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).

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

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).

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

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.

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

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).

Faithlife Study Bible 

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.

S – “But Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt. 

Genesis 19:26 CSB

O – Commentary:

looked back: The verb indicates prolonged, intense gazing toward the world she loved, not a curious glance (15:5; Exod 33:8; Num 21:9; 1 Sam 2:32; cp. Exod 3:6). Lot’s wife was too attached to Sodom to follow God’s call of grace, so she was included in the judgment as she lingered on the valley slopes. Christ’s return to judge the world will be as sudden and devastating as the destruction of Sodom (Luke 17:32–37). Those who crave the life of this wicked world will lose this world and the next.

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – We experience something similar today.  There are things in our lives that we know do not honor God and yet, we like them and care about them.  We know that God wants us to distance ourselves but there is a yearning to stay attached to them.  We must move away from those things and take a step toward God.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Lord of all.  Empower us to identify the things in our lives that do not honor you.  Give us the strength and courage to move away from them and take a step toward you.  

S – Then he said, “Let my lord not be angry, and I will speak one more time. Suppose ten are found there?” 

He answered, “I will not destroy it on account of ten.” ³³ When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he departed, and Abraham returned to his place. 

Genesis 18:32–33 CSB

O – Commentary:

Abraham’s great character is revealed by his intercession. He prayed that all in the cities—the wicked as well as the righteous—be spared for the sake of the … righteous (v. 23). Earlier he had personally rescued these people in battle (14:16). Now he pleaded for them with the same boldness, perseverance, and generosity with which he had fought for them. Abraham’s “bargaining” with God jars some readers. But Abraham’s prayers, though audacious, were made with genuine humility and profound reverence. It was for justice that he pleaded: deliverance for Sodom if there were as few as 50.… 45.… 40.… 30.… 20, or even 10 righteous people there

“Genesis,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – The Lord hears us when we pray.  We can make our prayer requests to God that appeal to the character and heart of him.  There are times when he feels distant or that he is not listening.  We need to continue to pray and speak out what we desire or feel.  That is relationship.

R – Heavenly Father, you are holy and just.  Empower us to share our hearts and desires with you openly.  We know you hear us and want to communicate with us.  We want to continue to build a relationship with you today.