Last week we looked at the trouble Jacob got in because of his deceptive ways. Deception is a tool of Satan and has been since the beginning (Genesis 3:15), and he uses it even on the believer. There are many places in the New Testament where the writers warn believers about false teachers and being deceived, for example: Matthew 24; 2 Corinthians 2:3-11; Colossians 2:8; and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-11. Yet God is in control and will lead His children to the truth, if we’re willing to look, as He does with Jacob.
One of the most important things we have focused on is studying the Bible in context. The Torah, and most of the Old Testament in general, is historical narrative that is supported in its truths by other historical documents and archeology. These historical narratives tell the story as it happened in real time, in a real culture, to real people. Often these stories are about people living in contrast to God’s design and direction, and we find them suffering the consequences of being deceived by the norms of the culture and living outside of God’s will.
Can Christians be deceived today? Since we are warned in Scripture to be aware in the last days that many false teachers and deceivers will come, I want to point out, as examples, two false teachings that masquerade as the “only true” religion; yet they have similarities in their beginnings and teachings that match the Biblical warning and are eerily seen here in this short video clip:
The Apostle Paul says this in Galatian 1:6-9… I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
Bible Study Points: Read Genesis 32-36
Ch. 32 Jacob wrestles with God
As Jacob prepares to meet his brother Esau, he is fearful and divides his people into groups (probably in hopes of protecting and saving at least some of them if Esau attacked). and he put himself last. Jacob then spends a night alone where he wrestles with God. Was this Jesus he wrestled with? Many scholars say yes. It can be said that Jacob wrestled and won because he overcame his old self and became a new person with Jesus and God changes his name to Israel which means “One who struggles with God and with man.”
Ch. 33 Jacob returns and reconciles with Esau
Jacob reconciles with Esau who now had his own wealth and seems to have forgotten his vow to kill his brother. However, Jacob goes in the opposite direction of Esau and settles in Succoth, later moving into Shechem.
Ch. 34 The rape of Dinah
The narrative shifts and advances in time. Dinah, Jacob’s daughter is raped and Simeon and Levi (Jacob’s second and third born sons) murder all of the men in Shechem in retaliation. This story will prove important later during the blessing and prophecy by Jacob towards these sons.
Ch. 35 God renews the covenant with Jacob (The deaths of Rachel and Isaac)
Jacob is told by God to “go up to Bethel and settle there.” It is at this point that Jacob tells his household to “get rid of their foreign gods and purify themselves, and they buried those things and left them in Shechem.” Several deaths are recorded here: Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse; Rachel, who died during the birth of Jacob’s last son Benjamin; and Isaac. Important note: After the death of Rachel, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it. This will be important at the end of Genesis when Jacob gives the blessings and prophecies to his sons. This never comes up until that time and it goes to the character, or lack thereof, of Reuben. It is here than God renews and reinforces the Covenant with Jacob:
Then God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and He blessed him. God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; you shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.” Thus He called him Israel. God also said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come forth from you. “The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and I will give the land to your descendants after you.” 35:9-12
Ch. 36: Esau’s descendants and the beginning of the Nation of Edom
This is an account Esau and his descendants. It is important to note that in the future this nation will always support other nations who rise up against Israel. The short book of Obadiah is a prophecy against Edom and speaks of their destruction.
Bible Study Review:
- Summarize the story of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah. How was Jacob (who was known as a “deceiver” himself) deceived by Laban on several occasions? (Gen. Ch. 29:1-30) The competition between the wives of Jacob was intense, which is always true when you go outside God’s will. Did Jacob have a favorite and was it obvious to the other?
- The sons born to Jacob became the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Summarize what happened between Jacob and Laban after Joseph was born to Rachel? (Gen. Ch. 30:25-31:55)
- The first time Jacob confesses the LORD to be his God is in a prayer (Ch. 32:9-12). How does he acknowledge the Covenant (v. 12)? How did Jacob become Israel, and what happened when he wrestled with God? (Gen. Ch. 32:24-32)
- Everything seemed to go well for Jacob and his family after he reconciled with his brother Esau and settled in Shechem, but things took a turn for the worse. It is important to remember what Simeon and Levi did because it will come back on them in Jacob’s final blessings (at the end of Genesis). Summarize what happened to Dinah and the boys’ response (Gen. Ch. 34).
- God reemphasizes the Covenant and Jacob’s renaming because Jacob had turned a positive corner in his faith. What new clues do we get from what God said in this unfolding of the Covenant Promise? (Ch. 35:9-12)
Join us next week as we look at the beginning of the Nation of Israel and the story of Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph!
——————————————————————————————
You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.
Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.
Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.
Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
1 Peter 3:15