The Prophecy of Jacob
Jacob’s time is short. It will not be long before he departs this world. Before he passes, he calls for his sons to gather together that he might tell them the things that will befall them in the last days. Some of the sons receive good news, while others hear of loss and condemnation.
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Jacob Leaves to Find His Future
Jacob has had it easy up to now. He has lived as a plain man in the tents (Genesis 25:27). He has been his mother’s favorite (Genesis 25:28). He has purchased his brother’s birthright and tricked him out of his blessing (Genesis 27:35-36). But now, his life of trickery begins to catch up with him. He must flee the country for his life’s sake and go 500 miles from home. Before God is through with Jacob, a “few days” (Genesis 27:44) will become 20 years and his beloved mother will die before he ever gets to see her again. Yet, God is working. In this lesson, Jacob takes a major step toward spiritual maturity. He will have far to go but he will be a better man for the experience in this chapter.
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Abraham’s Meeting with God
This section of the Bible gives a great lesson on hospitality. But, more than that, it deals with fellowship with God. Abraham received the Lord into his home and the Lord felt enough confidence in Abraham to reveal to him what He was getting ready to do.
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The Tower of Babel
The tower of Babel is the sight of man’s first and (to date) only one world government. Man has dreamed of renewing a universal government since that time. All the empires of the past have been attempts to establish it. He believes that if man would just stop fighting himself and unite, he could accomplish anything and would no longer need God. God has therefore allowed divisions in language, geography, culture, etc., to keep man from uniting as one. Bible prophecy tells of a time when man will have his one world government and will use it to fight God and God’s people, the Jews. This is the time of the tribulation.
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Cain and Abel
Abel and Cain give the original contrast between good and evil. Abel obeyed God and was accepted of Him. Cain came up with a better idea and displeased God. But instead of getting things right, Cain took matters into his own hands and murdered his own brother. This world is still divided into those who submit to God’s plan and those who are determined to do things their own way. This lesson teaches obedience and the importance of doing things God’s way.
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The Design of the Tabernacle
Someone has counted seven different sets of instructions concerning the tabernacle in the book of Exodus. Each set of instructions repeats some things and adds others. This approach is part of God’s special design for the book of Exodus, but it can confuse the casual reader. In order to make the tabernacle more understandable, this lesson follows topics more than the text. However, the bulk of our text deals with the furniture in the tabernacle and you can follow it in order under that topic below.
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The Offering for the Tabernacle
This lesson teaches us about the willingness of God’s people to give to Him when they are in a right relationship with Him. The church at Antioch was a giving church (Acts 11:27-30). The church at Philippi was a giving church (Philippians 4:14-19). We need to be a giving people.
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Moses Meets with God
Israel has grievously sinned against God. The people have made a golden calf and worshipped it. The tabernacle, as God’s presence, is removed from their midst. Moses now goes to work as the primary Old Testament mediator to bring God and His people back into a right relationship with one another.
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Battles in the Wilderness
Israel comes to a way station in the wilderness and must fight some new battles. Her first battle is with the elements: there is no water. This shows us that the natural problems of life can be a great trial for us and can tempt us to murmur against God. The second battle is with a visible enemy: Amalek. Amalek grieves Israel through much of the Old Testament. We battle Amalek in the form of the flesh.
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Provision from God in the Wilderness
God has delivered Israel from Egypt. But now the real test comes. Israel no longer has the wealth of Egypt upon which to rely. Will they be willing to trust in the Lord for their provision? Will they find Him to be sufficient?
