January 13, 2022: Day 10 – Genesis 33-36 and John 18-19

I am really appreciating the comments and the interactions that we are having as we read Genesis and John together.  It seems like Genesis is attracting most of the attention because of the unique characters that are there, and the flaws of those characters.  And yet quietly Jesus is being led to the slaughter.

In Genesis we find the encounter of Esau and Jacob, one that we feared would create fireworks, but hardly a spark was seen.  Esau acted as the one whom God should have chosen by hugging his brother and treating him with a grace that he did not deserve.  I find it interesting that they even stay together, their families and their flocks, until later when the land can no longer support them then they separate and go their own way.

Just a chapter by chapter breakdown.  Jacob and Esau getting back together again is in 33, then we move on to a horrific story of the rape of Dinah.  We don’t hear at all how that rape affected Dinah, but we hear much more about how it affected her brothers and the vengeance that they take out on the Hivites.  Chapter 35 gives us the story of Jacob who is moving around a lot and the people of the neighboring lands being somewhat intimidated by the presence of him and his family.  

Chapter 36 gives us a long list of the sons of Esau and the long line of descendants that came from his sons.  Not a whole lot to write about here, but just keep in mind that God did not completely forget about him and he continues to be a son of Abraham.  

In John we find the arrest of Jesus after his betrayal by Judas.   The suffering of Jesus is pretty intense and it is only intensified by the disciples running away and Peter denying him.  Pilate’s concern of Jesus being a King is seen by all as he puts above Jesus’ cross the title of :”King of the Jews”.  The death and burial of Jesus take place in a way that is prophesied in Scripture.  Really from the beginning of Jesus’ life to the end we see Him as the one that has been prophesied in Scripture from the very beginning.