On the Road Again – Genesis 35:1-28: Reflection Guide
Reflection Guide Genesis 35:1–29 | On the Road Again Key Terms Foreign gods – Before leaving Shechem and returning to Bethel, Jacob instructs his family to put away their foreign gods (v. 2). These items were most likely taken from the destruction of Shechem and include earrings (v. 4), which were likely associated with the…
Read MoreBreaking Bad – Genesis 34:1-31: Reflection Guide
Reflection Guide Genesis 34:1–31 Key Terms Shechem – A prominent city in Canaan, 50 miles north of modern-day Jerusalem. Shechem is also the name of the son of Hamor—the ruler of Shechem in Genesis 33-34. In Israel – Genesis 34:7 is the first time Jacob’s family uses the new name Israel. Although just receiving this…
Read MoreFight Club – Genesis 32:22-32: Reflection Guide
Reflection Guide Genesis 32:22–32 | Fight Club Key Terms Jabbok – A river that flows westward through a cleft in the Jordan Rift Valley mountains and empties into the Jordan. By crossing the Jabbok, Jacob and his family are heading towards Esau, not away. Today the Jabbok is called the Zerqa. Israel – In this…
Read MoreInto the Unknown – Genesis 32:1-21: Reflection Guide
Reflection Guide Genesis 32:1–21 | Into The Unknown Key Terms Mahanaim – Mahanaim (v. 2) means “two camps.” Jacob chooses this name when he comes to see that—in addition to his own camp—God is present with him as well. Angels/messengers – In Hebrew, the word for angel (v. 1) and messenger (v. 3 & 6)…
Read MoreLean on Me – Genesis 30:25-31:55: Reflection Guide
Reflection Guide Genesis 30:25–31:55 Key Terms Speckled/Spotted/Black – Speckled and spotted goats and black lambs were the opposite coloration of typical goats and lambs and were less desirable (Gen 30:32 & following). Household gods – Although it’s unclear exactly what these household gods are (Gen 31:19, 34, & 35), they are most likely figurines made…
Read MoreDesperate Housewives – Genesis 29:31-30:24: Reflection Guide
Reflection Guide – Genesis 29:31-30:24 Key Terms Bilhah & Zilpah – Bilhah and Zilpah were Rachel and Leah’s personal servants. Though this story sounds strange and even offensive today, the practice of bearing children through a slave serving as a surrogate was common in the ancient world when a couple could not have children. My…
Read MoreCan’t Buy Me Love – Genesis 29:1-30: Reflection Guide
Reflection Guide Key Terms Laban – Laban is Rebekah’s (Isaac’s wife and Jacob’s mother) brother. He first enters the story in Genesis 24 when Abraham sends his servant to find Isaac a wife. Now, Isaac has sent his son Jacob to find a wife and Isaac again comes to Laban. In their culture, it was…
Read MoreStairway to Heaven – Genesis 28:10-22: Reflection Guide
Reflection Guide Key Terms Paddan-aram/Haran – These two place names are used interchangeably in the narrative to refer to the same place (or it’s possible that Paddan-aram is the region containing the city Haran). Thus when Isaac sends Jacob to Paddan-aram in v. 6, Jacob is being obedient when he goes to Haran (v. 10).…
Read MoreThe Masquerade Party – Genesis 27:1-46: Reflection Guide
Reflection Guide Key Terms Blessing – In Ancient Near Eastern culture, it was common to pronounce blessings or curses on others. These blessings/curses were not seen as mere wishful thinking but were believed to be influential ways to call upon God to act in a certain way towards an individual or a nation. This means…
Read MoreWalking with God in the Age of Amazon – Genesis 26:1-35: Reflection Guide
Reflection Guide Key Terms Famine – Famine was a common occurrence in the ancient Near East where much of the land was difficult to cultivate and modern technology to grow, store, and transport food was not yet invented. Abraham experienced a famine during his life (Gen 12) and famine would be instrumental in Israel’s history…
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