Lesson 5 of 5
Jacob and Joseph
Read
Study objective: See how God keeps his promise through a troubled family, and how the book ends.
Reading: Genesis 28:10–22Genesis 32:22–32Genesis 50:15–26
Genesis 28:10–22 WEB
10Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 11He came to a certain place, and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12He dreamed and saw a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13Behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. I will give the land you lie on to you and to your offspring. 14Your offspring will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your offspring, all the families of the earth will be blessed. 15Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you until I have done that which I have spoken of to you.” 16Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I didn’t know it.” 17He was afraid, and said, “How awesome this place is! This is none other than God’s house, and this is the gate of heaven.” 18Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on its top. 19He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20Jacob vowed a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on, 21so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, and the LORD will be my God, 22then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be God’s house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give a tenth to you.”
Genesis 32:22–32 WEB
22He rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of the Jabbok. 23He took them, and sent them over the stream, and sent over that which he had. 24Jacob was left alone, and wrestled with a man there until the breaking of the day. 25When he saw that he didn’t prevail against him, the man touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was strained as he wrestled. 26The man said, “Let me go, for the day breaks.” Jacob said, “I won’t let you go unless you bless me.” 27He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob”. 28He said, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” He said, “Why is it that you ask what my name is?” So he blessed him there. 30Jacob called the name of the place Peniel; for he said, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” 31The sun rose on him as he passed over Peniel, and he limped because of his thigh. 32Therefore the children of Israel don’t eat the sinew of the hip, which is on the hollow of the thigh, to this day, because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew of the hip.
Genesis 50:15–26 WEB
15When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully pay us back for all the evil which we did to him.” 16They sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father commanded before he died, saying, 17‘You shall tell Joseph, “Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ Now, please forgive the disobedience of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18His brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to save many people alive, as is happening today. 21Now therefore don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them. 22Joseph lived in Egypt, he, and his father’s house. Joseph lived one hundred ten years. 23Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees. 24Joseph said to his brothers, “I am dying, but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26So Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Background and context
Abraham’s grandson Jacob deceives his brother and father, flees, and meets God at Bethel. Years later he wrestles at Peniel and is renamed Israel. Jacob’s son Joseph is sold by his brothers but rises in Egypt, and the book ends with Joseph forgiving his brothers and looking ahead to the exodus.
Observe
- At Bethel God repeats the promise to Abraham to Jacob (28:13-15).
- Jacob wrestles until daybreak and receives a new name, Israel (32:28).
- Joseph says, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (50:20).
- Joseph asks that his bones be carried up from Egypt (50:25).
Words, people and events to notice
- Israel
- The new name given to Jacob, which becomes the name of the people descended from him. Genesis 32:28
Understand
- Why might God choose to work through such a flawed family?
- What changes in Jacob between Bethel and Peniel?
- How does Genesis 50:20 sum up the whole Joseph story?
Connect
- Hebrews 11:20–22
Isaac, Jacob and Joseph acting in faith about the future.
- Exodus 1:6–8
The bridge from Genesis into Exodus.
Reflect
- Where have you seen God work through brokenness?
- What would forgiveness like Joseph’s cost you?
Key takeaways
Editorial summary, not Scripture.
- God keeps his promise through imperfect people.
- Genesis ends looking forward: the promise is not yet complete.
Answers, notes and progress are saved on this device only. Nothing is sent to BibleKenya.