January 24, 2017

Insights for Today's Reading

Genesis 35 - God had a plan for Jacob and told him where to settle.  Jacob went back to Bethel where he first met God.  He had his family dispose of their idols.  God put a hedge of protection around Jacob and caused the people in the land to leave Jacob alone.  Jacob would suffer the loss of Rebekah's nurse, Deborah, his own father, Isaac, and his beloved wife, Rachel.  But he would see Benjamin, his twelfth son, born.  God would remind Jacob of his name being changed to Israel.

Genesis 36 - This chapter gives Esau's descendants and declares that Esau is the founder of the nation of Edom.   The Edomites would become enemies to the Israelites. 

Genesis 37 - Jacob's family isn't necessarily a Godly bunch of men!  Jacob favors Joseph causing his other sons to resent him, especially after he has dreams of his supremacy over them.  They hatch a plot to get rid of Joseph and sell him to slave traders, who in turn take Joseph to Egypt where he is sold to Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh's guard.  You can't miss seeing God's hand in preparing Joseph for a very special position.  Noteworthy is that Jacob had deceived his father, now his sons deceive him.