JANUARY 13 READINGS…Genesis 36:1-19, 1 Chronicles 1:35-37, Genesis 36:20-30, 1 Chronicles 1:38-42, Genesis 36:31-43, 1 Chronicles 1:43-2:2.
Today’s readings took us through a bunch of names that I know we all had trouble pronouncing. These passages in Genesis and 1 Chronicles list for us the family and descendants of Esau. We might be inclined to consider these chapters as irrelevant, but they are not. Though we will not remember each of these names, these lines will play a roll in God’s plan for His people. These are the children of Abraham also…and they will have an impact on their relatives the nation of Israel.
It should be interesting to us that these are in the line that make up one of the Arab groups, particularly the Edomites. We have seen that many of the Arab groups…they are the descendants of Lot (Moabites, Ammonites), Ishmael (Ishmaelites), and here Esau (Edomites). These are all Shemite (Semite) people…all of the line of Shem from Noah. These are different from the Canaanite people who were descendants of Ham from Noah. It is needful for us to understand that not all present day people who are called “Arab” have the same family line. In these lines we see the continual conflict with Israel, and sometimes the cooperation with Israel…and the legitimate claim of these people to being the children of Abraham. Not all groups that identify as modern Arab groups have a legitimate claim to being children of Abraham…they would need to be decsendants of one of Abraham’s eight sons…Ishmael, Isaac, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
Just as a reminder…it is not the intent in the Bible to tell us the lines of all people who have ever lived. The Scripture is about the promised One, the Messiah…so the Bible gives us the information we need to bring us to the revelation of the Messiah.
Please share any insights that you gleaned in your readings. Stay the course and let the Holy Spirit feed you with the Word of God.
TOMORROW’S READINGS…Genesis 37:1-38:30, 1 Chronicles 2:3-8, Genesis 39:1-23.
Comments