God's Big Picture: Genesis 29-33

CIT: When we wrestle with God it changes how we love God and love our neighbor

Hear the story (exegesis)

Believe the story (theological propositions)

Live the story (application)

Hear the Story

Jacob goes to Laban, like Rebekah told him, and falls in love with Rachel (Gen. 29:1-30)

Laban tricks Jacob, after 7 years of hard labor, into marrying Leah instead of Rachel

Jacob works another 7 years to marry Rachel

Jacob has favoritism of Rachel over Leah, but only Leah can have children (Gen. 29:1-30:24)

Leah having kids shows God’s special love for oppressed women

Leah names her first 4 kids

Reuben - symbolizing her desire for her husband to love her for having a son (Gen. 29:32)

Simeon - symbolizing her desire to be heard by her husband (Gen. 29:33)

Levi - symbolizing her desire to be attached to her husband (Gen. 29:34)

Judah - symbolizing her change of heart to find her worth in God and not her husband (Gen. 29:35)

It is fitting that this is the child from whom Jesus comes!

Jacob deceives Laban to take more of his flock (Gen. 30:25-43)

Jacob flees from Laban (Gen. 31)

Jacob is scared of seeing Esau again (Gen. 32:1-21)

Jacob wrestles with God (Gen. 32:22-32)

Jacob’s name is changed to Israel, which is fitting for two reasons

Israel is constantly wrestling with God in the OT

When we wrestle with God our identity is changed to be part of Israel

Jacob is a changed man when he meets Esau (Gen. 33)

Instead of trying to cheat his way out of the situation he is humble before the brother whom he betrayed and cheated

Believe the story

Change like this is possible through two things

Faith in Christ

Mark 10:17-27

We cannot produce this on our own, only God can

Romans 6:5-14

this newfound identity, like Jacob, sets us free from sin to live like Jesus

Sanctification by the Spirit

2 Corinthians 3:18

This continuous change is powered by the Spirit

Live the story

When we recognize the majesty of the incarnation and the crucifixion it changes how we love God and love our neighbor

Philippians 2:1-11

This should empower our worship, prayer, and evangelism

Philippians 2:5-11

This should destroy our gossip, pride, and selfishness

Philippians 2:1-4