09/22/2024 Study Guide

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Acts 29 - Study Guide: The Blessing of Holding on to God and Overcoming

Quiz

Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.

  1. What is the significance of Esau's name in the context of the biblical narrative?

  2. How does the passage compare and contrast the characters of Jacob and Esau?

  3. Describe the circumstances surrounding Jacob receiving his father's blessing.

  4. Why does the passage argue that Jacob's deception of Isaac was not inherently wrong?

  5. How does Laban, Jacob's uncle, deceive Jacob?

  6. What is the significance of Jacob's dream at Bethel?

  7. How does Jacob's approach to facing Esau change after he leaves Laban?

  8. Explain the significance of Jacob wrestling with the angel and the name change to "Israel."

  9. What is the main point the sermon is trying to convey about the difference between "Jacob" and "Israel" in a spiritual sense?

Answer Key

  1. Esau's name, derived from the Hebrew word for "to do" or "to complete," reflects his seemingly "complete" or mature appearance at birth, contrasting him with Jacob, who was born grasping Esau's heel.

  2. Jacob is portrayed as cunning and persistent, willing to go to great lengths to obtain what he desires, while Esau is depicted as strong and impulsive but lacking foresight and spiritual understanding.

  3. Jacob, disguised as Esau at his mother's urging, deceives his aging and blind father, Isaac, into giving him the blessing intended for the firstborn son.

  4. The passage argues that Jacob's actions, though involving deception, were part of God's plan to fulfill His promise that the younger son would be greater. It cites examples like the Hebrew midwives and Rahab, where deception served a higher purpose aligned with God's will.

  5. Laban tricks Jacob into working seven extra years for Rachel's hand in marriage after already working seven years, highlighting the deceitful nature of Laban and the difficult lessons Jacob learns about himself.

  6. Jacob's dream at Bethel, where he sees angels ascending and descending a ladder to heaven and receives God's promise of land and descendants, signifies a turning point in his life, where he encounters God's presence and makes a covenant with Him.

  7. Initially reliant on his own schemes, Jacob, after leaving Laban, turns to prayer and seeks God's protection and guidance when facing Esau, demonstrating a shift from self-reliance to dependence on God.

  8. Jacob wrestling with the angel represents his struggle to surrender to God's will fully. The name change to "Israel," meaning "he strives with God," signifies his transformation from someone who relied on his cunning to someone who perseveres in seeking and wrestling with God.

  9. The sermon emphasizes that moving from "Jacob" to "Israel" represents a spiritual transformation from relying on one's own strength and cunning to fully embracing dependence on God, clinging to His promises, and ultimately being transformed by His grace.

Essay Questions

  1. Analyze the character of Jacob throughout the biblical narrative. How do his experiences, particularly his encounters with God and his relationships with others, shape him? Do you think his actions were justified?

  2. Explore the theme of deception in the story of Jacob. How does the text portray deception? Is it always wrong? How do Jacob's acts of deception contribute to the larger narrative of God's plan?

  3. Examine the significance of names and name changes in the story of Jacob. How do names reflect identity and destiny? What is the significance of Jacob's name change to Israel in light of his spiritual journey?

  4. Compare and contrast the ways in which Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob experience and respond to God's call and promises. What do their stories teach us about faith, obedience, and the nature of God?

  5. Discuss the significance of the sermon's emphasis on becoming "Israel" rather than remaining "Jacob." What does this transformation entail in a contemporary context? How can individuals and communities strive to embody the qualities of "Israel" in their relationship with God and others?

Glossary of Key Terms

TermDefinitionEsauThe elder twin brother of Jacob, known for his physical strength and skill as a hunter.JacobThe younger twin brother of Esau, known for his cunning and persistence. He later becomes known as "Israel."IsaacThe son of Abraham and Sarah, husband of Rebekah, and father of Jacob and Esau.RebekahThe wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau.LabanThe brother of Rebekah and father of Leah and Rachel. He deceives Jacob into working for him for 14 years to marry Rachel.LeahThe older daughter of Laban, given to Jacob as his first wife in a deceitful act.RachelThe younger daughter of Laban, loved by Jacob, and his second wife after working for Laban for seven years.BethelThe place where Jacob has a dream of a ladder to heaven and receives God's promise. It means "house of God."JabbokThe river where Jacob wrestles with God's angel.IsraelThe new name given to Jacob after wrestling with God's angel. It means "he strives with God."Lord's SupperA Christian sacrament also known as Communion, commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples.CovenantA solemn agreement between God and his people, involving mutual promises and obligations.FirstbornThe first son born to a couple, often holding a privileged position in inheritance and succession.BlessingA divine favor, often bestowed on individuals or families, signifying God's grace and protection.