family ⁽²¹⁹⁾

Genesis 29:21–30:24, Genesis 35:16–20 ‌Jacob’s family relationships (as we read yesterday) were already a mess. His Uncle Laban did not help relational stability by setting up his own daughters to have discord in their marriage. ‌The consequence is that sister wives fought over their husband.

Genesis 17:1–14, Deuteronomy 10:14–22, Luke 1:59–80 The ritual of circumcision existed before the people of Israel came into being (yes, Abraham was their forefather). This was a ritual the physically made the people of Israel different than those around them. It was (and is) the…

Genesis 18:16–33, Luke 13:1–5 The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is often used as an object lesson regarding the result of select sins. In today’s passage, we don’t address those sins, for they aren’t really the subject of today’s section in Genesis. What do you…

Luke 22:24–30, Philippians 2:1–11 “I am the greatest,” said Muhammad Ali before his match with Sonny Liston. Michael Phelps is the greatest. Usain Bolt is the greatest. They can’t all be the greatest. Yet, Muhammad Ali was the greatest boxer, for a time. Michael Phelps remains…

Genesis 25:21–26, Luke 1:5–25, 57 What’s next? Parents have hopes and dreams for their children. In the last few decades, however, a disturbing trend has occurred. For many parents, children have become the target of their worship. Yes, worship. The strands have been there for…