Isaac gives his son Jacob an important blessing in today’s Bible reading. In Twenty-first Century Western culture, we miss the importance of a father giving his son (or daughter) a blessing. But a blessing is so very important, even today! In the case of Isaac and Jacob, Isaac thought he was giving his blessing to…
In today’s Bible reading*, we read the story of when Rebekah falls in love with Isaac. The culture of the twenty-first-century Western World is very different than that of Isaac’s day. Abraham sends his servant to the land of his relatives to find a wife for his “firstborn son” Isaac. Abraham was concerned that Isaac…
Abraham offers his only son in today’s Bible reading*. Yes, you read that correctly: “his only son”. But didn’t Abraham have a son by Sarah’s servant Hagar? Yes, he did. Ishmael was born fourteen years before Isaac. So why does Moses refer to Isaac as Abraham’s “only” son? Elsewhere we’re told that Isaac was Abraham’s…
In today’s Bible reading*, we read about the depths of depravity of the citizens of Sodom, Lot, and Lot’s daughters. At the same time, we see Abraham’s intercession on behalf of the citizens of Sodom. Much has been said about the sin of the people of Sodom. But as you read the story, you see…
In today’s Bible reading*, we read that God cut a covenant with Abram. In the Old Testament days, when two people made an agreement, they would slaughter an animal, cut the animal in two pieces and walk together between the two pieces agreeing that if either broke the covenant, the covenant-breaker would suffer the fate…
In today’s Bible reading*, Abram follows God’s call to leave his home in modern-day Southern Iraq, up the Fertile Crescent into modern-day Syria and down through modern-day Lebanon, Israel, across to Egypt, and back up into Israel, settling in Hebron. The trip was over 3000 miles. On foot. And Abram had a lot of stuff…
