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Easy Reading Edition Date

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SABBATH—DATE

Easy Reading Edition December 9-15

READ FOR THIS WEEK’S STUDY: Genesis 29–33.

MEMORY VERSE:“Your name will not be Jacob anymore. Instead, it will beIsrael. You have struggled with God and with men. And you have won”(Genesis 32:28, NIrV).

JACOB’S 20 YEARS OF SERVICE (WORK) IN MESOPOTAMIA WAS FILLEDWITH JEALOUSY, QUARRELING, AND EVIL PLANNING. One sister tried tobeat the other sister in having more sons. They both competed for first place intheir husband’s love. Son-in-law and father-in-law shone in trying to deceiveeach other. Laban showed interest only in promoting himself. The Bible storynotes more faith in potions (drugs) and human plans than in God. How little haschanged in thousands of years!

Genesis 29–33 show that there is no good reason to trust in human power.Genesis 29–33 also show that God’s promises of mercy,1 forgiveness, andacceptance are sure and real. (How fortunate for us God has not changedeither!) Among all these sad stories of human faithlessness, jealousy, and evilplanning, we can see God’s mercy at work. This is a stunning and powerful tes-tament (testimony) to God’s grace for sinners.

We can see this clearly in Jacob’s night of wrestling. Here, again, we can seejust how close God can come to those who in faith and repentance2 look for Him.At Jabbok, repentant3 Jacob became Israel. And God’s plan succeeded, eventhough He had to work with weak human material.

SABBATH—DECEMBER 9

1mercy—kindness we do not deserve.2repentance—being sorry for your sins, wanting to stop sinning, and turning away from your sins.3repentant—being sorry for your sins and wanting to stop sinning.

11Jacob Becomes Israel

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Lesson 1 Lesson TitleLesson 11 Jacob Becomes Israel

FAMILY PROBLEMS (Genesis 29)

In the story of Jacob, Rachel, andLeah, there is more trickery. This timeJacob is the victim instead of the per-son who plays the trick!

Jacob married two sisters. Later,Moses’ law did not permit a secondmarriage while the first sister was alive(Leviticus 18:18). Anyway, Jacob’smarriage was bothered by a great dealof evil planning, jealousy, quarreling,and sadness. God allowed these mar-riages. He also allowed the bitterresults that followed it.

In those days, people thought thatchildren showed God’s favor andattracted the husband’s love. So Godblessed Leah with several children.The names of the children of bothwives and maidservants show thefeelings of Leah and Rachel at thebirth of these babies. The names alsoshowed the quarreling that came upbetween them. The names eithercome from or sound like the Hebrewverbs4 that come with the names.

Read Genesis 30:1-4. Wherehave we seen this practice before?What does it mean that childrenkeep repeating the sins of theirparents?

Read Genesis 30:5-13. What sin-ful force is driving these actions?

By the end of this part of the story,

Jacob had fathered the children offour different women. Rachel latergave birth to Joseph (Genesis 30:22-24). So Jacob lived in a home withfour women. Jacob loved some ofthem more than others. Some heldhigher “status” than others. But allwere the mothers of his 12 children.Talk about a recipe for quarreling,jealousy, and evil planning! All thiswould later bear bitter fruit for Jacob,who should have known God better.God had given Jacob many promises(Genesis 28:10-22). He should havetrusted those promises without hav-ing to depend on having many wives.

What challenges are you facingthat make it difficult to live by faithrather than by seeing? How canyou learn to trust God’s promisesso you do not depend on thewrong methods to get those prom-ises fulfilled?

JACOB’S WAGES (Genesis 30:25-43)

How did Laban and Jacob try tooutsmart each other after Jacobhad asked permission for himselfand his family to return to his owncountry? Genesis 30:25-43.

The agreement on payment forcedJacob to stay for another six years(Genesis 31:41). Jacob seems tomake a generous offer because in the

MONDAY—DECEMBER 11

SUNDAY—DECEMBER 10

4verbs—words that show action.

Lesson 1 Lesson Title

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Lesson 11 Jacob Becomes Israel

Near East “goats, as a rule, are blackor dark brown. They are rarely whiteor spotted with white, and sheep arefor the most part white. They arerarely black or speckled (spotted).”—Adapted from The SDA BibleCommentary, vol. 1, p. 394. As Labanwould have all the pure-color animals,the deal seemed to be an advantagefor Jacob’s father-in-law.

How did Laban try to stop hispure-color animals from havingoff-color characteristics? Genesis30:35, 36.

To what false belief did Jacobdepend on after Laban separatedhis “pure” animals from Jacob’s“spotted” animals? Genesis 30:37-43.

Both Jacob and Laban did notseem to know that those animals thatappeared to be pure in color still car-ried in them some color genes5 thatcould be passed on to their babies.Not knowing what he should do,Jacob experimented with the falsebelief that looking at strong patternsduring pregnancy would help a mothermark her babies.

Jacob’s planning appeared tomeet with success (Genesis 30:43).But what message did God give tohim in a dream? Genesis 31:7-12.

Jacob gave credit to God’s blessing

for his success (Genesis 31:9). Godblessed him, even though his beliefswere false (Genesis 31:12). So, thedream of Genesis 31:10-12 may havebeen God’s way of showing Jacob howthe off-color genes were passed on bythe pure-color parents. God used thisopportunity to show Jacob that He didnot let Laban take advantage of him.

Jacob made many mistakes. ButGod was still with him. What hopedoes this offer you?

JACOB’S ESCAPE TO CANAAN(Genesis 31)

What happened that encouragedJacob to finally leave? Genesis31:1-16.

As a result of his selfishness, Labanmade his daughters angry at him. Healso changed Jacob’s wages tentimes. Laban’s absence gave Jacob achance to leave Mesopotamia (Gen-esis 31:17-21). Rachel stole herfather’s household idols. This mayshow the fact that her beautifulappearance hid a half-convertedheart. After 13 years of marriage,Rachel still had not surrendered fullyto her husband’s God (Genesis31:19).

What “holier-than-thou” chargedid Laban make against Jacob

TUESDAY—DECEMBER 12

5genes—the “cells” we are born with. Genes determine what color our hair and eyes are. Genes also deter-mine things such as what size we are.

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when he caught up with him?(Genesis 31:22-30).

Jacob believed he was innocent.So he told Laban that anyone whowas found having the stolen idolswould not live (Genesis 31:32). Thiskind of penalty followed Mesopotamianlaw. But it was a foolish decision.Jacob’s sons made the same foolishdecision years later (Genesis 44:9).Rachel’s act showed she was thedaughter of Laban because she hadhis character (Genesis 31:32-35).Since Laban was unable to supportany of his charges, Jacob scolded hisfather-in-law and gave credit for suc-cess to God (Genesis 31:36-42).

Read carefully Jacob’s answer toLaban in Genesis 31:36-42. Whatcan we learn from this answerabout Jacob’s character that helpsexplain God’s blessing on him?

In the end, Jacob was innocent. Buthe gave all the credit to God. Thisshows that, no matter what mistakeshe had made, Jacob knew that Godwas working in his life. Jacob hadfaults. But he was trying to live byfaith. How important that we all be likeJacob in this way.

JACOB AND ESAU(Genesis 32:1-32)

Soon Jacob separated from Laban,and was on his own after so many

years. Then two angels came to him(Genesis 32:1, 2). The verses do notsay what they said to him. But theangels’ appearance gave Jacobcourage and confidence. Perhapsthat explains why Jacob decides tosend messengers to his brother(Genesis 32:3).

Notice that in his message,Jacob calls himself “your servantJacob” (Genesis 32:4, NIrV). Whydo you think he would use theword servant? Read Genesis24:23; Genesis 27:29, 37.

The messengers return with badnews. They give no answer from Esauto the friendly message Jacob hadsent. Instead, they say that Esau iscoming toward Jacob with four hundredmen. No wonder Jacob was “very wor-ried and afraid” (Genesis 32:7, NIrV).

So Jacob prays. What are theimportant parts of his prayer?Genesis 32:9-12. What was hepraying for? What promises washe claiming? How did his prayershow that he depended on God?

Jacob’s prayer was sincere andheartfelt. But Jacob was also going touse some kind words and wisdom(Genesis 32:13-21). He had hopedthat with all his gifts, he could makehis brother feel better (Genesis32:20). Perhaps the lesson here is:Sure, we need to pray. We need todepend on God. But at the sametime, we need to do all we can within

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God’s will to see that the prayer isanswered.

Read Genesis 33. What can wesee in the relationship betweenJacob and Esau to show they hadchanged?

No matter what spiritual growthJacob and Esau had experiencedover the years, time also healswounds. What can you do to helpreduce whatever pain you might befeeling over past wrongs whilewaiting for time to heal yourwounds?

FIGHTING AND FAITH (Genesis32:23-32)

What does the story in Genesis32:23-32 say to you? What can youlearn from this story about yourown “struggles” with God? Alsoread Hosea 12:4.

Ellen White is clear that Jacob waswrestling with Christ, the “ ‘Angel of thecovenant.’ ”6—Patriarchs and Prophets,p. 197. No wonder that two times during the night of wrestling the versessay that it was really God who hadappeared to Jacob. Here again, we see just how up close and per-sonal God is willing to get with Hispeople.

Why is Jacob’s name change soimportant?

Jacob saw that he had struggledwith God. So he pleaded for a bless-ing (Genesis 32:26). God rewardedhis faith by changing his name. Nomore would his name be Jacob (“toseize the heel,” “to overreach” or “todeceive”). Now he would be calledIsrael (“he strives [works hard] withGod”).

What meaning can you get fromJacob’s words in Genesis 32:30?

When the struggle was over, Jacobsaid he had seen God’s face andlived. In a way, this is the same oppor-tunity offered to all people through thedeath of Jesus. Jesus was God inhuman form. Through His life anddeath as our Substitute,7 He broughtreconciliation8 between heaven and

THURSDAY—DECEMBER 14

6covenant—a promise or agreement between God and His people.7substitute—someone who takes another person’s place. Jesus is our Substitute because He died for our sins.8reconciliation—having a relationship with God again.

Jacob saw God face to face.

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earth. Because of Jesus and what Hehas done, we all can “see the face ofGod” and live. Our past sins do nothave to destroy us before the face ofHim who is “a consuming [destroying]fire” (Hebrews 12:29).

How have you been striving(struggling) with God? What doesit mean to strive (struggle) withGod? Might you even come awayfrom such striving, like Jacob, witha “limp”?

ADDITIONAL STUDY: Read Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets,pp. 190–203; The SDA Bible Commen-tary, vol. 1, comments on Genesis29:31–35:29.

“Jacob had left Padan-aram in obe-dience to God’s leading. But it was notwithout many fears and doubts that hefollowed the road he had walked as anescapee twenty years before. Jacobalways remembered his sin in deceiv-ing his father. He knew that his longexile9 was the direct result of that sin.He thought about these things dayand night. Jacob’s conscience10 madehis journey very sad. As the hills ofJacob’s own land appeared beforehim in the distance, his heart wasdeeply moved. All the past became

very clear to him. With the memory of Jacob’s sin came the thought of God’s favor toward him, and thepromises of His help and leading.”—Adapted from Ellen G. White,Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 195.

Pix #43

“Jacob had received the blessingfor which his soul had hungered. Godhad pardoned his sin as a deceiver.The crisis in his life was past. Doubt,struggles, and sorrow had madeJacob’s life bitter. But now all waschanged. Sweet was the peace ofreunion with God. Jacob was no longerafraid to meet his brother. God, whohad forgiven Jacob’s sin, could moveEsau’s heart to humbly accept Jacob’shumiliation and repentance.”—Adaptedfrom Ellen G. White, Patriarchs andProphets, p. 198.

FRIDAY—DECEMBER 15

Jacob and Esau would soon meet.

9exile—being forced to live away from home.10conscience—a knowledge or sense of right and wrong with an urge to do right; moral judgment.


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Pix #44

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•As a class, discuss Jacob’s actionsin preparing to meet Esau. Why didJacob work so hard to try to softenhis brother’s anger? Did God’s prom-ises not give him enough faith? WasJacob showing a lack of faith by hisactions? Or were his actions proof ofhis faith?

• Ask those willing to talk aboutwhen time healed some painfulwound. What lessons can be learnedfrom these experiences? What canwe do to help people hurting fromwounds that can take a long time toheal?Jacob and Esau meet again.

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