Genesis 32:1-12 By the intervention of God, Jacob has escaped from one frightening prospect, the one presented by Laban. But now he must move forward, under God's command, to face an even greater fear, his brother Esau. What kind of changes have taken place in Jacob's heart that have prepared him for this meeting? What terrifying news does he receive from the messengers whom he sent to Esau. What can we learn from Jacob's prayer that can help us to pray well when we are confronted by our worst fears? (60 min.)

Keywords Jacob, Esau

Genesis 31:43-55 Two key themes in Genesis resurface in this passage: The two lines of mankind, and the idea of covenant. What are all the sets of twos we see in these verses, and what are they intended to show us? How is this passage crucial to the unfolding drama of God's people? What is the significance of Laban asking for a covenant with his own relative? What are some characteristics of the seed of the serpent? Why does Jacob erect a pillar, and what does it mean to himself or to Laban? How did Jacob come to to call his God the Fear of Isaac? What are the contrasting destinies of these two men? (59 min.)

Keywords Jacob, Laban, Covenant

Genesis 31:31-42 Jacob now answers Laban's charges as to why he slipped away unannounced and about the stolen idols. He invites Laban to search for his idols, which he does in a most thorough manner. What really is the point of this narrative? How must Jacob have felt in watching this intrusive search? What is so significant about what Rachel did in sitting on the idols? How did Jacob, in the heat of the moment manage to express his complaint in such an eloquent and poetic manner? What is the Fear of Isaac? How does Jacob's God compare with Laban's idols? (57 min.)

Keywords Jacob, Laban, Rachel, Idols

Genesis 31:17-30 It is time for Jacob to go home. God has finished the work He was doing in Jacob's life for twenty years in Paddan-aram. But Jacob cannot leave easily. His fear of what Laban will do causes him to act deceptively and leave secretly. Was this really necessary? What if you had been there to see Jacob cross the Euphrates River twenty years earlier? How would you have accessed Jacob, compared to this second crossing? Why does the narrator stress so emphatically Jacob's belongings? What were Laban's teraphim, and why did Rachel steal them? How were Jacob's and Rachel's actions paralleled by the narrator? How did the irony of Laban's teraphim being stolen escape his notice? (55 min.)

Keywords Jacob, Laban, Rachel