Study Desk

Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she could not give birth and the Lord answered him. Rebekah was able to give birth.

Isaac showed favor to Esau, because he liked to eat the meat of the animals Esau killed. But Rebekah showed favor to Jacob.

When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister." He was afraid to say, "She is my wife," because he thought to himself, "The men of this place might kill me because of Rebekah, for she is beautiful."

So Abimelech called Isaac and said, "See, she is your wife! How could you say, ‘She is my sister'?" Isaac said to him, "Because I thought I would die because of her."

The men who took care of the cattle of Gerar argued with the men who took care of Isaac's cattle. They said, "The water belongs to us!" So Isaac gave the well the name Esek, because they argued with him.

The Lord showed Himself to Isaac that same night, and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bring good to you, and add many to the number of your children and their children's children, because of My servant Abraham."

But Isaac said to his son, "How have you found it so fast, my son?" And Jacob said, "Because the Lord your God made it happen."

He did not know who he was, because his hands were covered with hair like his brother Esau's hands. So Isaac prayed that good would come to him.

Esau hated Jacob because his father had prayed that good would come to Jacob. Esau said to himself, "The days when I will have sorrow for the loss of my father are soon. Then I will kill my brother Jacob."

Then Rebekah said to Isaac, "I am tired of living because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob marries one of the daughters of Heth, like these, from the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?"

He came to a certain place and stayed the night there, because the sun had gone down. He took one of the stones there and put it under his head for a pillow.

They will be like the dust of the earth. You will spread out to the west and the east and the north and the south. Good will come to all the families of the earth because of you and your children.

Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are one of my family, should you serve me for nothing? Tell me, what do you want to be paid?"

So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel. It was only like a few days to him, because of his love for her.

Then she was going to have another child and she gave birth to a son. She said, "The Lord has given me this son also, because He has heard that I am not loved." So she gave him the name Simeon.

She was going to have another child and she gave birth to a son. She said, "Now this time my husband will be joined to me because I have given birth to his three sons." So she gave him the name Levi.

Leah said, "God has given me my pay because I gave my husband the woman who serves me." So she gave him the name Issachar.

Then Leah said, "God has given me a good gift. Now my husband will live with me, because I have given birth to six sons." So she gave him the name of Zebulun.

But Laban said to him, "If now it pleases you, stay with me. I have learned that the Lord has brought good to me because of you."

Now you have gone away because you had a desire for your father's house. But why did you steal my gods?"