January 12th

Genesis 26:17-27:46

Isaac moved back to Gerar. He reopened the wells that had been closed, and gave them the same names his father had. Two wells that Isaac dug the people of the land fought him over, but when he finally dug one they didn’t he said, “‘Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.’”

Again, God promises Isaac that he is going to bless the descendants of Abraham. Isaac builds an altar and digs another well. King Abimelech, who had recently made Isaac move, comes to him. Isaac is confused and asks why he has come to him, since he just sent them away. They answered that they saw that the LORD favored Isaac. They wanted a treaty. So Isaac made them a feast and they swore an oath to be in peace.

Esau, Isaac’s firstborn son, marries a girl named Judith at the same time that Isaac marries Rebekah (they were both 40). The Bible says, “They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.” When Isaac got old, and couldn’t see well, he decided it was time to give his blessing to Esau. He sent him out on a hunt. But Rebekah, hearing this and greatly favoring Jacob, had Jacob go two choice goats so that she could prepare a meal and Jacob could take it to his father so he could get the blessings. Rebekah gives him Esau’s clothing to wear, and covers the smooth parts of his hands and neck with goatskin. Isaac knew something was up, because he was HEARING Jacob, but feeling hair on his hands, like Esau. But Jacob convinced him that he was Esau, and finally got the blessing.

Ah, the smell of my son

Is like the smell of a field

That the LORD has blessed.

May God give you of heaven’s dew

And of earth’s richness-

And abundance of grain and new wine.

May nations serve you

And peoples bow down to you.

Be lord over your brothers,

And may the sons of your mother bow down to you.

May those who curse you be cursed

And those who bless you be blessed.

When Esau returned from hunting, he prepared tasty food and took it to his father. When he said he was Esau, “Isaac trembled violently and said, ‘Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him- and indeed he will be blessed!” Esau cried out and asked for a blessing as well. Jacob had now tricked him twice, once for his birthright and now for his blessing. Isaac had made Jacob lord of Esau and all his relatives and servants. The only blessing Isaac gave him was the following:

Your dwelling will be

Away from the earth’s richness,

Away from the dew of heaven above.

You will live by the sword

And you will serve your brother.

But when you grow restless,

You will throw his yoke from off your neck.”

Esau held a grudge, and vowed to kill Jacob after Isaac passed.

Rebekah warned Jacob. She told him to flee.

Matthew 9:1-17

Jesus heals a paralytic. First he says, “Take heart, son, your sins are forgiven.”

The people of the law that heard this thought Jesus was blaspheming.

Jesus knows what they are thinking, and shows them that not only does he have the authority to forgive sins, but he can also heal the man. He tells him to take up his mat and walk. The man does. The crowd that saw this were amazed, and praised God.

Jesus also sees Matthew, the tax collector, and tells him to follow him. Matthew does.

Jesus eats dinner with Matthew at his house, along with other tax collectors and “sinners” and there were many Pharisees that saw this that say ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?’ On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’”

Psalms 10:16-18

The LORD is KING for ever and ever;

The nations will perish from his land.

You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;

You encourage them, and you listen to their cry,

Defending the fatherless and the oppressed,

In order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

Proverbs 3:9-10

Honor the LORD with your wealth,

with the firstfruits of all your crops;

then your barns will be filled to overflowing,

and your vats will brim over with new wine.