Day 12
Genesis 25:1-26:35
(25 | 26)
Chapter 25 sees God's promises to Abraham start to be fulfilled. First of all, Keturah (Abraham's second wife) gives him several children. Some of their children are listed, and the descendants of one of his grandchildren, Dedan, are said to be three different tribes. Secondly, we see Ishmael has twelve children, all of whom become separate tribe leaders. Thirdly, we see Isaac has two sons - Esau and Jacob. Everyone knows you're not supposed to have favourite children, but Isaac and Rebekah did; Isaac favoured Esau, while Rebekah favoured Jacob. Interestingly, we see at this early stage that Jacob is being set up as a bit of a scoundrel. Esau asks Jacob for some food. Jacob agrees to give him food in exchange for his birthrights; this hardly seems fair, especially as they're brothers. But Esau agrees, and Jacob gets Esau's birthrights.
When famine hits in chapter 26, Isaac decides to head towards Gerar and, at the LORD's behest, decides to stay there in the land of Abimelech, king of the Philistines. There, Isaac decides to take a leaf out of his father's book, and tells everyone Rebekah is his sister. When Abimelech discovers the deception, he was understandably upset. Despite this, he tells everyone to leave them both well alone, and if anyone so much as laid a finger on them, they would be killed. Isaac is massively blessed by God and grows wealthy. He grows so wealthy that Abimelech decides Isaac is too powerful to be living amongst his people, so he asks him to move away. Isaac does so, and receives even more blessing. Eventually Abimelech rocks up seeking to strike a treaty with Isaac so that no harm would come to his people now that Isaac was even more powerful. Isaac agrees and throws a feast for Abimelech and his entourage. Isaac was obedient to God's call, and God blesses Isaac; Isaac is actually so blessed that his neighbours begin to fear him! Importantly, God makes Isaac the same promise that he made Abraham; that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Matthew 10:1-31
(10:1-31)
This passage contains advice on evangelism that is still relevant today. Firstly, if anywhere we go rejects us and our message, we aren't to be downhearted. Instead, we should just "shake the dust off [our] feet" and move on. Persistence is a good and necessary thing, but in the case of evangelism, we could be the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time. So we should just move on to somewhere else where our message might be heard! Jesus also says to expect persecution when preaching his word. When that happens, we are again to move on. Finally, Jesus says we shouldn't be afraid of those who would reject us, or even of the enemy. Instead, when reaching out to non-believers, we should do it out of fear and reverence of the LORD.
Proverbs 1:20-33
(1:20-33)
Wisdom is a good thing, as is knowledge. Anyone who rejects wisdom, or who knows of the LORD yet chooses not to fear him will "eat the fruit of their ways" - essentially, they'll reap what they sow, and it won't be good.
Genesis 25:1-26:35
(25 | 26)
Chapter 25 sees God's promises to Abraham start to be fulfilled. First of all, Keturah (Abraham's second wife) gives him several children. Some of their children are listed, and the descendants of one of his grandchildren, Dedan, are said to be three different tribes. Secondly, we see Ishmael has twelve children, all of whom become separate tribe leaders. Thirdly, we see Isaac has two sons - Esau and Jacob. Everyone knows you're not supposed to have favourite children, but Isaac and Rebekah did; Isaac favoured Esau, while Rebekah favoured Jacob. Interestingly, we see at this early stage that Jacob is being set up as a bit of a scoundrel. Esau asks Jacob for some food. Jacob agrees to give him food in exchange for his birthrights; this hardly seems fair, especially as they're brothers. But Esau agrees, and Jacob gets Esau's birthrights.
When famine hits in chapter 26, Isaac decides to head towards Gerar and, at the LORD's behest, decides to stay there in the land of Abimelech, king of the Philistines. There, Isaac decides to take a leaf out of his father's book, and tells everyone Rebekah is his sister. When Abimelech discovers the deception, he was understandably upset. Despite this, he tells everyone to leave them both well alone, and if anyone so much as laid a finger on them, they would be killed. Isaac is massively blessed by God and grows wealthy. He grows so wealthy that Abimelech decides Isaac is too powerful to be living amongst his people, so he asks him to move away. Isaac does so, and receives even more blessing. Eventually Abimelech rocks up seeking to strike a treaty with Isaac so that no harm would come to his people now that Isaac was even more powerful. Isaac agrees and throws a feast for Abimelech and his entourage. Isaac was obedient to God's call, and God blesses Isaac; Isaac is actually so blessed that his neighbours begin to fear him! Importantly, God makes Isaac the same promise that he made Abraham; that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Matthew 10:1-31
(10:1-31)
This passage contains advice on evangelism that is still relevant today. Firstly, if anywhere we go rejects us and our message, we aren't to be downhearted. Instead, we should just "shake the dust off [our] feet" and move on. Persistence is a good and necessary thing, but in the case of evangelism, we could be the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time. So we should just move on to somewhere else where our message might be heard! Jesus also says to expect persecution when preaching his word. When that happens, we are again to move on. Finally, Jesus says we shouldn't be afraid of those who would reject us, or even of the enemy. Instead, when reaching out to non-believers, we should do it out of fear and reverence of the LORD.
Proverbs 1:20-33
(1:20-33)
Wisdom is a good thing, as is knowledge. Anyone who rejects wisdom, or who knows of the LORD yet chooses not to fear him will "eat the fruit of their ways" - essentially, they'll reap what they sow, and it won't be good.
No comments:
Post a Comment