The One Year Chronological Study Bible - Flipbook - Page 48
JANUARY 12
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page 44
48 Then Laban declared, “This pile of stones
will stand as a witness to remind us of the covenant we have made today.” This explains why
it was called Galeed—“Witness Pile.” 49 But it
was also called Mizpah (which means “watchtower”), for Laban said, “May the Lord keep
watch between us to make sure that we keep
this covenant when we are out of each other’s
sight. 50 If you mistreat my daughters or if you
marry other wives, God will see it even if no
one else does. He is a witness to this covenant
between us.
51 “See this pile of stones,” Laban continued,
“and see this monument I have set between
us. 52 They stand between us as witnesses of
our vows. I will never pass this pile of stones
to harm you, and you must never pass these
stones or this monument to harm me. 53 I call
on the God of our ancestors—the God of your
grandfather Abraham and the God of my
grandfather Nahor—to serve as a judge between us.”
So Jacob took an oath before the fearsome
God of his father, Isaac,* to respect the boundary line. 54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice to God
there on the mountain and invited everyone to a
covenant feast. After they had eaten, they spent
the night on the mountain.
55*Laban got up early the next morning, and
he kissed his grandchildren and his daughters
and blessed them. Then he left and returned
home.
D A I LY D I S C O V E R Y
• How does Laban view the
blessing of God on Jacob’s life?
How do you respond when
others seem to be experiencing
God’s blessing?
Day 12 •
• When Laban’s sons grumble
at Jacob, what does their
complaining reveal about their
hearts and their own work
compared to Jacob’s?
• How does God protect
Jacob from Laban, and what
agreement do Jacob and Laban
make?
JANUARY 12
After leaving Laban, Jacob prays to the God of Abraham and Isaac. He acknowledges God’s unfailing love and asks for His help. After reentering the land promised to Abraham and his descendants,
Jacob moves to the city of Shechem, where his daughter is raped and her brothers retaliate. God directs
Jacob to move his family from Shechem to Bethel, and Jacob builds an altar there. God reveals Himself
as El-Shaddai—“God Almighty” (Genesis 35:11) and changes Jacob’s name to Israel. God also renews
the promise made to Abraham regarding the land and becoming a great nation with Jacob and his
descendants.
From these stories, the Israelites would learn anew their messy heritage and that embracing the God
of Abraham and Isaac demands a departure from idolatry. God exposes the unbelief of scheming and the
threat of assimilation and reveals Himself as faithful to the promises that He makes.
DIVIDED
KINGDOM
EXODUS
PATRIARCH
PATRIARCH
CREATION
31:53 Or the Fear of his father, Isaac. 31:55 Verse 31:55 is numbered
32:1 in Hebrew text. 32:1 Verses 32:1-32 are numbered 32:2-33 in
Hebrew text. 32:2 Mahanaim means “two camps.”
KINGDOM
*As Jacob started on his way again, angels of
God came to meet him. 2 When Jacob saw them,
he exclaimed, “This is God’s camp!” So he named
the place Mahanaim.*
3 Then Jacob sent messengers ahead to his
brother, Esau, who was living in the region of
Seir in the land of Edom. 4 He told them, “Give
this message to my master Esau: ‘Humble
greetings from your servant Jacob. Until now I
have been living with Uncle Laban, 5 and now I
own cattle, donkeys, flocks of sheep and goats,
and many servants, both men and women. I
have sent these messengers to inform my lord
1
of my coming, hoping that you will be friendly
to me.’”
6 After delivering the message, the messengers returned to Jacob and reported, “We met
your brother, Esau, and he is already on his
way to meet you—with an army of 400 men!”
7 Jacob was terrified at the news. He divided his
household, along with the flocks and herds and
camels, into two groups. 8 He thought, “If Esau
meets one group and attacks it, perhaps the
other group can escape.”
9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my grandfather
Abraham, and God of my father, Isaac—O Lord,
JUDGES
1909 or 1743 BC
CONQUEST
Jacob Sends Gifts to Esau • GENESIS 32:1-21 /
