Session 8
changes and charges that occur in these verses.
9 God appeared to Jacob again after he returned from Paddan-aram,
and he blessed him.
10 God said to him,
“Your name is Jacob; you will no longer be named Jacob,
but your name will be Israel.” So he named him Israel.
11 God also said to him,
“I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply.
A nation, indeed an assembly of nations, will come from you,
and kings will descend from you.
12 I will give to you the land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac.
And I will give the land to your future descendants.”
13 Then God withdrew from him at the place where he had spoken to him.
14 Jacob set up a marker at the place where he had spoken to him -
a stone marker. He poured a drink offering on it and poured oil on it.
15 Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.
Believers can live in light of God’s promises.
Add the word “multiply” to the list of verbs.
Display both the black and white sheets of paper again,
sharing that believers can move from darkness to a place of hope based on God’s promises and protection.
Share that the difference in Genesis 34 and Genesis 35 is the presence and promises of God.
Marker
The Hebrew term can also be rendered “pillar” or “monument.”
The same term occurs in Genesis 35:20 to designate the memorial that Jacob set up at Rachel’s grave.
Such standing stone landmarks often had religious significance.
They certainly did for Jacob when he consecrated his first marker at Bethel (28:16-22)
and set another one when he returned in chapter 35.
However, God commanded His people to destroy markers that had been set up to idols (Ex. 23:24).
A renewed commitment is evident in these verses.
Jacob is now Israel, and Luz is now Bethel.
From a place of darkness, Jacob found a new sense of hope in God’s promises.
Meanwhile, God continued his work in the lives of His people, moving them toward the ultimate fulfillment of His covenant.
Review these points from Apply the Text on page 81 of the Personal Study Guide:
Invite the group to share how these statements are supported by the Scripture verses read in this session.
Direct the group’s attention to the Bible Skill (PSG, p. 80).
Briefly share a summary of the word “Christian,” from a Bible dictionary.
Explain that just as Jacob had a name change, believers in Christ’s time had a name change.
Group adults into teams of two to four people and examine the following Scriptures:
Acts 11:26; 26:28;
and 1 Peter 4:16.
Point out the second set of questions on page 81 of the PSG.
Briefly discuss the second set of questions.
Close in prayer
thanking God for His presence and protection. Praise Him for the hope found in renewed commitments.
Reinforce the session by encouraging the group to spend time reflecting on the hope found in Christ and praising Him for his faithfulness. Follow up with anyone in the group who missed the session. Send the group a text or an email highlighting Genesis 35:11. Share that this is the memory verse for this week. Encourage the group to work on memorizing the verse and asking God to help them see how His promise to Jacob relates to His promises to them.
Provide copies of the hymn “
Trust and Obey” (Baptist Hymnal 2008, No. 500).
Enlist a volunteer to read the verses as the group listens.
Sing the chorus together.
Encourage adults to focus on words that reflect God’s promises.
Point out that God works through our lives when we are faithful to obey Him.
Challenge the group to consider how they can obey God more fully as they work through today’s Scripture passages.