Daily Lectionary | Genesis 28 & John 15:1-17
Genesis 28
Summary
Esau has vowed to kill his brother, so Rebekah sends him away to her brother in Haran where he was to find a wife. Just like Abraham wanted Isaac to find a wife among his kinsmen and not the Canaanites, so also Rebekah tells Jacob to go to find a wife in her homeland.
Rebekah is more than a supporting character in Genesis 27-28; she is the one moving the action along. Jacob obeys his mother.
Jacob has tricked his father into giving him his blessing, and now Rebekah freely gives her maternal blessing on him (Gen. 28:3-4), repeating the promises of Yaweh to Abraham. It appears Isaac endorses Rebekah’s plan, since Isaac sends Jacob to Laban.
A deeper divide between Jacob and Esau emerges. Seeing that it would displease his parents if Jacob married Canaanite women, he does just that.
Jacob journeys to Haran, and on the way stops to sleep, placing his head on a stone. He dreamed of a ladder connecting heaven and earth with angels ascending and descending on it. The Lord stood over the ladder, announcing the promise to Abraham (Gen. 28:13).
Jacob wakes from his vision and announces: “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it...How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven” (Gen. 28:16-17).
Jacob marks this place by pouring oil on the stone and vowing to give a tithe to the Lord.
Reflection Questions
Read John 1:43-51. How does Jacob’s vision relate to Jesus’ identity?
How do we see the characters of Esau and Jacob develop in this chapter?
John 15:1-17
Summary
The Lord intended Israel to be his vine in the world that would bear good fruit (Ps. 80:8-13). He planted his vine Israel in the land, but so much of the story of Israel concerns her failure to God’s fruitful vine in the world.
Jesus declares himself to the “true vine.” He’s the faithful and true Israelite. Jesus is a vine whose life brings about fruit. So abiding in the vine is to be connected to Jesus’ life and sustenance. Not bearing fruit, however, means being cut off.
Once again the theme of obeying Jesus’ commands comes to the fore; this time in connection with bearing fruit. Jesus repeats his commandment to love each other and calls everyone to follow his example of the greatest love: laying down one’s life for friends.
Jesus chooses his followers and appoints them to bear lasting fruit.
In verse 7, Jesus says those who abide in Jesus may ask for anything in his name. How might abiding in Christ shape how prayers?
This passage speaks to branches that don’t bear fruit that are cast away. What is this talking about?