Come, Follow Me · Week 10 · March 2–8

Genesis 24–33

This Week's Reading

This week's reading in Genesis 24–33 chronicles pivotal moments in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, illustrating how God guides His people through trials to fulfill His promises. We see Abraham sending his servant to find a wife for Isaac from his own kindred, ensuring the lineage remains pure and faithful to the covenant. The narrative continues with Rebekah's role in securing the blessing for Jacob over Esau, followed by Jacob's journey to Haran where he receives a divine promise at Bethel. Finally, we witness Jacob's profound transformation after wrestling with God at Peniel, receiving the name Israel and experiencing a deepening of his faith. These stories teach us that Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of these covenants, as He is the true seed of Abraham through whom all nations are blessed, and He is the One who strengthens us when we feel weak or overwhelmed by life's challenges.

Key Passages

Genesis 24:1–7: Abraham entrusts his servant with finding a wife for Isaac from his own kindred, trusting that the Lord will send His angel to prosper the way and guide the servant to the right woman.
Genesis 24:35–44: The servant prays at the well, asking that the woman who offers water to both him and his camels be the one appointed by the Lord for Isaac, demonstrating faith in God's provision.
Genesis 27:1–10: Rebekah overhears her father-in-law Isaac planning to bless Esau before his death, prompting her to instruct Jacob to bring savory meat so he may receive the patriarchal blessing intended for the chosen heir.
Genesis 28:10–19: Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching heaven with angels ascending and descending, and the Lord promises to be with him, keep him safe, and give him the land, revealing that this place is the house of God.
Genesis 32:22–31: After wrestling with a man through the night until his thigh is dislocated, Jacob receives the name Israel, signifying his power with God and men, and declares he has seen God face to face while his life is preserved.

Questions to Ponder

How does Abraham's insistence on finding a wife for Isaac from his own kindred reflect the importance of faithfulness to covenants and family heritage?
In what ways does Rebekah's quick thinking and willingness to act demonstrate her role in God's plan, even when she is not the primary focus of the narrative?
How did Jacob's experience at Bethel change his perspective on where God dwells, and how might that realization impact our own view of sacred places today?
What lessons can we learn from Jacob's persistence in wrestling with God until he received a blessing, especially when it cost him physical comfort or strength?

A Thought to Take Home

These ancient stories remind us that God is actively involved in the lives of His children, guiding them through complex family dynamics and personal struggles toward greater spiritual maturity. Just as Abraham trusted God to send an angel for his servant, we can trust that Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest, sends His Spirit to guide us when we seek Him with a humble heart. Whether we are facing decisions about marriage, family conflicts, or moments of intense spiritual wrestling, the Lord promises to be with us and to bless us if we remain faithful to His commandments.

Further study

Genesis 24:1–7 Genesis 24:35–44 Genesis 27:1–10 Genesis 28:10–19 Genesis 32:22–31

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This guide was prepared with AI from the scriptures and checked against the text; it can still make mistakes. For the Church's own guidance, read the official Come, Follow Me manual for this week. Nephite Atlas is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Key passages

Genesis 24:1–7

¹And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. ²And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: ³And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: ⁴But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. ⁵And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? ⁶And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. ⁷The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

Genesis 24:35–44

³⁵And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses. ³⁶And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath. ³⁷And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell: ³⁸But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son. ³⁹And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me. ⁴⁰And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house: ⁴¹Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath. ⁴²And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go: ⁴³Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink; ⁴⁴And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master's son.

Genesis 27:1–10

¹And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. ²And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: ³Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; ⁴And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. ⁵And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. ⁶And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, ⁷Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death. ⁸Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. ⁹Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: ¹⁰And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.

Genesis 28:10–19

¹⁰And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. ¹¹And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. ¹²And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. ¹³And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; ¹⁴And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. ¹⁵And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. ¹⁶And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. ¹⁷And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. ¹⁸And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. ¹⁹And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

Genesis 32:22–31

²²And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. ²³And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. ²⁴And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. ²⁵And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. ²⁶And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. ²⁷And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. ²⁸And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. ²⁹And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. ³⁰And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. ³¹And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.