S – So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.
Genesis 29:20 CSB
O – Jacob’s plan was to work seven years to gain Rachel as his wife. Jacob is deceived by Laban and receives Leah first and must work another seven years to gain Rachel.
A – Jacob sowed deception and he reaped it back. Yet, God blessed him in his family growing into the eventually the 12 tribes of Israel. God brings justice in our lives but also redeems our sins. He can bring good from the bad.
R – Heavenly Father, you our Redeemer. Thank you for working through our messy, broken nature to redeem us into something beautiful. We acknowledge our sin and invite you to have your will accomplished in us.
S – 15 Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.”
Genesis 28:15–16 CSB
O – Commentary:
The promise of God’s presence meant that God would protect and provide for Jacob in a special way. God’s promise to be with his people is repeated throughout Scripture (see also 26:24), prompting a response of worship and confidence in those who have faith
A – God gives Jacob the promise of his presence. Jacob wakes up and worships God and declares that God is in this place. Did he miss the fact that God said I am going to be with you wherever you go…not just here. Either way, when we recognize that God is with us, it should cause us to take a step toward him in reverence and honor. And it should empower us to walk with confidence into our day.
R – Heavenly Father, you are worthy of our praise and honor today. Knowing that you are with us, empower us with your confidence as we face today. We worship and surrender to you first. Thank you for your presence wherever we go.
S – Suppose my father touches me. Then I will be revealed to him as a deceiver and bring a curse rather than a blessing on myself.”
13 His mother said to him, “Your curse be on me, my son. Just obey me and go get them for me.”
Genesis 27:12–13 CSB
O – Commentary:
Jacob had no guilt—only fear—regarding the plan. But the blessing was in danger and all must be risked, including even the possibility of a curse on Rebekah (vv. 12–13). So Jacob did as his mother told him.
“Genesis,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures
A – It is a dangerous place when you have no guilt or concern about deception. Was missing out on the blessing enough to secure it through deception and stealing it from its rightful owner. Where does the faith in God to provide and do his will? Yet, God allowed the blessing to stay in tact. It is an interesting journey in our own faith to see what God has for us in provision and manifestation of his power.
R – Heavenly Father, nothing is hid from you or is out of your scope of power. Help us to grow our faith in your provision and will. We want to lead with pure motives and hearts. Give us strength to follow your direction and paths.
S – When Esau was forty years old, he took as his wives Judith daughter of Beeri the Hethite, and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hethite. 35 They made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.
Genesis 26:34–35 CSB
O – Commentary:
Esau’s marriages illustrate how unfit he was to lead the covenant people into God’s blessings, and how foolish was Isaac’s later attempt to bless Esau (27:1–40). Esau later married a third wife in a vain attempt to do the right thing (28:6–9).
A – We need to pick the right people to do life with…especially our spouses. God sees the heart of both people. As they come together as one, their relationship with the Lord will be a crucial part of how they grow closer to God as a couple. If both are vibrant and growing individually, it will truly reflect in their marriage. The opposite is true as well. The results are joy and vitality with each and God or it is bitterness and grief.
R – Heavenly Father, you are omnipresent and see all things. As we walk with our spouses and families, help us to start with us first. As we work through our own sin with you, give us the grace and compassion to walk it out with our spouse. It is a tremendous joy and blessing to grow together with each other and with you.
S – Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him. 34 Then Jacob gave bread and lentil stew to Esau; he ate, drank, got up, and went away. So Esau despised his birthright.
Genesis 25:33–34 CSB
O – Commentary:
Esau eagerly took Jacob’s bait and fell into the trap. He ate and left too quickly to have been near death (25:32). The final comment on the passage explains that Esau showed contempt for his birthright, considering it worthless (Heb 12:16). It is foolish to sacrifice spiritual blessings to satisfy physical appetites (cp. 3:6).
A – We do the same thing as Esau did in our daily lives. We choose things that are temporal or self seeking instead of things that have eternal value. For example, if we choose sleep over spending quiet time with God, we may be well rested but not know God. We need sleep. But, are we willing to adjust our schedule so we can have time with God?
R – Heavenly Father, you are omnipotent – you know all things. Help us to make wise choices that will help us to grow in our relationship with you. Help us to see the spiritual significance of our decisions. Give us the wisdom we need for today.
S – and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”
The servant answered, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself. 66 Then the servant told Isaac everything he had done.
67 And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah to be his wife. Isaac loved her, and he was comforted after his mother’s death.
Genesis 24:65–67 CSB
O – Commentary:
God was deliberately behind the scenes, directing the acts. So this event in Abraham’s life was similar to Ruth’s experience (Ronald M. Hals, The Theology of the Book of Ruth. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969). The narrative in Genesis 24 records no word from God, no miracle, no prophetic oracle; it does not even restate the Abrahamic Covenant. This event is unique in Genesis; yet it is realistic for believers today. The anticipatory role of faith, expressed in personal prayer, looks for outward evidences of God’s working and is predominant because God is not visibly active.
“Genesis,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures
A – The servant’s actions are similar to our faith today. We sense a prompting or direction from the Lord and with no other instruction, follow it. The servant obeyed the instructions from Abraham and they came to fruition as he asked. As we seek God, we will get direction as well. Our role is to trust in faith what God is showing us and allow Him to do his will.
R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you. Empower us to hear your voice and will in our lives. As we proceed in faith, meet us where we are and give us more confidence in what you are doing. We trust in you and know your plans for us are good.
S – Abraham bowed down to the people of the land 13 and said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, “Listen to me, if you please. Let me pay the price of the field. Accept it from me, and let me bury my dead there.”
Genesis 23:12–13 CSB
O – Commentary:
In this cave was buried not only Sarah but also Abraham (25:9), Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah (49:29–31; 50:13).
The point of this event was to ensure that the cave and field would be Abraham’s possession. He was not presumptuous. In faith he bought the land, taking nothing from these people (cf. 14:21–24). It was important then where people buried their dead; burial was to be done in their native land. Thus there was no going back. Though Abraham was an alien and a stranger among the people (23:4), his hope was in the land.
“Genesis,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures
A – Abraham is demonstrating more faith in God’s promise of where his descendents would dwell by purchasing the land. Even though it was possessed by others, he wanted to be buried where his future would dwell and die. That is amazing faith to believe so deeply that he committed his burial location to it.
R – Heavenly Father, you are powerful and merciful. Empower us in our faith to see beyond today and to act accordingly. Thank you for your love and grace that allows us to do this.
S – Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide, the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”
Genesis 22:7–8 CSB
O – Commentary:
His statement, We will worship and then we will come back (Gen. 22:5), is amazing. All Abraham knew was that (a) God planned the future around Isaac, and (b) God wanted him to sacrifice Isaac. He could not reconcile the two, but he would obey anyway. That is faith. In response to Isaac’s question Where is the lamb? Abraham again revealed his faith: God Himself will provide (v. 8; cf. v. 14). Isaac was brought “from the dead” twice—once from Sarah’s dead womb, and again from a high altar
“Genesis,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures
A – In our struggles, God is present and provides what we need to get through them. We must continue to invite his presence and allow him to do his will. Abraham’s faith solidified God’s promise and blessing.
R – Heavenly Father, you are our provider. Challenges are hard and we need your presence, power and peace as we proceed through them. Empower our faith to remain strong and our trust to remain in you.
S – The Lord came to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time God had told him
Genesis 21:1–2 CSB
O – Commentary:
The name Isaac (Hebrew yitskhaq) means “he laughs.” Sarah’s wordplay shows that the laughter of unbelief when the promise was given (18:12) had changed to the laughter of joy at its fulfillment. Isaac’s name could refer to the pleasure of God and of his parents at his birth. Sarah knew that everyone who heard about this would laugh with her and rejoice at the news.
A – God has plans and a purpose for each of us. He will do what he has promised. Sarah’s laughter of disbelief is “How can do this?” changes to honor, gratitude and reverence to God asking “How can God do this?” We will experience similar emotions as we walk with God as we remain faithful.
R – Heavenly Father, you are all powerful and all knowing. Empower our faith today. Give us the ability to believe even when it seems impossible. There are no limits on what you can do – don’t let us put them on you with our disbelief.
S – Abraham replied, “I thought, ‘There is absolutely no fear of God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.
Genesis 20:11 CSB
O – Commentary:
there is no fear of God Abraham views Abimelech and his people as lacking any sense of morality that would come from belief in the one true God. As he did in Egypt, Abraham lets fear of being harmed determine his decision (12:11–13).
A – This is a little baffling to me. One of the men with the greatest demonstrations in his life and he allows fear to determine his decision. Why would he not have faith that God would protect him? Two things jump out. God will protect us even when we sin. Secondly, his faith continue to grow. We can have set backs and still grow forward.
R – Heavenly Father, you are the King of all Kings. Thank you for your grace and mercy when our faith falls short and we blow it. Empower us to get back up and continue to grow in our faith in you. You will protect and provide for us each day.
Just Add Water . Chris Bonham 