CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: Genesis 37:12-36

We will transition our focus on the Patriarchs this week from Jacob to his son Joseph. Last week, Jacob had journeyed home and experienced a happy reunion with his estranged twin brother, Esau. In Genesis 35, we find Jacob has been commanded by God to settle in Bethel – the same place where he slept on a pillar of stone and dreamed of angels ascending temple steps to heaven as he fled for his life over twenty years earlier. Jacob instructed his household to destroy all foreign gods – perhaps Rachel still possessed the ones she stole from her father. When the family left Bethel, Rachel went into labor, and died in childbirth. Before dying, she gave her son the ominous name “Ben Omi”, meaning “son of my trouble”.

Jacob, whose name had by now been changed to Israel, displayed a show of hope by changing the boy’s name to “Benjamin”, meaning “son of my right hand”. He was Jacob’s twelfth son. Rachel was buried on the road to Bethlehem. Israel and his family finally settled back where he started, at his father Isaac’s home in Hebron. Isaac then died, and the twin brothers came together once again to bury him. Chapter 36 gives a detailed list of the descendents of Esau, known as the Edomites. Though Esau was not the child of the promise, his descendents played an important role in Israel’s history, and his children developed a strong monarchy and civilization long before Israel transitioned from tribe to nation.

In chapter 37, we come to the story of Joseph that will play out for the rest of Genesis. In the first four verses, evil shadows from the past make an appearance, and great injustice in the near future is hinted. Joseph was 17, and had been assigned the job of tending sheep with his older half brothers. He gossiped about them to his father Jacob. Remember Jacob had favored Rachel over his other wives, so he showed intense favoritism to her son Joseph, even making a special coat for him. Jacob’s half brothers were both jealous of the special treatment he received and resentful of his tattling to their father. In short, they hated him. Their bitterness became so great that they could neither speak a kind word to him or about him.

Joseph didn’t help his case much when he began talking about his dreams to his family. To ancient people, dreams were often seen as messages from God. It was clear that Joseph’s dreams were meant to be interpreted as his brothers being subservient to him. Finally, even Jacob rebuked Joseph. When the time came for the brothers to take the flocks a long distance from home, they decided to get revenge on their brother. First, they were going to simply murder him. Who would know? The oldest, however, said “Let’s just throw him in a cistern and let him die of hunger and thirst”, meaning to secretly rescue him later. Before Joseph could be rescued, the other brothers decided to profit from him, and sold him to distant cousins as a slave.

Today’s sermon will examine the dangers of jealousy in family relationships.

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. Can you think of a time as a child when you were jealous of a family member? Looking back, would you trade places with them now?

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• Joseph was a victim of jealousy.

• Jealousy is a powerful force in families today.

• The Lord was greater than Israel’s jealousy.

• The Lord’ can overcome jealousy in your life.

This Week’s Assignment –

Having a CrossViewed life means offering grace and forgiveness to those in our families who cause us pain. Have you experienced family pain due to jealousy, either on the giving or receiving end? What small step can you take to mend a hurt relationship this week? Even if it’s something as simple as breathing a prayer, do it today!

CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: Genesis 32:24-31

Last week we left Jacob in the employ of his uncle/father-in-law, Laban. He tended flocks for fourteen years as payment for Leah and Rachel. During this time, Jacob’s wives and their maids gave birth to eleven sons and one daughter. Of course, these births were often accompanied by quarreling, jealousy, and accusations of mistreatment between the two sisters, with the two maids used as pawns. Rachel was barren for most of this time, until the scripture says God “remembered” her, and she finally gave birth to Joseph, the eleventh boy. Having completed the terms of his agreement with Laban, Jacob attempted to leave. Laban, however, didn’t want to let him go. Jacob went back to his trickster ways when he came to the negotiating table.

What follows is a tale that would have been considered somewhat risqué to Hebrew audiences. Jacob offered to take all the spotted and black livestock from Laban’s herd to start his own flocks. Laban immediately agreed, since this would represent a miniscule percentage of the flock. Jacob, however, used common breeding practices of the day to ensure the female animals in heat mated with the strongest males, and bore only striped, spotted, and black offspring! Jacob became wealthy, and Laban hated him as a result. Laban’s sons complained to their father, and Jacob knew it was time to go. Gathering his wives, children, and herds, he flees in the night. Laban caught up to him and confronted him, but a treaty is made and Jacob leaves in peace.

Jacob may have triumphed in his dealings with Laban, but he was overcome with a sense of foreboding as he remembered where he was headed – back home, where the problems he left and the brother he cheated twenty years ago were still waiting. He had a vision of a heavenly army or “company” – another “how this place got its name” story. This should have reminded him of God’s protection, but it did nothing to alleviate his fears when he found out Esau was coming to meet him with an army of 400 men. Always the schemer, he divided his people into two companies, and sent large gifts ahead of him to (hopefully) appease Esau. Most importantly, he prayed that God would remember God’s promise and protect him.

What follows is the most dramatic “naming” story yet, and a dramatic conclusion to the tale of two brothers. Jacob sent his family across a river, but when he attempted to cross, a man appeared and prevented him. Jacob wrestled with the man, at some point realizing He is wrestling with God! God displaced Jacob’s hip, and changed his name to Israel – “wrestles with God” – the name that would aptly apply to all his descendants. As it turns out, Jacob had no reason to worry. He bowed down seven times when he approached Esau; Esau, however, grabbed him and embraced him. They both wept. Esau had come to terms with the past, and had abandoned already abandoned the home territory. The land of promise sat waiting for Jacob.

Today’s sermon will focus on trusting God with our family.

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. Have you ever really worried about something, only to find out you had no reason to worry? Did worry help?

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• Jacob worried about his family.

• Our family is a huge source of worry in our hearts.

• God wrestled with Jacob so Jacob would trust God.

• God offers us the gift of trust today.

This Week’s Assignment –

Having a CrossViewed life means trusting God with the things that concern us most. What are you most worried about in your family today? Place it in God’s hands, and allow God to handle it.