Only 2 chapters today people! Only an 8 minute read.

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Chapter 25-

I want to touch back on something I never noticed before until I read today’s reading.  So today we read about Abraham having more children with Keturah.  When I think of Abraham my mind goes to Genesis 12:

² “I will make you into a great nation,
    and I will bless you…

However, it really needs to layer with Ch 15 and 17.

Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations“.

 

I looked over the names, and one caught my eye.  Now,  if this is your first read-through…how exciting is it for you to say “when I do this again”…Anyway, the name was Midian.  As you read through the ‘Midianites’ will come up often.  When we read Exodus, Moses will flee Egypt, he will go to ‘family’-the Midianites.  But over time they will become corrupt and by the time we read the book of Numbers, they have teamed up with the Moabites (look at your genealogy to recall who Moab is 🤮).  THEN, when we get to the book of Judges they are actually partners with Amalekites and enslave the Hebrews (the story of Gideon).  😢.  Just made me sad as I look at our nation today which should be family, and we are now enemies.  Sorry….back to today’s read.

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• Abraham dies and is buried in the land we spoke about yesterday with Sarah.
• Ishmael’s sons are mentioned.  I love seeing God’s promises fulfilled.
  • Ishmael was promised 2 things:
    • He will be the father to 12 rulers, sons (Gen 17:20)
    • BUT,  he will live in hostility toward all his brothers (16:12)

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Jacob and Esau-

The Lord said to her:

“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger.”

This prophecy of two nations: Jacob (Israelites) and Esau (Edomites).  The word Edom/Edomites will be mentioned over 150 times in the Bible…we need to know this rivalry began in the womb, and there will strife until the Lord returns.

• I don’t want to scare any of you off with my crazy fascination for genealogy.  BUT if it interests you…this is a GREAT ONE.  Click here.
• Esau means “hairy” (Edom means Red).  Hairy Red Head?😂
• Jacob means “deceiver” “heel grabber” (better than butt grabber I guess)

The story is readable without any recap but here are some notes that might add a layer to the read…

Let’s talk about Birthright verse Blessing:

Birthright:  Natural privileged of the firstborn son (today’s read)

• included a double portion of the inheritance from the father
• would become the head of the family
• would be in charge of the property
• would be in charge of the younger sons, any widows in the family, and unmarried daughters (were they ugly?)

Blessing: (tomorrow’s read)

• the blessing put you in a Covenant relationship with the Lord!
• a promise of divine protection  through the nations to come
• whoever curses them will be cursed, whoever blesses them will be blessed.

The Covenant gets passed Starting at Abraham…..Ends with Jesus.  The deceitful act of stealing the Blessing is 10 times worse than taking the birthright.

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Abimelek- (not the same guy, this is a term the kings in Caanan used for themselves)

Isaac’s dealings with the Philistines portrays Isaac very much walking in his father’s footsteps. He receives similar promises, faces similar tests, fails similarly, but eventually triumphs.  By the end of the story, he is settled in Beersheba and has a treaty with the Philistines in which they acknowledge he has “something”.  That something is the One True God.❤️

I think I want to go back and read the ‘well’ story again.