Posts by John – Page 54 – The Gospel First

Gift-giving is an expression of grace

Coming from hearts where yet is a trace

Of fallen humanity, sin, and depravity

A longing, a passion, a quest for eternity

We give ‘cause we’re made in the image of God

But a path of rebellion we all have trod

Yet within persists a feint recollection

Of being created in joyful perfection

A small bit of grace implies there is more

If sinners give, what does God have in store?

His well is deep; His heart overflows

He’s full of grace; He wants us to know

His giving rises to the highest height

A look at the cross will capture your sight

Of the Son of God hung in your place

Giving Himself, your gift of grace

Genesis 36:1-37:1 record the descendants of the rejected line of Esau. The prosperity of both Jacob and Esau makes it difficult for them to share the land of Canaan so Esau chooses the higher elevation of what is later called Edom. Esau takes multiple wives one of whom is a descendant of Ishmael, perhaps an attempt to bring some unity to the two lines that were not heirs of the Abrahamic promise. The Edomites create their own alien kingdom to the kingdom of God in establishing themselves in a fortress like land and having a monarchy long before Israel would. 37:1 sets Jacob in contrast to the Edomites, for he dwells in the land of his father, Isaac’s sojourning, i.e. the land of promise. Continue reading “The Gospel in Genesis 36-37:1 and in the City”