S: Scripture
O: Observation
Genesis 25 chronicles Abrahams descendants through his second wife Keturah. It tells how he provided for all of them and his concubines before his death and sent them away from Isaac—the firstborn of Sarah. He dies and is buried by Sarah. Next we read about Ishmael’s life and descendants. Verse 19 resumes the story with Isaac praying that Rebekah would conceive and she has twins Esau and Jacob. Before their birth the Lord reveals to her that these two will be nations and that the older shall serve the younger. Esau and Jacob make a deal; Esau forfeits his birthright and Jacob gives him some stew.
Genesis 26 is about Isaac finding land for his family. God promises the land to him and his descendants for the sake of his faithful father, Abraham. But for now, Isaac is a sojourner. He worries about being killed by the locals so they can have his beautiful wife Rebekah. He takes a page from his father’s playbook and tells everyone that she is his sister. But the king catches Isaac caressing Rebekah and calls Isaac on the truth. Isaac explains his fear and the king declares that no one should harm either of them. Isaac becomes rich in the land. So much so that he is asked to move away. He re-opens wells his father had dug, but the current locals quarrel with Isaac’s family over ownership. Isaac finally opens a well that no one disputes and he names it Rehoboth. Abimelech, the one who told Isaac’s intimidating family to move on approaches Isaac to agree to peace. They make an oath of peace and go their separate ways. Esau marries two Hittites who give Isaac and Rebekah grief.
Psalm 6 is a cry for mercy by David. He prays for gave to not be rebuked or chastened, stressing the Lord’s loving-kindness. His body testifies to his misery. The psalm ends with David rebuking anyone who may come against him declaring the Lord has heard his supplications.
In Luke 10, Jesus sends the seventy out to cities to let them know the kingdom of God is near. He gives instructions to carry nothing, to accept the payment for their healing and preaching in the form of room and board. He also lets them know how to handle rejection. They are to declare that the kingdom was indeed near, but they rejected it and the day will come that they will regret it. The seventy return exultant over their travels, marveling that even demons obey in the name of Jesus. Jesus reminds them that the real joy is their own salvation. A lawyer quizzes Jesus on how to get to heaven. He knows the answer, but wants to know who the neighbor is that one must love as oneself. Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. Then Jesus travels to the village in which Martha and Mary live. Martha gets upset about having to make all the serving and preparation duties on her own and complains to Jesus. Jesus says only one thing is needed and Mary has chosen it.
A: Application
Father, will you show me living, breathing life in your Word?
Some of the themes I see are God’s provision even when we aren’t faithful, and the importance of families. Abraham knows Isaac is next in line to fulfill God’s promises, but still provides for his other children, even those born to unfaithfulness. Ishmael is the product unbelief, of trying to orchestrate life. This poor boy was doomed before conception. But God is good and still provides for him and he lives a long life with many children.
Isaac travels under the Lord’s leadership, but still he fears his neighbors and lies to protect his own hide. Even when I fail to fully believe, God is good and protects and provides in spite of myself. Isaac’s family grows so big that the neighbors become intimidated and ask them to move along. The Lord provides the path to find sustenance for the family he grew.
David’s psalm has always come off as a little bold to me. He tells God that no one praises His name in Sheol. This has always struck me as funny. It is almost a threat: God, if you let me die, then I won’t be able to give you thanks and praise anymore. Such an interesting tactic that never fails to set me back in awe. Nevertheless, David ends with praise, confident his prayers have been heard. I do pray for that sort of peace. David so often begins a psalm in utter agony. He pours it all out there. But he always ends in praise and peace. I pray for that same transformation when I spend my time with the Lord.
Something I noticed in the first part of Luke was how Jesus sent the people out to let the land know that the kingdom of God is near. Even if they are rejected, the message does not change: the kingdom of God is near. I love this declaration of Truth. It is. It doesn’t require anyone to agree or even acknowledge. It just is, independent of all.
My husband made an interesting note about the story of the Good Samaritan. He read a commentary that noted the personal risk to the Samaritan. Jews didn’t even speak to Samaritans—we see this when Jesus meets the woman at the well and asks her for water. She wonders why he is addressing her, a Samaritan, at all. So, this man who doesn’t warrant a greeting picks up and dresses the wounds of a Jew. How easily someone could have come on the scene and accused the Samaritan of the beating. To deliver the Jew to another witness was risky, but the act of one loving one’s neighbor. So the lesson is not just to help people, to be compassionate to our enemy, but to forfeit our sense of personal safety as well.
P: Prayer
This took longer than I expected, Lord, which will mean a need for me to rise earlier in the day to complete this striving goal to give my time to You. Please bless my fickle, selfish, tired heart to strive on in a faithfulness that emulates Your own. Amen.
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Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!