Journey Through the Bible in a Year
Reading God's Word and learning more about His plan for my life each day!
Saturday, September 28, 2002
Introduction to Journey Through the Bible
A note about online study
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for preserving the history of our faith through the Bible! Thank You that You don’t call us to a faith that is apart from reason, but a faith that goes far beyond where reason may take us! Thank You for being a miracle working God, who will always amaze us when we let You take charge of our lives. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that all that I am and all that I do may bring honor and glory to You. Give me wisdom to understand Your word, and the power to live it out in my life today. These things I pray in Jesus’ name and for the sake of His coming kingdom. Amen.
My Journey Verses for Today
Genesis 25:19-34
19 This is the history of the family of Isaac, the son of Abraham. 20 When Isaac was forty years old, he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban. 21 Isaac pleaded with the LORD to give Rebekah a child because she was childless. So the LORD answered Isaac's prayer, and his wife became pregnant with twins. 22 But the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the LORD about it. "Why is this happening to me?" she asked. 23 And the LORD told her, "The sons in your womb will become two rival nations. One nation will be stronger than the other; the descendants of your older son will serve the descendants of your younger son." 24 And when the time came, the twins were born. 25 The first was very red at birth. He was covered with so much hair that one would think he was wearing a piece of clothing. So they called him Esau. 26 Then the other twin was born with his hand grasping Esau's heel. So they called him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born. 27 As the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open fields, while Jacob was the kind of person who liked to stay at home. 28 Isaac loved Esau in particular because of the wild game he brought home, but Rebekah favored Jacob. 29 One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home exhausted and hungry from a hunt. 30 Esau said to Jacob, "I'm starved! Give me some of that red stew you've made." (This was how Esau got his other name, Edom – "Red.") 31 Jacob replied, "All right, but trade me your birthright for it." 32 "Look, I'm dying of starvation!" said Esau. "What good is my birthright to me now?" 33 So Jacob insisted, "Well then, swear to me right now that it is mine." So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his younger brother. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate and drank and went on about his business, indifferent to the fact that he had given up his birthright.
Reflecting on God's Word for My Journey
What is the most important thing that you ever gave up for far less than its value? (This could be a material possession, or something less tangible.)
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word for My Journey
How does Isaac’s situation compare and contrast with Abraham’s when it comes to the birth of His children? (25:19-26)
What was the relationship like between Esau and Jacob? (25:27-34)
What does this Scripture tell you about the “history of the family of Isaac”? (25:19-34)
Understanding God's Will for My Journey
Why do you suppose that God opted to have a younger son be the one through whom the descendants of Abraham would be counted, when the culture of the time gave the priority to the oldest son?
What is the significance of Esau’s willingness to sell his birthright for a bowl of soup?
Applying What God's Word Tells Me to My Journey
What does today’s Scripture give you to apply in your life right now?
My Personal Journey Thought for the Day—“The Unexpected!”
In today’s reading as we look at the history of Isaac’s family, we find that God did something unexpected: He showed “favoritism” toward Jacob, the younger son of Isaac, rather than Esau, the older. Throughout Jewish history, the oldest son in the family was given a double share of the family inheritance when the father died, which is the “birthright” which Esau gave up to Jacob for a bowl of soup. The family blessing always went first to the oldest son and then to the younger family members. In the case of Jacob and Esau, Jacob is also going to get his father’s blessing in the end! Why? Why did God choose Jacob over Esau BEFORE either of them were born? We don’t know the answer to that question. For whatever reason, God chose the younger. For us, it is sufficient to know that God doesn’t always operate in the ways we would expect. God doesn’t often suspend natural laws or Jewish tradition, but when it suits His plan He does. God isn’t bound to do what we expect. That’s one of the great things about God. When we think that we have nothing to look forward to, or when we’re out of hope, God can always do something unexpected and make life meaningful and full of purpose again! Who would have expected Jesus to die for sinners—but He did! Thanks be to God! God’s unexpected actions are all part of His plan to bless and save us!
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