Genesis 27-28, Matthew 8:18-34 • Key Verses: Genesis 28:15-16 Jacob knew what he wanted: his father’s blessing. After all, it was Gods promise for his life. It was not a question of what he wanted but of how he got it. Already Esau had surrendered his birthright (25:33). Then Jacob...
Genesis 25-26, Matthew 8:1-17 • Key Verse: Genesis 26:24 Woven in these two chapters are both belief and disbelief. Isaac believed enough to pray and to stay. He prayed when he and Rebekah were having difficulty conceiving. God answered that prayer with twins. He also stayed in Gerar when God...
Genesis 23—24, Matthew 7 • Key Verses: Genesis 24:26-27 With growing older comes change. In today’s reading, Abraham experienced the loss of his wife and the addition of a daughter-in-law. In these two events he trusted and obeyed God. When Sarah died, Abraham demonstrated his faith in a remarkable way....
Genesis 20-22, Matthew 6:19-34 • Key Verse: Genesis 22:5 God had promised Abraham and Sarah that they would have children. When Abraham moved to Gerar, however, his trust in this promise was tested. He was afraid that the king would kill him and take Sarah as his wife. Instead of...
Genesis 18-19, Matthew 6:1-18 • Key Verses: Genesis 18:13-14 Rhetorical questions are ones asked for effect. No answer is expected. In these chapters there are two such questions. No answer is expected because the answers are obvious. The questions are intended to remind us of two truths about God. “Is...
Genesis 16-17, Matthew 5:27-48 • Key Verse: Genesis 17:17 God’s ways certainly are not man’s ways. We need to remember that or we may be like Abraham, Sarah and Hagar, who at times struggled with what God was doing and tried to do what they thought should be done. Sometimes...
Genesis 13-15, Matthew 5:1-26 • Key Verse: Genesis 15:6 In Romans 4:3, Paul cites Genesis 15:6, which says, “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Abrams life of belief is evident. When God told him to move, he moved. That was an act of obedience...
Genesis 10—12, Matthew 4 • Key Verse: Genesis 11:4 The world was given a fresh start. Noah and his family survived because God chose to spare them and they had obeyed Him. In chapter 8 God gave His word not to destroy the world again by a flood. The changing...
Genesis 7-9, Matthew 3 • Key Verse: Genesis 7:1 Sometimes the account of Noah and the ark is told as a wonderful story for children. Imaginations dance with images of animals on parade, going up a long ramp two by two into the ark. But we need to keep in...
Genesis 4 – 6, Matthew 2 • Key Verses: Genesis 6:6-8 After the first sin, more sins followed. That’s the way it is with sin, a pattern seen right from the beginning. God told Cain that sin was like a beast ready to destroy him (4:7). Cain, however, ignored this...