| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| January 27, 2025 | ESV (2016) | OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027 |
Genesis 27
The chapter is pregnant with deception and treachery as Jacob intercepts Esau’s blessing from their father Isaac. Rebekah overhears Isaac telling Esau to hunt and prepare delicious food in order that Isaac may bless him. She instructs Jacob to bring her goats from the flock to prepare a delicious meal for Isaac before Esau’s return. When Jacob replied with hesitation that Isaac may feel that he was smooth and not hairy like Esau, Rebekah assured Jacob that she would take the curse upon herself if the ruse was discovered by Isaac. The TGCBC points out that, “Not only does Rebekah tell Jacob what to do, but when questioned by him, she also promises to take full responsibility should the deception fail (v. 13). The narrator underlines Rebekah’s chief role in the deception by making her the subject of the verbs in verses 15–17.” Jacob then followed through with the plan, brought the food before Isaac and received the blessing.
As soon as Isaac received the blessing, Esau came in from his hunting and brought it to Isaac to receive the blessing. Isaac informs Esau that he had already blessed another and that the blessing would hold. Esau angrily confirmed that the blessing was taken from him by Jacob and asked Isaac for another blessing for himself but none such was given. “Esau harbours a grudge against his younger brother, hoping to kill him when their father dies. When Rebekah learns of this threat to Jacob’s life, she encourages him to flee to her relatives in Paddan Aram until Esau’s anger subsides.” (TGCBC)
Key Takeaways and Application
The depth at which the betrayal of Rebekah and Jacob was carried out should prove unsettling for us. In Gen. 27:21, when asked how he was to find game so quickly, Jacob went as far as to include God in his fallacious reasoning, saying to Isaac that it was “because the Lord your God granted me success.” Jacob was even given an opportunity in Gen. 27:24 to confess that he was not Esau when asked by Isaac, “Are you really my son Esau?”. Jacob’s answer of “I am” demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the lie.
However, even in the wickedness that unfolded in this episode, God still honored the blessing that Isaac gave to Jacob. It would be through Jacob’s line that God would make Himself known to the nations and through whom would eventually come the Messiah. God is almighty and sovereign, capable of carrying out a masterful work of redemption despite our sin and the brokenness of this world.
Matthew 27
Matthew depicts the final moments of Jesus’ earthly ministry, namely of Jesus being delivered to Pilate, Judas hanging himself, Jesus’ standing before the governor, chief priests and elders, the crowd choosing Barabbas over Jesus, the mocking and crucifixion of Jesus, Jesus’ burial and the securing of the tomb. There is much that warrants further reflection, but it was Judas’ remorse that emerged today as particularly noteworthy. The ESVEC provides helpful comment in saying, “Once Judas sees the consequences of his betrayal, he ’change[s] his mind’ (v. 3). This is not repentance; the verb is metamelomai, which typically means to change one’s feelings or to feel remorse or regret. (It occasionally means ‘repent,’ but the normal term for repentance is metanoeō.) He knows he has sinned, but he confesses it to men, not God. He tells the priests, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’”
Key Takeaways and Application
Judas’ lack of repentance and his confession to men rather than God demonstrates a complete absence genuine contrition. He was remorseful for unjustly condemning an innocent man to death, but it was shallow and self-focused. In him we see an external expression of guilt but that which is derived from no internal, Spirit-initiated transformation.
As followers of Christ, we should take from this the kind of Godward response to sin we are to have. We are certainly to confess our sin to others, but should acknowledge that we have ultimately sinned against our Lord. Let us then embody what David said, “Against you, you only, have I sinned.” (Ps. 51:4a) and all the more rejoice in the abundant grace of Christ for taking upon Himself our deserved wrath and punishment.