As God molds and guides Jacob over the course of the Jacob Cycle, God interacts with Jacob in increasingly personal ways.
I) INTRO
Throughout the Book of Genesis, there are cycles of protagonists with whom God interacts. In one such cycle, the Jacob cycle, God interacts with the world in a very unique way. Instead of directly influencing an outcome, He works by using people as conduits. He utilizes people to progress toward the ultimate goal of achieving His Divine Plan. During the Jacob Cycle, God influences Jacob in four significant stages: his childhood, his journey to Haran, his journey from Haran, and a final test of will. Over the course of these stages, God’s increasing trust in Jacob parallels his guidance.
1) GOD INFLUENCING
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This “support” from his mother, working as the removed hand of God, is what allows Jacob to survive.
2) GOD INFLUENCING JACOB
While Jacob is on his way to Haran, God finally decides that it is time to introduce Himself to Jacob. He speaks to Jacob for the first time in a dream, during which God tells Jacob that, “I am with you and will keep you wherever you go...I will not leave you until I have done [the promises] of which I have spoken to you” (Gen 28:15). Interacting with Jacob in such a way, and telling him that God will keep him instills within Jacob a sense of security. Jacob can continue on his journey without worry as, even though Jacob has yet to receive other aspects from the blessings, God is with him and God will keep him. Following the dream, when Jacob wakes up, he makes a vow where he says that, “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go...then the Lord shall be my God…”(Gen28:20-21). Jacob’s vow [FINISH THIS].
When Jacob finally arrives in Haran, Jacob falls in love with Rachel and offers himself to her father, Laban, in return for her. However, on their wedding night, Laban tricks Jacob by switching Rachel with his eldest daughter Leah. When Jacob realizes what happened, he demands that Rachel be married to him as well. Unbeknownst to him, Rachel could not bear children as she was “barren”, however since God was
She became Isaac’s wife and conceived twins, favoring Jacob and thus aided him in getting his father’s blessing
Jacob’s father was an extremely talented carpenter whose skills allowed him many privileges similar to those of a white man. He was allowed to work at his own trade as well as manage his own affairs with the condition that he pay two hundred dollars a year to his mistress and supporting himself. He wished to pay for his children with his earnings and tried many times, however, he was never successful. She also had a brother that was two years younger than her that she adored. While she loved both her father and younger brother, she had a special bond with her mother and maternal grandmother. She had a loving, nurturing, and supportive relationship with the both of them. While she knew she was a slave, she was shielded from the reality that she and
In the beginning of the novel, Leah practically worships her father and makes it obvious by saying, “Not everyone can see it, but my father’s heart
Jacob’s preferential treatment towards Joseph was destructive, and created dissension among Joseph’s brothers (fueled sibling rivalry –
Just like the story of Job where god takes away Job’s animals and family, J.B’s five children are now gone along with his job as a banker. Fortunately, J.B still stays strong despite the fact that his family is corrupting, because he believes that God will show him his guilt as one of “God’s puppet” so he can be released from the prison of anxiety.
“Don’t try to make life a mathematics problem with yourself in the center and everything coming out equal. When you are good, bad things can still happen. And if you are bad, you can still be lucky.’ I could see what he thought: that my faith in justice was childish, no more useful here than tires on a horse. I felt the breath of God grow cold on my skin” (Kingsolver 310). From the very start of the book, Leah worshipped her father and Father. She associated one with the other, losing faith in both when she lost faith in one. As she grows more connected with the Congolese, witnesses injustice, and grows farther away from her father, Leah’s faith is tested
The story starts by explaining how Jacob has always tried his hardest to be a good little boy like in the Sunday-school books he reads. It gives you many instances of this but instead of the praise Jacob is seeking, he always ends up in trouble, normally because the situation is misunderstood. In the end it takes this to the extreme with Jacob trying to undo what some bad boys did and dies tragically, without saying the last words he had prepared.
The second time Jacob visits the children’s home, he encounters a group of small children that he recognizes from the pictures his grandfather used to show him. One child asks if he is Abraham, but when they see his face, they are disappointed that he is not, and run away. Jacob runs after them and follows them into a tunnel, but gives up and decides to go home. As he walks through the town
God’s continuing work can be seen in the incarnation of Christ and his redemptive work. “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God…God created the things we can see and the things we cannot see…everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else and he holds all creation together” (Colossians 1:16, 17). Not only is Jesus the exact representation of God, but he is God himself who worked with the Father in creating the world – the sustainer of everything (Hebrews 1:3). “Because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan” (Ephesians 1:11). This means that, “his will may be disobeyed, but his ultimate purpose cannot be frustrated, for he overrules the disobedience in his creatures in such a way that it sub serves his purpose” (Akin 2014, 235). Here we can clearly see God’s sovereignty and that we can rest in the truth that Jesus is Lord and God is in control. God’s involvement in our lives goes even deeper and shows us that he is personal and wants relationships with his creation. He not only spoke with Old Testament figures such as Adam, Abraham, Isaac and Moses, he held relationships with them through guidance and even discipline (Genesis 1:28, 3:8, 12:1, 26:5; Exodus 11, 19, 20, 33:11). Amos 4:13 says that God reveals His thoughts to man. We often
There are thousands of stories in the Bible, but one stands out in particular; the story of Joseph. The Hebrew meaning of the name Joseph is “may Jehovah add, give increase.”1 Through the life of Joseph we see God add meaning and purpose to his life, just as God adds meaning and purpose to all our lives. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”2 Joseph obediently followed God’s plans through trials and tribulations whereas many other figures in the Old Testament faltered in their faith. Joseph, son of Jacob, is the single most important human being in the Old Testament because of his impeccable faith to the one true God and his story of forgiveness that set the stage for God’s chosen people.
One of the inherent conflicts in the story of Joseph is the tension between Joseph and his brothers. The tension between them is caused by both Jacob and Joseph. First, Jacob shows favoritism toward Joseph, because he is the son of his favorite wife Rachel. Second, Joseph brings back bad reports when he is out pasturing with his brothers. However, what truly increased the hatred and jealousy was the Joseph’s dreams. The author notes that when Joseph recounts the dreams, “they hated him even more (Gen. 37:8).” Their jealousy for Joseph is strong enough that they are willing to murder him. However, they decide to instead sell him into slavery, and convince Jacob that he was killed.
Genesis is the first book of the Bible. It begins with the story of God’s creation of the universe. The Lord is the Almighty Creator of the world, skies, heavens, seas, animals, man, and woman. He governs the universe and develops relationships with man. Throughout Genesis, God acknowledges the fact that human beings make mistakes, and accepts their imperfection. Throughout Genesis, God changes from one who does not tolerate disobedience, to one who shows clemency. Early on in Genesis, God punishes Adam and Eve for disobedience. After making the mistake of flooding the world, the Lord realizes that even He is not perfect, and does not allow Jacob’s deceit of his father to taint his future.
The dream depicts the sun, moon, starts, and eleven planets kneeling before him. Joseph has eleven brothers whom are all the prophets of Jacob. Once they discover the dream they construct a plan casting Joseph as a slave into the land of Egypt and out of the land of Canaan. Looking at this from a biblical stand point, Jacob holds it true his son could be dead. Therefore, for days he grieved his son. However, the Quran states his sons are lying and patience is important standing in his position. His father further says when you accept Allah he can help you when you look to him for answers. Through Joseph’s brothers sins, mistrust, and dishonesty, Allah is the all-powerful and supreme being. He is to look at him in times of
as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee (Josh.
When Jacob and Esau were born, they were extremely different despite being twins. Esau was robust and red headed while Jacob was meek and small. “When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob,” (Genesis 25:19-34). Jacob was a trickster. He covered himself with the hide of a lamb to mimic his brothers appearance and take his blessing as the first born. “So Jacob went out and got the young goats for his mother. Rebekah took them and prepared a delicious meal, just the way Isaac liked it. Then she took Esau’s favorite clothes,