Chronological Reading Plan for Jan 19

Today's readings were Gen 22, 23 & 24. Tomorrow's are Gen 25 & 26. 

Notice a few things as we go through Abraham's story. 

For all the false accusations we hear about the God of the Old Testament (OT) being angry and the God of the New Testament being about love, we see incredible grace exhibited by God toward Abraham. God chooses Abraham and makes a covenant with him. In spite of Abraham's long line of stumbles and failings, God remains true to His word and blesses Abraham, time and time again.

Ever since he was chosen, Abraham was the instrument of either God's blessings or His curses. God either blesses those who bless Abraham or curses those who oppose him. This is a shadow of how Abraham's offspring will interact with the world around them, as agents of blessings or curses, leading ultimately to Jesus Christ. Those who accept Jesus are blessed, those who reject Him are cursed.  

In the scenario of sacrificing Isaac, Abraham finds out his commitment to God must be total and without reservation. God must occupy the highest priority in Abraham's life, even higher than that of the fulfillment of the promise! Abraham must trust God implicitly, even when things don't make sense.

Sarah dies and Abraham buys land in Canaan, insisting on paying the price for it. This has long term impact as well. Now Abraham has a valid, documented claim to land in the Promised Land. His descendants have a right to be there. God's promise is fulfilled. (Gen 12:7; 13:14-17; 15:18-21). Still, Abraham considers himself a foreigner in a foreign land (Gen 23:4). Much later, in Heb 11:9-10, we will hear that Abraham was looking for a city "whose designer and  builder is God." God's people live in this world but are destined to be citizens in another.

We see a stunning example of God's sovereign influence on human events in the story of how Isaac gets a wife. Abraham's servant is supernaturally guided over 500 miles (about a month's journey) to Rebekah in Nahor, a city in Haran.

Isaac's marriage is an important one. He will be responsible for the bloodline of Abraham's descendants. It is important that he not marry a Canaanite, a wicked people, who might draw him away to worship other gods.