September 28 | Genesis 31-33 | Valley of Vision
Looking back on your life, is there a specific blessing or spiritual insight that God gave to you during a ‘valley season’ of suffering or pain? Tell the story to the group. Why do you think God uses valleys to grow us, rather than just giving us good gifts during the good times?
Read Gen 32:1-8. How would you describe the tone of Jacob’s message to Esau? How does Jacob react to the report that comes back in vv6-8?
Read Gen 32:9-12. How does Jacob’s prayer reflect growth in his relationship with God?
Read Gen 32:13-21. To what extent do you think Jacob’s plans are consistent with his prayer?
Read Gen 32:22-32. How does this struggle with the ‘man’ give insight to Jacob’s personality? In what ways does he emerge both stronger and weaker?
Review Genesis 33. How does Jacob’s meeting with Esau compare to his anticipation & preparation in chapter 32? How do you think this encounter helped him understand the faithfulness of God?
Are you in a valley right now? Pray for one another and worship together. If appropriate, consider praying through the Puritan prayer below which was included in the sermon this morning.
Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine;
let me find Thy light in my darkness,
Thy life in my death,
Thy joy in my sorrow,
Thy grace in my sin,
Thy riches in my poverty,
Thy glory in my valley.
~ The Valley of Vision