One Year Bible Readings and Commentary for Wednesday, January 12th Jacob Steals Esau's Blessing, Jesus Heals and Paralyzed Man and Heals Matthew
You can see what a precious commodity the wells were, as each time Issac dug up one of the wells, the other tribesmen came and tried to take it away from them. These were the same resources that had sustained his father, Abraham. Finally, Issac found a well that was not disputed, and he gave God thanks for it. Then God led him to Beersheba, another place which was important in Abraham's life.
The Lord then appeared to him at night and reminded him that as he had been with his father, Abraham, he would be with him. He reaffirmed his promise to bless his descendants and make them into a great nation.
"Isaac walked in the same paths of his father Abraham. Altars and tents marked Abraham’s life, demonstrating a life of worship and trust. Isaac lived that, calling on the name of the LORD, and enjoyed the additional blessing of another well." (Guzik)
Issac's Covenant with Abimelech
Abimelech had kicked Issac out of Gerar because of his fear of him. Now after seeing God's hand upon him, he came in peace. When our lives are being blessed by God, other people notice. They made a covenant together to not harm each other and Abimelech left in peace. The same day Issac's servants found another well, which they named "oath". You will notice that Issac gave each of the wells names as a reminder of God's provision. Maybe we should do the same and name things as reminders of God's faithfulness.
Jacob Steals Esau's Blessing
As you can see there is a lot of deception that has been passed down through Abraham's family. Both Abraham and Issac tried to deceive foreign kings by telling them their wives were their sisters. We know Jacob's name meant "deceiver", and even in mother's womb he was jockeying for position. We now see his deceit again. This time it involved the birthright blessing, which was usually reserved for the oldest son.
We know when the twins came out of the womb, the word of the Lord said, "The older would serve the younger". Esau would serve Jacob. But we didn't know how this would happen. Issac was old and blind so he sent his son, who was the hunter of the family, out to hunt some of his favorite wild game. When he came back he would bestow upon him his blessing.
Rebekkah overheard this and schemed with her son to have him prepare a meal that she would make, which would pass for the wild game Esau was out hunting. To make it even more believeable, she had Jacob wear Esau's hunting clothes and covered his arms with goatskins to give them the same hairy feelings as Esau's arms.
Issac smelled something was up, but Rebekkah's plan worked well enough, and Issac gave Jacob the blessing. When Esau came home, he was furious that Jacob had tricked his father into giving him the blessing. Since it was irrevocable, Issac could not reverse it. Esau was so mad, he vowed to kill his brother. Having been warned by his mother, Jacob fled to Paddan Aram to stay with his Uncle Laban, who had helped set him up with his niece, Rebekkah.
Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man
When Jesus returns home a group of men bring a paralyzed man to him. In the other gospels, we learn that the friends lowered the man through the roof of the house. This explains why it says, "When Jesus saw their faith". The friends only thought of bringing him to receive physical healing. They certainly didn't think Jesus would forgive his sins.
"But Jesus addressed the man’s greater problem. As bad as it is to be paralyzed, it is infinitely worse to be bound and lost in your sin." (Guzik)
The teachers of the law accused Jesus of blasphemy, because he claimed to be able to be able to forgive sins. Indirectly by saying this Jesus was claiming to be God. So they were correct that it would have been blasphemy if Jesus were not the Son of God. But since He is the Son of God, it wasn't.
The Calling of Matthew
A lot of the first men Jesus called were fishermen. In this case he calls a "tax collector" named Matthew (also known as Levi).
"Tax collectors were not only notorious sinners; they were also properly regarded as collaborators with the Romans against their fellow Jews. Nobody liked the man who sat at the tax office." (Guzik)
When Jesus went to Matthew's home there were other "tax collectors and sinners" hanging out. It was not the place you would expect a religious person to hang out. The "religious professionals" were offended that Jesus rubbed shoulders with such reprobates. Jesus then quotes Hosea 6:6 when he says, "I desire mercy not sacrifice."
The Pharisees did all kinds of religious stuff trying to gain God's approval and the approval of others as well. Jesus saw through their hypocrisy. God didn't want their sacrifices, he wanted them to show the same mercy they had been given freely. But since the Pharisees didn't know how to receive mercy, they were incapable of giving it. In the same way people who have not experienced God's forgiveness will not know how to give it to others. When we receive forgiveness, it empowers us to forgive others. When we receive mercy, it empowers us to be merciful.
Jesus Questioned About Fasting
Again the religious professionals ask Jesus about the spiritual discipline of "fasting". Remember in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus told them that if they are fasting they shouldn't do it to gain attention. He even told them to wash their face, so they wouldn't look haggard or hungry.
"Pharisees were also known for their practice of fasting (often twice a week, according to Luke 18:12), but they did not do it out of a spirit of humble repentance. They often fasted wanting to impress themselves and others with their spirituality (Matthew 6:16-18). (Guzik)
The purpose of fasting is to focus on God. The time you would spend eating or thinking about eating can be devoted to God. Even hunger can drive you closer to God. So the whole purpose of fasting is intimacy with God. So Jesus reasons that they don't have to fast, because he is right there in front of them.
Jesus uses the analogy of wineskins to illustrate that he is bringing a whole new way of being in relationship with God. The old way of rules and rituals would be like the old wineskins. The grace of God in Jesus would only run out of these old cracked wineskins. But the new wineskin of grace could hold the fruit of the vine, Jesus Christ!
These verses from Psalm 10 look forward to the day when the Lord, who is King, will bring justice to all those who have been oppressed by godless kings and nations. This will be a great day of reckoning for those who thought they could get away with evil deeds.
This Proverb introduces God's principles for giving. When we give our first fruits to God, he blesses us with more, so we can give more. When we give to God first, he increases our capacity to give.
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