FAMILY TREE - The family of Jesus - Israel

SCRIPTURES
Genesis 35:9-12 | Now that Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again at Bethel. God blessed him, saying, “Your name is Jacob, but you will not be called Jacob any longer. From now on your name will be Israel.” So God renamed him Israel. Then God said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Be fruitful and multiply. You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants! And I will give you the land I once gave to Abraham and Isaac. Yes, I will give it to you and your descendants after you.” Then God went up from the place where he had spoken to Jacob.


Numbers 24:15-19 |  This is the message Balaam delivered: “This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly, the message of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the heads of Moab’s people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth. Edom will be taken over, and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered, while Israel marches on in triumph. A ruler will rise in Jacob who will destroy the survivors of Ir.”


DISUCSSION

1. What does God change Jacob’s name to? How are the Israelite people related to God’s promise to Jacob?
2. Who is the “star” or “ruler” that comes from Jacob in the distant future?
3. Why would God give someone in the Old Testament a vision about the coming Savior?  
4. God hasn’t changed your name, but how has He changed you after choosing to follow Him? How are you still changing?