Thoughts on January 15 Bible Reading

January 15, 2018

Reading: Genesis 36-37; Matthew 12

Happy Monday to you! I want to share a few thoughts on today’s reading in an attempt to encourage you to stay engaged in the Bible.

Genesis 36-37

Genesis 36 is one of the many genealogical lists in the Old Testament. It is often difficult to pay close attention to these types of lists, causing us to skip over them or to read them so fast that we do not pay attention to what we are reading. Using a good Study Bible can help us understand the significance of some of these lists. I am reading from the CSB Study Bible this year and the study notes provided below the text were helpful for me. I will say, however, that I found the study notes in the ESV Study Bible to be even more helpful.

CSB Study Bible

ESV Study Bible

Genesis 36 tells us what happened with Jacob’s brother, Esau, and his descendants after this time. The focus of the rest of Genesis will be on Jacob and his descendants because the line that would become the people of Israel goes through Jacob. Esau’s descendants eventually became the Edomites that are found later in the Old Testament.

Genesis 37 tells the story of Joseph’s dreams and his subsequent mistreatment by his brothers because he was Jacob’s favorite son. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery and made his father believe he was killed by wild animals. By the end of the chapter, Joseph was a slave in Potiphar’s house.

Matthew 12:39 (CSB)

“An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”

Matthew 12 continues to describe the ministry of Jesus. In verse 38, the religious leaders requested that Jesus perform a miraculous sign. I suppose they did this because they wanted Jesus to prove His authority to teach or the authenticity of His message. Jesus refused to provide a miraculous sign, stating instead that they would only see the sign of Jonah; Jesus would be in the grave three days and nights in the same way Jonah was in the fish the same amount of time. Jesus’ resurrection would be the sign for them to see.

We often believe that if only people could see a miracle, then they would believe in Jesus, or trust in Jesus. However, that was not always the case in the New Testament. Many people saw Jesus perform miracles in the New Testament. Some marveled, but went on with their lives. Some followed Jesus for a while, but left Him when His teaching challenged them. Others placed their faith in Jesus and followed Him until the end of lives. A miraculous sign from God will not necessarily lead people to become followers of Jesus. We must look to the information He has already given us. He has given us the Bible, His Word.

Lord, help us to believe You and to trust You without demanding a sign. You have already provided all we need to have faith.