january 28 bible reading

Today’s Old Testament chronological reading is in Gen 13 and 14.

The Psalms/ Proverbs reading is in Psalm 28.

The New Testament reading is in Matthew 20.

While I was updating the chiasm for Mat 20:1-28 below, I realized that the principle Yeshua taught, that the last would be first, and the first, last, was introduced in Scripture in today’s reading in Genesis. Abram was the elder, between he and Lot, and the promise of the land was given to him, and not to Lot. And yet when the time came for them to separate, Abram gave Lot the first choice of land, and Lot chose the best parcel for himself. Abram put himself, whose right it was to be first, last, just as Yeshua did on the cross.

Immediately after their separation, God renewed His promise to Abram, and added to it.

And YHVH said unto Abram, after Lot was separated from him: Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which you see, to you will I give it, and to your seed for ever. And I will make your seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall your seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto you. Gen 13:14-17

The original promise had been:

Now YHVH had said unto Abram: Get out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you: and I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing: 3 and I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you: and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed. Gen 12:1-3

Both promises included the land, but in the original YHVH had promised that Abram would become a great nation, implying many descendants. In the renewed promise YHVH added that the land would be his forever, and his descendants, who would be as innumerable as the dust of the earth. In other words, what Abram relinquished to Lot from a heart attitude of humility and meekness, God restored and added to.

Then when Lot was taken captive, he was made small, who took the best for himself, and it was Abram, who accepted the least for himself, who was made great. ♥

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