Jacob: Our Patriarch of TruthSample

Think About It

1. Take a self-inventory. What are your most dominant character traits? How can you use them in serving God? In serving others?
2. Who do you most identify with in Jacob’s story? Why? Who do you admire the most in the story? Why?
3. How are the attributes of each patriarch–Abraham’s kindness, Isaac’s strength, and Jacob’s commitment to truth–evident in your life? Of the three attributes, which would you like to develop more?
4. How can parents, grandparents, and caregivers encourage children to embrace their natural tendencies and channel them in positive ways?
5. Why do you think Judaism maintains that a person’s honesty in business dealings reveals his or her true character?

Apply It

1. LIVE AUTHENTICALLY. Mean what you say and say what you mean. God loves sincerity and other people do, too. (Proverbs 8:7; James 5:12)
2. SEEK TRUTH. In a world full of lies, it can be difficult to know what is really true, but that should never hold us back from seeking it with all our heart. (Jeremiah 29:13; Matthew 6:33)
3. CHOOSE TO GROW. It is much easier to be happy with who we are and forgo the hard work of becoming better. However, if we are to become the people that God created us to be, we must always continue growing. (Psalm: 92:12; James 1:3-4)
4. COMMIT TO HONESTY. Since it is commonplace for people to fall into falsehood, Judaism recommends taking extra precautions to minimize the chances. (Exodus 23:7; Ephesians 4:25)
5. WORK WITH INTEGRITY. It is very appealing to cut corners or blur the lines of truth when conducting business. However, as spiritual descendants of Jacob, we must adhere to the highest standard of integrity. (Psalm 32:2; 1 Peter 3:9-11)

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