Justin Houtz

Genesis 23-24; Luke 9

DateVersionReading Plan
January 9, 2026ESV (2016)ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026

Genesis 23-24

Observation & Interpretation

Gen. 23:16 – Abraham acknowledged Ephron regarding the purchase of the cave of Machpelah to bury Sarah and proceeded to weigh out the silver for Ephron.

  • At first Ephron offered not just the cave but the entire field as an outright gift, but Abraham understood that this was just a polite gesture. The owner really had no intention of giving it away. When Abraham countered by insisting on his desire to purchase it, Ephron suggested a price of four hundred shekels of silver, pretending that this was a great bargain. Actually it was an extortionate price, and ordinarily the buyer would have continued to haggle. So it was a surprise to everyone when Abraham agreed to Ephron’s first asking price. Abraham didn’t want to be indebted to an unbeliever, and neither should we. (BBC)

Gen. 24:2-4 – Abraham commissioned the oldest servant of his household to obtain a wife for his son, Isaac, from his country and kindred rather than from the daughters of the Canaanites. It is interesting that Abraham did not want his son to marry a Canaanite woman but that he allowed for his wife, Sarah, to be buried in Canaanite territory.

  • Perhaps based on his experience with the inhabitants of Canaan—whether the Sodomites or the Philistines—Abraham did not want Isaac to marry a woman from the daughters of the Canaanites. Instead, she must come from his relatives hundreds of miles away in northwest Mesopotamia. (CSB Notes)

Gen. 24:18-19 – Rebekah provided Abraham’s servant and camels with water in near identical fashion to how the servant prayed in Gen. 24:14.

Gen. 24:34-35 – In telling Laban about the situation with Abraham and finding a wife for Isaac, the servant began by speaking of his relationship to Abraham and then promptly acknowledged how the LORD had blessed Abraham and made him great.

Gen. 24:50 – Laban responded to the servant’s speech regarding Abraham, Isaac and Rebekah by identifying that it had come from the LORD.

Gen. 24:56 – The servant requested that Rebekah return with him immediately since the LORD had prospered his way.

  • Abraham’s servant asked Bethuel not to delay the return to Abraham, even though it was customary to spend several days with the wife’s family members (Jdg 19:8–10). (CSB Notes)

Gen. 24:58 – The decision of whether Rebekah would return immediately with the servant was given to Rebekah. It seems important to pause and reflect on how a woman was given the power to make this decision, an instance among many in the Bible, far from denigration, showcases the dignity of women.

Luke 9

Observation & Interpretation

Luke 9:20 – Luke records that Peter’s answer to Jesus’ question of, “But who do you say that I am” is, “The Christ of God.” while in Matthew, Peter answers with “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt. 16:16)

Luke 9:43 – All the people who witnessed Jesus’ healing of the boy with the unclean spirit were astonished at the majesty of God.

  • The people were all amazed. They recognized that God had worked a miracle. They saw in the miracle a display of the majesty of God. (BBC)

Luke 9:49-50 – Jesus corrects John in trying to stop someone from casting out demons in His name, presenting an instance in which even the disciple Jesus loved needed correction.

Luke 9:62 – Responding to the man who requested that he return to his home to say farewell, Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

  • Puts his hand to the plow and looks back means looking over your shoulder while plowing, making it impossible to plow a straight furrow. Christians cannot follow Christ by looking back. We must focus on serving him as we move ahead at his command. (CSB Notes)

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