Broken but Blessed

 Primary Text:  Genesis 35:10-12                                                                 June 5 & 6, 2021

 1)  Usurper

 Genesis 25:23:  The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger."

 Genesis 25:27-33:  The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents.  Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob….  Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright."  "Look, I am about to die," Esau said.  "What good is the birthright to me?"  But Jacob said, "Swear to me first."  So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.

 DQ 1) What are possible reasons why Jacob wanted Esau’s birthright?  What possibly explains why Esau “despised” his birthright?

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 2)  The Deceiver Deceived

 Genesis 27:18-19:  He went to his father and said, "My father." "Yes, my son," he answered. "Who is it?"  Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn."

 Genesis 29:22-25:  So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast.  But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and Jacob lay with her….  When morning came, there was Leah!  So Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me?  I served you for Rachel, didn't I?  Why have you deceived me?"

 DQ 2) Why is it that we sometimes are most indignant with others for committing the very sin we have likewise carried out?

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 3)  Wrestling with God

 Genesis 32:24-28:  So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.  When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man….  Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."

 DQ 3) What does Jacob’s wrestling with God experience tell us about being broken before the Lord?

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 4)  Blessed Nonetheless

 Genesis 35:10-12:  So he named him Israel.  And God said to him, "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number.  A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body.  The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you."

 DQ 4) How does God gain glory by working through broken people and bestowing blessings upon them?

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