SESSION 6

Past (Genesis 30:25-30)

Jacob’s request to Laban and Laban’s response.

25 After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban,
“Send me on my way so that I can return to my homeland.
26 Give me my wives and my children that I have worked for, and let me go.
You know how hard I have worked for you.”
27 But Laban said to him,
“If I have found favor with you, stay.
I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.”
28 Then Laban said, “Name your wages, and I will pay them.”
29 So Jacob said to him,
“You know how I have served you and how your herds have fared with me.
30 For you had very little before I came, but now your wealth has increased.
The Lord has blessed you because of me. And now, when will I also do something for my own family?”

Application Point:

Believers can be encouraged by God’s past blessings.

Mini-Lecture:

summarize Genesis 29:1-30:24.

• Jacob was forced to leave home
• On his journey Jacob encountered the Lord at Bethel.
• the Lord had promised to be with Jacob wherever he went and to bring him back to his homeland
• Jacob arrived in Paddan-aram.
• Jacob agreed to work seven years for Rachel.
• after being tricked to Mary Leah, Jacob then agreed to work another seven years for Rachel.
• Leah bore Jacob six sons-Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun-as well as a daughter named Dinah.
• Jacob also had four sons by the maids of Leah and Rachel. Dan and Naphtali. Gad and Asher.
• Finally, God ?remembered? Rachel, and she bore Joseph,

Eventually, Jacob realized that Laban?s attitude toward him had changed.
Despite the fact that Laban had cheated Jacob and had changed his wages on numerous occasions,
the Lord had kept the promise He made at Bethel.
He had been with Jacob, protected him, and blessed him.

Ask:

• How would you describe the relationship between Jacob and Laban? Why?

Explain:

As Laban’s son-in-law
you might have expected a warmer family relationship.
But the implication is that Laban considered Jacob as more of a servant than a son-in-law.

Ask:

• How did Laban’s flock change while Jacob was watching them?
• How does God’s past blessings raise a person’s expectations for the future? (PSG, p. 59)

Key Word

Divination

This term identifies making decisions or foretelling the future by reading signs and omens.
The Bible refers to several means of divination.
For example, the color, size, and position of the animal’s liver were considered when making choices or determining an individual’s fate.
Pouring out arrows after shaking them in a quiver helped decide where an army should attack an enemy.
People also practiced divination by looking into a cup filled with liquid (Gen. 44:4-5).

Egyptians, Philistines, and Babylonians engaged in divination.
Both the Old and New Testaments record the Lord’s condemnation of such practices
(see Ex. 22:18; Lev. 19:26; Deut. 18:9-22; 2 Kings 9:22; Isa. 3:1-3; Acts 8:9-24).
The Scriptures repeatedly condemn the practice because the source is often demonic.
Those who practice divination are attempting to circumvent the Lord to find guidance for the future.

Write:

Present
“Flocks multiplied”
and “Family grew.”