Archive
Jacob, Leah, and Rachel
The messed up story, in Genesis 29.
Just a reminder not to take a “rival wife” (Leviticus 18:18).
Playing Favorites
Genesis 25:28
Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob (NIV).
Parents, don’t play favorites! Love all your children.
Cain and Abel and Love
The word love appears three times in Genesis 4.
In the midst of the brothers’ rivalry, there is a focus on loving spouses.
Jacob vs. Laban
Genesis 31 sums up the concept of judgment in family affairs.
Abraham’s Descendants
In verses 15-24, we read God’s famous promise to Abraham, “I promise that I will give you as many descendants as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the seashore” (v. 17).
WWID?
What would Isaac do?
Sacrifice himself to his father’s God (verses 9-14).
That’s more faith than I have.
Deep Faith
In verses 3-8, Abraham says, “The boy and I will go over there and worship, and then we will come back to you.”
When Isaac asks about missing a lamb, Abraham replies, “God himself will provide one.”
Both quotes indicate that despite God’s brutal request, Abraham continues to have faith in God’s goodness.
This Is A Test!
In verse 1, Moses writes that “God tested Abraham.”
God gives tests? Scary.
First Suffer
The first time the word “suffer” appears in the Bible, God is standing up for Cain, first murderer in history.
It doesn’t describe Adam and Eve’s pain, and it doesn’t refer to Abel’s murder.
Rather, God is reassuring Cain that his enemies will suffer if they take vengeance on him. It’s a word of caring in an impossibly difficult situation.
Eternal Life Lost
In verses 20-24, God provides Adam and Eve with clothing made of skin.
God himself killed animals to cover up their nakedness.
We also learn that people originally were intended to live forever. God drove both Adam and Eve from the garden so they couldn’t eat from the Tree of Life.
It seems merciful that we can’t live forever. Who’d want to experience that much pain?
