Bible Reading Challenge Week 2

Week two is now in the books, and we’ve almost finished two entire books of the Bible (and not small ones either!). The readings this week covered most of the lives of the patriarchs and the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Throughout this, we see God’s faithfulness and His blessings poured out upon those He calls His own.

If you haven’t jumped in yet, it’s a great time to do it! Monday’s reading finishes out Genesis, but Tuesday is a “catch-up day,” and we will be starting Exodus after that. Get into the Word!

Week 2 Readings

Genesis 21-47

One of the benefits to reading larger chunks of Scripture, as this plan does, is that you can more easily see themes that span several chapters or that may popup several chapters later. Two of those that I caught this time around has to do with the cultural norms of the “firstborn” and of trickery, all wrapped up in the same account.

Having the “birthright” carries with it the responsibilities and rich blessings of being the firstborn son. Esau as the oldest of the twins had the birthright, but he “despised” it (25:34) – selling it to Jacob, his younger twin brother, for a bowl of stew in an overly dramatic episode (my take). Though this had taken place, and likely their parents knew it, Isaac was still determined to give Esau the blessing of the firstborn before he died. Jacob, being crafty, was able to trick his nearly blind father, and secure the blessing for himself.

Later, after Jacob works for Laban for 7 years in order to marry his daughter Rachel, it is Laban who tricks Jacob by swapping out Rachel for her sister Leah. Not only does the sibling-swap correlate to the previous passage, but Laban even quips to Jacob afterward that “it is not so done in our country” to allow the younger to surpass the older. That feels like a dig at Jacob to me.

It’s interesting to compare Jacob and Laban. Why, in Scripture, is Jacob not seen as a reprehensible figure for trickery and deceit, while Laban is? Why does God pour out His blessings upon Jacob, but not Laban? Jacob was seeking God’s blessing – this comes through throughout these chapters in Genesis. His goal was to get the blessing of God promised through Abraham and Isaac, which he had previously purchased away from his brother. His eyes were on heaven. Laban’s aim was only to better himself at the expense of Jacob – this is seen several times in their interactions. In the end, God blesses Jacob and thwarts Laban’s attempts to take advantage of him. Jacob’s descendants will be a plentiful as the dust of the earth, and one of them will save those who trust in Him from sin and death.

John 12-21

In John’s Passion narrative, we see another who was pursuing God’s blessing, a greater and perfect Jacob – not just for Himself but to glorify His Father and to draw all men to Himself. In chapter 12, Jesus says that the “hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified,” but that this glorification will come through death and rising again. He then prays that the Father would glorify His own name in reference to His upcoming death and resurrection, which will bring about the saving of the world.

He is not coy about what is about to happen. He lays out the weight of it. “Now is the judgement of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He is going to win the war for the cosmos. He has come to bind the strong man. He will win ultimate victory. He will claim the prize of the nations. And he will do all this by dying. What seems like defeat is actually the path to ultimate victory, because death cannot bind him.

The second half of John’s Gospel also touches several times on the calling of those who follow Christ. It is not an easy path. It involves taking up your cross and being hated by the world. Even today, we see the church facing hardship, ridicule, persecution, and death. And yet, in so many cases, what seems like defeat, is raised to new life and bears much fruit. Following in the footsteps of our Lord, death has no ultimate hold over us. To quote G.K. Chesterton, “Christianity has died many times and risen again; for it had a God who knew the way out of the grave.”

May God richly bless your time in His Word.

Steven C