Lesson 27<\/p>\n
The Deceiver Out Deceived<\/p>\n
Genesis 29<\/p>\n
Me-<\/p>\n
Seeing how the world operates I have become somewhat cynical in my old age.\u00a0 I have learned to be suspicious of those who are offering what they claim to be a good deal.\u00a0 The old saying, \u201cIf it sounds too good to be true then it is actually too good to be true.\u201d\u00a0 Anyone offering something for nothing is probably trying to deceive.\u00a0 Today more than ever I find that people are trying to prey on especially the elderly attempting to cheat them out of their money.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Many years ago some individuals I know got caught up in a Ponzi scheme. As much as I tried to warn them they would not listen and lost money in the process.\u00a0 I have found the only way to discover whether something is valid is to research it.\u00a0 The second and most important thing for each of us who call ourselves followers of Christ is to ask does our actions line up with the word of God.<\/p>\n
We-<\/p>\n
The Bible is full of examples of individuals, including those in our present study, who made it a practice to mislead others.\u00a0 Even in churches today, people are being led by false shepherds in to believing false teachings.\u00a0 Just look at the issues of homosexuality, abortion and accepting conduct not proper for believers in which God\u2019s word has been twisted to suit themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Throughout the studies for the last few weeks, we have seen the trouble brought on in the lives of Abraham and his descendents because they did not seek God\u2019s guidance.\u00a0 We should know by now that He will never mislead us.\u00a0 Paul met a group of people who would not be fooled. \u00a0In Acts 17:11 we are told of the attitude of the Bereans.\u00a0 It was said of them, \u201cNow these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.\u201d\u00a0 They heard Paul but verified what he said to be true by God\u2019s word.\u00a0 This should be our practice as well.\u00a0 One reason that we do not is because it takes work and most of us are not willing to take the time to do so.<\/p>\n
God<\/p>\n
Genesis 29:1-3<\/p>\n
With the promise of God ringing in his ears Jacob proceeded on his journey to Padam-Aram.\u00a0 Looking around, upon his arrival, he saw shepherds with their flocks at a well so he would have known that he was close to the city. The writer makes special note of the fact that the stone covering the well was very large, therefore quite heavy.\u00a0 As one would imagine the stone was there to keep the water and the well clean.\u00a0 With the winds the well could very easily be filled with sediment.\u00a0 Also it was probably to keep people or animals from falling into it.\u00a0 To keep from having to moving the stone continually the shepherds would wait until all the flocks of the area came together before moving the stone and watering the sheep.<\/p>\n
Genesis 29:4-6<\/p>\n
Jacob initiated the conversation with the shepherds.\u00a0 Notice his boldness.\u00a0 He began by calling these perfect strangers, brothers.\u00a0 He may have felt a certain kinship with those men who were in the same possession as he. \u00a0Once he had greeted them he then asked where they lived.\u00a0 To each of his questions their answers were very short and to the point.\u00a0 They did not know this man and were not about to volunteer any more information than was necessary. Look at the questions and answers.<\/p>\n
They did inform him that Laban\u2019s daughter Rachel was approaching.\u00a0 Whether they did this to be friendly or to deflect him from asking other questions is unknown.<\/p>\n
Genesis 29:7-8<\/p>\n
Jacob\u2019s statement was pretty bold in light of the fact that he was a stranger to the shepherds.\u00a0 By questioning them he set himself up as an authority on the proper care of sheep. He seemed to imply that the men had wasted a good portion of the day waiting by the well when the sheep could have been in the pasture.\u00a0 \u00a0That they even answered him at all is quite surprising.\u00a0 Their reason rested on the fact that the stone was heavy and large and they did not want to have to move it but once during the day.\u00a0 It seems to indicate that it would take more than one man to roll it off of the well. To have done it any earlier would have left Rachel to fend for herself.<\/p>\n
Genesis 29:9-12<\/p>\n
Upon seeing Rachel, Jacob leaped into action.\u00a0 In a way proving the men wrong about the size and weight of the stone, he rolled it away by himself.\u00a0 He then watered Rachel\u2019s sheep.\u00a0 The roles are reversed in the narrative as compared with the servant of Abraham and Rebekah.\u00a0 Previously Rebekah watered the camels and the servant stood by in amazement.\u00a0 Here Jacob does the watering while Rachel stood by wondering what was taking place.\u00a0 It was only after he had finished his task that he identified himself as her relative.\u00a0 The text gives a good picture of the emotion that he felt having been directed to the right place by God.\u00a0 Like Rebekah, Rachel left the place and ran to tell her brother, Laban, what had just occurred.<\/p>\n
Genesis 29:13-14<\/p>\n
It should not be surprising that Laban ran to meet Jacob.\u00a0 Knowing that he was the son of Isaac, who was very wealthy, he might have the same outpouring of generosity that been extended to him previously by Abraham\u2019s servant.\u00a0 What a shock it would have been when he found Jacob, by himself without any possessions.\u00a0 He still invited him into his home.\u00a0 There Jacob told the family about his trip and how God had led him to the home of Laban.\u00a0 Omitted, most likely, were the details of the reason he had to make the journey. He then spent a month in the home as their guest.<\/p>\n
Genesis 29:15-20<\/p>\n
Even though Jacob had stayed a month with Laban, from the wording in the text it is obvious that he had not taken advantage of the situation but had actually done some work.\u00a0 Reading between the lines, one can see that he would have been more than willing to help Rachel with the sheep. After that month it was clear that Jacob was in no hurry to return home, so Laban determined to pay him for the work he was doing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Laban had two daughters. Leah was described as having some type of eye problem.\u00a0 Her sister, Rachel, was beautiful in body and face. Jacob saw this as an opportunity to get Rachel as his wife. He agreed to serve Laban for seven years for her.\u00a0 His decision was based totally on emotion and not reason.\u00a0 He still had major lessons to learn about seeking what God wanted him to do and not his own desires.\u00a0 His agreement was to soon lead to problems because he did not consult God before deciding his future.\u00a0 Laban knew he had a good deal.\u00a0 He appeared to be gracious when promising her to Jacob.\u00a0 Jacob was so in love with Rachel that Moses wrote that the seven years only seem to have lasted a few days.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Genesis 29:21-27<\/p>\n
Jacob had served Laban faithfully for seven years.\u00a0 He now came to collect on their agreement.\u00a0 It was time for Rachel to be given to him as his wife. Laban seemed to go along with the request of Jacob and gave had a feast. \u00a0That night however, Laban showed his true character.\u00a0 He sent Leah into Jacob instead of Rachel.\u00a0\u00a0 Instead of Rachel Leah became the wife of Jacob.\u00a0 Laban knew exactly what he was doing. He even provided a maid for Leah whose name was Zilpah.<\/p>\n
This act was one of the most unscrupulous, underhanded, deceitful and hurtful things that could have been carried out on all of the parties involved.\u00a0 Jacob was deceived thinking Laban an honorable man.\u00a0 Rachel did not become the wife of Jacob as she expected. Leah was forced to marry a man who she knew did not love her.<\/p>\n
Upon waking the following morning Jacob realized what had happened.\u00a0 Evidently he did not understand Laban\u2019s ground rules which probably changed to meet the situation as shall be seen later.\u00a0 When questioned he explained the older daughter had to be married before the younger one.\u00a0\u00a0 He then proposed that Jacob spend the wedding week with Leah and then he would be given Rachel if he would serve Laban another seven years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Genesis 29:28-30<\/p>\n
Jacob knew that he was trapped.\u00a0 He still loved Rachel so he was willing to be a husband to Leah in order to get Rachel as a wife.\u00a0 After the week of the wedding festivities, Rachel became his wife.\u00a0 Laban gave Bilhah as Rachel\u2019s maid.\u00a0 The last sentence of verse 30 is a good indicator of the problems that were to come.\u00a0 Moses wrote, \u201cHe loved Rachel more than Leah.\u201d\u00a0 From this one statement it would be expected that each of the women would be treated differently.<\/p>\n
Genesis 29:31-35<\/p>\n
Two things are known right away.\u00a0 Rachel, at that point, could not have children.\u00a0 God saw the situation that existed between Jacob and his two wives and between the two women.\u00a0 He saw that Rachel was the favorite, but He allowed Leah to be the one to have children.\u00a0 The names of the four sons she was to bear give a clear picture of her understanding of the relationship she had with Jacob.\u00a0 Each of the names had a special meaning which expressed her feelings at their birth.<\/p>\n
She said of:<\/p>\n
At that point she stopped having children.\u00a0 She had given Jacob a good family.\u00a0 Even though she had given birth to four boys, she surely still felt rejected by Jacob.\u00a0 With four sons he could look forward to the posterity of his family as God had promised. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
You-<\/p>\n
We-<\/p>\n
As we worked through the by-laws in the church last year one of the main priorities was to make sure that there was a climate of unity.\u00a0 It was decided that to have winners and losers was not what God intended for His people. The way to achieve this is to make sure that everything we do is in accordance with God\u2019s word and through prayer.\u00a0 To do otherwise is to create an climate of distrust and divisiveness.\u00a0 People will act according to the environment in which they work, play and worship.\u00a0 One last point to remember is that the church will be a reflection of the people who participate.\u00a0 The basis of a strong Christ like church is to have families who follow the teachings\u00a0\u00a0 found in the Bible.\u00a0 Let us pray as a body that God will build our families as we attempt to build His church<\/p>\n
Additional Notes:<\/p>\n
C-Upon meeting Rachel Jacob began a journey that would last for 20 years.\u00a0 This new life would take many different kinds of twists and turns before Jacob ever returned to Canaan. (Gen. 29:9-15)<\/p>\n
C-Jacob began working for Rachel\u2019s father.\u00a0 His wages at the end of the seven years were to be to have Rachel as his wife. The Bible tells us that this time went very quickly because he had a purpose in his work.\u00a0 His work had a great deal of meaning because instead of Rachel just be given to him he had actually worked for someone he loved deeply. (Gen. 29:15, 18-20)<\/p>\n
UE-Jacob, man who was characterized by instant gratification, was willing to serve seven years for a wife. (Gen. 29:18-20)<\/p>\n
M-Love is a strong motivator.\u00a0 Jacob ultimately served Laban for fourteen years for the hand of Rebekah.\u00a0 Even when he was deceived, he completed his service.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Gen. 29:20, 30)<\/p>\n
C-The deceiver met his match in Laban.\u00a0 By deception Leah became Jacob\u2019s wife instead of Rachel.\u00a0 For her to become his wife he had to work another 7 years. (Gen. 29:21-28)<\/p>\n
UE-Through Leah, the unloved wife would come the Christ who like His ancestor was unloved by the world into which He was born.\u00a0 The child who would be the father of the tribe from which Jesus would come was named Judah which means, \u201cPraise the Lord.\u201d (Gen. 29:31-35M-Laban was a selfish and deceitful man as he showed himself to be over and over again in his relationship with Jacob. (Gen. 29:26)<\/p>\n
C-Through Leah Jacob became the father of a son who he called Reuben.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Gen. 29:31-32)<\/p>\n
RT-Lord saw that Leah was unloved and opened the womb.\u00a0 It is very informative that we are also told that Rachel was barren. Why did God allow for Rachel to be unproductive at this point in time? (Gen. 29:31)<\/p>\n
M-For Leah and Rachel to find fulfillment was to be loved by their husband and to provide him with children. (Gen. 29:32-35, 30:8, 13)<\/p>\n
RT-At the birth of each son Leah\u2019s responded making by making the following statements:<\/p>\n
(Gen. 29:32-35)<\/p>\n
WM-In this chapter we begin to see a pattern of deceit from a man who lacked integrity. Laban\u2019s first act was to give Leah to Jacob as his wife instead of Rachel for whom he had served for seven years. (Gen. 29:25-26)<\/p>\n
WM-There was a void in Leah\u2019s life.\u00a0 She desired to have the love of her husband.\u00a0 The names of her children showed the deep longing she had to receive more attention from Jacob. (Gen. 29:31-35, 30:20)<\/p>\n
WM-Laban immediately set to motion a harmful family situation with his scheming.\u00a0 It led to unhealthy competition between the two sisters who used children and handmaids in their battle for the love and attention of Jacob. (Gen. 29:31-35; 30:1-21, 23-24)<\/p>\n
\u00a0C-Additional sons were born to Jacob and Leah, Simeon, Levi and Judah. (Gen. 29:33-35)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lesson 27 The Deceiver Out Deceived Genesis 29 Me- Seeing how the world operates I have become somewhat cynical in my old age.\u00a0 I have learned to be suspicious of those who are offering what they claim to be a good deal.\u00a0 The old saying, \u201cIf it sounds too good to be true then it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-135","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=135"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":136,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135\/revisions\/136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=135"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}