Relate4ever Resources

 

R4E130925 – Jacob (Old Testament Character Study) by Douglas Jacoby

You can download the full audiobook recording on qobuz or amazon or itunes.

Hebrew words:

• Ya’aqov (Jacob) — sounds like “he deceives/supplants.”
  • Jacob appears 380x in the O.T.
  • Compare this to Isaac (133x) and Abraham (309x).
• Beth-el (Bethel) — house of God
• Ye’abeq (Jabbok) — he wrestles
• Yisr’ael (Israel) — God strives
• Peni’el (Peniel) — face of God

Further study:

• His life falls into four periods: Canaan, Aram, Canaan (again), and Egypt. Find the exact chapter numbers for each period.
• There are also four monuments/pillars/markers: 28:18, 31:45, 35:14, 35:20. What would be the “markers” in your own spiritual pilgrimage?
• Our study in Genesis: 25:26 (birth); 25 (deception of Esau); 27 (deception of Isaac); 28:10-15 (Bethel — see John 1:51); 31:42, 53 (“Fear of Isaac”); 29:14-28 (marriage[s] in Aram); 32:22-32 (wrestling match at the Jabbok); but had Jacob profoundly changed? (33–fear of Esau, 33:14–deceit?, 34:1ff–lack of concern for Dinah, 35–lack of concern for Bilhah (cp. 49:2-3); 37 (“death” of Joseph); 46:2, 29-30 (reaffirmation of divine promise and reunion with Joseph); 48-49 (blessing Joseph’s sons and his own sons); death (49:33) and burial (50:14).
• Sexual purity: compare and contrast Genesis 29 (Jacob and Rachel) with Genesis 34 (Shechem and Dinah).
• In summary, Jacob led a hard life:
  • Not so impressive as his father’s and grandfather’s lives (47:9).
  • Endured the loss of his beloved (favorite) wife and his special (favorite) son.
  • Ran away from his parents.
  • Still, he kept his eye on the promises, insisting that he be buried in Canaan (49:29-33).
• Other Old Testament books: Joshua 24:3, 4, 32; Psalm 105:10-23; Hosea 12:2-4, 12; Malachi 1:2ff.
• New Testament: John 4:5-6, 12; Acts 7:12, 14-16; Romans 9:10-13; Hebrews 11:9, 20ff.

Some things we learn about God:

• Even if God appears to us or works in our life in an intense way, our basic personality type will probably remain unaffected. He will not force us to change. We are all “under construction.”
• God does not spare his chosen ones from tragedy.
• We can wrestle the Lord for his blessing, but if he has already given his word, this is wholly unnecessary — exhausting, unproductive, and ultimately faithless.

For kids (devotional discussion):

• Read the story of Jacob at the Jabbok. For younger children, role-play: the angel, Jacob.
• If you were wrestling your daddy (mommy), who would win?
• Why do we fight (wrestle) God?
• Why does Jacob try to make God bless him, when God has already promised to be good to him?
• Why is Jacob so afraid?

Key verses:

• 28:12 — sees the “stairway to heaven”
• 29:20 — Jacob’s profound (and pure) love for Rachel.
• 32:36 — He demands God’s blessing at the Jabbok.
• 49:26 — tearful reunion with Joseph, whom he believed to be dead.

 

 

 

 

R4E130923 – Mary and Martha (New Testament Character Study) by Douglas Jacoby

You can download the full audiobook recording on qobuz or amazon or itunes.

 

Background

• Martha (Aramaic) means something like “the lady.” It comes from the masculine form for master, mar.
• Miriam, named after the sister of Moses, usually Mary in English, comes from the Hebrew for “bitter.”
• Catholic tradition equates Mary with Mary of Magdala (Mary Magdalene), while in Orthodox and Protestant traditions these are two separate persons. In John 12:1-7 and Luke 7:36-50, the anointing is of the feet, not the head, as in the older source Mark 14:3-9 (appearing also in Matthew 26:6-13 and Luke 7:36-51); one Bethany home belongs to Simon the Pharisee (and leper), the other to the home of Martha; and so scholars cannot easily confirm that the anointings represent separate events. This is not easy to decide.
• The sisters may have been born into wealth. Notice the spare room for guests, the family vault, and the expensive perfume.
• Martha is usually mentioned first, suggesting that she was the older of the sisters. Though it doesn’t seem possible to prove this, her being the firstborn is more consistent with her display of personality in the gospel accounts.
• They lived with their brother, Lazarus. (Is it more than coincidence that the figure in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus [Luke 16:19-31] is also named Lazarus?) No mention is made of children or aged parents, though of course the silence does not rule out their presence.

Martha & Martha

• Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-12:8
• Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, even as Saul of Tarsus sat at Gamaliel’s feet (Acts 22:3). The purpose was presumably not only to learn, but also (in turn) to teach. This is revolutionary. See note ** below.
• Contrasting characters
  • higher-strung / lower-strung
  • more task-oriented / more relational
  • more controlling /more accepting
  • standing and serving / seated and learning and waiting
  • leader / follower

Application

• People are wired differently, whether due to nature or nurture, genetics or family of origin, social conditioning, or other factors. Personality differences are not condemned in the Bible. There’s always room to improve, and to the extent that we fall short of the character of Christ, we should never become complacent about “who we are.” Still, contentment (when accompanied by godliness) is a positive thing, and highly desirable (1 Timothy 6:6).
• Even in a single family, personalities differ significantly. Everyone interacts with Jesus Christ in his or her own way. We shouldn’t try to force everyone to respond the same way. Genuine commitment may manifest differently in different people.
• Jesus Christ, as busy as he was, made time for relationships. It is clear that this family held a special place in his heart. Notice also that among his friends he counted not only men, but also women. Of course he comported himself with propriety at all times, but the requirements of holiness and dignity did not dictate that he hold aloof from those with whom he had no immediate “ministry business.”
• Life can be burdensome and distracting, and it’s all too easy to focus too much on all the duties and chores. Every day let us take time to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn. May we all strive to have a “Mary heart” in a “Martha world.”

 

 

 

Hebrew words:

• ‘Esaw (Esau) — 98x in the OT (vs. 3x in the N.T.)
• Se’ar — hair
• ‘Edhom — Edom, similar to the word for “red” (‘adhmoni), “to be red” (‘adham), and “to be died red” (‘adhammu). The words “Edom” and “Edomites” appear 120 in the O.T.
• Se’ir — Seir, a mountain range in Edom

Further study:

• Old Testament:
  • Genesis 25:24-34. (Scriptures in this podcast are from the [Holman] Christian Standard Bible.)
  • Re: 24:34 — Proverbs 30:20, Isaiah 22:13, 1 Corinthians 15:32b, Ecclesiastes 8:15. See also 1 John 2:15-17, 1 Peter 1:18, and Hebrews 11:25.
  • Genesis 27:1-4, 29-41.
  • Esau is potential to be a “second Cain” (cp. Genesis 4).
  • Obadiah (about the vengeance of Edom — the descendants of Esau — on Judah in 587/586 BC, when God punished Judah through the Babylonians). See also Jeremiah 49.
  • Genesis 33:1-17
  • Genesis 35:29 — see 25:9.
  • Genesis 36:1-9, 43
  • Esau is also mentioned in Deuteronomy 2, Joshua 24, 1 Chronicles 1, and Malachi 1.
• The New Testament:
  • Romans 9:13 and Hebrews 11:20 (no commendation)
  • Hebrews 12:16-17

Some things we learn about God:

• When we choose pleasure over principle, the people of the world over the people of God, impulse over rationalist, we forfeit God’s blessings.
• Godlessness separates us from God and his goodness.
• Sometimes God’s people are not as nice as those who are not his people. (Esau seems the more fun, relatable, happy-go-lucky of the two brothers; Jacob was more uptight, driven by fear, and calculating.) This shows us that God’s grace isn’t based on works, personality, character, or merit.

For kids:

• Read part of Genesis 25. Talk about the differences between the twins. How were Jacob and Esau similar? How were they different — physically and spiritually?
• Read the story of Genesis 27. How did Esau react when his brother tricked him out of his father’s blessing? How would you have reacted? (Have you ever been bitterly disappointed?)
• Was what Jacob did fair?  Was Esau right to plan revenge? Have you ever wanted to hurt your brother / sister?
• What is the difference between making decisions based on pleasure and based on principle?

Key verses:

• 25:33 — sells birthright
• 27:34 — forfeits blessing
• 27:41 — contemplates fratricide
• 33:4 — brothers reunited
• 35:6 — lives away from the land of promise
• Hebrews 12:16 — godlessness / worldliness separates us from God and his goodness