JANUARY 12 READINGS…Genesis 32:1-35:27
The Lord’s plan for His covenant people, and ultimately for the coming of the promised Messiah, continues. Are you amazed at the honesty of the Scripture? If we were to write a story we would certainly make all our heroes beyond reproach…in the Scripture we see that God uses fallen and flawed humans to fulfill His will. This reminds us to keep our eyes on the Lord and not the frail instruments that He uses…it also let’s us know that God can use us with all our short comings, for the power is not from us; but from Him!
Jacob is returning home, but his actions have made his return dangerous…at least in his mind. He rightly, is afraid of his brother Esau, of whom he took his birthright and stole his blessing. Once again Jacob fulfills his name, and tries to scheme his way out of trouble. As he is about to meet his brother the Lord meets him…Jacob wrestles with God…Jacob does not want to submit, so the Lord touches Jacob on the hip and cripples him. Still Jacob wont let go, begging for a blessings…so the Lord blesses him and changes his name from Jacob to Israel. Jacob then meets with his brother…he and Esau make peace.
Jacob then leads his family to Shechem, which was not the place where he said he would go. In the wrong place, the prince of Shechem rapes Dinah, this leads to the slaughter of the men of Shechem and the pillaging of the city. God speaks to Jacob once again and leads him to Bethel. There once again God reminds him that his name is now Israel. It is in Bethel God reaffirms the covenant with Israel that he had made with Abraham and Isaac. From Bethel the Israelites move toward Ephrath (Bethlehem)…in route Rachel dies in childbirth…she gave birth to Israel’s last son, Benjamin. Benjamin brings to the number of sons of Israel twelve…these twelve will be the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel.
In your reading’s today what impressed you? Please share that others might be blessed by your insights. I hope you are enjoying reading through the Bible daily…it truly is a blessing being able to feast on the Word of God.
TOMORROW’S READINGS…Genesis 36:1-19, 1 Chronicles 1:35-27, Genesis 36:20-30, 1 Chronicles 1:38-42, Genesis 36:31-43, 1 Chronicles 1:43-2:2.
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