Category: Family of Jacob

Family of Jacob, Famous Families

Jacob Marries Rachel and Leah

Council of Relatives in Family Interactions

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In this bible study we learn about Jacob’s first seven years in Paddan Aram, where he lived with his uncle Laban. The passage illustrates the role of family as a structure for regulation of human interactions. This function often is performed through the Council of Relatives, constituted by informally selecting family members to represent each family. The Council of Relatives is still the same and plays the same roles today as in the days of this bible incident. The council is referred to as Umunna among the Igbo people of Nigeria, for example.

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Family of Jacob, Famous Families

Jacob Relocates to Paddan Aram

Covenant at Bethel

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Spousal Interactions by Leading the Leader

In this bible study, we learn about Jacob’s departure from Canaan to live with his uncle in Paddan Aram. Informed that Esau was threatening to kill Jacob, Rebekah advised Jacob to flee to Paddan Aram. However, to secure Isaac’s approval, she presented a different case that she could not bear the possibility of Jacob marrying a Canaanite. Isaac was convinced by this argument and instructed Jacob to move to Paddan Aram. Thus, Rebekah persuaded her husband by focusing on an issue that she and her husband were likely to agree but did not mention her other concern that could have led to a disagreement with her husband.

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Family of Jacob, Famous Families

Isaac Marries Rebekah

Prayer by Head of Household

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Prayer by Head of Household

In this bible study, we learn about Abraham sending his chief servant to get a wife for Isaac from among “my country and my own relatives.” His interactions with his servant remind us that a prayer by the head of a household goes a long way for members that believe in the prayer. Abraham prayed for his servant before sending him on the mission. His servant believed in the prayer and invoked it every time he felt like praying. His prayers came through exactly as he prayed.

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Family of Jacob, Famous Families

Jacob and Esau Early Years Interactions

Parental Blessing

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This bible study focuses on the family of Isaac and Rebekah during the early years of Jacob and Esau. Their interactions remind us that children need parental blessing, through a parent fulfilling obligations to the child or responding to motivation due to a child’s good behavior. Parental blessing based on obligation alone may be less effective than blessing that is also motivated by a parent feeling good about the child. Therefore, children need to be good to their parents and should not rely on parental obligation alone to earn parental blessing.

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