January 24

Genesis 25; Matthew 24

Genesis 25

Ready:
The previous chapter was the story of how Isaac came to be married to Rebekah by divine appointment.  God guided Abraham’s faithful servant and he found a virtuous woman to be the mother to carry the promise for the offspring.  Noting the ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) table at the bottom of page 79 I see a description of the four types of offspring the Abraham has and this is helpful to keep in mind as we see the story unfold.  This chapter (and the next two) should be read in comparison with Romans chapter 9 to see the full significance of what is happening in the story.

Reading thoughts:
Most notably this chapter covers the birth if Jacob and Esau as well as their interactions regarding the selling of the birthright and it seems to highlight the fact that Esau connected more with Isaac and Jacob with Rebekah.  Abraham dies when Isaac is 75 and this is 15 years after the birth of Jacob and Esau.  We also learn that Isaac was 37 when his mother died, 40 when he took Rebekah as a wife and 60 when the twins were born.  See timeline at the bottom of page 94 in the ESVSB.  The story also covers the additional descendants of Abraham who took another wife and then also concubines after Sarah’s death.  Ishmael’s 12 sons (as promised in Gen 17:20) are listed and Ishmael dies at 137, although Ishmael had been put out of the camp of Abraham.

Key Verses:

“7 These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life, 175 years. 8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.” (Genesis 25:7–8, ESV)

“16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes. 17 (These are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years. He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.)” (Genesis 25:16–17, ESV)

“21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived.” (Genesis 25:21, ESV)

“22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”” (Genesis 25:22–23, ESV)

“28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.” (Genesis 25:28, ESV)

“31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” 32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?”” (Genesis 25:31–32, ESV)

“34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.” (Genesis 25:34, ESV)

I see the theme as- "Not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but 'through Isaac shall your offspring be named'” (Rom 9:7, ESV)

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-11.  Surprisingly, Abraham takes another wife and has six more kids.  The ESVSB notes suggest that Keturah may have been a maidservant of Rebekah and that the “concubines" mentioned is likely a reference to Hagar and Keturah rather than another group of women.  I am surprised that God grants him six more kids at 137+ years old here since a big deal is made about him bearing kids at "about 100 years old” (Rom 4:19).
    v12-18.  A brief genealogy is given to show that God indeed made twelve tribes from Ishmael and it describes them as settling in what the ESVSB calls Arabia (Muslims claim this is their lineage).
    v19-26.  Here is the birth of the twins and Isaac must pray and wait for God to open the womb of Rebekah to bless them with children.  The twins are recorded as “struggling” within her and she is told by God when she prayed about this that they were two nations and that “the older shall serve the younger” (Rom 9:12).
    v27-28.  Here it is clear that the boys are very different and each gravitates toward the opposite parent.  This plays into the scenario because Isaac plans only a blessing to pass on to Esau and not any for Jacob.  It seems that Jacob come against the odds and without support and thou he is “hated” compared to his brother by his earthly father he is “loved” in comparison to his brother by his heavenly father.  And this God decided prior to Jacob being born or doing anything to please or displease him as happened with his natural parents who depended upon the merits and personalities of the children to draw distinctions (Rom 9:9-13) but God, in contrast, does not show partiality (Prov 28:21, Luke 28:21, Acts 10:34, Rom 2:11, Eph 6:9, Col 3:25, James 2:9) but judges with perfect righteousness and is not constrained to grant his loving kindness to anyone over another (Titus 3:3-6).
    v29-34. Here Moses records the sinful action of Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a meal.  In this action Esau dishonors God by caring nothing for the promise of the coming offspring and he apparently could not care less about this nation that one of them was supposed to father.  Jacob, on the other hand, seems intent on fathering this people.  Hebrews 12:16 and Prov 28:21 are condemning of Esau in this regard.  The rocky relationship between these two began in the womb.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Matthew 24

Ready:
Jesus concluded his seven woes of the Pharisees and seems to now be headed back toward Bethany for evening when he foretells of the destruction of the temple.

Reading thoughts:
This chapter speaks prophetically and is quite difficult to pin down many of the details.  I will reserve much in this discussion because I have yet to study and decide my own position on end times events and there are many differing views on this…

Key Verses:

“3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.” (Matthew 24:3–5, ESV)

“9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.” (Matthew 24:9–10, ESV)

“13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:13–14, ESV)

“21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” (Matthew 24:21–22, ESV)

“26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:26–27, ESV)

“36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” (Matthew 24:36, ESV)

“44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:44, ESV)

“48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:48–51, ESV)

I see the theme as- The end of this world as we know it will come and there will be a judgment before God that will come at an unknown time whereby those that held out and fought the good fight to live before God with trust and hope in Jesus (promised offspring) will be delivered from the wrath of God upon sin and all others will be justly and righteously condemned to hell for their sin of not honoring and thanking God with their lives.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-2.  Jesus tells of a destruction of the temple that will be complete and this can be a reference to the destruction of the temple at the hands of the Romans in AD 70.  This introduces a series of statements by Jesus that are looking into the future.
    v3-8.  Here Jesus describes what he sums up as “birth pains” and Paul uses similar terminology as well in Romans 8:18-25 as he speaks about the future revealing of the sons of God that the creation is eagerly awaiting.  Jesus speaks of others claiming to be the Messiah and some have already done this…no doubt more will come.  I personally do not take to the efforts of many to try to point out these “birth pains” and paint pictures of the impending end of time because I think it is too hard to say and it hurts our credibility (in my opinion).  I think being ready at all times and focusing more on living for Christ and helping others to be glad in God is bueno.  This is the main reason I have not yet settled my own position on the various end time views.
    v9-14.  A few things are said here.  The final thing is probably the most significant and that is an indication that the end will be hastened by the completion of the great commission.  This is in agreement with Romans 11:25 and then Rom 11:12-15 may be indicating the the end will be ushered in upon the conversion of Israel after the great commission is completed (though the sequence of final events here is very debatable).  Notable, however, is the fact that the great commission is about reaching all people groups and yet there could still be gentiles that have not “come in” per Romans 11:25 in an already reached group so I don’t think waiting for an announcement that “we have done it..we have reached all the nations” is a magic trigger…but certainly a critical benchmark.  He speaks also of tribulation and persecution and it cannot be too clear if this was some of what happened in the first few centuries of the church or also in our future (also happens in other countries even now).  There is an increasing lawlessness and a growing cold of the love of many so this very subjective sign is given.
    v15-28.  The abomination of desolation here is to find final fulfillment (some prophesies have what is called a typological fulfillment where it happens twice or more and each is a “type" of the previous) in the ends days with the Ant-Christ taking a position in the temple and demanding worship (2 Thess 2:4, Rev 13:14).  Then the great tribulation is spoken of and there is debate as to whether Christians will be present through any or some or all of this period.  Each position makes argument from scripture but since prophetic scripture is quite difficult there remains about 5 major opinions on these events (see page 2456 in the introduction to Revelation from the ESVSB for details).  One thing is pretty clear and that it that the coming of Christ will not be something anyone needs to point out to us…it will be as plain as thunder and lightning in the sky.
    v29-31.  The elect whom are dead already?  All believers?  Heavens referring to the whole of creation or just literal heaven?  I dunno…
    v32-35.  I dunno.  But I do know that the Word of God remains though the world ends!
    v36-51.  Here is a warning to be ready.  It should not take such a warning for a believer to live for the love of God and others but here is a warning to not delay in walking forward in faith and not delaying in getting real with our faith and with the work God has for us.  A wasted life or worse awaits us if we just burn time here and do not live to the glory of God.  Let us be faithful and wise servants and not wicked ones.  Something is said here that indicates the dual nature of Christ as the God-man because here he says that the Son does not know the day or hour of his own return.  This is a detail that the Father has reserved and has not given to Jesus in his mortal mind (human nature).  However, the orthodox teaching is that Jesus retains all the attributes of God in his divine nature simultaneously.  There are therefore two distinct natures in the one person of Jesus that are united in what is referred to as the hypostatic union and it is unbreakable.  Jesus became a human (and still remained God) at the incarnation and will remain so forevermore.  Here is a quick article in this term and the concept from Desiring God.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Soli Deo Gloria!