Torah: Genesis 28:10–32:2 [3 TANACH]
PROPHETS: Hosea 11:7–12:9 [10 TANACH]
APOSTOLIC WRITINGS: John 1:43–51

The devotional below is designed to help you dive deeper into God’s heart by exploring Torah as the gateway into transformational Bible reading.

SUNDAY

Torah 1 and 2

Torah 1: 
Jacob Leaves!
Genesis 28:10–22

28:10
Instead of being called “and he (Jacob) went out” (from Beersheba), this portion could just as well be called, “Promised Land boomerang.” Jacob leaves the land of promise to avoid his brother’s wrath and returns 20 years later with a huge family and sizable possessions. Jacob sets out leaving southern Canaan for northern Mesopotamia.

28:11–15
How would you have felt if you were fleeing everything and everyone you knew under these circumstances? God knew Jacob. He appeared to him on his way out of the Promised Land and reaffirmed covenant promises.

28:16–22
In response to God’s visitation, Jacob worships (vv. 16–19) and makes an interesting vow (vv. 20–22). What security is Jacob seeking on his way out of town into the great unknown? What does he commit himself to if God upholds His part of the bargain?

Torah 2:
Destination: Found
Genesis 29:1–17

29:1–7
When Jacob arrives (vv. 1–3; cf. the journey of his grandfather Abraham’s servant to perhaps this same place, 24:10–11) he quickly sizes up the situation (vv. 4–6) and tries to get the shepherds to leave the area perhaps so he can converse privately with Rachel (v. 7).

29:8–12
Though he is unsuccessful (v. 8), he represents himself as a perfect gentleman as well as extended family (vv. 9–12).

29:13–15
Laban welcomes this able bodied young relative into their home (vv. 13–14) and eventually offers to compensate him for all of his help (v. 15).

29:16–17
Notice how the text immediately introduces Laban’s two daughters (vv. 16–17).

Application

Compare Jacob’s “faith-walk” in leaving his home with Abraham’s “faith-walk” in leaving his. There are similarities and differences. God knew them and knew what they needed in order to trust Him and follow Him obediently. He knows you too and knows what you need. In what area of your life is it hard to trust and obey God? Talk to Him about that area and seek the next “step of faith” that will bring glory to Him and good to you (cf. Psalm 143:8 & Proverbs 3:5–6).

MONDAY

Torah 3 and 4

Torah 3: 
Love and marriage 
Genesis 29:18–30:13

29:18–25
Jacob serves Laban 7-years to pay the “bride-price” (ancient near eastern “dowry”, cf. 24:53) for Rachel (vv. 18–20) but Laban gives him Leah instead (vv. 21–25).

29:26–30
Jacob sets out to serve another seven years for Rachel (vv. 26–30) and the “baby boom” begins (cf. 35:23–26).

29:31–30:13
Jacob has four sons through Leah (29:31–35—Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah), two sons through Rachel’s maidservant (30:1–8—Dan and Naphtali) and two sons through Leah’s maidservant (30:9–13—Gad and Asher).
 

Torah 4:
The Inheritance of Children
Genesis 30:14–27

30:14–21
Jacob has two more sons through Leah (vv. 14–20—Issachar [though her reasoning for this one in v. 18 is perhaps flawed] and Zebulun) as well as a daughter (v. 21—Dinah).

30:22–24
Finally, Jacob’s beloved conceives and Rachel gives her husband another son (vv. 22–24—Joseph).

30:25–27
Next, negotiations between Jacob and Laban begin! In the first negotiation, Jacob wants to go home, but Laban wants to be blessed. Read Isaac’s previous instruction and blessing over Jacob in 28:2–3. What motivated Jacob to want to pick up and go home after the birth of his son through Rachel fourteen years later (cf. 28:4 and 30:25)?

TUESDAY

torah 5 and 6

Torah 5: 
The Inheritance of Riches and the Call to Return
Genesis 30:28–31:16

30:28–30
In the second negotiation Jacob resists Laban’s deceitful tactics (cf. 31:7) to pursue his homeward longings.

30:31–36
In the third negotiation Jacob relents and makes Laban an offer he can’t refuse. This offer appears to be advantageous to Laban. Consider this: sheep were normally solid white (a lamb is a baby sheep; dark lambs were thus also rare) while goats were normally solid dark (black or brown). The point of all this is that multicolored sheep or goats (and dark lambs) were a rarity! And Jacob asks for these as his wages! Furthermore, he offers to continue to tend Laban’s flocks and presumably continue the previous blessings of prosperity for him.

30:37–43
During Jacob’s six years of tending Laban’s flock (cf. 31:41), his breeding practices yield him in wages (multicoloreds and dark lambs) not only a surplus of animals but also the strongest animals, the “crème-de-la-crème.”

31:1–16
As Laban’s hostility toward Jacob rises (vv. 1–2) God speaks to Jacob and tells him it is time to go home (vv. 3–13, esp. vv. 3, 12, 13, cf. 28:13–15). Rachel and Leah agree (vv. 14–16).  
 

Torah 6: 
Fleeing in Fear but Vindicated by Faith 
Genesis 31:17–42

31:17–21
They secretly depart but only after Rachel secretly takes her father’s household idols.

31:22–24
When Laban discovers their departure, he sets out after them (vv. 22–23) but is intercepted by God who gives him a stern warning (v. 24)!

31:25–32
When he catches up to them, Laban waxes eloquent but impotent (vv. 25–30). Jacob’s unwitting defense (vv. 31–32) is followed by Laban’s unsuccessful search (vv. 33–35; Rachel’s report that it is her “time of the month” shields her from discovery).

31:36–42
Jacob then waxes eloquent in a cry of vindication that reveals both his hostility toward Laban and his faith in the Lord.

application

Even though Jacob had wanted to go home six years earlier, he submitted to God’s will and spent these extra years in Laban’s household. Though Laban meant the time for his own personal benefit, God meant it for Jacob’s good. For Jacob, serving Laban was an “enemy of his joy” (he didn’t like it) that God was actually using as a “servant of his good” (God fulfilled his seed promise and multiplied his wealth). What are the “enemies of your joy” (i.e. things that rob you of joy)? How may God be using those very things as the “servants of your good” (i.e. things that draw you closer to Him and Messiah-like maturity; cf. Psalm 119:67–68, 71-72, Romans 5:3, and James 1:2–4)?