Read: Genesis 24:52-26:16; Matthew 8:18-34; Psalm 10:1-15; Proverbs 3:7-8
Rebekah agreed to go with the servant to be Isaac’s wife. Isaac loved Rebekah and she was a comfort to him after losing his mother, Sarah.
Abraham also got a new wife, Keturah, which means “incense”. She bore Abraham six sons who he sent out with gifts to forge their own lives. Counting Ishmael, Abraham had eight sons. When he died, he left everything to Isaac. Isaac and Ishmael buried their father in the cave at Machpelah where Sarah was buried.
Ishmael had 12 sons who became tribal rulers. They settled around Egypt.
Isaac married Rebekah who was barren for years until Isaac prayed to God for her. She became pregnant with twins who fought one another in her womb. When she asked about it, God told her that there were two nations in her womb who would be hostile towards one another. He added that the older would serve the younger. Esau came out first with Jacob holding on to his heel. I bet they were a handful to raise! Esau was covered with hair like a man and was completely formed.
Esau grew up a hunter who had Isaac’s favor because he made stew from his meat that Isaac loved. Jacob was an inside man who liked to stay in the tents with the women who was Rebekah’s favorite.
One day, Esau came in famished from hunting and Jacob was cooking stew. Esau wanted some and Jacob seized the opportunity to sell him some soup for his birthright. Esau thought so little of his birthright that he agreed.
Jacob is the supplanter which is defined by his name but the truth is that Jacob understood the importance and value of the birthright and the blessing where Esau saw no value in his responsibility. He just wanted to hunt and fill his flesh. God was pleased with Jacob’s desire even though his means were wrong and He was displeased with Esau’s heart.
There was a second famine in the land so Isaac took his family to Gerar and lived among the Philistines. God warned him not to go to Egypt. He repeated the same thing his father did and told everyone that Rebekah was his sister. His lie was found out and he was brought in to the king, Abimelech and rebuked for lying. Abimelech gave orders not to harm him or Rebekah.
Once Isaac came clean about Rebekah being his wife, he planted seed that yielded 100 fold. That means that every seed bore 100 plants! That is amazing! God quickly caused him to prosper in the midst of a famine. This caused the king to be afraid of him and told him to move.
In Matthew, Jesus give orders to his disciples to cross to the Gentile side of the lake. Two different people approach him desiring to be followers of him. The first is a teacher of the Torah. He proclaims that he will follow him wherever he goes. Jesus’ reply is that everyone has a place of rest except him. I think he was trying to let him know that to follow him would cost him everything. The next man was a disciple who wanted to stay around his safe house until his father died and then bury him. This could take years. He is a picture of the person who wants to follow Jesus…one day, after he has done everything he wants to do first.
Jesus left in a boat and met a furious storm. It was his enemy, Satan, trying to keep him from reaching the man on the other side who was under his control. Jesus rebuked him and the sea went calm. It was a precursor of what was going to happen on the other side.
Lord, help us to see beyond the surface. Thank you, that you can prosperous in the midst of famine.
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