had more  lessons in store for Joseph! (Gen. 37) 

BL- In chapter 37, we begin to see the fallout of the lifelong favoritism Israel has displayed among his children.  Joseph, the child of Israel’s old age and son of his beloved wife, Rachel, is loved above his brothers; and Israel makes it worse by giving Joseph a richly ornamented robe. Verse 4 tells us that the brothers, rather than directing their anger at their father, grow jealous of Joseph—it says, “. . .they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.”  Joseph adds fuel to the fire by “tattling” on them in verse 2 and then sharing his dreams with them—neither of which increases his popularity!  In the first dream, his brothers’ sheaves of wheat bow down to his, which they interpret to mean he desires to rule over them.  In the second, the sun, moon, and eleven stars bow down to Joseph, which his father interprets to mean that Joseph will rule over his father, mother, and brothers one day!  Following this revelation, Joseph’s brothers grow even more jealous and his father rebukes him; but verse 11 tells us that Israel ponders over what Joseph has told him.  After all, Jacob has had a few dreams of his own, and he knows that this may indeed be a prophecy from God!  

  In vv. 12-17, Jacob sends Joseph to find his brothers, who are grazing their flocks near Shechem.  Joseph finally locates them at Dothan, but as he approaches them, their hatred inspires them to plot his murder.  Reuben, the eldest, proposes that they throw Joseph into a cistern without killing him, with the intention of rescuing Joseph and returning him to their father.  The others take his suggestion, and after stripping Joseph of his beautiful coat, they throw him into the cistern and comtemplate what to do with him over dinner.

  In verse 25, an Ishmaelite caravan appears, bound for trade in Egypt.  Judah comes up with a plan to get rid of Joseph without bloodshed since “. . .after all, he is our brother . . .”  They’ll sell him to the Ishmaelites! This they do, for twenty shekels of silver.  However, they still have to explain Joseph’s absence to their father–so they kill a goat, dip Joseph’s coat in it, and return home to show it to their father.  Jacob concludes that Joseph has been killed by a wild animal and vows he will mourn for the rest of his life for his beloved son.  Shamelessly, the other children try to comfort their father–but none of them divulges what really happened to Joseph!

WM-Joseph like most young people at the age of seventeen was immature.  His words reflect this.  The first record of it was the bad report he brought to his father concerning his brothers. We do not know what had happened but one thing for certain it did not endure him to them. (Gen. 37:2)

WM-Jacob did not love all of his children equally.  Rachel’s son, Joseph, was his favorite and he showed it openly by giving the coat of many colors.  This attitude set the stage for the possibility of all kinds of family problems. (Gen. 37:3-4)

UE-The older brothers acted in ways that were more like children than grown adults. They hated Joseph not so much for what he did as it was a way to hurt their father who first loved Rachel more than he had Leah and the handmaids given to him.  After the death of Rachel he poured out all of his affections on Rachel’s son Joseph.                (Gen. 37:3-4)

C-Joseph’s brothers came to hate him because he was his father’s favorite child.  They would not even talk with him in a friendly manner. (Gen. 37:3-4)

WM-Joseph’s brothers did not display the kind of maturity that you would expect or hope for in grown men.  Their reaction to everything he did was one of jealousy.  This jealousy caused them to hate and be completely intolerant of him especially when he shared the dreams he had had.  In those dreams they were to bow down to him. (Gen. 37:4-8, 11)

M-Man ruled by self will be one who is prone to jealousy.  This emotion can very easily lead him to hate the subject of his jealousy. (Gen. 37:4, 8, 11)

RT- The fact that Joseph shared his dreams with those who would respond as the brothers did, as difficult as it may seem, was part of God’s plan for his life.  We have to understand that Joseph’s actions in no way caught God by surprise. (Gen 37:5)

C-Joseph’s dreams enflamed the hatred the brothers had for him. (Gen.37:5-7)

UE-God once again turned the social order on its head.  Joseph’s dreams were a prophecy to be played out in about twenty years.  The brothers who ridiculed Joseph because of his dreams would indeed come to the one they hated and now were to bow down before him. (Gen. 37:5-11)

M-Even though Joseph displayed youthful insensitivity in telling his dreams, God was setting the stage for what was to come in the life of Jacob’s family and Joseph in particular.  It may also be said that even though his actions indicated youthful immaturity, the fact is that he was beginning to hear what God was saying and what He was going to accomplish in Joseph’s life. Many varied experiences would take place in his life before his dreams would come to fruition, but the stage was being set. (Gen. 37:5-10)

GC-As we mature in our life as a follower of Jesus we learn to be more careful with our words.  We learn when to speak and when to listen.  Great care must be taken to ensure that our words never cause others to stumble.  One of the areas in which we must be especially careful is appearing to some type of inside track on God’s knowledge or that He has given some special revelation of what He plans to do.  It amazes me of the number of people who categorically state that God has told them to take a particular action. (Gen. 37:6-7, 9-10)

 GC-Immaturity as displayed by both Joseph and his brothers and the lack of discretion will bring about strife, division and jealousy. What can mean by the fact that I mentioned immaturity of the brothers?  How did they show it? (Gen. 37:5, 7)

RT-Jacob did not have any trouble with the idea that the “nations would bow down before him” or the fact that his brother would do also.  Later when Joseph told of his dreams his father became upset by Joseph’s prophecy. (Gen. 37:10)

M-Jealousy unchecked may lead a man to commit murder.  One focused on his own agenda will inadvertently or blatantly become part of the devil’s ploy and attempt to undermine the purpose of God.  It is good that the brothers were not allowed to succeed with their plans.  They were to benefit from the life that Joseph was going to lead.      (Gen. 37:18-20)

C-The love that the brothers may have had for Joseph when he was a young child had been replaced by hatred and jealousy.  This hatred led to the plot to kill him.              (Gen. 37:18-20)

WM-The brothers allowed their hatred of Joseph to cloud their judgment.  They became determined to rid themselves of him. (Gen. 37:18, 20)

UE-The hatred for their brother and the disrespect for their father brought them to the point that they contemplated murdering him.  Even though they did not kill him, they hoped by selling him to the Ishmaelites they could basically accomplish the same thing.  They thought we are rid of the pest once for all.  There was not concern about the affect it might have on Jacob until they had actually carried out their plan. (Gen. 37:18-35)

RT- As a result of all of the events that had occurred in the lives of his brothers they tried to eliminate the object of their hatred thinking things would be better for them with Joseph gone. (Gen. 37:20)

M-Reuben may have had many other faults, but he had no desire to part in the murder of his brother. (Gen. 37:21-22, 29-30)

M-When we look at the sweep of history involving Jacob’s family what Joseph’s brothers did to him would be a minor thing in comparison to what he was going to experience.  They stripped him of his coat and threw him in a pit until they could decide what to do with him. (Gen. 37:23-24)

M-Evil men plot evil actions. It was only because an alternative plan presented itself to them that they were saved from committing murder. (Gen. 37:26-28)

DM-The decision to sell Joseph was the turning point in the lives of his ten brothers.  From that time onward they lived every day with the consequences of that action.       (Gen. 37:26-35; 42:21-22)

C-With the decision to sell Joseph, His life would be altered in a way of which he would have never dreamed.  No longer would he be living in the protective environment under the watchful and loving care of Jacob.  He was thrust into a new and strange world in Egypt.  A world that would be totally unlike anything he had ever experienced.         (Gen. 37:25-28:42:21-22)

RT- The brothers may not have had to cover up their actions with what was supposed to be the blood of Joseph if they had actually killed him.  They did, however, use the blood of an animal to attempt to hide their sinful act of selling Joseph to the Midianites.  Using the blood the animal did not remove the guilt they experienced because of their actions.  The only thing that it did was to buy them time to deceive Jacob. (Gen. 37:26-27, 31-32)

WM-There was no respect for either Joseph or Jacob.  By selling Joseph they also put Reuben in an awkward position as the eldest son.  They did not care what the Ishamelites did with their brother as long as he was out of their hair. They certainly had spent any time in thinking how deeply their actions would affect Jacob.  The only ones about whom they were concerned at this point were themselves and the results and how their actions accomplished the goal. (Gen 37:27-35)

C-Not only was Joseph’s life changed, but his brothers would now live with the guilt of what they had done for the rest of their lives. (Gen. 37:29-36)

 

 

Lesson 34

From Backslidden to Restored

Genesis 35-36

If there is one subject I know about it is backsliding.  When my wife and I first got married we stopped attending church on a regular basis for at least four years.  Before then both of us had been consistent in our attendance.  It was only after our oldest son was about three or four that we felt it was important for him to be in Sunday School, so we began going to church again. Even though we were there in body both of us sensed there was something missing where we were and began going to a Baptist Church very close to home.

It was there that we really became involved in the life of the church.  I began teaching young people and she took part in the WMU.  Two of our children literally grew up in that church. Both were baptized into the faith as a result of those in children’s ministry. 

One thing that I have learned is that even being in church a backsliding can take place.  I found that at one point I was busy and involved in a lot of things but did not find the joy that one would expect in serving the Lord.  Besides trying to work and take care of my family, there was night school and church.  There was little time left for truly loving the Lord and spending time in His word.  Thanks be to Him He drew me back from the edge of the cliff and gave me a hunger for His word that has lasted all these years.

We as a body of Christ can backslide also.  When we only give lip service to Him or participate because we have always done it to the point that our attendance becomes routine then we have fallen away.  When our service becomes a chore, we have backslidden.  When we have lost our passion for discovering what He has to say to us through His word we have lost our first love.  Many of us can remember the joy and excitement that we had when we first became followers of Christ.  Sadly for many of us that love and joy has waned over the years until we only see Church as place where we keep family traditions alive.

Like Jacob we need to be called back to our own Bethel, the time and place where we first met God and grow again.  All of us need the reawakening of our faith as we realize how easy it is for the Church to get into a mindset of complacency. This chapter is the narrative of how God moved in Jacob’s life once again.

Genesis 35:1-2

At the point that Jacob found himself in a dilemma of his own making because of his decision to disobey God and take up residence in Shechem, God in the person of the pre-incarnate Christ   called out to him once again.  All through the preceding chapters there is very little mention of God actively being a part of all that Jacob and his family were doing.  Jacob had acknowledged that God had given him a bunch of stuff but not much was said.  An altar called El-Elohe-Israel was erected in the place where he planned to take up permanent residence. 

Right when there seemed to be no way out of his problems, at the point he thought he might be destroyed, God provided a means of delivery.  In essence Jacob was told to move away from the place among the godless and go back and take up residence in Bethel.  To be sure that Jacob remembered the location, God identified it as the spot that He appeared to him as he was running away from his brother.  It is interesting that God did not direct him to go all the way to Beersheba but was going to plant him in a location well within Canaan.  It was the place that Jacob acknowledged as belonging to God.  He would not be able to purchase it but only to live in the land where God dwelt.

1. Why did God wait until that point in time to reach out to Jacob?
2. After the trouble he had just experienced how would that cause him to be more open to hearing God then?
3. Why is it that we turn to God when we experience trouble more than at other times?
4. Why did God direct him back to Bethel and not onward to Beersheba?
5. What could Jacob hopefully find there?

Genesis 35:2

To come into the presence of God Jacob’s family needed to get rid of any vestige of things that were part of the pagan worship in which they had still participated up to that moment.  They were to give up their gods, purify themselves and even change the clothing that belonged to the old way of life.

1. Why did Jacob command his family to turn over the gods to him?
2. What does each of the commands symbolize?
3. Why was it necessary for them to even change their clothing?
4. Which of their actions would consider the most important?
5. What do you believe they had to do to purify themselves?

Genesis 35:3

Although Christ commanded Jacob to go to Bethel to live there and build an altar to God, he shared with his family what that location meant to him. God in the very beginning of his journey had

• Heard him during a very distressful time.
• Been his constant companion and the giver of all he now possessed.

The last statement is an amazing one considering all the missteps taken by Jacob from the time he left home until that God once again spoke to him.  Now as he was going back to the place of a beginning relationship with God he was being called to a time of confession and repentance.  In a different way, he was once again being challenged to a wrestling match of the will and that of God’s.  By his actions God truly was in control.

1. Why did Jacob find it necessary to share with his family the reason for the return to Bethel?
2. What did the spot mean to him?
3. What was God trying to do in Jacob’s life?
4. In what way were God’s actions the same as He does in our lives?
5. What was Jacob’s understanding as to what was happening?

Genesis 35:4

All of those in Jacob’s household obeyed his command.  Because of the importance of this trip to him they were willing to give those items that reminded them of false gods.  They had seen enough evidence of God power’s working in the life of Jacob that they knew they did not dare to bring false gods into His presence. Jacob then took all of the idols and rings from their ears and buried them under an oak tree near Shechem.  By burying all of the items he completely put them completely out of the sight and control of the previous owners. Jacob did not plan to return to retrieve the items nor allow others to acquire them which would possibly have occurred if he had just abandoned them.  It is interesting that the oak was named the “oak of weeping.” If anything can be read into the name, it would have been a place of great soul searching and confession.

1. Why were those of Jacob’s household willing to give all the items to Jacob?
2. What evidence had they seen of God’s power that would have led them to perform such an act?
3. What might be the significance of the “oak of weeping?”
4. Why did he bury the items?

Genesis 35:5

Jacob’s fear of the people of the surrounding cities was unfounded.  Moses tells us that great terror fell on the people of that region.  The intervention of God on behalf would have a real impact on those with Jacob.  They knew that it was God and not the gods they had left behind that was putting a hedge of protection around them. It was the reason they were not pursued by any of the Canaanites or Perizzites. 

1. Why was Jacob’s fear unfounded?
2. What part did God play in the terror that existed in the people surrounding them?
3. What was God’s intention for Jacob’s family?
4. Why was it important for them to make the journey safely?

Genesis 35:6

The first thing that Jacob did upon arriving at Bethel was to build an altar which he named El-Bethel which means God the God of Bethel.  He was the God who dwelt in the House of God.  Remember Jacob had changed the name of Luz to Bethel at the beginning of his trek over twenty years earlier.  The writer for the second time shared that it was in that place that God revealed Himself to Jacob as he was fleeing from Esau.

1. What important act did Jacob perform upon arriving at Bethel?
2. Why did he give the place a new name?
3. In what way was Bethel a very important place for Jacob?
4. Where might be the special place or time that had a particular significance in your spiritual walk?
5. Why did the writer again emphasize that it was the place where God first revealed Himself to Jacob?

Genesis 35:7

This verse provides a break in what has occurred in the life of Jacob and what will follow. It speaks of the death of Rebekah’s nurse and her burial there in Bethel.  This surely would indicate that Rebekah had died never seeing her son again. Remember the curse that she called down upon herself. 

To be sure after the death of Rebekah, her nurse would have found herself in a precarious position. Two factors would have led to her dilemma. During the lifetime of Rebekah she in all likelihood would have been in all probability the one who cared for the two boys, Esau and Jacob.  Now that they were grown there was no longer that need.  Secondly, upon the death of Rebekah she was no longer needed as her nurse. If Isaac had so chosen to do so at that point, he could have cast her out to fend for herself. 

Somehow, Jacob located her and provided for her until her death which was not too long after his return to the land of Canaan.  He buried her under the oak which was named Allon-bacuth, the tree of weeping. 

This incident may have been inserted to indicate the passing of the older generation.  This was a new day dawning in which Jacob would now become the bridge between the old patriarchs and a new covenant relationship with Jacob and his family.

1. Why do you think God included this incident in His word?
2. Where was Rebekah at that point?
3. In what way was this possibly part of the curse she had taken on herself?
4. What had been the nurse’s role in the life of Jacob?
5. What kind of a dilemma did she find herself after the death of Rebekah?
6. What did you feel about Jacob’s actions involving her?

Genesis 35:9-10

Again God appeared to Jacob at Bethel.  He blessed him there and began speaking to him about his future.  His first words to him were, “Your name is Jacob,” There was nothing else God could call him at that point.  All those years preceding this appearance Jacob had continually been Jacob.  He was always planning, manipulating and deceiving.  God was saying, your name totally describes who you have been.  All of that was about to change.  For the second time God now called him Israel.  He was now to embark on the life intended for him as the new Patriarch of the Israelite people. The old had passed away and the new was about to come to him.

1. Why did God once again call Jacob by the name given to him at birth, when He had previously called him Israel during the wrestling match?
2. What was that saying about the kind of life he had been living up to that point?
3. If God were to look at us would He call us by our old name because we have not changed our lifestyle even after becoming a Christian or has He given us a new name that reflects more a life be lived for Him?
4. What does it say about God that He was willing to once again call Jacob by his new name?
5. What do we call the action that God takes that makes us a new creation?
6. Does this fit Jacob as well? How?

Genesis 35:11-12

Once again God reaffirmed the covenant of Abraham to Israel. They are worth repeating. So that there would be no mistake of the identity of the One speaking to him, God said, “I am God Almighty.  By His authority He commanded that Jacob and descendents to have many other descendents.  From those sons and daughters would come nations and kings. 

The second part of God’s words to Israel called to mind the words to Abraham.  God told Abraham, then Isaac and now Jacob that He would give him the land promised to his grandfather. Jacob had tried to buy a little piece of Canaan now God was promising that his descendents would possess all of it as a gift, an inheritance.

1. What did God once again restate the covenant given to Abraham?
2. What meaning would it now have for Israel?
3. What was to be Israel’s part to validating the covenant?
4. Why might Israel at last understand the words of God?
5. In what ways were they comforting to him?

Genesis 35:13-15

After the covenant had been renewed, God departed from that personal meeting. Jacob then built and altar and poured over it a drink offering and oil.  The name for the place was again called Bethel. Some writers see in this act a symbolism of Christ.  The stone would represent Christ Himself.  The drink, probably wine, would represent the blood, shed for our sins. Finally the oil would then be the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit on us.  Of course Jacob would have had known any of that.  His act was in gratitude of the workings of God in his life.

1. Why did God go up from Jacob?
2. Why did Jacob feel it was necessary to restate the name of the place, calling it Bethel?
3. Why did he put up an altar?
4. What symbolism was in that act?

Genesis 35:16-20

God had told Jacob to dwell in Bethel.  It is not clear why Jacob chose to disobey God and leave Bethel.  His disobedience would cost him dearly.  Rachel was nearing the end of her pregnancy with the child who would ultimately be named Benjamin by his father.  The rough trip was too much for her in her condition and she began to give birth. As the baby was being born she was told that it was a boy.  Realizing that she was dying, she wanted to name him Ben-oni which meant “son of my sorrow.”  Jacob overruled the choice and called him Benjamin, son of the  right hand. Rachel died and was buried near Ephrath, present day Bethlehem.  Her grave, at the time of Moses, was still visible because Jacob had covered her with stones. Notice because of his disobedience he was stilled called Jacob.

1. What had God told Jacob to do when he reached Bethel?
2. Why would he possibly disobey God again?
3. What was the consequence of his disobedience?
4. Why did Rachel choose the name Ben-oni?
5. Why did Jacob rename him Benjamin, son of my right hand?
6. Why did the writer continue to identify Jacob by that name when God had said that he would be called Israel?

Genesis 35:21

It was Jacob who had buried his true love.  As he travelled on there is the shift to the use of Israel rather Jacob to describe him. He moved ever closer to his previous home and camped at a place called Eder.  Something had happened in the life of Jacob that had moved him into a closer relationship with God thus justifying him now being called Israel.  Possibly because of the death of Rachel the world and all of its trappings did not hold sway over his life any longer.  He may have begun to realize how temporary all of the things he held dear truly were.

1. Why did the writer begin using the name Israel after verse 20?
2. Why did he continue on in his journey?
3. What had happened in his life that totally changed his perspective on life?
4. What are the things in your life that have caused you to put the world behind you and Christ before you?
5. What did Israel begin to understand about this world?

Genesis 35:22

After all that had occurred and at a time when Israel was probably still grieving for Rachel, Reuben added the greatest insult of all.  He committed what would today be considered adultery with Rachel’s maid, the concubine of Jacob and the mother of two of his half brothers.  Although the Ten Commandments were still over four hundred years away it was still an offensive act and showed great disrespect for his father.  The new Israel, although he was aware of what had happened said nothing to Reuben.

1. What do you think of Reuben’s actions?
2. What does it say about him?
3. How did Israel handle the situation?
4. What do you think of his lack of action?
5. What action may the old Jacob have taken?

Genesis 35:23-26

The writer now names the twelve sons of Jacob born to his two wives and their two maids.  Notice the only thing that is said about Reuben is that he was the first born.  There is no mention of his despicable inexcusable act. Even of Benjamin it is said that he was born in Paddan-aram. Although he was born near Bethlehem he would have possibly been conceived in Paddan-aram. 

Genesis 35:27-29

At long last Jacob came to his father at Hebron. There is no way of knowing the length of time the two had together.  The main thing is that they got to see each other and possibly be reconciled.  At one hundred eighty years Isaac passed away.  Unlike Abraham there is no mention of him “being satisfied with life” at his death.  For the last time is there record of Esau and Jacob coming together.  The meeting was to bury their father.

1. What do you think happened when Jacob finally made it to where his father was living?
2. Why did the writer leave out the phrase, “being satisfied with life when referring to Isaac?
3. What does it say about their relationship that the two brothers came together to bury their father? 

Genesis 36:1-43

Since this chapter is primarily about the descendents of Esau, only a couple of comments will be made.  The writer, by including this chapter following the events that have taken place in Jacob’s life shows the contrasts between the two men.  Everything from the selection of wives to God’s protection over Jacob and the promises made to him were different. To begin, Esau’s wives were all Canaanite women or descendents of Ishmael. Esau had acquired a great deal of wealth while living in Canaan.  Unlike his brother he would have attribute that fact all to his own ability, not the provision of God.  After Jacob returned, he moved with everything he had to Seir because there combined possessions would have over taxed the land. (Verse 6)

The only other thought to be mentioned is the worldly view of him and his descendents.  In verse 31 the Scriptures say that kings began to reign in Edom long before there were kings in Israel.  Never in their history does it appear that they considered themselves under the leadership of God.  They completely relied on their own abilities to accomplish what they thought was right.

The question becomes what does all this mean to us today?  What can we expect to happen based on our decisions? What should be our approach to life?  To understand there needs to be:

• A constant evaluation of one’s spiritual life.
• Daily communication with God confessing our sins and seeking forgiveness
• An understanding of how easy it is to backslide in the faith.
• A continual fellowship with God’s people as Hebrews 10:24-25
• Daily meditation on His word.

There are very clear warnings that a person can be in the body of Christ and still be far from Him.  It is not enough to say we belong to Him.  Our actions in word and deed should show the world that we belong to Him.  One theme that has run through all of the lessons is faithfulness leads to the blessings of God.  Like Jacob, as we drift away because we are not constantly vigilant in our love for God, we will find ourselves at cross purposes with God. Let us continually remain at our spiritual Bethels where God wants to meet us.

Additional notes:

DM-Upon his return to Bethel there was a reaffirmation of that special relationship that God had with Jacob at the place he first met Him. (Gen. 35:9)

E-After spending some time in the land of Canaan, God instructed Jacob to return to Bethel, the place where he began his spiritual journey.  He was to dwell there and build an altar.  Jacob commanded his family and servants to do three things in preparation for travelling to that holy spot.  Some of these should apply to our own attitudes as we come into the presence of God. He commanded them to:

1. Put away foreign gods including the one which Rachel had stolen.
2. Purify themselves
3. Change their garments
4. After they had done these things they were instructed to go and build an altar.  It could only be done when the other things had been accomplished. (Gen. 35:1-7)

BL-In chapter 35, Jacob seems to have learned a bit from his mistakes.  This time he prepares to go to the place where he first encountered God for himself–to Bethel, where he dreamed of the ladder. But first, he makes an important change.  He demands that his family get rid of their foreign gods and purify themselves before they leave.  Buddy pointed out that this act demonstrated Jacob’s willingness to cut all ties to the past, including the rights to Laban’s inheritance.  Jacob is symbolically placing all his eggs in one basket–God’s!  This is evidenced by the name he gives the place where he builds the next altar to God.  This site he calls “El Bethel,” because “. . . it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing his brother.”  There is no boastful inclusion of his own name–all his attention is focused on the God who has blessed him in so many ways. God responds by first, protecting Jacob’s family on their journey, and secondly, blessing him again in verses 9-10. The moral here for us is that we, too, need to stop every so often and take stock of where we are spiritually.  Sometimes, like Jacob, we have gotten off the path that God has laid out for us.  Sometimes we do it without really realizing that we’ve strayed; other times, we grow careless and allow ourselves to fall into sins that separate us from our Shepherd.  However, as the saying goes, God always allows us to make u-turns!  Like Jacob, it is good for us to reflect on how we may have wandered from our “first love,” the joy of knowing Jesus as our Savior; and then to take appropriate steps to rekindle the passion we once felt for Him.  Lastly, we are to demonstrate our love for Him by following His commands and showing that same love to others–especially those who do not know Him yet.                           

BL- We picked up with Genesis 35:10, in which God blesses Jacob and names him “Israel.”  Buddy noted that God had already done this back in chapter 32, so why does He seem to be repeating Himself here?  Buddy explained that God is telling Jacob, with great finality, that Jacob is to leave behind his old nature and begin living up to his new name (which means, “He persists with God” ).  (On a thoughtful note—how well are you and I living up to the new natures we received when we became children of God?  Can we say, with finality, that we have left behind our old, sinful tendencies and that we are striving towards that goal of becoming like our Lord and Savior?  Initially, Jacob was known as “the deceiver” until he struggled with God.  What name would God give us if He chose to call us after our most predominant trait?   “The faithful?”  “The encourager?”  “The doubter?”  “The backslider?”  Are we trying to live as children of the King?  Just something to think about!)   It is Israel the leader, not Jacob the trickster, whom God has chosen to carry on the covenant made with Abraham and Isaac.  In verses 11-13, God reiterates the terms of His covenant, including possession of the land and the promise that nations and kings would come from Israel’s line.   Following this great blessing, Jacob/Israel erects an altar and begins the trek toward Ephrath (now  Bethlehem). 

On the way to Ephrath, Rachel bears a son, whom Jacob names Benjamin.  Unfortunately, Rachel dies in childbirth and Jacob buries her and erects a pillar to his beloved wife before moving on to Migdal Eder.

   At this next camp, we learn in verse 22 that Reuben, Israel’s oldest son, has slept with Bilhah, his father’s concubine and mother of two of Israel’s sons.  Israel hears of this betrayal, but once again, this passive father chooses to do nothing.  However,  this heinous act reveals that Reuben, along with Simeon and Levi, is a man driven by his lusts, rendering him unfit as a future leader and patriarch.  As the brothers are listed again for us in verses 23-26, we wonder, which of them will God choose to carry on His covenant and the Messianic line?  As always, God has a surprise in store!

   In verses 27-29, Jacob is finally reunited with his father, Isaac.  His father is old; his mother, Rebekah, long since gone—but presumably, Jacob enjoys a few sweet moments with him before Isaac dies at 180.  Esau and Jacob are reunited briefly to bury their father, proving that Esau is a generous and forgiving man despite the wrongs Jacob has done him.  Genesis chapter 36 is devoted to listing Esau’s descendants, from whom arose at least two peoples, the Edomites and the Amalekites, that would later prove to be thorns in Israel’s side.

RT-The House of God, our Bethel, is to be a constant reminder that we are to put away the things of the world and to draw near to God.  There we are to worship Him and receive answers for life. These answers are given to us out of His word to prepare us for evangelism, ministry, discipleship and fellowship. (Gen. 35:1-4)

WM- Jacob allowed his family to carry about with them foreign gods.  When God called him to return to Bethel he finally had them remove the gods and purify themselves to appear before God. What does this say about Jacob that he had not done this before being commanded to go to Bethel?

(Gen. 35:1-4)GC-As we come into an encounter with God, part of coming to Him is putting away our idols and cleansing our lives. (Gen. 35:2)

RT-We cannot truly come into the presence of God to experience worship with idols in our hearts.  We only have to look at the words of Jesus when he spoke about not being able to serve both God and the things of this world. A choice has to be made.            (Gen. 35:2-3)

M-Man must realize that it is God who answers in the day of distress and will be him whatever he goes. (Gen. 35:3)

E-God once again appeared to Jacob.  He affirmed the change of Jacob’s name to Israel.  More importantly, He revealed Himself as God Almighty.  Again He spoke of the covenant He had given to Abraham. (Gen. 35:9-12)

 C-Once again God reaffirmed Jacob as Israel.  Jacob again received the same promises that God had given to his forefathers.  This had been done before but now they would take on new meaning since Jacob had been brought by to Canaan.  This all took place when he returned to Bethel, the place where his relationship with God began.              (Gen. 35:9-12)

C-It is important to note that Jacob built a new altar and a new pillar to God.  He did not search around for the pile of rocks he had made as he fled from his brother.  This was a new day, a new beginning in his homeland, a new relationship with God and new attitude that Jacob now affirmed at Bethel? (Gen: 35:7, 14-15)

C-Jacob left Bethel to go to Ephrath.  Two things occurred along the way.  Rachel gave birth to Benjamin.  In the process of child birth she died.  Jacob’s life was changing again.  Once again he was a new father but now he was an old man and his beloved Rachel the mother of this new child was gone.  Sadly, Benjamin would now be raised by someone who was not his birth mother. (Gen: 35:16-20)

C-Jacob moved to a place beyond the tower of Eder. (Gen. 35:21)

WM-Reuben lacked self-control and had a sexual relationship with Bilhad, Jacob’s concubine.  By going to Bilhad indicated that he did not have much respect for his father or what belonged to him.  It also was a way that Reuben was attempting to prove he was superior to his father.  Once again Jacob did nothing to assert his parental authority over his sons. Sadly, the incidents continue to show the weakness in his character.             (Gen. 35:22)

M-Man who is not in tune with God will be ruled by his lusts. (Gen. 35:22)

RT- It is disturbing to see a man who was angry enough to kill Shechem after he had raped Dinah saw no problem in having sexual relationship with Bilhah, one of his father’s concubine.  How could he justify such and act? (Gen. 35:22)

C-Reuben had sexual relations with Bilhah, Jacob’s concubine.  This one thoughtless act would affect his place in the history of Israel. (Gen 35:22; 49:3-4; 1 Chro 5:1-2)

C-Jacob finally came to his father Isaac who was living in what is now Hebron.  Notice there is no mention of Rebekah which would lead us to believe she was dead.                (Gen. 35-27)

C-Isaac died at the age of 180 years. Jacob would 120 at this point. (Gen. 35:28)

C-Esau moved his family and all of his possession from Canaan to Mt. Seir, later called Edom.  Both he and Jacob had much material wealth.  The land was not able to support both of them and their families. What does this move tell us? (Gen. 36:6-8)

C-Esau’s departure shows that he had accepted the words of his father’s blessing.  He understood that Jacob was to possess the land.  (Gen. 36:6-8)

C-Esau went from one who wanted to spend his time hunting to one of a husband and father.  He also became owner of flocks of sheep and herds of cattle which were a sign of wealth and prosperity. (Gen: 36:7)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson 33

Wrong Place Wrong Time

Genesis 34

Me-

 “Lead us not into temptation” (Matthew 6:13) is part of the model prayer.  I have reflected many times on this one verse trying to determine what it means for my life.  My take on these words is that I am asking God to make sure that I do not go into the places and get involved in situations that would bring dishonor and shame to me as a follower of Christ.  Although there is no such thing as perfection in our human bodies, I am thankful that God instilled in me a desire to make friends with those who wanted to live in such a way as to show honor and respect to their parents and those around them.  Especially in high school when so many temptations swirled about us because of my association with them I was able to keep out of trouble.  There were those of course who were of the rougher crowd but they never became my friends.  None of this would have been possible without God protecting me and the training I received from my mother and the church.  Thank You Father for loving me as much as You do.

 We-

Many denominations, as a whole, and individual churches have drifted into doctrinal stands that are contrary to God’s word.  Their positions on things like homosexuality, abortion and other social issues show how far they have departed from the Bible. Sadly the secular worldview has permeated all too many churches. Every church needs to take care that it does not compromise with the ways of the world.  There are numerous questions we need to ask ourselves.  Are we truly following Christ? How do we know? How important is God’s word in our lives?  Knowing what God has done for us in what ways do we seek to please Him? The list could go on and there may be questions that we as a church may need to add but I will leave those for another day.

Jacob made one decision that was going to bring upon him disastrous results.  If he had done what God instructed everything that happened could have easily been avoided. Let us now turn to the narrative found in Genesis 34 for the lessons that God is trying to teach us in our dealings with the world.

God

Genesis 34:1

At the end of last week’s lesson Jacob had moved to Shechem from Succoth.  There he bought land and settled down.  This was in direct opposition to what God had instructed him to do.  He was told to “return to your country and to your relatives.” (Genesis 32:9) To have done so would have resulted in Jacob receiving the blessings of God.  He chose, however, to take up residence away from his father and brother.  His reasoning was known only to him. 

While in Shechem his daughter began to visit with the women of the land.  Evidently, she did not find companionship she needed with any of the wives of her brothers. Of course Jacob had not set the example of removing oneself from the influence of those around you.  He had moved his whole family into the midst of a godless society.    

1. What proof do we have that Jacob intended to stay in Shechem?
2. Why was that a bad decision?
3. What was he going to miss out on by his actions?
4. How do we in the same way miss out on what God wants to do in our lives?
5. How are the actions of Dinah like those taken by so many of us today? 

Genesis 34:2-4

Like so many in society today Shechem, the son of Hamor one of the leaders of Shechem, could not wait until he was married before having sexual union with Dinah.  Although many today choose to live together as if they are married, Shechem forced her to have sex with him and then spoke to her in a way that indicated that he wanted her to be his wife.  His act was reprehensible but reflects clearly the thinking of those who live in a godless society where every type of behavior is acceptable.  As followers of Christ the Scriptures clearly states to mankind what God has determined as right and wrong. After speaking tender words to her he asked his father to speak to Jacob about taking Dinah as his wife.

1. In what ways was Shechem’s action like some in society today?
2. In what ways was it different?
3. Why did he see nothing wrong in taking advantage of Dinah?
4. How do people living together today view what they are doing?
5. How does our perception of right and wrong often differ from God’s?
6. Why did God clearly lay out for us the standards by which we are to live?

Genesis 34:5

When Jacob heard what had happened to his daughter, he did nothing about it right away.  For him to have responded immediately might have put his whole family in jeopardy since they were so few among a larger population of the city.  Why did Jacob wait to take action after hearing what Shechem had done to his daughter?

1. Why did he wait for his sons to return to him?
2. What could he have possibly done when he heard the news?
3. How might you have responded to the same kind of news?

Genesis 34:6

Before Jacob’s sons arrived Hamor approached Jacob. He probably wanted to head off any animosity between the two families.  His quick action may have been to save the reputation of his son.

1. What does Hamor’s quick response to son’s request say about their relationship?
2. Why would he agree to what his son asked?
3. What was he possibly trying to accomplish?

Genesis 34:7

As mentioned above Jacob waited for his sons to return from shepherding the sheep. He then told them what had occurred.  They reacted first in grief of what had happened to their sister.  Then as one would expect they became angry over what the Scriptures called a “disgraceful thing” having been committed in their homeland.  The teachings of their father and ancestors had taken hold in the way they viewed right and wrong.  In their eyes Shechem’s action was definitely wrong.

1. What were the two reactions of the brothers of Dinah?
2. What did each of the two show about how they handled the situation?
3. What did it mean when the Bible said that they grieved?
4. What indicates that they understood what right and wrong?
5. Where had they acquired such knowledge?

Genesis 34:8-10

Seeing their anger, Hamor tried to appease them by sharing how much his son loved Dinah and wanted to marry her.  He then spelled out to them the opportunity for both sides not only to co-exist on the land but actually become one people as they would intermarry with each other. This would of course have destroyed the identity and existence of the Israelites as they would have been absorbed into the godless nation where they were then living. Hamor’s last words indicated that if they went along with his suggestion it might open for them economic possibilities that may have been denied to them as foreigners in the land.

1. What did Hamor say to try to appease Jacob and the brothers?
2. What was his proposal that would make everything okay?
3. What would have happened to Jacob and the Israelites if they had agreed to go along with him?
4. What would have been enticing about Hamor’s last suggestion?
5. What would have happened to the blessings and promises of God if they had succumbed to his ideas?
6. How does society try to lull us into following the ways of the world instead of God?

Genesis 34:11-12

Finally after his father had opened the negotiations, Shechem spoke for himself.  He made it more personal speaking about his great love for Dinah. He was willing to give anything that the family asked in order to marry the girl.

1. Why did Shechem feel he must speak up for himself?
2. In what ways did he believe his father might be muddying the water?
3. What was the difference in what he offered as opposed to his father?
4. What does it show about his love for Dinah?

Genesis 34:13-17

All agreements must be acceptable to both sides.  Hamor and Shechem as shall be seen negotiated from a position that would benefit them.  The Scriptures are straightforward in describing the response of the brothers to Hamor and Shechem.  What they said was full of deceit.  They had no intention of giving their sister to the man who had defiled her.  What is bothersome about the interchange was the fact that they were willing to use that which was holy and represented the covenant God made with Abraham as their bargaining point. The ploy was to back the two men into a position that would render them harmless. They stipulated that in order for the marriage to take place the two must agree to be circumcised.  This would on the surface make them like Jacob’s family physically. 

Sadly, there is no mention of God and the reason circumcision was instituted in the first place.  It was almost treated like a good luck charm that could be used as a means to an end.  For circumcision to have meaning the family of Jacob had to understand that they had been chosen to be separate from the rest of the world and set apart to glorify God. Evidently this belief had been lost somewhere in the twenty years that Jacob had spent in Syria. The family of Jacob also missed an opportunity to share how important God was to them in their lives and because of it what Shechem could not be accepted or condoned. 

1. In what way did the sons deceive Hamor and Shechem?
2. What was their intention in regard to their sister?
3. Why did they have such disregard for the true meaning of circumcision?
4. What was the act of circumcision to mean in the life of the Israelites?
5. What do you think God thought of their actions?
6. What opportunities did the Israelites miss in the way they used the physical proof
7. In what ways have we used the teachings of God to serve our own purposes?

Genesis 34:18-24

The two men had no problem agreeing to the demands of Jacob’s sons.  They saw it as a winning proposition.  Circumcision was a minor inconvenience to them.  They believed they had much to gain by becoming physically the same as the Israelites. This is indicated in the plea that Hamor and Shcchem made to the people of Shechem to become circumcised.  The most telling statement came in verse 23 when Hamor said, “Will not their livestock and their property and all of their animals become ours?” They were looking towards the time when the family of Jacob would become so assimilated with the Hivites that they would lose their identity as God’s people and everything they owned would become community property.  Both what the sons of Jacob did and the words of Hamor and Shechem showed that neither of them dealt with the other in good faith.  Each of them proved by their actions how far they were removed from God.

After having heard of Hamor’s explaination of  both the conditions and the advantages of going along with circumcision to the men of Shechem they were willing go along with him. All the men of Shechem following the example of their leaders were circumcised.

1. Why were Hamor and Shechem willing to go along with the demands of the brothers?
2. What did they hope to gain?
3. Why was what Hamor told the citizens of the city bad for Jacob’s family?
4. How much were the actions of both the brothers and the Hivites alike?
5. Where was God all of the time these comments were being made?
6. Why could God not allow the things about which Hamor spoke actually take place?

Genesis 34:25-26

While the men of Shechem were recovering and still in pain, Simeon and Levi took advantage of the situation and killed the males of that city.  All of the men were probably killed because they were part of the agreement as Hamor had shared it.  They were looking to take advantage of the small number in Jacob’s family, but just the reverse took place.  Among those who were killed were Hamor and Shechem.  This was an act of revenge on the people of Shechem for what they had done.  Since Dinah had been given to Shechem, she would now be a widow.  Therefore no shame would now fall on her because she had been defiled by Shechem. The two brothers then took Dinah from the home of Shechem and went back home.

1. Why do you think what Simeon and Levi did might have been part of the brother’s plan all along?
2. What would you call what the two brothers did?
3. Was it justified?
4. Why was it necessary in their minds to kill all of the males in the city?
5. By taking Dinah back home what had they done for her?

Genesis 34:27-29

The other brothers who came to the city of the massacre took plunder as if it was the spoils of war.  Again like Simeon and Levi they believe their actions were justified because Shechem had defiled their sister.  For the Hivites the selfish act of one man had terrible consequences for the entire population. The Hivites had expected to acquire all the property of the Israelites, but it turned out that all they possessed went to Jacob’s family.

1. Why did the brothers treat the property of the Hivites as plunder?
2. Were they justified in their actions?
3. How did their actions affect any witness they may have had among the other Canaanite people?
4. How did the selfish act of Shechem impact those around him?
5. Whatever happened to, “Vengeance is Mine thus says the Lord?’

Genesis 34:30-31

Jacob was appalled at what his sons had done.  He especially singled out Simeon and Levi for his harshest words.  He seemed to be concerned about two things, his reputation and the harm that might come to him because of their actions.  There are no words of condemnation for Shechem and his part in the whole episode. In his opinion he would now be considered the lowest of human beings.  But to look at this whole scenario none of this would have happened if he had been willing to deal with the situation as patriarch of the family.

The two brothers did not take the criticism lightly but lashed back at Jacob for his failure to take the leadership in dealing with Hamor and Shechem.  Simeon and Levi seemed to be saying to their father, “It appears that you were not going to do anything, so we stepped in to rescue  Dinah and preserved her reputation.”

1. Why was Jacob appalled?
2. What did he seem to be most concerned about?
3. Why did he take on himself the idea that the other Canaanites hold him personally responsible for what had happened?
4. Where did he fail?
5. What do you think of the response of Simeon and Levi?
6. Why did they feel justified by what they did?

You-

• Spend time alone with God searching His word and praying before making major life changing decisions.
• Think about the consequences of any decision you make.
• See how the decisions you make will impact the lives of others.
• Think through any agreements you make to be sure that your motives for making them are pure.
• Do not enter into agreements with an ungodly person unless you are sure of all the factors that have gone into them.
• Do not take matters into your own hands when dealing with others.  The Bible often speaks of letting God handle situations.

We-

The church exists in a hostile world today.  We have to accept that fact.  In order to continue to be a church that is in the world but not of it we must have a passion for the ways of God.  His word gives clear direction to the lifestyle we are to live.  We cannot and should not compromise the truths found in its pages.  The only way to do so is to seek the wisdom found in its pages.  We have the advantage of six thousand years of history but we still have to live out every single day in the real world in the same way that all of the people of the Bible did.  We can clearly see that their failures were a result of turning away from God.  We are to never to let a day go by that we do not spend time with our Father.  If we give Him our lives He will indeed allow to serve Him in a way that glorifies Him.

Additional Notes:

BL-In chapter 34, Jacob’s choice of neighborhood turns out to be a bad one.  His daughter Dinah, while out visiting the local women, attracts the eye of Shechem, the Hivite ruler’s son.  Shechem violates Dinah and then asks his father to negotiate for her hand in marriage.  Jacob leaves the matter to his sons, who are furious over what has been done to their sister.  Filled with thoughts of vengeance, they pretend to agree to the wedding and trick the Hivite men into circumcision.  No effort is made to explain the special covenant relationship Jacob’s people enjoy with God; no attempt is made to communicate the many blessings God has showered on them.  Thus, the sacred rite which marked the Hebrews as God’s chosen people is perverted from a privilege into a weapon.  While the men are immobilized by their pain, Simeon and Levi attack the city, killing the men, seizing the women and children, and plundering their belongings. Fearing for his family’s safety, Jacob offers up a weak!
 protest, but he is quickly silenced by his sons’ angry response.
  Where could Jacob have gone so wrong?  Several problems were discussed, including his decision to settle where Jacob, not God, decided; his boastful attitude in the way he chose to honor God; his lack of involvement in his daughter’s life; his abdication of patriarchal authority to his sons; and his lack of control over his childrens’ actions. Jacob was a believer in the one true God; but his faith, like his parenting, was still weak in many ways. 

WM-We can expect godless men like Shechem to act like one who has no moral foundation or a relationship with God to restrain them. (Gen. 34:2)

M-Godless men are moved to live by feelings, passions, desires and lusts.  These drives often end in negative results.  In Shechem we see a man who was willing to go to any lengths to get what he wanted.  (Gen. 34:2-4, 8, 11-12)

M- Hamar, Shechem’s father, was asking the Israelites to be part of a world that condone the kind of sexual immorality committed by Shechem and idol worship.  God had already separated Abraham from the heathen world in which he had lived and made into a chosen  and separated people.  Hamar was attempting to entice from the relationship with God to a materialistic godless lifestyle. (Gen. 34:8-10)

M-Grief and anger will at times cause people to act irrationally.  Another way to look at this would be to say, men show by whom and what they are controlled by the way they behave.  Here is a case of two wrongs do not make a right. (Gen. 34:13, 25-26)

WM-Jacob’s sons used circumcision as a ploy to be able to attack Shechem while the men of the city were healing. Circumcision was to be physical witness of the covenant relationship of God with the Israel not for treachery and revenge. (Gen. 34:13-17, 25-26)

WM-Hamor and Shechem saw the marriage and circumcision as a way of participating in the wealth of Jacob and his family.  They were unscrupulous men at best. How they responded to the request of the brothers was just another indication of the mindset of the world as ungodly men seek to do what profits them.  (Gen. 34:22-24)

TM-What a total misunderstanding of the covenant of God we see in the actions of Jacob’s sons.  “Abraham believed and his belief was reckoned to him as righteousness.” Circumcision was given a sign of the covenant God made with him.  Trying to be good and thinking that will get one to heaven is the same mindset as the sons claiming that it is circumcision of the flesh, and not the spirit, is what made them unique.  They totally missed the point. How did the use circumcision? What did they expect to happen? What was their response when Hamar and Shechem actually followed through with their requests? (Gen. 34:14-17)

M-Men with the wrong motives will only do something if they believe they will personally benefit from their actions.  The persuasive argument used by Hamar to convince the men of his city to be circumcised was, “Will not their livestock and their property and all their animals be ours?”  This was blatant assimilation on his part and would have destroyed the uniqueness of the Jewish people. (Gen. 34:23)

 RT- Some of the sons had taken part in a deception involving their sister and the man who loved her and his father.  They had taken bloody revenge on Hamor and Shechem and all the men of the city because of what Hamor had done to Dinah.  (Gen. 34:25-31)

C-A number of incidences took place at Shechem that would have a great impact of Jacob’s family.

1. Dinah was raped by Shechem, A Hivite.
2. Shechem asked for Dinah’s hand in marriage.
3. The brothers fo Dinah deceived the men of Shechem convincing them to be circumcised .  This was done under the pretence of allowing Dinah to marry a Hivite, a non Jew.
4. Simeon and Levi took revenge on the males and killed all of them including Shechem and his father Hamor  who agreed to the terms set out by the brothers.
5. The rest of the brothers came and plundered the city.
6. Jacob’s family became odious to all who lived around them.

(Gen. 34:27-31)

RT- A double deceit took place in the story of the sons of Jacob and Shechem.  The first incidence took place after the rape of Dinah.  The sons of Jacob agreed that Dinah would be given to Shechem if all of the men of Shechem would be willing to be circumcised.  It was the intention of the brothers to take revenge on the men of Shechem. 

In the second case the brothers totally misunderstood what the act of circumcision of the flesh signified.  How could godless men know that it stood for the covenant relationship between God who had given the command to perform it and His chosen people.  It was not to be used just to make others physically like the Israelites.  It was to signify the spiritual union between God and man as each served the living God.  (Gen. 34:13-15)

GC-Over and over again the Scriptures emphasis that true circumcision is of the heart and not of the flesh.  It is all about internal and eternal relation with God.  (Gen. 34:13-15; Prov. 21:2)

RT-As cruel and horrible the act of revenge may have been, there was a third dynamic taking place here also.  It was never God’s intention for His people to become one with the very people who would be judged for their immorality.  Abraham was told that his descendents would return to the land and bring judgment on the people but not yet. It would occur more than four hundred years later.  (Gen. 34:22; 15:14

WM-Jacob seemed to be more concerned about his reputation and fear of what the Canaanites might do to him than what had been done to his daughter. He certainly seemed to be lacking in empathy for his own family. This attitude would cause more problems down the road than the actions of the people living in the land. (Gen. 34:30-31)