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1. Rivalry starts when you ___________ _____________ what

you want

2. Rivalry strives in _______________ to get what it wants

3. Rivalry causes ___________________ to be broken

4. God rescues you from rivalry by _______________ your

___________________

5. ____________________ is __________________ when rivalry is broken

Rescued – Genesis 30-31 Week Seventeen: Rejecting Rivalry

The best part about our study in Genesis so far is that you can almost never feel as if your problems are too much for God to handle. Jacob lied. He cheated. He stole. Then he got lied to, and cheated and stolen from. Through it all, he remained God’s beloved child. It’s pretty hard to believe, but it’s true! This week we will study the relationship between Rachel and Leah - 2 sisters. We will also see Jacob start the trek back home. It’s never easy to go back home. But sooner or later, you have to.

Day One: Jealousy

There is nothing worse than jealousy between siblings, except for jealousy between siblings married to the same man! Rachel may have had Jacob’s heart, but Leah had his kids. Now that’s a sure recipe for trouble. Read Genesis 30:1-24. Pray for wisdom to hear God’s voice for your life as you dig into God’s word. Exploring the Text

1. How would you describe the relationship between Leah and

Rachel?

17 2. Give the names of the 12 sons of Jacob in order. 3. Who was the mother of Judah through whom

Christ eventually came?

4. What are mandrakes and why were they

used between the sisters? 5. Write down verse 22. 6. What did Rachel name her firstborn?

Father we know that bitterness and resentment don’t belong in Christian hearts. Help us to give you our hurts, for we do not want

to live lives that are burdened and

shackled.

Application for your life?

Record your thoughts here.

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Personal Application 7. Spiritual maturity often comes through

suffering. In what difficult situation do you see God working to strengthen your faith and character right now?

8. Have you ever waited for what seemed like

forever before God remembered you? What can you hang onto during times of waiting to keep from despair?

17 Day Two: Prosperity

We didn’t hear much about Jacob in Genesis 30, but he’s still around. Imagine living with 2 jealous sisters. God is in the process of growing both Jacob and his family! Judah is born. Joseph is born. And it’s time for Jacob to move back home. Read Genesis 30:25-43. Exploring the Text 1. Why does Jacob want to leave, and why does Laban want him to

stay? 2. What arrangement does Jacob suggest for wages in vs.31-33? 3. What is Laban’s strategy in vs.34-48?

4. Describe how Jacob got back at Laban and increased the strength of his own flocks in vs.37-43.

5. How could Jacob and Laban have reacted in a better way to

prevent their growing conflict?

Thank God that even in the midst

of unfair treatment

He does not desert His children.

17 Personal Application 6. In what ways has jealousy affected the

relationships in your life? 7. Write down 2-3 lessons about marriage from

the story of Jacob and Rachel/Leah.

Application for your life?

Record your thoughts here.

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Day Three: Headed Home

Jacob is still trying to get home. Fortunately for Him, it’s God’s plan for him to go home too – meaning that nothing, not even Laban will be able to stand in his way. Today’s reading is from Genesis 31:1-16. Exploring the Text 1. What new factors in Jacob’s situation now prompt him to quit

working for Laban and return home? 2. How did God weigh in on Jacob’s decision to go home? 3. Read vs.7. What’s the irony of that verse?

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Genesis 31:13

I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. I am the God of Bethel….Now

arise, go out from the land and return to the land of your

kindred.

4. Write down the second part of vs.7. Comment. 5. I love vs.12-13. In these verses what encouraging aspects of God

are we reminded of? 6. What do Rachel and Leah say to Jacob? Is this the first time the

2 women agree on something?

Application for your life?

Record your thoughts here.

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Personal Application 7. A friend’s favor towards you can quickly turn

to anger. How should you regard people so that you aren’t disappointed when they no longer give you their favor?

8. If the story of Jacob and Laban has taught us

anything, it’s to not let conflict simmer over time. Is there anyone in your life right now with whom you have conflict that you need to resolve?

17 Day Four: You Can Run But You Can’t Hide

Jacob’s mind is made. He’s headed home. And though Jacob’s learned many lessons in Haran, he still hasn’t learned to fully trust God. He’s still a man very much afraid. Many of us struggle with the same kind of fear that Jacob struggled with: fear of other people, fear of the unknown, fear of the future. May God teach us how to trust him fully as we continue to learn from Jacob. Read Genesis 31:17-42. Exploring the Text 1. How did Jacob finally get the courage to actually leave Haran in

vs.19-20? 2. How did Laban react to Jacob leaving? What did he do? 3. What did God do to protect Jacob?

4. What reason did Jacob give Laban in vs.31 for escaping as he did?

5. What did Laban think that Jacob had stolen?

Who had the missing items?

6. How did Laban and Jacob defend their actions? 7. In verse 42, we see that Jacob finally gets it! What lessons has

Jacob learned in his time in Haran?

Romans 8:31

If God is on our side,

who can be against us?

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Application for your life?

Record your thoughts here.

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Personal Application 8. Why is it so difficult to see other’s point of

view in the middle of a disagreement? 9. If God hadn’t been on my side… (You fill in the blank!)

Day Five: The Oath

Yesterday we saw how Laban caught up with Jacob. Today we will see that what could have been a disastrous meeting actually ended up with reconciliation and renewed relationship. Finish up this week by reading Genesis 31:43-55. Exploring the Text

1. How did Jacob and Laban reconcile their differences?

2. What oath did the 2 men take to protect one another?

3. In vs.53, Laban talked about God. How did he describe God?

17 4. Do you think Jacob expected the outcome to turn out as it

had?

5. Should the events at the end of Genesis 31 have given Jacob some courage about the upcoming meeting with Esau?

Unresolved conflicts tend to create fear. The longer we put off

settling a difference,

the more likely we are to fear the outcome.

Application for your life?

Record your thoughts here.

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Personal Application 6. What have you learned from today’s

passage that can help you deal with a strained relationship?

7. What is God trying to change in you right

now? How are you responding?