Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.
The plan today is to read Genesis 25-26 and Matthew 9:1-17. If you haven’t had a chance to read the Bible yet, pause this podcast to hear God speak before you listen to anything more from me.
Okay, welcome back.
Following on from the promises that God made to Abraham in Genesis 12, the rest of Genesis records the way that God’s promises roll out with the few generations that follow Abraham.
One of the things that I love about these chapters is the way that the story plays out in the context of real history, with the nitty gritty details of ordinary people going about their lives.
Abraham dies in Genesis 25, and then in Genesis 26 the LORD appears to Isaac on two different occasions.
[1] Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. [2] And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you.
So far we’ve seen the context of famine in the land, and then a specific direction the LORD gives to Isaac about where his family should go.
[3] Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father.
The LORD is going to continue to bless Isaac in the way he blessed Abraham.
[4] I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, [5] because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” (ESV)
And the LORD is going to continue to to roll out his promises to Isaac’s offspring too, through the line of Jacob. And presumably, verse 5 is suggesting that Isaac is to walk in obedience to the LORD like his father did before him.
The LORD then appears to Isaac one more time in this chapter, after a dispute over who owns the water in some wells that Isaac’s herdsmen have dug. Look at what the LORD says to him,
[24] And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.” (ESV)
The LORD is effectively saying: Isaac, this might feel like the wild west with reasons to be afraid, but do NOT fear. I am with you. I will bless you. I will bless your offspring. I won’t back down on my promises to your father. In fact, I want you to hear those same promises.
The Old Testament shows the faithfulness of God to Abraham and Isaac’s family. The New Testament then continues the theme of God keeping every promise that he makes in Christ Jesus.
This is a God worth trusting because he is trustworthy.
Let me conclude with this verse from 2 Corinthians 1:20,
[20] For all the promises of God find their Yes in him [Jesus Christ]. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (ESV)
Until tomorrow, keep trusting Jesus.