Genesis 26:26-33
"Covenant with Abimelech"
Here, Abimelech, again, acknowledges God. He remarks on the blessings God has bestowed on Isaac and (partly out of fear of annihilation) proposes a peace treaty between them. Note that Abimelech also takes some credit for the change in amount of blessings poured out on Isaac. He claimed that his sending-out of Isaac allowed him to come closer to God.
Nevertheless, Abimelech and Isaac formed their peace treaty of of non-aggression after which God blessed Isaac yet again by pointing out to them a new well. God's blessing was with them and Isaac then named the well, a reminder of the peace treaty.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
20 Jan. 2012 - Genesis 26:23-25
Genesis 26:23-25
"The Lord Appears to Isaac"
This passage is a fairly straightforward passage. Here we have God coming to Isaac and reaffirming the covenant He had with Abraham with Isaac. Note that in v. 24, after God has told Isaac of the blessings that will be brought to him, that all of this is due to his father. God is blessing Isaac because of the covenant made to Abraham (after all, Isaac is the son of Abraham through which God's grace would come.
Then, look at v. 25 for Isaac's response: he built an altar and worshiped God. He set the place as a reminder of the covenant which God renewed to him.
"The Lord Appears to Isaac"
This passage is a fairly straightforward passage. Here we have God coming to Isaac and reaffirming the covenant He had with Abraham with Isaac. Note that in v. 24, after God has told Isaac of the blessings that will be brought to him, that all of this is due to his father. God is blessing Isaac because of the covenant made to Abraham (after all, Isaac is the son of Abraham through which God's grace would come.
Then, look at v. 25 for Isaac's response: he built an altar and worshiped God. He set the place as a reminder of the covenant which God renewed to him.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
19 Jan. 2012 - Genesis 26:12-22
Genesis 26:12-22
"Conflicts over Wells"
God blessed Isaac. In fact, He blessed him so much that the Philistines, and even their king, were getting a little envious. So, they filled in all the wells Abraham had dug, forcing Isaac to move elsewhere in search for water in the Valley of Gerar, where he was fought away from two of his father's wells before settling at the third well.
What exactly is there to learn from this story? (aside from envy makes good people do dumb things)
Well. we can see God's hand at work. Isaac needed large tracts of land for his livestock and he would have preferred one that was peaceful. Well, I'd say, the way everything worked out for Isaac, God had definitely provided for him, giving him land he needs and a source of fresh water).
It is interesting to note, though, that Isaac did not pray throughout the situation, praying only when the new well was found.
After that, Isaac says of his new land that they would be fruitful in the new land.
"Conflicts over Wells"
God blessed Isaac. In fact, He blessed him so much that the Philistines, and even their king, were getting a little envious. So, they filled in all the wells Abraham had dug, forcing Isaac to move elsewhere in search for water in the Valley of Gerar, where he was fought away from two of his father's wells before settling at the third well.
What exactly is there to learn from this story? (aside from envy makes good people do dumb things)
Well. we can see God's hand at work. Isaac needed large tracts of land for his livestock and he would have preferred one that was peaceful. Well, I'd say, the way everything worked out for Isaac, God had definitely provided for him, giving him land he needs and a source of fresh water).
It is interesting to note, though, that Isaac did not pray throughout the situation, praying only when the new well was found.
After that, Isaac says of his new land that they would be fruitful in the new land.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
18 Jan. 2012 - Genesis 26:7-11
Genesis 26:7-11
"Isaac's Deception"
Well, like father, like son. Isaac has just repeated the same my-wife-is-my-sister routine that Abraham often used. It's funny, you'd think any of them would have realized this after the first time Abraham tried it.
This time, it's king Abimelech, who remembers what God had told him regarding Abraham's wife and is now in the same boat. It can be said, though, that both he [Abimelech] and Isaac had a good attitudes towards each other, which could be seen in Abimelech's more moderate reaction to Rebekah being Isaac's wife. Abimelech's reaction also shows that he still acknowledges the majesty of God and His sovereignty.
What is it, though with Abraham and Isaac's convention that we could discourage? Well, the big problem is trust. This deception says to God, "You're not enough". They acted out of fear, not faith and that is where they began hitting trouble.
"Isaac's Deception"
Well, like father, like son. Isaac has just repeated the same my-wife-is-my-sister routine that Abraham often used. It's funny, you'd think any of them would have realized this after the first time Abraham tried it.
This time, it's king Abimelech, who remembers what God had told him regarding Abraham's wife and is now in the same boat. It can be said, though, that both he [Abimelech] and Isaac had a good attitudes towards each other, which could be seen in Abimelech's more moderate reaction to Rebekah being Isaac's wife. Abimelech's reaction also shows that he still acknowledges the majesty of God and His sovereignty.
What is it, though with Abraham and Isaac's convention that we could discourage? Well, the big problem is trust. This deception says to God, "You're not enough". They acted out of fear, not faith and that is where they began hitting trouble.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
17 Jan. 2012 - Genesis 26:1-6
Genesis 26:1-6
"The Promise Reaffirmed to Isaac"
Once again in the midst of a famine, Isaac decided to go towards Egypt, like his father did. God, however, had him stay in Canaan where He [God] reaffirmed Abraham's covenant to Isaac, making mention of the large number of nations coming from his bloodline.
What does the reaffirmation show? Could it be showing Isaac that God keeps his word and has an overarching plan in store for His people-to-be? would even go so far as to say that God was mildly, if no wholly, excited to have picked the lineage through which the savior would be traced.
Again, another reminder that God keeps His work, yet works at hisown pace.
"The Promise Reaffirmed to Isaac"
Once again in the midst of a famine, Isaac decided to go towards Egypt, like his father did. God, however, had him stay in Canaan where He [God] reaffirmed Abraham's covenant to Isaac, making mention of the large number of nations coming from his bloodline.
What does the reaffirmation show? Could it be showing Isaac that God keeps his word and has an overarching plan in store for His people-to-be? would even go so far as to say that God was mildly, if no wholly, excited to have picked the lineage through which the savior would be traced.
Again, another reminder that God keeps His work, yet works at hisown pace.
Monday, January 16, 2012
16 Jan. 2012 - Genesis 25:27-34
Genesis 25:27-34
"Esau Sells His Birthright"
Alright, yesterday, we saw God saying, regarding Jacob and Esau, that the older, Esau, would serve the younger. Today's passage illustrates the vehicle by which the word of God is affirmed and all but realized.
In this passage, we have the older selling his birthright to the younger. Now birthright was a big deal. It encompassed much of the family estate and the assuming the power of family head after the current head passed away. Esau, then was in line for the birthright of Isaac and that which Isaac had received was the birthright of Abraham. Now, I may be stretching this a bit, but, part of the birthright was the covenant god made to Abraham.
Notice, then that Esau, and thus Edom, would have received God's promise. Therefore, a little intervention would be needed to fulfill God's word and to start the foundations of a faithful, chosen people. To do this, Jacob had to be greater. He had to receive the birthright. No birthright, no full force of the promise. Yes, Edom did develop into a fairly large power, but it was not through Esau's line that Christ came, but Jacob's. So, Jacob had to be made heir to receive the promise.
"Esau Sells His Birthright"
Alright, yesterday, we saw God saying, regarding Jacob and Esau, that the older, Esau, would serve the younger. Today's passage illustrates the vehicle by which the word of God is affirmed and all but realized.
In this passage, we have the older selling his birthright to the younger. Now birthright was a big deal. It encompassed much of the family estate and the assuming the power of family head after the current head passed away. Esau, then was in line for the birthright of Isaac and that which Isaac had received was the birthright of Abraham. Now, I may be stretching this a bit, but, part of the birthright was the covenant god made to Abraham.
Notice, then that Esau, and thus Edom, would have received God's promise. Therefore, a little intervention would be needed to fulfill God's word and to start the foundations of a faithful, chosen people. To do this, Jacob had to be greater. He had to receive the birthright. No birthright, no full force of the promise. Yes, Edom did develop into a fairly large power, but it was not through Esau's line that Christ came, but Jacob's. So, Jacob had to be made heir to receive the promise.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
15 Jan. 2012 - Genesis 25:19-26
Genesis 25:19-26
"The Birth of Jacob and Esau"
Introducing Jacob and Esau! Something I hadn't noticed before was that Rebekah, like Sarah, was childless (some translations say "barren") and Isaac prayed to God asking for children. we seem to have here a sense of parallelism. What that symbolises, if anything, I don't know.
Additionally, we have a forecasting of Edom and Israel's future conflicts through the intrauterine fighting of the two nations' progenitors. God even mentions to Rebekah when she asks about it that two nations will descend and that the older (Esau -> Edom) would serve the younger (Jacob -> Israel). Cool thing is, though, if you look later on in the Bible, you can see this play out in history.
"The Birth of Jacob and Esau"
Introducing Jacob and Esau! Something I hadn't noticed before was that Rebekah, like Sarah, was childless (some translations say "barren") and Isaac prayed to God asking for children. we seem to have here a sense of parallelism. What that symbolises, if anything, I don't know.
Additionally, we have a forecasting of Edom and Israel's future conflicts through the intrauterine fighting of the two nations' progenitors. God even mentions to Rebekah when she asks about it that two nations will descend and that the older (Esau -> Edom) would serve the younger (Jacob -> Israel). Cool thing is, though, if you look later on in the Bible, you can see this play out in history.
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