Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles 1:28-54. Here is a link to today’s Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%201&version=NASB1995
I quote only the following verses.
“The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael. These are their genealogies: the firstborn of Ishmael was Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah; these were the sons of Ishmael. …
Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac were Esau and Israel. The sons of Esau were Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam and Korah. The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna and Amalek. The sons of Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. …
Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king of the sons of Israel reigned. Bela was the son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dinhabah.” 1 Chronicles 1:28-30 and 34-37 and 43.
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Today’s Scripture is also mostly names. Most of the names are sons of Ishmael, sons of Esau, and kings of Edom (the sons of Esau later became known as Edom or as the Edomites, Genesis 36:19 and 43), although we can peak ahead and see that the next chapter covers the genealogy of Israel (Jacob).
Why is there such attention to the sons of Ishmael, sons of Esau, and kings of Edom? For example, see Galatians 4:21-31 and Romans 9:13.
“Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.” Romans 9:13.
But, nevertheless, they were all sons of Abraham, and the LORD did provide for them.
The LORD did provide for Ishmael. In the following Scripture, we first see that the LORD comforted Hagar, Sarai’s maid, mother of Ishmael, after Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence. Then, we read the prophecy about Ishmael.
“Now the angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” Then the angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority.” Moreover, the angel of the LORD said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.” The angel of the LORD said to her further,
“Behold, you are with child,
And you will bear a son;
And you shall call his name Ishmael,
Because the LORD has given heed to your affliction.
“He will be a wild donkey of a man,
His hand will be against everyone,
And everyone’s hand will be against him;
And he will live to the east of all his brothers.” Genesis 16:7-12.
The LORD did also provide for Esau.
“Esau said to his father (Isaac), “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.” So Esau lifted his voice and wept.
Then Isaac his father answered and said to him,
“Behold, away from the fertility of the earth shall be your dwelling,
And away from the dew of heaven from above.
“By your sword you shall live,
And your brother you shall serve;
But it shall come about when you become restless,
That you will break his yoke from your neck.” Genesis 27:38-40.
“And the LORD spoke to me (Moses), saying, ‘You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north, and command the people, saying, “You will pass through the territory of your brothers the sons of Esau who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful; do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, even as little as a footstep because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.” Deuteronomy 2:2-5.
“You shall not detest an Edomite, for he is your brother; you shall not detest an Egyptian, because you were an alien in his land.” Deuteronomy 23:7.
The lesson that we can glean from today’s Scripture is to love our neighbor, even our enemy.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48.
But, there is hope!
“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 