Genesis 35 Dear RTB’ers, A number of short items… As I was reading our passage this morning, I was thinking that we had a “clean” chapter – no deceit, no trickery, no devastation. Then in Genesis 35:22 Reuben lays with Bilhah, his half-brothers’ mother and Jacob’s concubine. Sad. Today we see Jacob as the changed …
Category Archives: RTB 2024 – Search the Scriptures, Part 1
March 14 / Genesis 34
Genesis 34 Dear RTB’ers, Dinah…, what STS refers to as “a sordid story”. First, a bit of trivia. Although not explicitly stated, it looks like a number of years must have passed between yesterday’s reading and today’s. A few chapters back we learned from Jacob that he had been with Laban for twenty years …
March 13 / Genesis 33
Genesis 33 Dear RTB’ers, Jacob meets Esau. Put yourself in Jacob’s place. He deceived his father and stole Esau’s blessing, then fled to Haran for twenty years, and now is returning to Canaan with great wealth. He has sent messengers on ahead to Esau announcing his arrival and learns that Esau and his 400 men …
March 12 / Genesis 32:3-32
Genesis 32:3-32 Dear RTB’ers, This switch to Daylight Savings Time makes it hard to get up in the morning!! Today, Jacob prepares to meet Esau… Jacob praying, “I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that You have shown to your servant, for with only …
March 11 / Genesis 31:1-32:2
Genesis 31:1-32:2 Dear RTB’ers, More Jacob – more deception, more family dynamics. A few days ago I had thought about it but failed to mention the pillar that Jacob had set up as he fled his parents and his brother Esau’s wrath (Genesis 28:18 – really, Genesis 28:10-22). At the time I thought to mention …
March 10 / Genesis 29:31-30:43
Genesis 29:31-30:43 Dear RTB’ers, Jacob’s blessings. Jacob had already secured the birthright and his father’s blessing. Now the Lord blesses him with children and animals. Today we see Rachel and Leah openly competing with one another, then Laban and Jacob secretly competing with one another. How strange is that! As I read about Jacob’s sons, …
March 9 / Genesis 29:1-30
Genesis 29:1-30 Dear RTB’ers, Jacob and his wives – more deception! Two days ago I asked a question in my post, “What was God thinking?” John answered, “Where in the text does it suggest that all this conniving and deceit is God’s idea or that He approves of Rebekah’s and Jacob’s schemes? Just because a …
March 8 / Genesis 27:46-28:22
Genesis 27:46-28:22 Dear RTB’ers, Today we see Isaac honoring his blessing of Jacob and agreeing with Rebekah’s wish, sending Jacob away: “Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father; and from there take to yourself a wife from the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother. ” (Genesis 28:2) I’ve long had …
March 7 / Genesis 27:1-45
Genesis 27:1-45 Dear RTB’ers, Today, back to Genesis, back to the story of Isaac’s twin boys, Esau and Jacob. First, a bit of review, providing context for today’s reading: When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. Isaac loved …
March 6 / Luke 19:11-28
Luke 19:11-28 Dear RTB’ers, Jesus tells a realistic parable here. It was not uncommon for noblemen to go to Rome and get their orders – receiving regions for their administration. My Study Bible noted that the Herods did just that when they were appointed rulers over the Jews. So the first two servants being appointed …