Genesis 34:1-13 Shechem defiles Dinah

  Dinah “went out to see the daughters of the land,” and wound up in trouble with a young man named Shechem.  He lay with her and then decided that he wanted to marry her.  Of course, this infuriated her brothers and defiled her body.  The Bible shows us in...

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Genesis 33:1-20 Jacob meets Esau

  After such a great prayer meeting with God in Genesis 32, Jacob should have been ready to meet Esau without any fear or reservation.  He should not have worried about dividing up his family or sending out the droves.  He should have been ready to go all the way...

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Genesis 32 Jacob Prepares to meet Esau

  A Portrayal of Protection, v. 1-2 Jacob met the angels that he had seen on the ladder in Gen. 28:12-15.  He called the place where he met them, “Mahanaim,” which means “two hosts.”   A Portrayal of Precaution, v. 3-6 Jacob sent out messengers to tell Esau that he...

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Genesis 31 Jacob heads Home

Genesis 31 Jacob heads Home  CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO Jacob Decides to Leave (1-3) Jacob decided to leave for three reasons.   First, his brothers-in-law were mad because he had ripped off their father. Second, Laban was mad because Jacob had outsmarted him. Third, the Lord told him it was...

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Genesis 30 Jacob’s Family Troubles

  Rachel’s Envy (1-2) Envy is a feeling of discontent and resentment over another’s desirable possessions (Gen. 26:14; 37:11; Matt. 27:18).  Rachel envied Leah because Leah could have children and she couldn’t.  She was so mad that she threatened Jacob with suicide.  She could have prayed, instead, like Hannah did...

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Genesis 29 Jacob runs to Laban

  Jacob Journeys to Haran (1-6) Haran is located in the southern region of Turkey, just above the northern border of Syria.  It is the place where Abraham’s father, Terah, took his family when they left Ur of the Chaldees.  Evidently, the city was named for Abraham’s brother, Haran, Lot’s...

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Genesis 28 Jacob’s Ladder

Genesis 28 Jacob’s Ladder CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO Jacob ran away from Esau and obeyed his parents command to not marry a Canaanite woman.  On Jacob’s way to Padanaram, the home of Laban, Rebekah’s brother, the Lord spoke with him in a dream about a ladder.  In the meantime, Esau,...

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Genesis 27:30-46 Esau’s Blessing

  When Esau returned from hunting and cooking, he was shocked to find out that Jacob had stolen his blessing.  Esau wept, begged for a blessing and received it, and decided to kill his brother.  So, Rebekah sent Jacob away to her brother Laban until Esau could cool off.  ...

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Genesis 27:1-29 Jacob’s Deception

  Genesis 27:1-29 Jacob’s Deception CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO   When Isaac was 124, he had nearly gone blind.  His older brother, Ishmael, had died the year before.  So, Isaac decided it was time to “get his house in order,” and pass on the family blessing to his oldest heir,...

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Genesis 26:6-35 Isaac’s Troubles in Gerar

Genesis 26:6-35 Isaac’s Troubles in Gerar CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO He Stayed Too Long, v. 6 When God told Isaac to dwell in Gerar, he told him to “sojourn.”  To sojourn means to stay as a temporary resident.  To dwell means to live, reside, inhabit or occupy as a place...

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