Gen 25-36 (Isaac & Jacob)
What it takes to shape our character (Gen 29:1-30)
Gen 29:1-30 I recently read the survivor story of a woman who was sexually abused as a young child by a cousin, then later by another cousin. When she finally told her parents, they did not believe her. She ended…
The surprising nature of God’s grace (Gen 28:10-22)
Gen 28:10-22 When he was encouraged to confess his sins on his deathbed, Voltaire, the famous French philosopher, allegedly said, ‘God will forgive me, that’s his job’. Many today imagine God this way and are outraged by the idea that…
How to respond when our plans go awry? (Gen 27:30-28:10)
Gen 27:30-46; 28:1-10 My father always wanted to become a medical doctor, but he was barred from training by the Communist regime of the time. Every year for fifteen years, he completed the entrance exam and did well, but was…
God’s purposes do not fail (Gen 27:1-29)
Gen 27:1-29 The story of how Jacob stole Esau’s blessing is fraught with questions. The narrator gives no explicit evaluation, so it is hard to know what to make of it. Does God approve of such deception that Rebekah and…
God includes ordinary people in His plans (Genesis 26)
Gen 26:1-33 Hearing the obituary of famous people can at times be intimidating. It seems that some manage to cram into their lives more achievements than most of us could in two-three lifetimes. They may have a long list of…
What do we value? (Gen 25:27-34)
Gen 25:27-34 When I was a teenager, my Dad bought me a big Webster’s Dictionary. This was before the internet, so printed reference books were a real asset for looking up information. Additionally, at the time in Hungary, English-language books…
The challenge of prayer (Gen 25:19-26)
Gen 25:19-26 Most of us reading Genesis are familiar with the story of Sarah’s childlessness, but few may remember that Rebekah was barren, too, and we hear little of her painful journey. We are simply told that Isaac prayed, and…