16 Feb. 2012 - Genesis 37:12-36

Genesis 37:12-36
"Joseph Sold into Slavery"

Basically we have a plot by the lesser-favored sons to kill the favored son. One of the brothers, Reuben, (thinking to rescue him later) debates with the others, convincing them to abandon Joseph in a pit. Meanwhile, Judah convinces them, except the non-present Reuben, to sell Joseph to some traders and deceive their father. When Reuben returns, he is distraught and when they return home, Jacob is distraught.

Most people spend their time looking at Joseph, but I want to take a look at Reuben. While he may have been fed up with Joseph and his antics, Reuben realized that killing him would serve no good; it would pain his father greatly. Therefore, Reuben took action and, with the intent to rescue Joseph, convinces them to lessen the action. Reuben acted to save his brother's life. Not because he was enamored with Joseph or his dreams. In fact, we find, in the previous section, that all the brothers found his dreams irritating. Reuben did it for his father.

In a similar manner, we need to be like Reuben. We need to be saving lives, not from their brothers, but from the clutches of the demons and not for our earthly fathers, but for our heavenly father.

17 Feb. 2012 - Genesis 37:1-11

Genesis 37:1-11
"Joseph's Dreams"

Here, we have young Joseph. I'd have to agree with my OT professor in that at his age (~17), he was a bit of a schmuck. Firstly, he was the favored son (and that went to the head, I'm sure), he played the snitch n his brothers, and he spoke about visions he had in which his parents and brothers were bowing to him. (The last would prove true, but the manner in which it was announced was not endearing.)

That being said, Joseph's dreams, both the wheat one and the sun, moon, and stars one, would eventually come true. It is evident, then, that God had a plan lined up for Joseph - and Joseph was still a teenager! This passage overall, though is basically an introduction to Joseph, gives us an insight to his starting character and some of the plans God has for Joseph.

16 Feb. 2012 - Genesis 31-43

Genesis 36:31-43
"Rulers of Edom"

This, here, is not a genealogy so much as a list of rulers. From what I read, the author links these men to Esau's descendants at the end of the passage. Although, there is mention of a Temanite (Teman is one of the descendants of Esau and a clan chief of Edom). Right there, we have a link tying all three together. Not quite what I was expecting, but I surmise that the point of these last three passages is not to name or list, but to establish the origins of Edom as stemming from the same root as Israel while showing them as distinct difference between the two and using them as an evangelistic opportunity.

15 Feb. 2012 - Genesis 36:20-30

Genesis 36:20-30
"Seir's Family"

We see here the family tree of Esau's wife Oholibamah. We are shown, then, the relation of Esau's line (Edom) with that of the Horites. These people lived around Mt. Seir, which is where Esau and his family was settling and would eventually overrun as Edom. Like last night, this is also a mass amount of genealogies and so, I have very little clue where this passage is going and to what point it is leading us, but hopefully tomorrow will provide the answer.

14 Feb. 2012 - Genesis 36:1-19

Genesis 36:1-19
"Esau's Family"

Here, God spends a good deal of time delving into Esau's descendants. It is, after all, probably the last time we'll see Esau in Genesis, so this is a sort of closing postscript for him. We can see in the genealogies the beginnings of a clan/tribal nation (Edom) forming. It could be that certain descendants become critical or it might not be. What I do know is that God does not do anything for no reason. Therefore, there is a reason to this family tree being shown.

My [limited] insight? God is preparing for a larger point.

13 Feb. 2012 - Genesis 35:27-29

Genesis 35:27-29
"Isaac's Death"

After Jacob made it all the way home and after a number of years, Isaac passed away at 180 years old. All it says of him is that he took his last breath, passed and died. For a patriarch, that's pretty stark, but then let's look at his life.

Isaac didn't really display much of the rock-hard faith of his father, not did he have the amazing experiences of his son and grandson. Isaac was, for much of his story, a background character. This I find a pity. Here we have one of the Jewish patriarchs living and passing nondescriptly. He saw God work in his father's testimony, he spoke to God, he probably even had the chance to hear of the miraculous occurrences surrounding Jacob, yet he fades into relative anonymity. Why?

That leads me to a very good question; how deep, how firm was his relationship with God? That, after all, makes the difference. God can do the greatest with the smallest, but a life lived in a lukewarm state is anything but conducive to a good relationship with God. So, let's learn from Isaac and step up..

12 Feb. 2012 - Genesis 35:21-26

Genesis 35:21-26
"Israel's Sons"

Here, we have two things happening, the first is a story of Reuben sleeping with his father's concubine, Bilhah (mother of two of his brothers). The second is a list of all the sons of Israel.

For the first, I think that we're told this sin in advance to help our understanding of what is possibly to come to Reuben.

For the second, once again can we see God as a creator, infinitely perfect and able to craft many beautiful things. It is not, however, the intent of the list, I believe, to show this, but rather to show another characteristic of god, His orderliness and attention to details.