The time of the promises to Abraham spans three generations --those of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In this lesson we look beyond the sojourns and adventures of Abraham himself, to those of Isaac and Jacob, especially the latter. These are recounted in Genesis, chapters 22 through 36.

When Abraham’s wife Sarah died at the age of 127, Abraham buried her in the land of Canaan. Abraham then sent his oldest and most trusted servant back to Abraham’s homeland to find a wife for Isaac among Abraham’s own relatives. Isaac married Rebekah, his first cousin once removed. The story of how this marriage was arranged is quite lovely. The hand of the Lord was in it, and his will was followed with dignity and self sacrifice (Gen 24). Satisfied with all this, Abraham died at the age of 175, and was buried where his wife lay.

Rebekah was barren, so Isaac prayed and God answered, thus Rebekah conceived and bore twins Esau and Jacob. Except for chapter 26, the record largely passes over Isaac and Rebekah’s life and deeds. It is mostly the story of Jacob that occupies the following chapters of Genesis.

The Main Point

Behind this story is the faith that Jacob showed in God by his obedience to whatever God said. He seemed to be always struggling against a disadvantage. His famous wrestle with God symbolised this. "You have striven with God and with men and have prevailed" (Gen 32:24-30). Jacob believed God would always help him contend with adversity, yet Jacob’s faith and attitude was humble: "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and all the truth which you have shown your servant" (Gen 32:10).

Our marriage to Christ

Christians are figuratively "married" to Christ (Rom 7:4). In some ways, our marriage to Christ is something like Rebekah’s marriage to Isaac, and Rachel’s marriage to Jacob. In Isaac’s case, he seemed to do little until the happy ending where he marries Rebekah and loves her (Gen 24:67). Before that, Abraham, Abraham’s manservant, and Rebekah seemed to make all the effort toward this marriage. People do a lot of work to convert us, and we make a lot of effort and sacrifice to come to Christ. After all that is done, then Christ welcomes us, and we become his accepted and beloved. In Jacob’s case however, he had to go on a long journey to find Rachel, then he had to work hard and long in order to marry her. Christ did so much for us. He left his home and came all the way to this world for us. He suffered so much for us. Both pictures are true.

Bible Summary (Genesis 22-36

• Birth of Rebekah (22)
• Sarah dies and her burial is arranged in Canaan (23)
• Rebekah marries Isaac (24)
• Abraham dies and is buried in the same place as Sarah (25)
• Birth of Esau and Jacob (25)
• Jacob takes the birthright that Esau despised (25)
• Isaac lives among the Philistines, deceives them re Rebekah (26)
• Isaac digs again his father’s wells, settles in Beersheba (26)
• Esau’s ill-chosen marriage (26)
• Jacob steals Esau’s blessing (27)
• Jacob flees from Esau, goes north from Beersheba (27, 28)
• Jacob’s dream of a ladder to heaven (28)
• God repeats to Jacob the seed promise made to Abraham (28)
• Jacob arrives in Haran, meets Rachel at the well (29)
• Jacob lodges with his uncle Laban, Rebekah’s brother (29)
• Jacob marries Leah and Rachel, works many years for Laban (29)
• The births of Jacob’s sons, except for Benjamin (29, 30)
• Jacob increases his flocks in spite of Laban’s unfairness (30)
• Jacob flees with his family and flocks south to Gilead (31)
• Laban persues Jacob; Rachel conceals stolen idols (31)
• Laban and Jacob settle their differences, and make a treaty (31)
• Jacob sends gift herds to Esau preparing to meet him (32)
• Jacob given the name Israel when he wrestles with God (32)
• Jacob meets Esau peacefully yet reservedly (33)
• Jacob’s family and flocks journey further south to Shechem(33)
• Jacob’s daughter Dinah is raped by Shechem (34)
• Schechem’s city is ransacked by a ruse (34)
• Jacob takes his family further south to Bethel and Bethlehem (35)
• God confirms that Jacob is to be known as Israel (35)
• Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin (35)
• Jacob’s twelve sons listed (35)
• Jacob comes to Hebron where he buries his father Isaac (35)

Jacob’s relations

Jacob was...

• Grandson of Abraham and Sarah
• Son of Isaac and Rebekah (also a second cousin to her)
• Nephew of Laban (Rebekah’s brother)
• Husband of Leah and Rachel (Laban’s daughters)
• Father of twelve sons from whom came the twelve tribes
• Twin brother of Esau

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