Genesis 25-30 // Matthew 9-10

God's hand of blessing continues on His children, but that blessing does not always end in ease or comfort.

Genesis 25 presents the death of Abraham and the children of Ishmael and Isaac. Even in the account, it is clear that the blessing and greater purposes will flow through Isaac, not Ishmael. Ishmael's children are simply named, whereas Isaac's are named with details, and those details being how one will strive and rule over the other.

Genesis 26 shows God's provision for Isaac though he sins in the same was as his father. Again, a man decides it better to present his wife as his sister. However, God preserves Isaac in that no man did take Rebekah as his wife, and that Abimelech does not execute Isaac for his lie. Instead, he sends him away, where Isaac continues to prosper, to the point that Abilmelech then pursues peace with Isaac through it.

Genesis 27 begins to give the details of the fulfilled prophecy of chapter 25. Jacob, through his mother's influence, presents himself as Esau to receive the blessing. One has to wonder why Isaac would seek to give Esau the blessing when he certainly heard the prophecy that he would serve Jacob. It seems his appetite sways his judgment as he loved game, and Esau was the hunter. We see the blessing come to Jacob.

Genesis 28, Jacob is not simply blessed by Isaac, but now becomes blessed by God. As he heads to relatives to find a wife, it seems Esau continues to strive by works. Seeing his parents displeasure in Canaanite women, he marries a daughter from Ishmael's line...attempting to win his parents' approval. This is a pivitol encounter for Jacob.

Genesis 29 we see such similar provision as that for Isaac. Jacob finds his wife at the well also. She is a daughter of Laban and he goes and spends a month with them before he really makes his intention known. However, we do not see him with the caravan and treasures that Abraham's servant brought with him. He works 7 years for Rachel only to be deceived and receive Leah. The deceiver has been deceived. However, after another week, he receives Rachel and then must work another 7 years. Rachel becomes the third generation of the women of promise who experience being barren. Leah bears 4 children to Jacob, the first three with a bitter heart that always wonders what more may be gained. Finally, with Judah, she simply praises the Lord.

Genesis 30 presents and unorthodox way for the nation to grow. While Leah ends up bearing 6 sons to Jacob, four more come through his wives' slaves. Rachel has one child, whom she names with the attitude of wanting more. That wish will be fulfilled, but we do not see that in this passage. Jacob also experiences prosperity in his flocks. I have no idea what the rods and spots mean, perhaps nothing but superstition, just to reveal God was the one who was orchestrating the blessing?

Matthew 9 reminds us that Jesus was performing all sorts of healings and miraculous works. These events get recorded yet we should not miss that He was traveling and preaching the good news of the kingdom. The miracles never took more worth than the spoken word from Jesus. It served His preaching ministry. We're reminded that His healing ministry mirrors his preaching in that you do not heal the well, but the sick. His words do not raise those who are living, but the dead.

Matthew 10 reveals the personal results for the disciples who fulfill the great commission. Since Jesus was being reviled as a son of Beelzebub, how much more would His disciples hear! Tensions and violence would mark the results of the preaching. They are not to come in violence but their message is peace. However, the result of such a radical message will be violence when simply in the hands of the unrepentant.

Certainly God blesses, provides and watches over His children. However, that blessing will not always result in material blessing or being liked by others. For Isaac and Jacob, these blessings were material and peace with surrounding leaders. However, the same promise (in fact the opposite) it promised to the disciples.