Genesis 29:15-31

Family Lessons from the Life of Jacob

1. Don’t exploit your family just because the opportunity is there (29:15)
2. Don’t expect to gain from family relationships if you won’t give (29:18)
3. Serving is simple if you serve out of love and not obligation (29:20)
4. Make a big deal out of big events in the lives of your family (29:22)
5. Deception may be the greatest destroyer of happy families (29:25)
6. Don’t explain your sins, simply repent of them (29:26)
7. Favoritism always produces problems (29:30)

Name Meaning Mother Lesson
Reuben See, a son/He has seen my misery Leah 8
Simeon One who hears Leah 8
Levi Attached Leah 8
Judah Praise Leah 9
Dan He has vindicated Bilhah 10, 11, 12
Naphtali My struggle Bilhah 13
Gad Good fortune/A troop Zilpah 13
Asher Happy Zilpah 14
Issachar Reward Leah 8
Zebulun Honor Leah 8
Joseph May He add Rachel 15

8. Children should not be used to bargain with (29:32, 34)
9. Children should always be viewed as a great gift from God (29:35)
10. Jealousy between family members causes serious problems (30:1)
11. Never imply or state blame for infertility (30:2)
12. Let God be God, don’t take matters into your own hands (30:3)
13. Family life should not be a competition (30:9)
14. Your happiness should not depend on how others think of you (30:13)
15. Keep family matters in prayer because family matters to God (30:22)
16. It’s hard to let go of family (30:29-30)
17. There comes a time when a man wants to do his own thing (30:30)
18. Prosperity should not be made at your families expense (30:43)
19. God sees injustice and has a plan (31:12-13)
20. A wife should support her husband’s leadership (31:14-16)
21. It’s better to cut your losses than to make matters worse (31:19-20)
22. Sometimes confrontation is the only way to solve a problem (31:22-42)
23. We must try our very best to right our relationships (31:43-55)