TEEN ZONE

WEEKLY LESSONS FOR TEENS                 

BY PAUL DITORO

TZ-30

Answers

QUESTIONS FROM GENESIS 31:1-30

(Read the chapter)

1.   What message did the Lord give to Jacob, and why? [Two answers required]

      Ans. 1.: "Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee."

     Ans.  2.:  Laban's countenance was not toward Jacob as before.

2.   How many times did Laban change Jacob's wages?

      Ans.: Ten.

3.   How did God take away the livestock of Laban and give it to Jacob?

      Ans.: "If he (Laban) said thus, The speckled shall be your wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked. 9 Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me." (Gen 31:8-9)

4.   What was the complaint of Rachel and Leah about their father?

      Ans.: "Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house? 15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he has sold us, and quite devoured also our money." (Gen 31:14-15)

5.   What character flaw can you see in Laban from among those listed in Mark 7:21-23?

      Ans.:  Covetousness. deceit, an evil eye. 

"These verses contain Jesus's explanation of what he meant by that which cometh out of the man. The evil thoughts are to be understood as being evil reasonings or designs, deliberate thoughts. The word for deceit carries the more potent connotation of treachery. Lasciviousness is uncontrolled and unconcealed immorality. The words, evil eye, in any other culture than that of the Jews, could refer to the casting of a spell. Among the Jews, however, it is an expression for envy. In this context foolishness is more moral than intellectual."

(from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press)e

6.   How many days passed before Laban discovered that Jacob had fled and was on his way to his father in Canaan?

      Ans.: Three.

7.   How many days did it take Laban to catch up with Jacob and where did he overtake him? [Two answers]

      Ans.:  Seven.

      Ans.:  Mt. Gilead.

8.   What was God's warning to Laban?

      Ans.:  God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, "Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good nor bad." (Gen 31:24)

9.   What was Laban's accusation against Jacob?

      Ans.: That he had stolen his gods.

10.  Who actually did this, and was Jacob aware of it? [Two answers here]

      Ans.: Rachel.

      Ans.: No.

11. Consider Laban's accusation against Jacob along with what he said about who spoke to him the night before in vs. 29 and then tell what this says about Laban's religion.

     Ans.:  Laban complained that his "gods" were stolen, and he referred to the "God of Jacob's father." This means Laban did not serve God but sought help from his idols.

END TZ-30 answers