Day 3 - Genesis 28:20 - 40:11

In today’s section, we read about:

Jacob fleeing to his uncle Laban
Jacob working to earn his wives
Discord and deceit in Laban’s and Jacob’s household
Jacob returning to the land of promise, wrestling with God and having a new name
Jealousy and favouritism among Jacob’s sons, some unhappy family episodes
Joseph sold into slavery
God looks after Joseph in Potiphar’s house and even in the prison

Some things that struck me today:

How insidious the effects of deceit are, and how hard to break out of their shackles. Laban is a thoroughly unpleasant character, but often Jacob also resorts to deceit to get his own back.

Jacob wrestling match in chapter 32 is very hard to imagine and get my head round. Jacob has remembered God’s promises to him (32:9-12), yet is terrified about of Esau, whom he deceived out of his inheritance 20 years earlier. Jacob is alone in the camp at night, and then wrestles with a man until dawn – revelation and insight only come after the struggle, even though they are the fulfilment of the prayer earlier in the chapter

Jacob deceives Esau again (33:14, 17) and his sons have learnt from their father (34:13). Although the family grows numerous, it does not seem to be a happy family

Rachel dies near Bethlehem – also the home town of Naomi and later Ruth, and Micah 5:2

The contrast between Reuben and Judah is interesting. Reuben slept with his Bilhah, mother of Dan and Naphtali (35:21), tries to save Joseph, but ultimately loses his prominence as first born. Judah has two sinful sons, who are killed, refuses to give his third to fulfil an obligation under the law, sleeps with a prostitute who turns out to be the daughter-in-law he is wronging, and yet later becomes pre-eminent among all the tribes.

Joseph is the one uplifting story in today’s section. He is faithful and obedient even in difficult circumstances. He is not recorded as complaining at any stage and in Gen 45:7-8, he shows he understands this was God’s purpose.