Today’s Bulletin

OUTLINE

I. Straight Outta Haran (30:25-26)
II. Let’s Make A Deal (30:27-30)
III. Flock Stock Options in Laban Inc. (30:31-36)
IV. The Science Was Solid Suspect (30:37-43)

Genesis 30:25-43

25 As soon as Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, that I may go, for you know the service that I have given you.” 27 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you. 28 Name your wages, and I will give it.” 29 Jacob said to him, “You yourself know how I have served you, and how your livestock has fared with me. 30 For you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I turned. But now when shall I provide for my own household also?” 31 He said, “What shall I give you?” Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this for me, I will again pasture your flock and keep it: 32 let me pass through all your flock today, removing from it every speckled and spotted sheep and every black lamb, and the spotted and speckled among the goats, and they shall be my wages. 33 So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come to look into my wages with you. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, shall be counted stolen.” 34 Laban said, “Good! Let it be as you have said.” 35 But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in the charge of his sons. 36 And he set a distance of three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob pastured the rest of Laban’s flock.

37 Then Jacob took fresh sticks of poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the sticks. 38 He set the sticks that he had peeled in front of the flocks in the troughs, that is, the watering places, where the flocks came to drink. And since they bred when they came to drink, 39 the flocks bred in front of the sticks and so the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted. 40 And Jacob separated the lambs and set the faces of the flocks toward the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban. He put his own droves apart and did not put them with Laban’s flock. 41 Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding, Jacob would lay the sticks in the troughs before the eyes of the flock, that they might breed among the sticks, 42 but for the feebler of the flock he would not lay them there. So the feebler would be Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s. 43 Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

Sermon Discussion questions

The Flock Market: Genesis 30:25-43

Ice Breaker: What's the most creative deal or trade you've ever made with someone? (Relates to Jacob and Laban's unique arrangement) OR What's something you believed as a child that you later discovered wasn't scientifically accurate?

This Week’s Questions

Jacob showed spiritual growth by proposing an honest business deal rather than deceiving Laban as he had deceived others in his past. Share an area in your life where God has been changing your character. How have you seen growth in honesty, integrity, or fairness in your relationships, school or work?

Pastor Brian asked, "When was the last time you did anything that required genuine, bold, scary faith in God?" Share about a time when you stepped out in faith despite uncertainty, or discuss an area where God might be calling you to trust Him more boldly now.

The sermon highlighted how we often take credit for successes that are actually God's grace working in our lives. Reflect on Psalm 127:1: "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." What accomplishments in your life (career, family, school, etc) might you need to acknowledge as primarily God's work rather than your own?

Jacob responded to unfair treatment by trusting God rather than seeking immediate vengeance. Consider Romans 12:19: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God." How do you typically respond when treated unfairly? What would it look like to trust God's justice in your current circumstances?

Pastor Brian pointed out that Jacob's success came not from his "solid science" with the striped sticks, but from God's faithfulness to His promises. What specific promises of God (consider those in Matthew 5:3-12 that Pastor mentioned) are you clinging to in your current season of life? How might actively remembering these promises change your daily perspective?

The sermon showed how Laban's greed led him to mistreat his own family. How have you seen the pursuit of wealth or success tempt you to compromise your relationships or values or how you relate to your spouse/family? What boundaries or practices help you maintain godly priorities in your work or financial decisions?

Weekly Questions

What stood out to you/challenged you most in this sermon?
What’s one area you feel the Lord wants to grow you into more Christ likeness?
How can this group pray for you this week?