Bible Poetry Reading Plan: Proverbs 17-18
Genesis 25:23 (ESV); And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples
from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the
younger.”
In Psalm 2:8 the psalmist says on behalf of the Lord, “Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your
inheritance”. One who truly experienced this was Isaac. As the seed that would perpetuate the
Abrahamic covenant, Isaac would need to have children, but similar to his mother, his wife Rebekah
was barren. Unlike his father, who hastily ran to another woman, Isaac prayed and the Lord opened
Rebekah’s womb. He asked of the Lord and truly received the nations as his inheritance, for it was
through his son Jacob that the nation of Israel was born, and the promise of a Messiah foretold.
Jacob and his brother Esau were contenders for the promise, and God chose the younger Jacob
to carry the torch. This was contrary to the norm, which saw the firstborn male to be master over
his siblings. But in His sovereignty, God chose to do a new thing and make the older servant to the
younger. The phrase found in Romans 9, “Jacob I loved but Esau I hated” strikes a nerve for many
Christians. But we can rejoice in the sovereignty of God – that He knows all things and that all things
will work according to the good of those who love Him. We become children of the promise and heirs
of God through faith. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob walked in faith, unknowingly charting the path of
God’s redemptive plan into history.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. We must not be afraid to ask the Lord for things. Too often we try everything within our own
power to accomplish our goals or to get the desires of our heart, and then if all else fails we go
to God. But our faith is proven by our actions, and one important action is to run to God in prayer
over all circumstances. Spend substantial time bringing the things of your heart to God in prayer
today.
2. Thank God for His sovereignty – for His power and control in your situation.
3. Thank God for the faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Thank Him for using the obedience of
these men to bring you blessing!
