Genesis 30-31; Psalm 11; Mark 12

Genesis 30: Make a list of all of Jacob’s wives and the children they had.  Why did Laban want Jacob to stay?

Genesis 31: Why did Jacob flee? Why did Jacob strip the branches and place them in front of the flocks and herds – 30:37-42? What did the stone heaps signify in verses 45-48. 

Mark 12: What did the chief priests, elders and teachers of the Law do after hearing Jesus’ parable of the talents?

Journal Prompt: When it comes to giving back to God, what do you learn from Jesus’ praise of the widow in verse 44? How might this change your approach to tithing?

Answers:

Genesis 30: The wives and children of Jacob
Leah: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah
Zilpah: Gad, Asher
Bilhah: Dan, Naphtali
Rachel: Joseph, Benjamin

Laban wanted Jacob to stay because he leaned by divination that the lord had blessed him because of Jacob (v.27).

Genesis 31: Laban’s sons were jealous of Jacob’s wealth and Laban’s attitude had changed toward him (v.1-2). God spoke to Jacob in a dream and instructed him to do that (v. 11-12). The stone heaps signified a covenant of peace between Jacob and Laban – and also a boundary between them.

Mark 12: They plotted to kill Jesus, because they knew the parable was about them.