Date | Version | Reading Plan |
---|---|---|
January 25, 2025 | ESV (2016) | OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027 |
Genesis 25
The chapter opens with the account of Abraham taking another wife, Keturah. The sons of Keturah are listed and it is told that Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac and that Abraham sent the sons of his concubines away to the east country. The TGCBC illuminates how “Although Keturah is Abraham’s wife, she has a lower status than Sarah. This is reflected in the fact that her offspring will not share in the inheritance that is given to Isaac.” We read next of Abraham’s death at 175 years old, “a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people” (Gen. 25:8). Abraham was buried in the same cave at Machpelah as his wife, Sarah. Following the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac and he settled at Beer-lahai-roi.
Focus then shifts to Ishmael and his descendants. The generations of Ishmael are listed along with his death at 137 years of age and that was gathered to his people. Those of Ishmael’s line settled from Havilah to Shur which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria.
Another narrative shift occurs and we are given the events surrounding Isaac and Rebekah. Like Sarah, Rebekah was barren, but Isaac prayed to the LORD who granted his prayer and Rebekah conceived. The children struggled within her, prompting her to inquire of the LORD. The LORD replied that two nations were in her womb and that they shall be divided. Rebekah’s first son, Esau, came out red and hairy and Jacob came out next with his hand holding Esau’s heel. According to the TGCBC, “While the meaning of Esau is uncertain, Jacob means ‘heel,’ an allusion to his grasping Esau’s heel. Later, Esau reveals that the idiom ‘to grasp someone by the heel’ means ‘to cheat’ or possibly ‘to supplant’ (see 27:36).” The boys grew up, Esau becoming a skillful hunter and Jacob a quiet man, dwelling in tents. There was division between Isaac and Rebekah over who they loved. “Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.” (Gen. 25:28)
We are then given the details of an occurrence in which Jacob was cooking stew and Esau came in exhausted from the field. Esau expressed his exhaustion to Jacob and asked to eat some of the “red stew”. The TGC points out that, “Esau speaks disparagingly of Jacob’s stew, calling it ‘red stuff.’ Although the ESV reads ‘red stew’ in verse 30, the Hebrew text does not have the word ‘stew.’” Jacob responded by asking Esau for his birthright “now” and Esau said that he had no use for a birthright as he was about to die. Jacob had Esau swear to him regarding the birthright and Esau sold it to him. Jacob then gave Esau bread and stew and he ate and drank and went on his way. By this, Esau showed that he despised his birthright.
Key Takeaways and Application
The episode between Jacob and Esau regarding the stew and birthright is fraught with ingratitude and treachery. Upon being asked for stew, Jacob went directly to obtaining Esau’s birthright. Esau’s answer was no better, showing contempt for the blessing of inheritance he had been given as firstborn. We can draw from this that sin, corruption and relational strife were present even among the chosen patriline of Abraham. Since the fall, humanity has been plagued with sin and no one born is without this nature…that is…except one. For our sake Jesus was made to be sin who had no sin so that in Him we could become the righteousness of God.
Matthew 25
In this chapter, Jesus provides more parables description of the final judgement. He likens the kingdom of heaven to virgins who took their lamps to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, taking no oil with them, while five wisely brought oil. The bridegroom was delayed, so the virgins who had no oil asked for oil among the five who had. The five with oil declined the request and told the five without to buy for themselves. The five went out to purchase oil and, while they were out, the bridegroom returned and those who were ready entered the feast. The door was shut and the five without oil asked for the door to be opened but the groom told them that he did not know them. Jesus concluded the parable by telling them that they were to watch because they knew neither the day or the hour, referring to His coming.
The next parable was of a master who entrusted property to his servants; the first given five talents, the next given two talents and the third given one talent. The first two servants proved themselves good stewards of their apportionment, doubling their master’s property through investment. However, the third buried his one talent. When the master came to settle his accounts, the first two give their doubled portions and are subsequently commended by the master for their faithfulness. The third servant then gave the master the one talent that he had buried, giving the excuse that he knew the master to be a hard man. The master chided the servant for squandering his portion and it was taken from him and given to the one with ten talents. The master ordered the third servant to be cast into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus then describes the coming of the Son of Man in His glory. All nations will be gathered and the sheep will be placed on His right while the goats will be on His left. “The right hand is the side of favor and honor; the left signifies disfavor (Matt. 25:33).” (ESVEC). Jesus told them that they who are blessed by His Father will inherit the kingdom prepared for them at the foundation of the world. This is followed by Jesus speaking of how they gave Him food when He was hungry and water when He was thirsty. The righteous will answer in question and ask when they did such things and the king will answer that when they did to the least of the brothers, they did to Him. However, as for those on Jesus’ left who withheld such help from the brothers, they will go away into eternal punishment while the righteous enter into eternal life.
Key Takeaways and Application
The help that the righteous provide the needy struck me as intensely convicting today. Currently enrolled in a theological program, I cannot help but think that I am still very much in a consumer mode. I enjoy learning and growing but these need to be properly balanced with giving to others that which I been entrusted and commanded to share. Despite learning a lot, it has been a spiritually dry season which seems directly tied to selfishness and lack of generosity. Lord, thank you for helping me see where I am falling short in this, for the heaviness on my heart that I am not serving and blessing others as I should. Holy Spirit, break me free of myself and of my tight grasp on comfort and personal interests that I would no longer live for myself but to honor you in my sacrifice for others.