Daily Bible Reading Experience: Day 93 - Jacob Wrestles with God and Returns to Bethel

In Day 93 of the Immerse Daily Bible Reading Experience, the narrative focuses on key events in Jacob's journey. It begins with Jacob crossing the Jabbok River with his family, where he wrestles with a man until dawn, resulting in a blessing that changes his name to Israel. The story then follows Jacob as he reconciles with his brother Esau, who embraces him warmly despite past conflicts. Jacob travels onward, purchasing land and building an altar to God. A troubling event occurs when Jacob's daughter Dinah is defiled by Shechem, leading to a violent retribution by her brothers. Jacob's family purifies themselves from pagan idols as they move to Bethel, where God reaffirms Jacob's new name, Israel, and promises him blessings and land. The episode ends with the birth of Benjamin and the death of Rachel, highlighting the significant lineage of Jacob’s twelve sons.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:04 Jacob Wrestles with God
01:30 Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau
01:54 Reunion with Esau
04:27 The Defilement of Dinah
07:34 Jacob's Sons Take Revenge
08:47 God Renames Jacob to Israel
11:04 The Birth of Benjamin and Death of Rachel
11:59 The Twelve Sons of Jacob
12:29 The Death of Isaac
12:53 The Descendants of Esau
13:56 Conclusion and Farewell

Welcome to Immerse: Beginnings! Buy a copy of Immerse Beginnings at Tyndale.com

• And for the full 16 week plan, visit https://www.immersebible.com/beginnings-16-week/

4 Questions to get your conversations started:
1. What stood out to you this week?
2. Was there anything confusing or troubling?
3. Did anything make you think differently about God?
4. How might this change the way we live?

QUICK START GUIDE
3 ways to get the most out of your experience

1. Use Immerse: Beginnings instead of your regular chapter and verse Bible. This special reader’s edition restores the Bible to its natural simplicity and beauty by removing chapter and verse numbers and other historical additions. Letters look like letters, songs look like songs, and the original literary structures are visible in each book.
2. Commit to making this a community experience. Immerse is designed for groups to encounter large portions of the Bible together
   for 8 weeks–more like a book club, less like a Bible study. By meeting every week in small groups and discussing what you read in open,
   honest conversations, you and your community can come together to be transformed through an authentic experience with the Scriptures.
3. Aim to understand the big story. Read through “The Stories and the Story” (p. 483) to see how the books of the Bible work together to tell God’s story of his creation’s restoration. As you read through Immerse: Beginnings, rather than ask, “How do I fit God into my busy life?” begin asking, “How can I join in God’s great plan by living out my part in his story?”

Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience - Day 92: Jacob's Journey and Covenant with Laban

In this episode of Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience, we explore Day 92, following the story of Jacob from the book of Genesis. After the birth of Joseph, Jacob requests to leave Laban and return to his homeland with his family. Jacob negotiates his wages by taking the speckled and spotted sheep and goats, employing a unique breeding strategy to grow his flock. His increasing wealth stirs up resentment from Laban's sons, and tension arises between Jacob and Laban. God instructs Jacob to return to his father's land, and after consulting with Rachel and Leah, Jacob secretly departs. Laban catches up with Jacob, leading to a confrontation over stolen household idols, which Rachel has hidden. The two men eventually make a covenant at Mizpah, signified by a pile of stones, agreeing not to harm each other. As Jacob continues his journey, he prepares to meet his brother Esau, sending gifts ahead to appease him, feeling anxious about their reunion. This passage highlights themes of God's provision, familial tensions, and the importance of covenants.

00:00 Introduction and Day 92
00:04 Jacob's Request to Leave Laban
00:54 Jacob's Agreement with Laban
01:56 Jacob's Strategy for Flock Breeding
02:49 Jacob's Wealth and Laban's Sons' Grumbling
03:16 God's Command to Jacob
05:10 Jacob's Departure from Laban
05:48 Laban's Pursuit and Confrontation
09:38 Jacob and Laban's Covenant
11:50 Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau
12:44 Jacob's Prayer and Gift to Esau
15:01 Conclusion of Today's Reading

Welcome to Immerse: Beginnings! Buy a copy of Immerse Beginnings at Tyndale.com

• And for the full 16 week plan, visit https://www.immersebible.com/beginnings-16-week/

4 Questions to get your conversations started:
1. What stood out to you this week?
2. Was there anything confusing or troubling?
3. Did anything make you think differently about God?
4. How might this change the way we live?

QUICK START GUIDE
3 ways to get the most out of your experience

1. Use Immerse: Beginnings instead of your regular chapter and verse Bible. This special reader’s edition restores the Bible to its natural simplicity and beauty by removing chapter and verse numbers and other historical additions. Letters look like letters, songs look like songs, and the original literary structures are visible in each book.
2. Commit to making this a community experience. Immerse is designed for groups to encounter large portions of the Bible together
   for 8 weeks–more like a book club, less like a Bible study. By meeting every week in small groups and discussing what you read in open,
   honest conversations, you and your community can come together to be transformed through an authentic experience with the Scriptures.
3. Aim to understand the big story. Read through “The Stories and the Story” (p. 483) to see how the books of the Bible work together to tell God’s story of his creation’s restoration. As you read through Immerse: Beginnings, rather than ask, “How do I fit God into my busy life?” begin asking, “How can I join in God’s great plan by living out my part in his story?”

Day 91: Jacob and Esau's Journey - Marriages, Dreams, and Divine Promises

In this episode of Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience, we explore the complex narratives surrounding Esau and Jacob's life. The episode begins with Esau's decision to marry a daughter of Ishmael to please his father, Isaac. Jacob's journey then takes center stage as he dreams of a stairway to heaven and receives God's promises of land and numerous descendants. Jacob's travels lead him to meet his cousin Rachel, resulting in his agreement to work seven years to marry her, only to be deceived into marrying her sister Leah first. Jacob ultimately marries Rachel as well, creating a complex family dynamic. The episode delves into the births of Jacob's children through Leah, her maid Zilpah, Rachel, and her maid Bilhah, highlighting themes of rivalry, divine intervention, and fulfillment of promises. The day concludes with the birth of Joseph through Rachel, setting the stage for future developments.

00:00 Introduction to the Daily Bible Reading
00:03 Esau's New Marriage
00:41 Jacob's Dream at Bethel
02:46 Jacob Meets Rachel
04:47 Jacob's Marriage to Leah and Rachel
06:51 Leah and Rachel's Children
07:46 Rachel's Struggle and God's Blessing
10:40 Conclusion of Today's Reading

Welcome to Immerse: Beginnings! Buy a copy of Immerse Beginnings at Tyndale.com

• And for the full 16 week plan, visit https://www.immersebible.com/beginnings-16-week/

4 Questions to get your conversations started:
1. What stood out to you this week?
2. Was there anything confusing or troubling?
3. Did anything make you think differently about God?
4. How might this change the way we live?

QUICK START GUIDE
3 ways to get the most out of your experience

1. Use Immerse: Beginnings instead of your regular chapter and verse Bible. This special reader’s edition restores the Bible to its natural simplicity and beauty by removing chapter and verse numbers and other historical additions. Letters look like letters, songs look like songs, and the original literary structures are visible in each book.
2. Commit to making this a community experience. Immerse is designed for groups to encounter large portions of the Bible together
   for 8 weeks–more like a book club, less like a Bible study. By meeting every week in small groups and discussing what you read in open,
   honest conversations, you and your community can come together to be transformed through an authentic experience with the Scriptures.
3. Aim to understand the big story. Read through “The Stories and the Story” (p. 483) to see how the books of the Bible work together to tell God’s story of his creation’s restoration. As you read through Immerse: Beginnings, rather than ask, “How do I fit God into my busy life?” begin asking, “How can I join in God’s great plan by living out my part in his story?”