2021 Bible Reading, From the Beginning to Judgment (Genesis 20-33)

Phillip Wade Martin & Doy Moyer

Eastside Church of Christ

2021 Bible Reading • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

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Week 02

Sunday’s Sermon: Walking With God

Bible Readings:

Sunday, Jan 3: Gen 8–11

Monday, Jan 4: Gen 12–15

Tuesday, Jan 5: Gen 16–18

Wednesday, Jan 6: Gen 19–21

Thursday, Jan 7: Gen 22–24

Friday, Jan 8: Gen 25–26

Saturday, Jan 9: Gen 27–29

A Brief Overview of the Biblical Content

by Doy Moyer

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

Abraham had great faith that we are called upon to follow (Gal 3:7; Rom 4:12). Still, there were times in his life when he struggled. For example, in addition to the failed attempt to have Hagar produce the child of promise (Gen 16), Genesis 20 records Abraham going to Egypt and telling the king that Sarah was his sister, which led Abimelech to think she would be free to be with him. The Lord put a stop to this before something disastrous happened.

Though Abraham and Sarah were older, “at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him,” Sarah conceived and bore a son, named Isaac (Gen 21). Ishmael, Hagar’s son by Abraham, mocked Isaac, and this created a problem that resulted in Hagar and Ishmael having to leave. God still blessed Ishmael because he was Abraham’s son.

The greatest test of Abraham’s faith came when God told him to take Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice (Gen 22). Abraham did what God said, taking Isaac to the appointed place. God prevented the sacrifice, as Abraham demonstrated total trust in Him. So great was this trust that the Hebrews writer says that Abraham believed God would raise Isaac from the dead (Heb 11:17-19). The episode shows that it was not God’s intent to have Isaac actually sacrificed, but rather to give Abraham an opportunity to show absolute trust. The event typologically points to the sacrifice of Jesus.

When Sarah died, Abraham purchased a piece of the land for her burial (Gen 23). Abraham then asked his servant to go back to Abraham’s home in order to find Isaac a wife (Gen 24). The servant did that, and by the Lord’s help, he found a young woman named Rebekah. She came back with the servant and became Isaac’s wife.

Abraham remarried and had other children. He died at the age of one hundred seventy- five (Gen 25:8), having become of the greatest examples of faith in the Lord. God’s plans through his descendants would continue. Ishmael also had many descendants, but God was true to His promise to carry out His will through Isaac.

Rebekah could not have children, so Isaac prayed and God answered (Gen 25:21). Rebekah conceived twins, and the Lord told her that “two nations” were in her womb. One would serve the other. The first to be born was Esau, but Jacob held onto Esau’s heel as they were born. Esau became a skillful hunter much loved by his father Isaac. Rebekah loved Jacob more.

Esau came in hungry one day from the field. Jacob was cooking a stew, and Esau begged Jacob for some. Jacob told Esau he could have some if Esau gave over his birthright. Esau agreed, and for some food gave up one of the most important inheritances he had (Gen 25:27-34; see also Heb 12:15-17).

Isaac lived near the Philistines for a time, making the same mistake Abraham had made in calling his wife his sister. Still, the Lord blessed him (Gen 26). Because of some quarrels over wells, Isaac moved away and came to Beersheba. There the Lord reiterated His promises that He had given to Abraham (Gen. 26:24), “so he built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord” (v. 25).

When Isaac got older and lost his sight, he called Esau to hunt and cook for him so that he could bless Esau before he died (the oldest son received a special blessing). Rebekah overheard and helped Jacob deceive Isaac. Jacob dressed up like Esau, cooked a savory dish, then went in to Isaac and pretended to be Esau. The trick worked and Jacob received the blessing that should have gone to Esau (Gen 27). When Esau found out what Jacob did, he bore a grudge and determined to kill Jacob after Isaac died.

Rebekah told Jacob to leave and go back to her home to her brother Laban. Isaac wanted him to find a wife there (Gen 28). As Jacob left he had a dream and God gave him the same promises He had given to Abraham and Isaac. Jacob would later return to this place to seek the Lord.

Jacob came to Laban’s and fell in love with his daughter Rachel. Jacob agreed to work for seven years, but Laban tricked Jacob into marry Rachel’s older sister Leah. Jacob continued to work for Laban so that he could also have Rachel (Gen 29). Leah was the first to have children, then God blessed Rachel to have sons. Altogether Jacob had twelve sons and one daughter (Gen 30). This is the foundation for the tribes of Israel.

God greatly blessed Jacob, and Laban was blessed, too. The time came, though, for Jacob to leave, and after many years of working for Laban, he came back to the Promised Land. One of the more significant events occurred when Jacob wrestled with a “man” who blessed him. The blessing was from God, and Jacob’s name was changed to Israel (Gen 32:24-32).

Jacob feared meeting Esau again, but when they met Esau no longer wanted to kill him. Jacob eventually settled in Shechem, in the heart of the land.

Four Questions to ask after each day’s reading

Key events, teaching, or concept:

Key verses:

What is God telling me about Himself or my relationship with Him?

How does this apply to my life today?