January 11th

Genesis 24:52-26:16

Abraham’s servant was overjoyed to hear that they were obedient to the LORD. “He brought out gold, and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother.” They woke the next day and started the journey back. As they were approaching the end, Rebekah saw Isaac in the field and covered herself with her veil. “Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.”

Abraham also took another wife and had more sons. But he left everything he owned to Isaac. Abraham died at 175 years of age. He was buried with his first wife, Sarah.

Ishmael, who was Abraham’s son through Hagar, had 12 sons. He lived 137 years and then died. His descendants settled near the border of Egypt, and they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.

Isaac, Abraham’s son through Sarah, married Rebekah when he was 40. He prayed to the LORD on her behalf because she wasn’t able to have children. The LORD answered his prayer and Rebekah got pregnant. She noticed, however, that the babies seemed to be “jostling each other within her”. She said “ ‘Why is this happening to me?’ So she went to inquire of the LORD. The LORD said to her, ‘Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from wit you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.’” Rebekah had twin boys, Esau and Jacob. Esau came out first, red and hairy. Jacob came out second, holding onto his brother’s heel. Esau became a hunter, spending most of his time outdoors, and Jacob was quiet, and stayed close to the tents. At one point, Esau came home from a hunt extremely hungry. Jacob was cooking stew and Esau, out of desperation, sold Jacob his birthright for some of the stew.

There was famine in the land, and the LORD told Isaac to keep his family in their land and not go down to Egypt. He reminded him of his promise, to make Abraham’s descendents as numerous as the starts.

Interesting. Like father, like son. Isaac also tells the men of his land that his wife is his sister, for fear that they’ll kill him. It isn’t until the King sees him caressing her that he says, “She really is your wife?? Someone could have taken him for his wife! Why did you do this?” Instead of driving them out, the King decrees that no one touch Isaac or his wife. Isaac plants crops and reaps greatly. His wealth continues to grow. “ He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. So all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filing them with earth. Then Abimelech said to Isaac, ‘Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.’”

So Isaac moves.

Matthew 8:18-34

Crowds continue to follow Jesus. The disciples are learning important lessons about their loyalty. Jesus climbed into a boat and the disciples followed him, and before they knew it, without warning, a really bad storm hit. Waves were covering the boat, and Jesus was sleeping through it all. The disciples were frantic, and woke him, exclaiming that they were going to drown. He said back to them, “ ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuke the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” The disciples were amazed. They’d seen Jesus heal people, but to see even nature obey him was astounding. Even the winds and waves obeyed him.

When they got off the boat there were two demon-possessed men. Jesus sent out the demons into a heard of pigs, and the whole herd rushed into a lake and died. Those that were watching the pigs went into town to tell everyone what had happened. The whole town went out to meet Jesus, and begged him to leave their region.

Psalm 10:1-15

LORD, why are you far away.

Why do you hide?

Wicked men are arrogant, hunt down the week, boast of their own desires, bless the greedy, and don’t seek out the LORD. In all of his thoughts there is no room for God.

Out of all the thoughts I have in a day, do I make room for God?  His ways are prosperous, and he says that nothing will shake. He thinks he’ll always be happy and never have any trouble. He curses and threatens often, with trouble and evil on his tongue. He lies in wait like a lion to catch the helpless. He thinks that God has forgotten.

ARISE, LORD.

LIFE UP YOUR HAND, O GOD.

Do not forget the helpless.

Don’t let the wicked go unaccounted for.

You see trouble and grief.

Victims look to You to be the Avenger.

Call the wicked to account!

Proverbs 3:7-8

Don’t consider yourself wise.

Fear the LORD.