Week 3: Bonus Session 3 Read Genesis 28: 5-22 Well he’s down, and he’s out of the house, and Jacob is on his way to Paddan-aram. The quiet home boy now leaves under duress. Now in most literature, a sojourner often finds his home and a safe space to shelter. Tonight though, young Jacob camps out under the stars. This is a fabulous place to review inductive bible study. So I’ll lead you through it right here. Remember, there are 3 main activities, Observe, Interpret, and Apply. We’re just going to use what we can glean from these verses to try to understand this passage better. Grab your journal and go- Observe (who, what, when, where, why, how?) Basically, what do you see in these verses? Who are the characters? What do they do? What is said or unsaid? Interpret (literally, what does it mean?) What do you learn about God’s character, or Jacob's character (maybe human character? ) What do you think the ladder represents? When God speaks, does He address short-term or long-term needs? Why do you think Jacob awoke afraid? Application (where and how will I use this knowledge to change my life?) So what? Do I view God as involved in my life or as a disinterested observer? Do I think He protects me? How does that affect my actions? I want to explore that last answer with you. This is one of the points I find crucial in today’s pandemic crisis. In Genesis 28:15 God says, “…For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised for you.” If I was publishing this Bible Study Guide in print—this is the verse I’d highlight in the margin and ask you to memorize. I think it’s pretty key to how we move forward. We’ve all made promises that we had every intention of keeping. But one of the kids got sick, or our job got transferred, or any number of important things came up and we forgot our original promise. But our God is not like that. He can’t break a promise because it’s not in His nature. Over and over, Scripture reminds us that God is faithful, that is, His word will come to pass, on the earth and in our lives. God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Numbers 23:19 NLT We know by experience that not all promises are immediately fulfilled. And during those times of waiting, our faith and God’s word tell us that His promises WILL come to pass. In our moments of deepest crisis, God is still with us and will eventually bring His promises to fulfillment in us if we trust Him. Jacob is beginning to understand this as a young man on his way to Haran. God’s promise means that God’s protection will outlast all of Jacob’s jouneys. My understanding of God’s faithfulness is still growing, friends. How about you—where are you in this faith journey? Now read those last verses in chapter 28 that contain Jacob’s vow. Notice how his response mirrors God’s promise. Isn’t that what God’s promises do for our hearts—soften them so that we can respond to Him in a similar manner? Last question for the day-- What do we know about Jacob’s relationship with God now? Journal prompt-- What is a promise that you feel remains unfulfilled in your life? How is your heart as you wait for it?
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