Joseph in Potiphar’s House

TLDR: A guide for having a family discipleship time on Genesis 39 based on the ACT Bible Study Method.

Act 3: God Promises Jesus
Scene 21: Joseph in Potiphar’s House
Genesis 39:1–20

Analyze the Passage

Step 1: Introduce the Passage

Genesis was written by Moses sometime between 1445–1405 BC to help the Israelites leaving Egypt understand their history with God. It’s one of the five books of the Law that Moses wrote, which we also call the Torah, or the Pentateuch, which means “five books.”

Today’s true story continues the sad story of Joseph. But this sad story won’t stay sad. It gets much better later, but even here, we see that God has not forsaken Joseph. This story is in Act 3: God Promises Jesus.

Step 2: Read the Passage

Genesis 39:1–20

Step 3: Summarize the Passage

When Joseph was brought to Egypt, he became a slave in the house of a man named Potiphar, who was one of Pharaoh’s officials. God was with Joseph and blessed him and made him successful in Potiphar’s home. In time, Joseph became Potiphar’s personal attendant. Joseph was put in charge over everything in the house, and God blessed Joseph’s work.

Because Joseph was handsome, Potiphar’s wife noticed him and wanted Joseph to sin with her, and behave as if they were married. But Joseph refused, saying Potiphar has trusted him with so much; how could do evil and sin against God? This continued day after day.

Then, one day when they were alone, Potiphar’s wife grabbed Joseph and tried to force herself upon him. But Joseph ran away, leaving his outer garment behind. Then, Potiphar’s wife called for the other servants to come, showed the garment, and claimed Joseph had attacked her.

She laid aside the garment, and when Potiphar returned, she told him the same story. When Potiphar heard this, he was quite angry and had Joseph thrown into prison, where the king’s prisoners were kept.

Step 4: Interrogate the Passage

Questions you and your family ask might include:

  • What made Joseph successful in Potiphar’s house.
  • Did Potiphar know it was God who was blessing Joseph and thus himself?
  • Why didn’t Joseph tell Potiphar what his wife was trying to do?
Step 5: Wonder about the Passage

Wonder statements you and your family make might include:

  • I wonder if Joseph was happy in Potiphar’s house.
  • I wonder if Joseph knew it was God who was blessing him.
  • I wonder if Joseph tried to avoid Potiphar’s wife.
  • I wonder if Potiphar thought about having Joseph killed.
  • I wonder how Joseph felt about all that had happened, considering he was trying to do what was right but was still punished.

Connect the Passage to Christ

Step 6: Find the World in Front of Text

In this account, we see the continued downward trajectory of Joseph’s life. He went from favored son, to being betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery, to being thrown into a prison. But at the same time, we see that God was with him, even in these trying times, and that God was blessing him. While we won’t see why this all happened to Joseph for a little while longer, when we see the larger story, we know that God actually brought tremendous good from all this. God was using hard, painful things to bring about something very good.

For Joseph’s part, we see him live in a way that God wants us to live. Joseph maintained deep humility, when he could have bowed his back in anger and resentment. Instead of rebelling and resisting, he humbly sought to serve the person who wrongly was enslaving him, and then continued in this humble posture by refusing the wife’s advances.

We also see Joseph living with impressive obedience. Again, instead of doing the least possible to keep alive, he seemed to go all out in his work as a slave. And, when the wife tried to get Joseph to sin, he refused, standing unwavering in his obedience to his earthly master and more important to God.

Step 7: Find the World of Jesus of the Text

While Joseph gives us a wonderful picture of how we too can and should live in humility and obedience, even when life is “unfair” or difficult, we must remember that he is actually giving us a picture of a better example—the best example—of these traits: Jesus. Jesus, of course came to earth in complete humility and while he was on earth, he lived with others humbly, not ruling over them as he had the right to do. And he also sought to obey the Father completely while on earth. From Joseph, and more importantly from Jesus, we see what God wants from us in these two areas.

Translate It to Your Context

Step 8: Connect the World of Jesus of the Text to Your World

How can you be especially humble this week? Remember, humility is not thinking poorly of yourself; it is thinking more highly of God and others. It is putting God first, others second, and yourself third. What are ways that you can display humility with your friends, family, and others to show them Jesus?

How can you obey God this week, in big ways and small ways, so that people might see Jesus in you? Think about all the places you will be this week and what you will do. How can you obey God and people he has placed in authority with joy?

NEXT: Act 3: God Promises Jesus; Scene 22: Joseph in Prison (Genesis 39:21—40:23)

Learn more about this family discipleship method here.

It’s a Major Award!

TLDR: Christianity Today named Family Discipleship that Works as a finalist in the “Marriage, Family, and Singleness” category for 2024 book of the year.

It’s December, which means that Thanksgiving is over and we are into Christmas season in full. And one of the traditions many of us have is watching the classic movie, “A Christmas Story.” One of the many memorable and quotable scenes in that film is when The Old Man receives the infamous leg lamp and declares, “It’s a major award!” Well, from now on, I have the privilege of declaring that about my book, Family Discipleship that Works, only with a few caveats.

This morning I received word that my book was a finalist in the “Marriage, Family, and Singleness” category for Christianity Today’s 2024 book of the year. That basically means that Family Discipleship that Works didn’t win that category or come in second and earn the award of merit. However, I’ll take a tie for the bronze medal and call it a “major award.” Truly, though, of all the books published in this category, to have it make that short list is an incredible honor.

Here’s the blurb about my book from the online article:

This book is an accessible, readable resource for families seeking practical ideas about engaging in discipleship together. It has deep theological roots, along with a variety of good stories to make the lessons stick. I enjoyed laughing along with the author and sighing at anecdotes that brought back memories of when my own kids were growing. After finishing the book, I happily gave it to my youngest brother, whose own “littles” are still young. —Jennifer Ripley, psychology professor at Regent University

By the way, Jennifer Ripley is one of the editors of a fantastic and important book Ministering to Families in Crisis that I consider a must-read for those in kids, student, and family ministry.

This book was born out of my PhD dissertation at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Even then, as the thesis and ideas were coming into focus, I had an idea that it could become a trade book that could truly help parents in this important act of discipling in the home. With this recognition today, I hope and pray that the book makes its way into the hands of more parents who might find comfort, encouragement, and hope within it.

Joseph Is Wronged by His Brothers

TLDR: A guide for having a family discipleship time on Genesis 37 based on the ACT Bible Study Method.

Act 3: God Promises Jesus
Scene 20: Joseph Is Wronged by His Brothers
Genesis 37:1–36

Analyze the Passage

Step 1: Introduce the Passage

Genesis was written by Moses sometime between 1445–1405 BC to help the Israelites leaving Egypt understand their history with God. It’s one of the five books of the Law that Moses wrote, which we also call the Torah, or the Pentateuch, which means “five books.”

Today’s true story shifts focus from Jacob to his sons, namely Joseph. The rest of Genesis will follow Joseph through quite a journey, and end with God’s people being in a surprising place: Egypt. This story is in Act 3: God Promises Jesus.

Step 2: Read the Passage

Genesis 37:1–36

Step 3: Summarize the Passage

When Joseph was seventeen, he was watching the flocks with his brothers, and he brought a bad report about them to their father.

Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons and he gave him a special tunic. This made the brothers jealous and they hated Joseph and weren’t kind to him.

Then Joseph had a dream that they were binding sheaves and his sheaf rose up and the others bowed to it. His brothers asked if he really thought he would rule over them and they hated him more.

Then Joseph had a second dream where the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed to him. This time, Israel joined in asking if Joseph really thought that he, his mother, and his brothers would bow to him. His brothers grew more jealous but his father remembered this.

When his brothers went to graze the flocks, Israel sent Joseph to check on them. As Joseph approached his brothers, they saw him far off and plotted to kill him. But Reuben convinced them not to do that, but to throw him into a pit instead. And that’s what they did.

Then, when the brothers sat down to eat, they saw some traders coming so Judah said they should sell Joseph to them. The brothers sold Joseph for 20 pieces of silver.

The brothers then took Joseph’s special tunic and tore it and dipped it in a goat’s blood. They took it to their father and said they found it. Jacob tore his clothes in grief, thinking Joseph had been killed by an animal.

Meanwhile, the traders sold Joseph to Potiphar in Egypt.

Step 4: Interrogate the Passage

Questions you and your family ask might include:

  • Why does the passage go back and forth between using Jacob and Israel?
  • Did Jacob know that Joseph’s brothers hated Joseph?
  • Was it foolish for Joseph to tell his family about his two dreams?
  • Why did Jacob want Joseph to report on his brothers out in the field?
  • Was it significant that Joseph couldn’t find his brothers in Shechem but rather in Dothan?
  • Why did Reuben want to spare Joseph? Was he the only one?
  • Why did Judah want to sell Joseph? Was it solely for money or was their some level of compassion?
  • Where had Reuben gone?
  • What did Reuben mean by “where can I go?”
Step 5: Wonder about the Passage

Wonder statements you and your family make might include:

  • I wonder what Joseph’s bad report was about.
  • I wonder why Jacob hadn’t learned how harmful favoritism is this point.
  • I wonder if Joseph knew he was making his family angry.
  • I wonder which brother was first to suggest killing him.
  • I wonder what the scene was like when the brothers attacked Joseph.
  • I wonder how the brothers could sit down and eat with Joseph in a pit.
  • I wonder if God provided the caravan of traders.
  • I wonder what the brothers felt like watching their father grieve because of their actions and lies.

Connect the Passage to Christ

Step 6: Find the World in Front of Text

In the last story, we saw a bright spot in the family God had called to form a new nation out of. Forgiveness seemed to define Jacob and Esau’s reunion. That was likely in part because of Esau, but also perhaps because of Jacob’s encounter with the mysterious man (God?) with whom he wrestled. It seems that things were set up for a change in the right direction. But here, just like that, things take another turn in the wrong direction. Once again we see a family in strife and sin.

It begins with favoritism once again rearing its ugly head. This sin seems to be deeply imbedded in this family’s DNA. Then, we have to wonder about Joseph’s wisdom and maturity. While we cannot be sure, it seems that it might not have been a good thing for him to tell his family about his dreams. In light of that, there seemed to be a lack of awareness in this family—did Jacob not see the brothers hating Joseph? Did he not understand the foolishness of sending Joseph to check on them? Did Joseph not understand that his brothers despised him?

All of this leads to what we know for sure: the brothers sinned against Joseph. Even if it was wrong that their father favored Joseph and even if Joseph might not have been self-aware, it was wholly their sin for wanting to kill Joseph. Selling him was not as severe, but just as sinful. And then to lie to their father and lead him to believe Joseph was dead was like murder.

In this, once again we see evidence of a world very much unlike God’s design. People aren’t supposed to do these things, let alone family. Families are to be bathed in love, gentleness, compassion, and forgiveness. We see nothing but the opposite of that in this account.

Step 7: Find the World of Jesus of the Text

It’s striking that Joseph’s own brothers failed to extend compassion and forgiveness to him. That gives us quite a contrast with Jesus. When his brothers (the Jews) sinned against him and called for his crucifixion, Jesus responded with compassion and forgiveness, showing us the better way.

Furthermore, we can’t miss how Joseph’s “death” brought sorrow to his father, but that sorrow, while lasting many years, wasn’t forever. In time, Jacob would learn that Joseph was still alive—a “resurrection” so to speak. In a greater way, Jesus truly died, laying down his life for sin, and his death indeed brought sorrow for a moment. But on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead, defeating sin and death and bringing his Father great glory.

Translate It to Your Context

Step 8: Connect the World of Jesus of the Text to Your World

How can you show others compassion this week? How can not only care about others, but act on that care by doing whatever you can for them, especially if they are in need. What can you do with your time, money, and possessions to help others in need?

Who do you need to forgive? Who has wronged you in a big way or a small way that you can truly forgive? How can you let that person know they are forgiven? Who might you ask to forgive you for something you’ve done wrong?

NEXT: Act 3: God Promises Jesus; Scene 21: Joseph in Potiphar’s House (Genesis 39:1–20)

Learn more about this family discipleship method here.

Jacob and Esau Meet Again

TLDR: A guide for having a family discipleship time on Genesis 33 based on the ACT Bible Study Method.

Act 3: God Promises Jesus
Scene 19: Jacob and Esau Meet Again
Genesis 33:1–20

Analyze the Passage

Step 1: Introduce the Passage

Genesis was written by Moses sometime between 1445–1405 BC to help the Israelites leaving Egypt understand their history with God. It’s one of the five books of the Law that Moses wrote, which we also call the Torah, or the Pentateuch, which means “five books.”

Today’s true story can be a little tense at first, as two estranged brothers meet again for the first time in many years. But we’ll soon see that God can heal and restore people to each other. This story is in Act 3: God Promises Jesus.

Step 2: Read the Passage

Genesis 33:1–20

Step 3: Summarize the Passage

When Jacob saw Esau coming with 400 men, he divided his family and put the servants and their families in the front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. Jacob then went ahead of them and bowed to Esau out of respect. Esau ran to Jacob, hugged him, and they both wept. Jacob then introduced his family to Esau.

Esau then asked about the gifts Jacob had given him. Jacob told him it was so he could find favor, but Esau responded that he didn’t need any of it. But Jacob urged Esau to accept the gift, so he did.

Esau then left for Seir and Jacob and his family and animals followed more slowly. Jacob went to Sukkoth and built a house and shelters for his animals. He then went to Shechem, where he purchased a portion of land. He built an altar there and called on God.

Step 4: Interrogate the Passage

Questions you and your family ask might include:

  • Why did Esau bring 400 men with him?
  • Why did Jacob divide his family the way he did?
  • Was there anything significant about Jacob bowing seven times?
  • Why did Esau and Jacob go back and forth about the gift?
  • Why did Jacob go to Sukkoth instead of Seir to see Esau as he had said?
  • How long was Jacob at Sukkoth?
  • Why did Jacob build an altar at Shechem?
Step 5: Wonder about the Passage

Wonder statements you and your family make might include:

  • I wonder what Jacob thought seeing Esau coming with so many men.
  • I wonder if Leah understood why she was closer to the front than Rachel?
  • I wonder what it was like when Esau and Jacob embraced and wept together.
  • I wonder if Jacob insisted that Esau keep the gift because he was still worried Esau was angry.
  • I wonder if Esau understood that Jacob wasn’t coming to Seir right away.

Connect the Passage to Christ

Step 6: Find the World in Front of Text

God designed families to be loving and forgiving. While throughout Genesis Jacob’s family lived far from God’s design, here we see when they seemed to get it right. Esau seemed to genuinely forgive and welcome Jacob. While we cannot be sure about Jacob’s motives—why did he insist that Esau keep his gift?—he too seemed to some degree to want Esau to forgive him and to be restored as brothers.

Step 7: Find the World of Jesus of the Text

We have no greater example of forgiveness than Jesus—both what he did to provide our forgiveness of sins on the cross, and in how he demonstrated such amazing forgiveness for what others did to him. We can learn from Esau, and perhaps Jacob to a degree too, but we can surely live how God wants us to live by looking to Jesus.

Translate It to Your Context

Step 8: Connect the World of Jesus of the Text to Your World

Who do you need to forgive? Who has wronged you in a big way or a small way that you can truly forgive? How can you let that person know they are forgiven? Who might you ask to forgive you for something you’ve done wrong?

NEXT: Act 3: God Promises Jesus; Scene 20: Joseph Is Wronged by His Brothers (Genesis 37:1–36)

Learn more about this family discipleship method here.

Jacob Wrestles with a Man

TLDR: A guide for having a family discipleship time on Genesis 32 based on the ACT Bible Study Method.

Act 3: God Promises Jesus
Scene 18: Jacob Wrestles with a Man
Genesis 32:1–32

Analyze the Passage

Step 1: Introduce the Passage

Genesis was written by Moses sometime between 1445–1405 BC to help the Israelites leaving Egypt understand their history with God. It’s one of the five books of the Law that Moses wrote, which we also call the Torah, or the Pentateuch, which means “five books.”

Today’s true story is a turning point in Jacob’s life. Up to this point, Jacob has lived for himself mostly, always trying to get his way even if that meant taking advantage of someone else. That’s going to change now, though. Not completely and not immediately, but the encounter he has with a mysterious stranger will change his name and his life. This is the eighteenth story of Act 3: God Promises Jesus.

Step 2: Read the Passage

Genesis 32:1–32

Step 3: Summarize the Passage

As Jacob continued to travel, the angels of God met him and he believed it was the camp of God. He then sent messengers to meet Esau and determine if he’d receive him well.

The messengers returned and said Esau was coming with 400 men. Jacob was afraid. He divided his people and possessions into two camps, thinking if Esau attacked one, the other would escape.

He then prayed to God, reminding God of the promises he had made and recognizing God’s goodness to him. He asked God to rescue him from Esau, again reminding God of the promises he had made.

Jacob then sent a large gift of animals, divided into three herds, and instructed the servant of each to say the same thing: it is a gift for Esau and Jacob is coming behind them.

That night, Jacob took his family and sent them across a steam, but he stayed by himself where he was.

Then, a man wrestled with him all night long. When the man saw he couldn’t beat Jacob, he hurt his hip. The man told Jacob to let him go, but Jacob refused unless the man blessed him. The man asked his name, and Jacob told him. The man said he’d be called Israel from now on, because he fought with God and with men and prevailed.

Then, Jacob asked the man’s name, but the man only asked why he wanted to know. The man then blessed Jacob. Jacob named the place Peniel and recognized he had seen God and survived.

When the sun rose, Jacob walked with a limp. This is why the Jews do not eat the area of an animal’s hip.

Step 4: Interrogate the Passage

Questions you and your family ask might include:

  • Why did the angels of God meet Jacob?
  • Was Jacob reminding God of his promises as a way of getting his way and being protected?
  • Why did Jacob divide the gift into three herds?
  • Did Jacob send his family across the stream toward Esau or away from him?
  • Who was the man that wrestled with Jacob?
  • Why did they begin to wrestle?
  • Why did the man want to be let go because dawn was approaching?
  • Why did the man ask why Jacob wanted to know his name?
Step 5: Wonder about the Passage

Wonder statements you and your family make might include:

  • I wonder what the angels of God looked like and what they did when they met Jacob.
  • I wonder if Jacob was trying to manipulate God in his prayer.
  • I wonder how much of his herds Jacob wanted to give to Esau.
  • I wonder what the man Jacob wrestled with looked like.
  • I wonder how the man began wrestling with Jacob.
  • I wonder how the man wounded Jacob’s hip.
  • I wonder why the man chose to wound his hip.
  • I wonder how Jacob prevailed against God.
  • I wonder why the man didn’t give his name to Jacob.

Connect the Passage to Christ

Step 6: Find the World in Front of Text

In this account, we begin to see a change in Jacob. To this point, we’ve seen him swindle and trick to get his way. He did it to Esau to get the birthright. He did it to Isaac to get Esau’s birthright. He did it to Laban to get the bulk of the flocks. And he even does it here. He seems to try to bargain with Esau with the three gifts of the flock. Worst of all, it sure seems as if Jacob is bargaining with God in his prayer—reminding God that he had promised to protect him. That seemed less like a prayer of claiming God’s promises in joy and more of claiming them to expect God to work the way Jacob wanted.

Then, we get to the wrestling. This match is a picture of how Jacob lived his life to this point—always in combat with others. Even in this match, he wanted to get the upper hand on his opponent. When the man asked what Jacob’s name was, it was a way of asking what kind of person Jacob was. Names then were not just what a person was called, but was also about a person’s character. It might have been a way the man was asking Jacob what kind of person he was. That’s why this name change is important; it was the man’s way of saying that Jacob was about to be changed. And that’s why the heel wound and limp are important. This was a visible sign of humility.

We don’t see an immediate and complete change in Jacob after this, but this is when we see humility begin to enter his life. And that’s where we see God’s ideal world. God doesn’t intend for us to live in pride and sufficiency. He intends for us to humbly rely on him.

Step 7: Find the World of Jesus of the Text

No one defines humility like Jesus. He shows us perfectly what humility is. When he came to earth, he might not have limped like Jacob, but that he was a human and walked at all, is the greatest sign of humility ever. God wrapped in human flesh and coming to be a servant to people is complete humility. This is the humility we are to imitate.

Translate It to Your Context

Step 8: Connect the World of Jesus of the Text to Your World

How can you be especially humble this week? Remember, humility is not thinking poorly of yourself; it is thinking more highly of God and others. It is putting God first, others second, and yourself third. What are ways that you can display humility with your friends, family, and others to show them Jesus?

NEXT: Act 3: God Promises Jesus; Scene 19: Jacob and Esau Meet Again (Genesis 33:1–20)

Learn more about this family discipleship method here.

Jacob and Laban

TLDR: A guide for having a family discipleship time on Genesis 30–31 based on the ACT Bible Study Method.

Act 3: God Promises Jesus
Scene 17: Jacob and Laban
Genesis 30:25—31:55

Analyze the Passage

Step 1: Introduce the Passage

Genesis was written by Moses sometime between 1445–1405 BC to help the Israelites leaving Egypt understand their history with God. It’s one of the five books of the Law that Moses wrote, which we also call the Torah, or the Pentateuch, which means “five books.”

Today’s true story continues the story of Jacob and we will see him becoming quite wealthy, before leaving Laban’s house with his wives and children. Today’s story is the seventeenth in Act 3: God Promises Jesus.

Step 2: Read the Passage

Genesis 30:25—31:55

Step 3: Summarize the Passage

After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob told Laban that he wanted to leave and head back to his home land. Laban asked Jacob to stay and name his wages to do so, because Laban believed God had blessed him because of Jacob.

Jacob replied that he indeed had helped Laban prosper, but he had to do something for his own family. Laban asked again what he could pay Jacob, and Jacob responded that if Laban allowed him to remove every speckled or spotted sheep and goat, and every dark-colored lamb, that would be his wages. The markings on these animals would verify what was Jacob’s and what was Laban’s. So Laban agreed.

Laban separated Jacob’s animals and put them a three-day journey away. Jacob, meanwhile placed branches in all the watering troughs where the flocks drank. The animals then produced animals that were speckled and spotted. He only did this for the animals that were strong though. So Jacob had the better animals than Laban.

In time, Jacob learned that Laban’s sons were complaining about him becoming so prosperous and Laban’s attitude seemed to have changed toward him. God then told Jacob to return to his relatives. Jacob told Rachel and Leah that he could tell Laban was unhappy with him, but Laban had changed his wages ten times and he further explained that God had grown his flocks. Had Jacon chosen the other kind of animals, God would have grown that number. And now, God had told him to leave.

Rachel and Leah responded that Laban had treated them wrongly too. So, Jacob immediately packed his family and set out with them and his livestock for Canaan.

Because Rachel had stolen his household idols and Jacob had left without telling him, Laban pursued them for seven days. He caught up with them but God warned him in a dream not to bless or curse Jacob.

Laban asked Jacob why he had deceived him and taken away his daughters in secret. He denied him the chance to throw a celebration for them. He told him he could harm him, but God had warned him not to. He also asked why he stole the idols.

Jacob told Laban he left like he did because he was afraid and that if anyone had the idols, they would be put to death. Laban searched but did not find the idols in Leah’s saddle bags.

Then, Jacob became angry and told him all he had experienced because of Laban for 20 years. Laban responded by asking that they make an agreement. Jacob set up stones as a memorial and they promised that neither would cross the line to harm the other. Then, Jacob offered a sacrifice and his family ate a meal.

Early the next morning, Laban blessed his daughters and grandchildren and left.

Step 4: Interrogate the Passage

Questions you and your family ask might include:

  • Did Jacob need Laban’s permission to leave?
  • Would Laban ever have been okay with Jacob leaving?
  • Why did Jacob place the branches near the livestock?
  • Had Laban changed Jacob’s wages 10 times, or was that Jacob exaggerating?
  • Did Jacob really believe that God would have grown his flocks either way, even after Jacob had done things to intentionally grow his flocks?
  • Had Rachel and Leah been unhappy with Laban before Jacob’s speech, or did that trigger them being unhappy?
  • What were the household idols and why did Rachel steal them?
  • Why did God not want Laban to bless Jacob?
  • Would Laban have really thrown a party before Jacob left?
Step 5: Wonder about the Passage

Wonder statements you and your family make might include:

  • I wonder why Jacob chose right after Joseph’s birth to leave.
  • I wonder if Jacob truly worked as hard as he said he did.
  • I wonder how many animals Jacob started with after separating Laban’s flocks.
  • I wonder if Jacob knew the branches would help produce animals for him and how he knew that.
  • I wonder if Jacob had planned this way to grow his flocks all along.
  • I wonder if Jacob’s account of the 20 years was accurate.

Connect the Passage to Christ

Step 6: Find the World in Front of Text

This is another story where we see more of how the world isn’t supposed to be based on both Jacob and Laban’s actions. Both men seemed to be driven by the same thing: greed and selfishness. Both seemed willing to do whatever it took to have an advantage. Laban, it seems, used Jacob to his own benefit—prospering from his hard work and making him feel trapped. Jacob, meanwhile, saw an opportunity to better Laban and took it, growing his flocks while leaving Laban’s weaker. In the end, it led to a family being torn apart, with Laban’s own daughters being against him.

This is the opposite of what God intends. He intends for us to live with generosity and hospitality toward one another. This should have been a family that loved and cared for one another and desired one another’s good. They had ample resources from God, but they hoarded them instead of using them to bless.

Step 7: Find the World of Jesus of the Text

We see the amazing generosity and hospitality of Jesus, who extended both freely, even to those who were against him. Jacob and Laban both seemed to use the wrongs done by the other as a reason for doing wrong back. Jesus, however, gave freely to those who wronged him. And in doing so, Jesus provided the way for us to be forgiven and changed by him so that we can live like Jesus, not Jacob or Laban.

Translate It to Your Context

Step 8: Connect the World of Jesus of the Text to Your World

How can you be amazingly generous with someone this week to show them Jesus? Who might you be generous toward, how might you do it, and when might you do it?

How can you show someone hospitality this week? How can you treat someone with friendship, love, and kindness? Think about people who you know of or barely know, especially anyone who seems like he or she might need a friend. What will you do to be a friend to them?

NEXT: Act 3: God Promises Jesus; Scene 18: Jacob Wrestles with a Man (Genesis 32:1–32)

Learn more about this family discipleship method here.

Jacob Has a Family

TLDR: A guide for having a family discipleship time on Genesis 29–30 based on the ACT Bible Study Method.

Act 3: God Promises Jesus
Scene 16: Jacob Has a Family
Genesis 29:1—30:24

Analyze the Passage

Step 1: Introduce the Passage

Genesis was written by Moses sometime between 1445–1405 BC to help the Israelites leaving Egypt understand their history with God. It’s one of the five books of the Law that Moses wrote, which we also call the Torah, or the Pentateuch, which means “five books.”

Today’s true story finds Jacob arriving in his parents’ homeland, and starting a family of his own. This is a major part of what God had promised him, but God makes good on this promise in a rather confusing way. Today’s story is the sixteenth story of Act 3: God Promises Jesus.

Step 2: Read the Passage

Genesis 29:1—30:24 (Note: this story includes Jacob marrying two women, and Jacob having children with both and their two maids. If you have younger children, you might want to read much less of the text and summarize it broadly as God giving Jacob a big family.)

Step 3: Summarize the Passage

When Jacob arrived in Haran, he met some people at a well and asked if they knew Laban, his mother’s brother. They answered that they knew him and indeed his daughter Rachel was at the well. He suggested they take the sheep back out to graze but they told him they couldn’t until after they watered the sheep.

As they were talking, Rachel came by and Jacob uncovered the well and watered her sheep. He told her that he was a relative and she ran to tell Laban. When Laban heard, he rushed to the well and Jacob went to stay with him.

Laban told Jacob that he shouldn’t work for him for free and asked what he wanted as payment. Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel, so he said he’d work for seven years if he could marry her. Laban agreed.

When it was time, Jacob asked for Rachel as his wife and Laban held a feast. That night, however, instead of bringing Rachel to Jacob, he brought his older daughter Leah. In the morning, Jacob learned what happened and asked Laban why he had tricked him. Laban explained that it isn’t customary for the younger daughter to marry first. Laban said if Jacob agreed to work seven more years, he could marry Rachel too. Jacob agreed and ended up marrying both sisters and worked a total of fourteen years. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah.

When God saw Leah was unloved, he gave her sons—Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. Leah hoped that these sons would cause Jacob to love her, but it didn’t.

Meanwhile, Rachel couldn’t have children. So, she became jealous and she gave her servant to Jacob and they had sons—Dan and Naphtali.

When Leah couldn’t have children any more, she gave her servant to Jacob and they had sons—Gad and Asher.

One day, Reuben collected some mandrakes, and Rachel and Leah made a deal for them and Leah had another son with Jacob—Issachar. Then Leah had another son—Zebulun. She also had a daughter—Dinah.

Finally, Rachel ended up having a son—Joseph.

Step 4: Interrogate the Passage

Questions you and your family ask might include:

  • Why do so many of these stories include wells?
  • Why did Jacob tell the shepherds to go back into the fields?
  • Why did Jacob choose seven years as the time to work for Rachel?
  • Why didn’t Laban let Jacob marry Rachel before working seven years?
  • Why didn’t Jacob know Laban had brought Leah?
  • Why did Jacob agree to work seven more years for Rachel, even if Laban had tricked him?
  • Did God approve of Jacob having two wives?
  • Did God approve of Jacob having children with the two maids?
Step 5: Wonder about the Passage

Wonder statements you and your family make might include:

  • I wonder how Jacob felt being tricked, especially since he liked to trick people himself.
  • I wonder if Jacob understood how favoritism can be so hurtful considering that had been a problem in his family.
  • I wonder if Rachel and Leah had always been competitive and adversarial with each other.
  • I wonder why the mandrakes mattered so much.
  • I wonder if these children got along with each other.

Connect the Passage to Christ

Step 6: Find the World in Front of Text

The family is a central part of God’s design for the world, but not exactly in the way we see it in this passage. While things start well, with extended family members who didn’t even know each other connecting, bonding, and showing hospitality, it all quickly unraveled with Laban tricking Jacob (the tricker himself), Jacob marrying two women and favoring one, and the two wives competing for children for attention, love, and value. In the end, Jacob had the large family God promised, but it was another broken, hurting family This isn’t what God intends for families. He intends for committed, loving, unified families that flourish.

Step 7: Find the World of Jesus of the Text

Love is at the center of this story, but not in a good way. It’s a story about a lack of love and conditional love. It’s a story about family love that isn’t strong enough for people to trick one another and compete with one another. It’s a story of what love can be, but seems to be so far from. This is heightened by a verse in the middle of the account of Jacob working seven years as if they were nothing because of his love for Rachel.

This all points us to a longing we too have for love, a love that we can find in Jesus. Jesus shows us what perfect love looks like—he isn’t manipulative. He isn’t conditional. He pours out his love on us in full measure. That’s what we want from him and that’s the same kind of love we should extend to others. We are to love with a deep and true love, nothing like the shallow love we seem to see in this passage.

Translate It to Your Context

Step 8: Connect the World of Jesus of the Text to Your World

Who can you show the love of Jesus to this week? What are some ways you can love your family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers with the amazing and powerful love of Jesus?

NEXT: Act 3: God Promises Jesus; Scene 17: Jacob and Laban (Genesis 30:25—31:55)

Learn more about this family discipleship method here.

New Color Code Bible for Kids Released

TLDR: A refreshed Color Code Bible for Kids that introduces kids to the big ideas of the Christian faith has just hit store shelves.

One part of my job that I perhaps love the most is looking at great Bibles that we publish that could be made even better to serve kids, students, and adults. The Color Code Bible for Kids is one of those Bibles.

The Color Code Bible for Kids identifies nine big truths of Scripture—God, Sin, Jesus, Salvation, Love, Worship, Growth, Heaven, Family—and highlights verses for each in a different color to make them easy for children and families to find. A brief introduction for each book and a few helpful articles on what the Bible is, who wrote the Bible, how we should read the Bible, and interesting facts and figures about the Bible also help kids understand and grow to love God’s Word.

I love the Color Code Bible for Kids because it’s visually interesting for kids and helps them see these critical theological themes in the Bible without overwhelming them with too much information. It teaches subtly, but powerfully. It’s accessible without being shallow.

The Bible comes in three cover options: hard cover, blue leathersoft, and pink leathersoft.

Jacob Has a Dream

TLDR: A guide for having a family discipleship time on Genesis 28 based on the ACT Bible Study Method.

Act 3: God Promises Jesus
Scene 15: Jacob Has a Dream
Genesis 28:10-22

Analyze the Passage

Step 1: Introduce the Passage

Genesis was written by Moses sometime between 1445–1405 BC to help the Israelites leaving Egypt understand their history with God. It’s one of the five books of the Law that Moses wrote, which we also call the Torah, or the Pentateuch, which means “five books.”

Today’s true story is one of hope, after a couple of stories that don’t show Jacob in the best light. Even though Jacob has proven to be unloving and dishonest, God meets with him and makes a familiar promise to him. This story is in Act 3: God Promises Jesus.

Step 2: Read the Passage

Genesis 28:10–22

Step 3: Summarize the Passage

When Jacob was traveling, he stopped for the night and camped. When he fell asleep, he had a dream of a stairway reaching from the earth into heaven. The angels of God went up and down on the stairway, and God was at the top. God promised to give Jacob and his descendants the land he was on. He also promised that Jacob would have a large family and spread out, and that all families would be blessed because of them. God further promised that he would protect Jacob and be with him.

When Jacob woke up, he remembered the dream and recognized he had been with God. He took a stone that had been near his head and made an altar. He called the place Bethel and made a vow that if God was with him, protects him, provides for him, and returns him safely, God would be his God. He would then give a tenth of what he had.

Step 4: Interrogate the Passage

Questions you and your family ask might include:

  • Why did Jacob place a stone near his head?
  • What did it mean that angels were going up and down a stairway?
  • Why was Jacob afraid when he woke up?
  • Why did Jacob pour oil on the stone?
  • Why didn’t Jacob make God his God then?
Step 5: Wonder about the Passage

Wonder statements you and your family make might include:

  • I wonder what the stairway and angels looked like.
  • I wonder if Jacob recognized the promise God made to him was the same as he had made to Abraham and Isaac.
  • I wonder if Jacob woke up from the dream in the middle of the night and went back to sleep, or if it was in the morning.

Connect the Passage to Christ

Step 6: Find the World in Front of Text

This story shows us an important truth about God; he is faithful to his promises no matter what and he is full of grace and mercy. Surely, Jacob has shown by now that he did not deserve God’s goodness. But God had promised that he would continue growing a people through Jacob. And that wouldn’t change.

From a human perspective, though, this story shows one big way the world is not supposed to be. Jacob is traveling away from his family because of his sin. Then, when he wakes up and loads several conditions upon his following of God. God had just promised to bless him, but he wants to see proof. And if he doesn’t see proof, he won’t follow God. Many people do the same, but God wants our complete trust in him.

However, Jacob does do something positive here, showing us a glimpse of the world God intends: he promises to tithe all he has. This is an act of obedience and generosity.

Step 7: Find the World of Jesus of the Text

God’s amazing generosity to Jacob, and Jacob’s lesser generosity in response, is key to this account. And this generosity points to Jesus. Just like God was generous toward Jacob even though Jacob didn’t deserve it, Jesus is generous with us, giving us his very life, even though we don’t deserve it.

Translate It to Your Context

Step 8: Connect the World of Jesus of the Text to Your World

How can you be amazingly generous with someone this week to show them Jesus? Who might you be generous toward, how might you do it, and when might you do it?

NEXT: Act 3: God Promises Jesus; Scene 16: Jacob Has a Family (Genesis 29:1—30:24)

Learn more about this family discipleship method here.

Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing

TLDR: A guide for having a family discipleship time on Genesis 27–28 based on the ACT Bible Study Method.

Act 3: God Promises Jesus
Scene 14: Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing
Genesis 27:1—28:9

Analyze the Passage

Step 1: Introduce the Passage

Genesis was written by Moses sometime between 1445–1405 BC to help the Israelites leaving Egypt understand their history with God. It’s one of the five books of the Law that Moses wrote, which we also call the Torah, or the Pentateuch, which means “five books.”

Today’s true story continues the story of Jacob and shows more of how he wasn’t the first person we’d choose to become the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. This story is in Act 3: God Promises Jesus.

Step 2: Read the Passage

Genesis 27:1—28:9

Step 3: Summarize the Passage

When Isaac was old and couldn’t see well, he called for Esau to hunt for some wild game, make him a meal, and bring it to him so that he could bless him. But Rebekah was listening and told Jacob to get two goats from the flock, and then she would make the meal and he would take it to Isaac to be blessed instead. Jacob asked about Esau being hairy, and Rebekah had him wear Esau’s clothes and put animal skins on his arms to appear to be hairy.

When Jacob, pretending to be Esau, took the food to Isaac, Isaac wondered how his son caught an animal so quickly, touched his arm, said the voice sounded like Jacob, and asked if it really was Esau. Jacob lied each time, and Isaac ended up blessing Jacob thinking he was Esau.

When Jacob left Isaac, Esau came in and they realized what had happened. Esau asked Isaac to bless him too, but Isaac could not. Esau became furious at Jacob for taking the birthright and now stealing the blessing. Esau hated Jacob and determined to kill him after Isaac died.

When Rebekah learned of Esau’s anger, she told Jacob that he needed to leave at once, going to Laban’s house to find a wife. So, Isaac agreed to send Jacob to Laban’s house to find a wife and Esau stayed there and married a Canaanite woman.

Step 4: Interrogate the Passage

Questions you and your family ask might include:

  • What did it mean for Isaac to bless Esau?
  • Why did Rebekah want Jacob to get the blessing instead of Esau?
  • Was the blessing that Isaac gave part of the covenant God had made with Abraham?
  • How did Rebekah hear of Esau’s anger?
  • Why didn’t Isaac want his sons to marry a Canaanite?
  • Why did Esau marry a Canaanite woman?
Step 5: Wonder about the Passage

Wonder statements you and your family make might include:

  • I wonder what the meal was that Isaac liked.
  • I wonder if Isaac ever really thought it was Esau with him the first time.
  • I wonder if Jacob felt guilty as he was tricking his father.
  • I wonder if Rebekah didn’t realize Esau would be so angry.
  • I wonder if Isaac and Esau learned Rebekah had played a part in the trickery.

Connect the Passage to Christ

Step 6: Find the World in Front of Text

This is another story that shows us how the world is not like it is supposed to be. Here, we see a family torn apart because of the sins of favoritism, lying and deception, and anger. This is far from the world that God intends. He designed families, especially, to be filled with love, truth, and peace.

Step 7: Find the World of Jesus of the Text

This is a family that surely needed an infusion of forgiveness and generosity especially. Ideally, they would have put an end to the favoritism and trickery, but a heart of forgiveness would have also greatly helped them avoid the strife that plagued them for years after this. Jesus shows us the better way; a way that is marked by radical forgiveness.

Likewise, the family was greedy. Jacob wanted what wasn’t his, and his mother wanted it for him too. Instead, they should have been generous, giving what they had to support Esau. Jesus shows us a better way in this regard too, as he lived with great generosity for the good of others, not for himself.

Translate It to Your Context

Step 8: Connect the World of Jesus of the Text to Your World

Who do you need to forgive? Who has wronged you in a big way or a small way that you can truly forgive? How can you let that person know they are forgiven? Who might you ask to forgive you for something you’ve done wrong?

How can you be amazingly generous with someone this week to show them Jesus? Who might you be generous toward, how might you do it, and when might you do it?

NEXT: Act 3: God Promises Jesus; Scene 15: Jacob Has a Dream (Genesis 28:10–22)

Learn more about this family discipleship method here.