Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.
As famine pushes Isaac out of the land he loved, we head into two mini-narratives that feel strangely familiar. The first is the promise of God to Isaac. Isaac hears God for himself, receiving a similar promise to that of his father – an assurance that God is with him and will 'multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands' (verse 4, ESV). This affirms Isaac as the rightful descendant and his line as the one through which God will accomplish his promise to Abraham. And it means Isaac doesn't live just on the strength of his father's promise, but he has assurance of God’s purposes in his own life.
We head straight from the promise into another familiar-sounding story. As Isaac moves into Gerar, living as a 'sojourner' under the reign of King Abimelech, Isaac passes his wife off as his sister just as his father did. Faced with the fear of death, he acts in the same way and takes the same action in hopes of saving his own skin.
History repeats itself. How far can you see a reflection of your parents or your past experiences in how you handle situations today? What have you learned and inherited, good and bad?
God, thank you for all the good I've inherited from my parents and my upbringing. Please bless and grow those things in me. I lift before you also the bad habits, lessons and reactions I've learned from those who've taught me.
This reflection was written by Helen Crawford, Bible Society's Digital Bible Experience Manager
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