Institute
Lesson 7: Genesis 24–36

“Lesson 7: Genesis 24–36,” Old Testament Instructor’s Guide, Religion 301–2 (1994), 13–14

“Genesis 24–36,” Old Testament Instructor’s Guide, 13–14

7

Genesis 24–36

Scripture Content Outline

Supplementary Study Sources

  1. Genesis 24. Great Effort Was Made to Ensure That the Marriage of Isaac Was within the Covenant

    1. A wife was found for Isaac through revelation (see Genesis 24:1–60; see also JST, Genesis 24:2, 8).

    2. Isaac and Rebekah were married (see Genesis 24:61–67).

Religion 301 student manual, B-1 through B-4; 7-1 through 7-3.

Deuteronomy 7:3–4. What was Israel taught about marrying outside the covenant? (see also Nehemiah 10:30; 13:25).

2 Corinthians 6:14–18. What directions did Paul give about the marriage of believers? (see also D&C 74:5).

DBY, pp. 195–97. What is the potential of those who marry in the temple? What curses came upon ancient Israel for failing to marry in the covenant?

Spencer W. Kimball, “The Importance of Celestial Marriage,” Ensign, Oct. 1979, pp. 3–6. Why should we not risk marrying out of the temple? (see also TPJS, pp. 300–301, and MF, pp. 239–41).

Spencer W. Kimball, “Temples and Eternal Marriage,” Ensign, Aug. 1974, pp. 2–5. Worthiness and eternal marriage bring eternal happiness.

  1. Genesis 25–26. Isaac Inherited the Promises of His Father, Abraham

    1. Other families from Abraham are listed (see Genesis 25:1–4, 11–18).

    2. Abraham died (see Genesis 25:5–10).

    3. Esau and Jacob, the heirs of Isaac, were born (see Genesis 25:19–28; JST, Genesis 25:22).

    4. Esau married outside the covenant and sold his birthright (see Genesis 25:29–34; 26:34–35).

    5. The Lord reaffirmed the covenant with Isaac (Genesis 26:1–5, 24–25).

    6. Isaac was challenged by Abimelech, but Isaac and Abimelech later renewed their agreement about water rights (see Genesis 26:6–33).

Religion 301 student manual, 7-4 through 7-11.

MF, p. 63. How do some people today “sell” or jeopardize their birthright?

Gordon B. Hinckley, in CR, Apr. 1979, pp. 90–91. Some examples of modern-day trading of the birthright are cited.

A. Theodore Tuttle, in CR, Oct. 1972, pp. 68–69. What is Isaac remembered for?

History of the Church, 4:261–62. With his legal claim as heir, why did Esau reject the birthright?

  1. Genesis 27–31. Jacob Was Blessed As the Birthright Son of Isaac

    1. The birthright blessing was given to Jacob, which caused Esau to hate him (see Genesis 27).

    2. Jacob went to Padan-aram to marry one of Laban’s daughters; Esau took another wife, daughter of Ishmael (see Genesis 28:1–9).

    3. Jacob’s blessings were confirmed in a great vision (see Genesis 28:10–22; JST, Genesis 28:22).

    4. Jacob married (see Genesis 29:1–30).

    5. Jacob and his wives had twelve sons (see Genesis 29:31–35; 30:1–24).

    6. Jacob prospered and was directed through revelation to return to the land of promise (see Genesis 30:25–43; 31).

Religion 301 student manual, 7-12 through 7-16.

Romans 9:10–14. Jacob was foreordained to receive the birthright.

TPJS, p. 304–5. What was Jacob’s dream of the ladder about?

DS, 2:231–32. Why is Bethel considered equivalent to a temple?

  1. Genesis 32–36. Israel the Man and Israel the People

    1. Jacob was renamed Israel, and he reunited with Esau in peace (see Genesis 32:1–33:17).

    2. Simeon and Levi slew the Shechemites because the son of the Shechemite prince had defiled Dinah (see Genesis 33:18–34:31).

    3. The Lord reconfirmed the covenant with Jacob at Bethel (see Genesis 35:1–15).

    4. After Rachel died in childbirth, Jacob settled in Hebron, where his father Isaac died (see Genesis 35).

    5. The family of Esau became a great nation (see Genesis 36).

Religion 301 student manual, 7-24 through 7-29.

DS, 1:17. Did Jacob wrestle with the Lord?

History of the Church, 2:196. How did Jacob obtain his rights and a new title?

Some Suggestions for Presentation

You are not expected to teach everything in the scripture content outline. Select those concepts that you feel will be the most helpful to your students.

The Family of Israel (Sections A–C)

It is important for the covenant people to understand their heritage in the house of Israel.

The meanings of the names of the sons of Jacob indicate the personal strugglings of Jacob’s wives. Use transparency 5 to briefly review Leah’s and Rachel’s feelings. Note also that Genesis 31:14–16 indicates that they both supported Jacob when they left their father’s home.

Use transparency 6 to discuss the difference between the sons of Israel and the tribes of Israel. The tribe of Levi was assigned to bless and administer in the priesthood and was not given a specific inheritance of land (see Deuteronomy 33:8–11; Joshua 13:14, 33; 14:3–4; 21:3). Joseph received the birthright, which included the double portion of land that was given to his sons. Joseph is not listed as one of the tribes of Israel because each of his sons was considered a son of Jacob and was counted as the head of a tribe (see Genesis 48:5; JST, Genesis 48:5–11).

The Example of Rebekah (Section A)

Elder Bruce R. McConkie used the example of Rebekah’s obedience to illustrate the importance of marriage in the covenant. Discuss these teachings and their present-day application:

“May I now take our common ancestor, Rebekah, as a pattern for what her daughters in the church today can do. And as I read the account relative to Rebekah, please have in mind the subject of eternal marriage. This is one of the great scriptural illustrations of what ought to be where marriage is concerned. …

“… Rebekah was barren until Isaac entreated the Lord on her behalf, and then she conceived. Then Jacob and Esau, while yet in her womb, struggled together. She was troubled and asked, ’Why am I thus?’ The scripture says, ’She went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb,’ and he then described them. (See Genesis 25:21–24.)

“My purpose in telling this story is to show that when Rebekah was troubled and needed divine guidance, she herself took the matter up with the Lord, and he spoke to her in reply. The Lord gives revelation to women who pray to him in faith.

“When Jacob and Esau had grown to maturity, the greatest concern of their parents was the matter of whom they should marry. The record says that Esau ’took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite; which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.’ (Genesis 26:34, 35.) What this means is that Esau married out of the Church. Esau did not enter the Lord’s system of celestial marriage, and his marriage brought great sorrow to his parents.

“Rebekah had great anxiety as to whom Jacob would marry. She was fearful that he, too, might depart from the teachings of his parents and marry someone who was not eligible to receive the blessings of eternal marriage.

“And so the scripture says [Genesis 27:46]. That is to say, Rebekah thought her whole life would be wasted if Jacob married out of the Church. She knew he could not enter the gate leading to exaltation unless he was married in the new and everlasting covenant of marriage, and so she brought the matter to Isaac’s attention.

“This, I think, is a great object lesson. The mother was greatly concerned about the marriage of her son, and she prevailed upon the father to do something about it. She was acting as a guide and a light to Isaac, as my wife often does to me.

“And so the account says [Genesis 28:1].

“How many of us and of our children have received blessings, patriarchal blessings, in which we are told to marry in the temple or to be married for time and all eternity? So it was with Jacob. Isaac blessed him and gave him a command that meant, Thou shalt not marry out of the Church.’

“Now, when we are a minority part of the population, it is sometimes difficult to find a marriage companion in the Church. We have to go to great lengths to associate with faithful Latter-day Saints, to associate with good, clean people who are worthy to have a temple recommend.

“And so Isaac not only said, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan,’ but he also gave him affirmative counsel … [see Genesis 28:2–4].

“That is to say, if Jacob married in the Church and was true and faithful, he would be blessed with eternal increase and with a continuation of the family unit in eternity, as his grandfather Abraham had been blessed before him. That he was obedient and faithful we learn from latter-day revelation which tells us that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob each entered the new and everlasting covenant of marriage, each ’did none other things than that which they were commanded;’ and they ’have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are gods.’ (D&C 132:37.)

“What we say for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we say also for Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel, the wives who stood at their sides and who, with them, were true and faithful in all things. Men are not saved alone, and women do not gain an eternal fulness except in and through the continuation of the family unit in eternity. Salvation is a family affair.” (In Conference Report, Sydney Australia Area Conference 1976, pp. 34–35.)