Sibling Rivalry: The Fight for Passion
Icebreaker: (Leader Choose)
Apply God’s Truth: Study
In our study today we look at the struggle between the daughters of Laban for the love and affection of their husband, Jacob. In Genesis 28:1-2 Jacob is sent to Bethuel’s house; he is on the run because of what he had done in deceiving his father Isaac and stealing his brother Esau’s birthright.
Next, Jacob encounters God at Bethel; he is revived. Genesis 28:13-15 contains God’s promise to Jacob while at Bethel. Compare this promise with the one made to Abram in Genesis 13:14-17, are there any similarities and differences? How do these two promises reflect God’s heart towards the recipients of the promise?
Jacob, still on his journey to his uncle’s house comes face to face with Rachel and is baffled by her beauty; he is so ravished by her that the stone which would normally take several shepherds to move is moved by this one man, Jacob (Genesis 29:1-12). On meeting Laban his uncle, Jacob is welcomed and begins working for his uncle. After a month Laban asks Jacob for a price on his work and Jacob makes his desire very clear, he wants to marry Rachel.
So, Jacob bargained for Rachel; he’s reassured that his journey to his uncle Laban’s house will pay off (Genesis 29:18). But, unfortunately, Jacob reaps what he sows and is betrayed by his uncle into marrying Leah instead of Rachel (Genesis 29:21-25).
In this bizarre sibling rivalry between Leah and Rachel, God helps us to see how we should respond during a conflict. Let’s discuss and apply how some of Leah’s responses to her situation can help us to better handle conflict:
- Shift your focus away from what you can see. Read Genesis 29:31-32. Leah names her first son Reuben; meaning “to see”, she says “because the Lord has seen her affliction; for now my husband will love me”. Instead of seeing her child as a blessing from God and worshipping God for him, Leah sought to use her child to get her husband to love her. What are some similar but common ways that Christians seek to use God for their selfish desires? In the middle of a conflict, what are we mostly focused on as opposed to what should we be focused on?
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- Shift your focus away from what you can hear. Read Genesis 29:33. Simeon means “to hear” – amid Leah’s conflict with her sister, she felt hated and unheard, and Simeon is a testament that God has heard her and loves her. Have you been in situations before where you felt hated and unheard, how did you respond to that situation?
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- Shift your focus away from what you can touch. Read Genesis 29:34. Leah is still fighting for the passion of her husband, so much so that she desired that her husband would be attached to her, and therefore named her son Levi which means “to touch or attach”. Leah seems to be insecure, she has built her identity around Jacob’s affection rather than on God’s. Leah’s behaviour is considered to be insecure, why is Leah so insecure? What are some of your insecurities? If left unchecked and untreated how can they negatively impact your life?
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- Place your focus on him in praise. Read Genesis 29:35. Judah means “to praise”, and Leah says “This time I will praise the Lord”. It’s amazing that of all the sons of Jacob, Judah is the only one through whom God chose to bring about the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It appears that there is a correlation between Leah’s response to God amid her conflict and God using her to be an instrument through which he would save the entire world. How does this inspire you to respond rightly to conflict? What are some adjustments you will make to prepare you to respond to conflict in the right way?
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Renew Your Mind – Memorize Fighter Verses:
Colossians 4:2: “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Galatians 2:20 | Galatians 5:1 | Ecclesiastes 12:13 | Galatians 5:16 | Galatians 6:9 | 1 John 5:11| Matthew 28:18-20
Be accountable: Mutually disclose and obey (Leader Choose)