Jacob and His Family
How the Lord keeps His promises
Jacob left his home to escape his angry brother Esau. Jacobβs 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 Jacobβs children, the families of the earth would be blessed to know the Savior. Jacobβs family in the latter days is called the house of Israel.
Genesis 28:3–4,Β 14;Β 1Β 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 Jacobβs family began to grow.
Genesis 29:28–35;Β 30:3β13, 17β24;Β 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;Β 31:1β7, 17β18
On his way home, Jacob learned that his brother Esau and 400Β 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 Jacobβs 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 28βMarch 6
βSurely the Lord Is in This Placeβ
Genesis 28β33
Genesis 28:Β Isaac forbids Jacob to marry a CanaaniteβHe blesses Jacob and his seed with the blessings of AbrahamβEsau marries a daughter of IshmaelβJacob sees in vision a ladder reaching up into heavenβThe Lord promises him seed as the dust of the earth in numberβThe Lord also promises Jacob that in him and in his seed all the families of the earth will be blessedβJacob covenants to pay tithes.
Genesis 29:Β Jacob meets Rachel at the wellβHe serves Laban seven years for herβLaban gives to Jacob first Leah then Rachel in marriageβJacob serves another seven yearsβLeah bears Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.
Genesis 30:Β Jacob marries Bilhah, and she bears Dan and NaphtaliβHe marries Zilpah, and she bears Gad and AsherβLeah bears Issachar and Zebulun and a daughter, DinahβThen Rachel conceives and bears JosephβJacob works for Laban for wages of cattle and sheep.
Genesis 31:Β The Lord commands Jacob to return to Canaan, and Jacob departs secretlyβLaban pursues him; they resolve their differences and make a covenant of peaceβLaban blesses his descendants, and he and Jacob part company.
Genesis 32:Β Jacob sees angelsβHe asks God to preserve him from Esau, for whom he prepares presentsβHe wrestles all night with a messenger of GodβJacobβs name is changed to IsraelβHe sees God face to face.
Genesis 33:Β Jacob and Esau meet and are reconciledβEsau receives Jacobβs presentsβJacob settles in Canaan, where he builds an altar.
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