Read: Genesis 35:1-36:43; Matthew 12:1-21; Psalm 15:1-5; Proverbs 3:21-26
Jacob built an altar to the Lord in Bethel which was where Abraham built an altar in Genesis 12:8. It was this place that Jacob wrestled with God and God changed his name to Israel (Gen. 32:28). Once again, God reminds him that he has changed his name. He renews his covenant with Jacob just in case Jacob thinks he has disqualified himself. When God gives a promise, he never takes it away. It is always ours for the taking. Sometimes we need to change the way we see ourselves. Jacob needed to stop seeing himself as a supplanter and start seeing himself as Israel, the prince of God.
Bethel was also the place that Rachel died and Benjamin was born. She called him Ben-oni which means “son of my sorrow” but Jacob refused to let him live with that curse. He changed it to Benjamin which means “son of the right hand”.
Jacob is reunited with his father, Isaac after these twenty years. Isaac soon died at the age of 160 and Jacob and Esau met to bury him.
Esau’s line was a line of dukes from Canaanite wives. Esau was the same as Edom so they were the Edomites.
In Matthew, Jesus plucks ears of corn for his disciples on the Sabbath day. This was a violation to Jewish law - not Mosaic law. Jesus was the new covenant that supersedes the law. There were times to use common sense and not the letter of the law. Mercy is always better to God than sacrifice.
Jesus did his acts of mercy and kindness on the Sabbath to reveal the true heart of the Sadducees and Pharisees. They didn’t care about the plight of people, they cared about their man-made laws and control. Jesus exposed them by defiling their laws.
Lord, you are our confidence and hope.
No comments:
Post a Comment