Have you ever worked really hard for something only to have it taken from you in the end? This is what happens to Jacob in Genesis 29. He works for 7 years to marry Rachel only to be tricked in the end, as he finds himself married to her sister Leah instead.
Imagine seeing an enormous staircase that goes from the ground up into heaven. Imagine angels walking up and down the staircase, and God standing above you telling you he will bless the whole earth through your offspring. This is how God appears to Jacob in a dream in Genesis 28.
In Genesis 27, we see the story of how Jacob used deception to steal his brother’s blessing. Regardless of Jacob’s sin, and our sins, God still pursues us. It’s only because of His grace that we’re saved.
What will we do with the promises God gives us? That’s exactly the situation we see Isaac experiencing in Genesis 26. Will he follow the example of his father, Abraham, in placing his trust in God or will he turn away?
After the death of Sarah, Abraham marries again and has more children. Regardless of our circumstances in life, it’s important that we always put our trust in the Lord and his guidance for our life.
Chapter 24 is the longest chapter in Genesis and focuses on marriage, specifically how Isaac develops a relationship and eventually marries Rebekah. There are many lessons we can learn about marriage and how to love and honor our spouse.
Abraham and Sarah are getting advanced in age, and in Genesis 23, we read about the death of Sarah. They may have started life with a pagan background, but they turned their hearts to God and chose to honor Him with their lives. It’s not how you start life that matters but how it ends.
In Genesis 22, God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. After Abraham and Sarah finally have a son of their own, why is God asking for Abraham to sacrifice him? While this story is shocking, it ends by showing us how God provides and serves as a foreshadowing of Jesus.
How we respond to conflict is very telling about our relationship with God. At the end of Genesis 21, we see how Abraham responds in a moment that could have turned into a significant conflict, but instead became an example of acting selflessly and working towards peace.
God is always faithful to fulfill his promises, as we see with the birth of Isaac in Genesis 21. Even when Abraham and Sarah tried to control the situation, God’s timing is always perfect, and we can always trust in his promises.