45Genesis 29PG 46OBSERVATION POINTEXPLORATION POINTFor Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, altars and othermemorial stones stood like historical markers,identifying places where God had revealed himself tothem. Each altar reminded those who saw them thatGod was interested in his people and involved in hiscreation. In Israel, there were four or five such altars:Beersheba, Bethel, Hebron, Moriah, and Shechem.Over time, they would accumulate greater significance as God’s people gathered to worship and hearstories of their history. God and history were woventogether at the altars.In running from Esau, Jacob left everything behind:the rights of the firstborn that he had secured bytrading some stew, and his father’s blessing thathe had stolen from Esau by using a false identity.Jacob had tried to control his fortunes, but he losteverything. Through the dream, God assured Jacobthat everything would turn out okay, that althoughhe had left everything behind, God would still be withhim—an incomparable blessing.Rachel arrived with her father’s flock, for shewas a shepherd. 10 And because Rachel was hiscousin—the daughter of Laban, his mother’sbrother—and because the sheep and goats belonged to his uncle Laban, Jacob went over tothe well and moved the stone from its mouthand watered his uncle’s flock. 11 Then Jacobkissed Rachel, and he wept aloud. 12 He explained to Rachel that he was her cousin onher father’s side—the son of her aunt Rebekah. So Rachel quickly ran and told her father,Laban.13As soon as Laban heard that his nephewJacob had arrived, he ran out to meet him. Heembraced and kissed him and brought himhome. When Jacob had told him his story, 14 Laban exclaimed, “You really are my own fleshand blood!”THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAELABRAHAMISAACZILPAHJACOB(Leah’s slave)BILHAHRACHEL (Laban’syounger daughter)LEAH (Laban’s(Rachel’s slave)older daughter)7513911GADDANREUBENLEVIISSACHARJOSEPH8ASHER6NAPHTALIJEPHTHAH (?)BARAKSAMSONELIJAH (?)Solid lines indicate direct descendants.Dashed lines indicate generations between.Dotted lines indicate marriage.2SIMEONAARONMOSESELIJOHN THEBAPTIST4JUDAHDAVID10ZEBULUN12BENJAMINEPHRAIMDINAH MANASSEH(only daughter)SAULJOSHUASOLOMONESTHERGIDEONPAULJESUSSAMUELGen 35:23-26Jacob had twelve sons from four different wives.God used the selfish competition between Leahand Rachel to multiply Abraham’s family into thesource of a new people.
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