Good evening.  As we continue to work our way through Genesis, some good news is that we only have about 8 or 9 more weeks, and we should be done with the book of Genesis and ready to move on.  Tonight though, we come to Genesis chapters 33 and 34.

While you are turning there, I will open with a word of prayer.

As we begin, tell me about a dreaded family reunion that turned out better than you expected?  (Hatfield and McCoy Family Reunion!)

Well, as we read this first chapter, we are going to see a family reunion between Jacob and Esau after a 20 year separation that was due to Jacob stealing Esau’s birthright and then his blessing.  So let’s see how this reunion turns out.  Whoever has the first 2 keys, go ahead and read them for us at this time please.  (READ)

Jacob had violated his older twin brother Esau twice when they were younger.  First he made a deal to get his brothers birthright.  Secondly, he then tricked their father into giving him the blessing that should have gone to Esau.  Now, Jacob and Esau haven’t seen each other since Jacob ran for his life from Esau’s anger 20 years earlier.  In preparation for their reunion, Jacob had sent droves of livestock and servants ahead of him as gifts to Esau.  Last week we talked that this was Jacob’s way of buttering up his brother so that he would not kill him.

And now we have just read about the meeting that took place after 20 years.  No as we work our way through this reunion, I have several questions, and then I will end our time on this chapter with o few thoughts.

If you were Jacob and looked up to see Esau approaching you with 400 men, what would you have done?

How would you judge the success of this reunion?

In what way is Esau like the prodigal’s father, and Jacob like the prodigal son?

Do you think that Esau has truly forgiven Jacob for his earlier deceptions?

Do you think that Jacob feels forgiven?

Why do you think that Jacob insists on giving Esau these gifts?

Like Esau, what gift from someone are you having a hard time accepting?  (An amount of $ to Me and Nellie form someone)

The stories of the patriarchs often describe a special place that people have devoted to God.  What place or places hold special meaning in your life?

What meeting do you sometimes not look forward to at all?

What have you found holds you back from mending broken relationships in your lives?  (Fear, pride, worry, shame, etc.)

Which do you usually find harder to do: to extend or accept an apology?  Why?

What have you found helpful in dealing with difficult relationships?

At this time, let me share a few thoughts with you from the commentary.  It says, “READ COMMENTARY”

Does anyone have anything that they would like to add about this chapter before we move on?

Well, if there is nothing else, then let’s make our way to chapter 34.  Here in this chapter we find a passage, that doesn’t really go with what has just happened, but it is a part of real life.  It is a problem that we all face from time to time, anger and revenge.

Have any of you ever gotten or attempted to get revenge on someone for a wrong that they did to you?  And did that revenge help any?

Let’s go ahead and jump right into this passage.  Whoever has the last 3 keys, go ahead and read them at this time please.  (READ)

Now, that is one of those passages that you wonder why God decided to add it in at this time, but in a way you are glad that it was added because it is an issue that we all deal with at times in our lives.  At this time, let’s work our way though this passage with some discussion, and then I will end with the comments that the commentary has about this chapter.

What do you find most disturbing about this story?  (Rape, deceit, revenge, etc.)

Why do you think that God decided to add this story to the Bible?

While Jacob knows enough to never intermarry with the Canaanites, what benefits of association with them does he want?

Where is God in the events of chapter 34?

Note that God’s name appears last in Genesis 33:20 when the altar is called that name, it is referring to God.  Then God’s name appears first in Genesis 35:1, and nowhere in between.

So, if God appears absent in this chapter, why is that?

Where do you need to make sure that your anger does not get the best of you?

When are you most likely to seek revenge?

How does a desire to seek revenge affect you and your faith in God?

Do you think that revenge or retaliation is ever a legitimate response for the Christian?  (No, because of the passage that tells us to turn the other cheek.  However, God destroyed people and told others to due so as well at times.)

Now, as we are talking about marriage, let’s look at a couple more questions.  Is the Bible’s concern for cultural and religious purity in marriage as important for today’s believers as it was for early Israel?  (Not intermarrying)

What advice would you give to a believer and a non-believer who want to get married?  And why would you give that advise?

Okay, well at this time, let me just end this evening by reading what the commentary has to say about this chapter as a whole.  It says, “READ COMMENTARY”

Now, before we close this evening, does anyone have anything that they would like to add?

Well, if there is nothing else, for next week we are going to go through Genesis chapters 35 and 36.  So if you want to read ahead and be ready for next week look at chapters 35 and 36.

I’m going to close with a word of prayer, and then we will be dismissed.  Let’s Pray