Category: Genesis
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Daily Devotional: Genesis 33:1-17
Jacob expects enmity and hostility from Esau. After all, he stole Esau’s birthright and inheritance. Yet, Esau greets Jacob as a brother with no hostility toward him whatsoever. We often expect trouble as we go, so we, like Jacob, fret and prepare. We spend our rime worrying about the future, and the problems we perceive…
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Daily Devotional: Genesis 32:24-32, pt. 2
The name, Israel. This wrestling match is a significant point in the narrative following Jacob’s 20 year sojourn. Instead of destroying everything or leaving people to their own devices, God is keeping His post-diluvian promise by striving with humanity. Jacob’s new name, Israel, means “strives with God.” Such would be national Israel and, eventually, all…
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Daily Devotional: Genesis 32:24-32, pt. 1
The man who wrestles Jacob, here, is God (v. 28, 30). I find it interesting that God had not prevailed against Jacob (v. 25) and that Jacob had striven with God and men and had prevailed (v. 28). Notice that the text does not say or claim that God could not prevail against Jacob. It…
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Daily Devotional: Genesis 32:1-23
Jacob fears Esau but desires to obey God, listening to God’s angels who visited him. So, he separates his people into two camps in case Esau attacks. He sends gifts ahead, hoping to curtail the anger and retaliation he anticipates. Jacob voices his hope that God will hold fast to His promise to prosper Jacob.…
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Daily Devotional: Genesis 31:22-55
Any relationship based on personal gain or selfish expectations will always be strained. Laban abused Jacob. Jacob, in a way, stole everything from Laban. Yet, because God had chosen Jacob and honored His covenant promise to Abraham, He protected Jacob from Laban. Jacob and Laban covenanted to create a border each one would not cross…
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Daily Devotional: Genesis 30:25-43
Jacob strikes a deal with Laban to labor for him past the fourteen years he labored in order to marry Leah and Rachel. Laban wants Jacob to stay and continue to work because Jacob brings prosperity. So, Jacob develops a plan to breed Laban’s flock such that Laban does not prosper but Jacob does. We…
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Daily Devotional; Genesis 30:1-24
The sibling rivalry we see between Leah and Rachel leads to the prostitution of their maids and of Jacob, who is caught in the middle—even realizing that he cannot provide what only God can. With each new child born, the siblings praise God and claim He is rewarding them for their prostitution. The text does…
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Jacob Meets Rachel and The Forsaken Firstborn; Genesis 29:1-35
Jacob meets Rachel for the first time as she shepherds her flock. Jacob is more attracted to Rachel than Leah because she is beautiful, a trait juxtaposed with Leah’s weak eyes. Jacob would rather marry a strong, working woman with strong eyes. In this pericope, Jacob strikes a deal with Laban to marry Rachel. He…
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Daily Devotional: Genesis 28:10-22
Jacob has a dream of angels ascending and descending on a ladder to heaven. God speaks to him in the dream in order to reaffirm the promise He made to Jacob’s father and grandfather. Jacob is the seed of promise according to God’s will. Jacob was self-consumed, even taking the birthright that belonged to his…
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Daily Devotional: Genesis 27:46-28:7
Jacob was sent away for two reasons: (1) His brother’s violent hatred (27:42) and (2) in order to find a wife from among his own kinsmen. In the narrative, the Canaanites typify the children of the serpent (cf. Genesis 3:14-15), which is why such division and enmity prevailed between the Hebrews and Canaanites. The Canaanites…










