MAKING PROGRESS AS WE READ THROUGH THE ONE YEAR BIBLE
Genesis 24:52-26:16; Matthew 8:18-34; Psalm 10:1-15; Proverbs 3:7-8
In the New Testament we learn that the Old Testament history not only supplies us with a record of what happened historically to the people of Israel, but that these incidents were written for us, for our examples and instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come (1 Cor 10:11).
“Now Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac.” (Genesis 25:5)
We have already seen how Abraham is a picture of God the Father who provides His only Son as the perfect substitutionary sacrifice (Genesis 22) on the mountains of Moriah (Mt. Calvary, center stage, seen of God). In the very same geographical area hundreds of centuries later, God would provide Himself a sacrifice (the greater Isaac, Jesus Christ). In Genesis 24 we see that the Father (Abraham) sends his messenger (the Holy Spirit) to get a bride (the church) for His Son (Christ). Now in Genesis 25 we see other aspects of the gospel reflected in these expositional constants.
The Father gives all that He has to His Son (Genesis 25:5). This is the first mention of inheritance. We see how beautifully this is seen in the gospel. Jesus said, “All things that the Father has are Mine.” (John 16:15. “And all that is Christ’s is made known to us and available to us by the Holy Spirit (John 16:15).
In Christ we receive all that the Father has of an incorruptible inheritance (1 Peter 1:4). We are just moments away from receiving what is ours as spiritual billionaires with every spiritual blessing legally written over to us in Christ!
Another pattern emerges in the Book of Genesis- prophetic pictures of the first man and the second man; the flesh and the spirit. “The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that, the spiritual.” We have prophetic pictures of this truth not only in Adam, the first man, and Christ, the second man’. (1 Cor 15:47), but in Cain and Abel, Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob, King Saul and King David, as well as others. God sets aside the first, that He might establish and bless the second.
These examples of the first and the second become a picture of the flesh (all that humankind is apart from Christ) and the Spirit. Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit.” (John 3:6) “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing;”
Galatians 5:17 (NASB)
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
WE HAVE A PICTURE OF THIS INWARD RIVALRY IN ISAAC’S SONS- ESAU and JACOB.
Genesis 25:22 (NASB)
22 But the children struggled together within her”
The twins within Rebekah’s womb, though twins, were rivals, whose descendants would be rivals.
Genesis 25:23 (NASB) 23 The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples will be separated from your body; And one people shall be stronger than the other; And the older shall serve the younger."
First there is the prophecy of the older serving the younger. Later in the chapter the older (Esau) sells his birthright to the younger (Jacob). The immediate gratification of food for the belly meant more to him than what seemed to be less real and distant (his inheritance) (Gen 25:33-34). (Big mistake there!)
THE NEW TESTAMENT READING: Matthew 8:18-34
Here are some tests for our discipleship:
Will we follow Christ unconditionally? Even if it means abandoning the comforts we are accustomed to? (Matt 8:20). Do we profess to be followers of Christ and yet insist on following on our own terms and in our own time.
Jesus says, “Follow me now!”
A “would be” follower of Christ might say, “wait until the ball game is finished; wait until I finish doing what I want to do or what I think I need to do.” Is that trusting Jesus?
PSALMS- In reading today’s Psalms you hear the Psalmist venting. His heart cries may not be in line with those of the Lord but his heart cries are heard and welcomed by God. This should encourage us to express our frustrations and even our confusions to God! Then let Him sort you out!
PRAYER FOR THE WORLD- Today, as you read “Operation World” we conclude the overview of what God is doing throughout the world as a whole. This section concludes with 5 prayer requests on page 27. Tomorrow we will look specifically upon the continent of Africa.
