| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| February 17, 2025 | ESV (2016) | OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027 |
Observation
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Application
Genesis 48
Nearing the end of his life, Jacob spoke a blessing of God over both Ephraim and Manasseh, but the younger, Ephraim, was to receive the birthright. Joseph tried to correct his father, but Jacob made it clear that this was intentional and that Ephraim would be greater than his brother. It was culturally normative at the time that the older would inherit control of the family estate, a concept known as “primogeniture”. However, the favor bestowed to the younger over the older is a pattern we see throughout Scripture (eg. Abel over Cain, Jacob over Esau, Leah over Rachel, David over his brothers, etc.) and reflects a key aspect of the upside-down nature of the heavenly kingdom. In God’s economy, it is not those who possess the greatest worldly strength who will receive the inheritance of eternal blessedness in Christ, but the weak and the marginalized, the lowly and contrite in spirit. “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matt. 23:11)
Luke 4
The devil approached to tempt Jesus when He was hungry and at the point of physical weakness. However, unlike Adam who failed the test of the serpent, Jesus was steadfast in obedience and used Scripture to make powerless the guiles of the enemy. How important it is for us to do likewise. We are sure to face temptation and often this will coincide with a moment or season of vulnerability, which makes all the more crucial the need to be saturated in the truth of God’s Word.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank You have You have chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. Lord, help me to both see and embrace my weakness, knowing that, “for when I am weak, then I am strong.” Help me to take strong root in Your Word, that even in the weakness of my flesh, I may be guarded by Your unshakable truth.