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Jacob Bible Study – Genesis 31

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Hey besties!

Welcome to week 7 in our Bible study. If you’re a regular here, you might have noticed that I don’t typically have guest bloggers. I always have so much to add to the study each week that it’s hard to step back and pass the pen to somebody else.

Last Thursday night, however, I felt a warm nudge from the Lord prompting me to open the door and invite a special guest in—a fairly new blogger with a big love for Jesus who reminds me a bit of myself back in the day.

With that said, please join me in welcoming Lauren Fernandez from momfaithfumbles.com. Lauren has a warm conversational tone and a bright spirit that I know you’ll love. She writes about faith-based parenting and marriage on her blog, and today, she’s bringing her wonderful insights to our study of Genesis 31.

by Lauren Fernandez

We all know the expression, “keeping up with the Joneses.” Your neighbor gets a brand new limited-edition, leather-seated sports car; their grass and landscaping are filled with perfectly bloomed bushes lining their walkway; and their oldest child is going off to an Ivy League school. You can’t help but take note, and before you know it, thoughts of envy start to rush through your mind. As a suburban woman and wife, I too have wrestled with those destructive jealous thoughts.

In the first few verses of Genesis chapter 31, we see jealousy speak so loudly, it’s hard not to talk about. But before we do, let’s see what has led up to this point. We have Jacob, under the servanthood of his father-in-law Laban for the last 20 years, flourishing and being blessed by the Lord in all he touches. He is fruitful, multiplies, gains children, and his flocks prosper and greatly increase. However, the tone quickly changes as we read what Laban’s sons had to say about this in verse 1: “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s; he has gained all this wealth.”

Here we have a man who has maintained his servant role with hard work, being employed far longer than anticipated for his promised wife. In the midst of his God-honoring commitment and success, he is surrounded by the sinful nature of jealousy.

On page 82 of this week’s study, we’re reminded, “Nobody wins in the game of greed and comparison—not the person we’re jealous of, and certainly not ourselves. Therefore, it’s important to destroy negative thoughts before they take root.” Are you struggling, like myself at times, with jealous thoughts and letting envy seep in and make itself at home? This week’s study shows us 8 steps we can take to overcome jealousy and envy, and I’ll give a tease on my favorite one.

Recognize and acknowledge jealousy as soon as it surfaces in your thoughts. Being able to see the sin as a sliver before it infects the entire body is the first step we as believers need to take to stay rooted in Christ.

So how do we do that? Our verse this week helps us apply step one of overcoming envy. God tells us in Philippians 4:8, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (NIV)

So, I challenge each of you, just as I challenge myself, to find a whiteboard, a mirror, a sticky note, or a piece of paper and tape, and write this verse down. Place it at your kitchen sink, your fridge, or somewhere you can see it often. Ask yourself when you read it, “Are my thoughts lovely, pure, right, admirable?” If they are, spend some time praising God for it; if not, spend some time this week asking God to reveal where in your heart that jealousy sits. Let’s pull out the roots of sin and grow deeper in our walk with Christ together!

Lauren
Mom Faith Fumbles

About the Author:

Lauren is a broken to redeemed wife and mother to 5 just trying to take her next faithful step with Jesus and sharing it for all moms and wives alike.

Visit her blog where you’ll find encouragement on faith-based parenting, motherhood and marriage: Mom Faith Fumbles

Follow Lauren on instagram: click here

Visit her facebook page: click here

This Week’s Challenge

Find a whiteboard, a mirror, a sticky note, or a piece of paper and tape, and write this verse down (if you’re able to, print off a copy of the verse from this post). Place it at your kitchen sink, your fridge, or somewhere you can see it often. Ask yourself when you read it, “Are my thoughts lovely, pure, right, admirable?” If they are, spend some time praising God for it; if not, spend some time this week asking God to reveal where in your heart that jealousy sits. Let’s pull out the roots of sin and grow deeper in our walk with Christ together!

This Week’s Bible Verse

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Week at a Glance

TUESDAY: GENESIS 31:1-3

Watch this week’s video at Time-Warp Wife or on Youtube (subscribe while you’re there)

Print off this week’s Bible verse at Time-Warp Wife.

Go through the section in your study guide for Genesis 31:1-3, and answer the questions at the end of that section.

Check in on the community at: facebook.com/groups/biblestudies. If you are new to the group, now is a good time to introduce yourself. While you are there, maybe you could drop in a friendly message wishing others a blessed week, or share a prayer for the week ahead.

WEDNESDAY – Genesis 31:4-13

Go through the section in your study guide for Genesis 31:4-13, and answer the questions at the end of that section.

Share your reflections in the Facebook group.

THURSDAY – Genesis 31:14-35

Go through the section in your study guide for Genesis 31:14-35, answer the questions at the end of that section.

Share your reflections in the Facebook group.
Respond to at least one other person’s post in the group to encourage others.

FRIDAY – genesis 31:36-43

Go through the section in your study guide for Genesis 31:36-43, answer the questions at the end of that section

Visit Time-Warp Wife to read Darlene’s closing thoughts on this chapter

Share your reflections in the Facebook group.

SATURDAY – genesis 31:44-55

Go through the section in your study guide for Genesis 31:44-55, answer the questions at the end of that section

SUNDAY – REST

MONDAY – Catch up

Use this day to catch up to the rest of the group.

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