Genesis 22 - 28, Week 3

Our reflections cover three major topics this week. They are 1)faith and obedience, 2) family relations, and 3) God's assurance.

1. Abraham tested - chapter 22. Why would God do this test to Abraham? Why ask Abraham to sacrifice the very child he waited years to have and is the fulfillment of God's promise for Abraham's future? Obviously, it's a test of faith.

Meditate on these questions: Has God ever tested you like this? I don't mean has he asked you to sacrifice your child. But has he tested your faith and commitment? Have you obeyed God when your common sense screamed "ridiculous?"

Abraham's life is an example of consistent obedience to God's directions. If someone looks at your life or writes a narrative such as this one, would your life reflect a life of faith or a life of self determination?

Remember the God who tests is the same God who provides.

2. Sarah dies and Abraham buys a buriel plot for her. Finally he owns land in this foreign place. What does this tell you about his relationship with Sarah?

3. In chapter 24 God orchestrates the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah. What impresses you most about this story? The servant's faith? Rebekah's willingness to go? Abraham's insistence of a wife from his country? Why?

4. Jacob and Esau. The two stories here - Esau trading his birthright for food and Jacob stealing Isaac's blessing - are full of familiar family conflicts. Lying, coniving, covering up, taking advantage of people's weaknesses, jealousy, playing favorites - these are all traits we've experienced in our families. Which of these traits have you experienced in your family? Have the experiences affected your relationship with God? If so, how?

What is God telling you through the Jacob and Esau stories? Is there someone in your family you need to forgive? Are you the family member inflicting pain on others? Is God calling you to turn away from a destructive behavior?

Have you had a victory over a destructive behavior and God has blessed you as a result?

5. Jacob flees Esau's wrath. Sometimes the consequences of our actions are hard to swallow. The entire family pays a big price for Jacob's deception. The family will never be the same.
Have you had experiences that literally changed everything in your life? Where was God in the experience?

6. God gives Jacob assurance of His protection and the fulfillment of His promise to Abraham through Jacob. We all have turning points in our lives. Times when we have an "aha" moment and the insight causes us to make a change. Jacob has one of these moments.

He vows to recognize God from this time forward and give God a tenth of all he has. So when was the last time you bargained with God? Have you kept your part of the bargain? How does God speak to you?

Remember to start your readings with prayer.....blessings!