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“For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
John 6:33

Today’s Bible Reading

The returned Judeans begin rebuilding the altar of the Lord so that they may resume offering sacrifices. The Judeans lay the foundation of the new temple. The people shout for joy, but many of the older Judeans weep loudly, remembering the grandeur of the first temple.

BibleGateway: Ezra 3 ESV Text: Ezra 3 Ezra 3 (Listen) Rebuilding the Altar 3:1 When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen,… 

It’s time to escape the clutches of deceitful Uncle Laban. But Laban isn’t the only one hauling around spiritual baggage. Within Jacob’s own family there is a thief, and possible idol worshipper. Jacob and crew have enough baggage of their own. Let’s recognize our own baggage, bringing it to the cross, where Jesus carried the full weight of all our sins.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 31 ESV Text: Genesis 31 KJV Text: Genesis 31:1-55 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 31:      1 And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our… 

Despite a less than godly atmosphere in this growing family, the Lord, as He had promised, continues to be with Jacob and to bless him. But while Jacob’s flocks experience rapid growth, it’s obvious that his faith has much room for grow. But he’s not alone, is he? “Lord, increase our faith!”

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BibleGateway: Genesis 30 ESV Text: Genesis 30 KJV Text: Genesis 30:1-43 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 30:      1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto… 

It’s a dysfunctional family right from the start. In coming chapters Jacobs’ family will experience one self-created problem after another. Yet God has grace even for a family like this. “Lord, give our families the grace and wisdom to avoid the pitfalls of this family; but may You also supply the soothing balm of Your merciful Word to all our family flaws and shortcomings”

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BibleGateway: Genesis 29 ESV Text: Genesis 29 KJV Text: Genesis 29:1-35 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 29:      1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.… 

Heaven is opened wide to sinners through faith in Christ Jesus our Savior. Knowing Christ by faith, also means we have the Lord’s promise that He will be with us and will bless us throughout our earthly pilgrimage, even during our loneliest of times.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 28 ESV Text: Genesis 28 KJV Text: Genesis 28:1-22 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 28:      1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not… 

The family’s dysfunction boils over when Rebekah and Jacob deceive Isaac. They seem to be successful. But it all blows up in their faces when Esau has murder on his mind, forcing Jacob to run for his life. Yet God’s grace is still at work as we shall see in the next chapter.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 27 ESV Text: Genesis 27 KJV Text: Genesis 27:1-46 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 27:      1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that… 

Rebekah prays about the struggle going on within her womb. The LORD tells her that she is carrying two nations, and that the older son will serve the younger. We soon see that this is a family with problems. But God loves families with problems as much as any family.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 26 ESV Text: Genesis 26 KJV Text: Genesis 26:1-35 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 26:      1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days… 

It’s time for Isaac to take a bride, but not any woman will do. Abraham sends his servant on a long journey to seek a bride who shares Isaac’s faith in the true and living God. The servant tackles this great responsibility with humble prayer, and God blesses his efforts with success.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 24 ESV Text: Genesis 24 KJV Text: Genesis 24:1-67 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 24:      1 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all… 

If Abraham is the father of believers, then Sarah is the mother of believers. Sarah is the only woman in all of the Bible whose age at her death is recorded. Note the tender care Abraham takes to secure his beloved wife a place of burial. We thank God for the faithful saints who have gone before us.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 23 ESV Text: Genesis 23 KJV Text: Genesis 23:1-20 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 23:      1 And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the… 

We get a glimpse of the agony of mind God the Father must have felt when He gave His only Son over to death on a mountain many centuries after the incident recorded in today’s chapter. God’s Son is something like the ram, in that He died a substitute death for us sinners.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 22 ESV Text: Genesis 22 KJV Text: Genesis 22:1-24 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 22:      1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him,…