Genesis. Big life changes help prepare our hearts for deeper works of God. This is certainly the case with Jacob. He sought God before he met Esau. He wrestled with God through the night. He returns to "House of God" (Bethel) and discovers another of God's names: El-Shaddai. Then he goes through the loss of Rachel and of his father Isaac. I'm amazed that Isaac, old before Jacob left, was still alive. Perhaps God let him live so he could see his two sons reunited.
Chapter 36 contains a long list of the descendants of Esau (aka Edom). You should feel free to skim this passage, with its long list of names. For you history buffs who like to know how this people group ended up, I googled "modern day Edomites" and found that the descendants of Esau pretty much intermarried and assimilated in to the Jewish people near the time of Christ. We will meet them, though, as we study through the Old Testament.
Chapter 37 is our introduction to the man whose story will occupy the rest of Genesis. It was Joseph's brother Judah whose line included Jesus the Messiah, but Joseph was orchestrated by God to be a savior of sorts to the rest of his family. His story is my favorite in all the Old Testament. The narrative begins with sibling rivalry. Where do you think Jacob learned to play favorites with his children?
No comments:
Post a Comment