Jacob and His Family
How the Lord keeps His promises
Jacob left his home to escape his angry brother Esau. Jacobโs father blessed him to find and marry a woman who loved the Lord and kept His commandments.
While Jacob traveled, the Lord visited him in a vision. He promised to always be with Jacob. Jacob promised to give the Lord a tenth of all he received.
The Lord promised Jacob that he would have many children. Through Jacobโs children, the families of the earth would be blessed to know the Savior. Jacobโs family in the latter days is called the house of Israel.
Genesis 28:3–4,ย 14;ย 1ย Nephi 10:14
Jacob traveled to a land called Haran. There he fell in love with a righteous woman named Rachel.
Jacob agreed to work seven years for her father, Laban, if Laban would allow him to marry Rachel. Laban agreed. Jacob worked for seven years.
But Laban wanted Leah, his oldest daughter, to be married first. During the wedding, Laban tricked Jacob and had him marry Leah instead. But Jacob loved Rachel. He promised to work another seven years if he could also marry her. Laban agreed, and Jacobโs family began to grow.
Genesis 29:28–35;ย 30:3โ13, 17โ24;ย Jacob 2:27–30
Laban did not pay Jacob fairly. But the Lord blessed Jacob with many animals and told Jacob to go back home.
Genesis 30:31, 43;ย 31:1โ7, 17โ18
On his way home, Jacob learned that his brother Esau and 400ย men were coming to meet him.
Jacob thought Esau might still be angry at him. Jacob feared for the safety of his family, so he took them to a safe place and prayed.
Jacob prayed all night and into the morning. The Lord visited Jacob and blessed him. The Lord told Jacob that he would be a great leader to many. The Lord changed Jacobโs name to Israel.
Soon Esau and his men found Jacob and his family. Esau was no longer angry with Jacob. He ran to meet Jacob and hugged him. He was very happy to see him and meet his family. Jacob was happy to see Esau again too.
The Lord kept His promises to Jacob throughout his life. Jacob arrived home with his family and settled there. From then on, Jacob was called Israel, and his family were called Israelites. He continued to keep the commandments and worship the Lord.
Come, Follow Me
Old Testament Lesson 10:
February 28โMarch 6
โSurely the Lord Is in This Placeโ
Genesis 28โ33
Genesis 28:ย Isaac forbids Jacob to marry a CanaaniteโHe blesses Jacob and his seed with the blessings of AbrahamโEsau marries a daughter of IshmaelโJacob sees in vision a ladder reaching up into heavenโThe Lord promises him seed as the dust of the earth in numberโThe Lord also promises Jacob that in him and in his seed all the families of the earth will be blessedโJacob covenants to pay tithes.
Genesis 29:ย Jacob meets Rachel at the wellโHe serves Laban seven years for herโLaban gives to Jacob first Leah then Rachel in marriageโJacob serves another seven yearsโLeah bears Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.
Genesis 30:ย Jacob marries Bilhah, and she bears Dan and NaphtaliโHe marries Zilpah, and she bears Gad and AsherโLeah bears Issachar and Zebulun and a daughter, DinahโThen Rachel conceives and bears JosephโJacob works for Laban for wages of cattle and sheep.
Genesis 31:ย The Lord commands Jacob to return to Canaan, and Jacob departs secretlyโLaban pursues him; they resolve their differences and make a covenant of peaceโLaban blesses his descendants, and he and Jacob part company.
Genesis 32:ย Jacob sees angelsโHe asks God to preserve him from Esau, for whom he prepares presentsโHe wrestles all night with a messenger of GodโJacobโs name is changed to IsraelโHe sees God face to face.
Genesis 33:ย Jacob and Esau meet and are reconciledโEsau receives Jacobโs presentsโJacob settles in Canaan, where he builds an altar.
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