In Genesis 28, Jacob dreams of a stairway to heaven with angels ascending and descending. God speaks to him, reaffirming the covenant promise made to Abraham and Isaac. Jacob wakes in awe and worships, naming the place Bethel (“house of God”).

In Genesis 27, Rebekah and Jacob deceive Isaac to get Esau’s blessing, which leads to family division and anger. Esau vows to kill Jacob, and Jacob must flee to his uncle Laban.

In Genesis 26, God reaffirms His covenant with Isaac during a famine, telling him to stay in Gerar. Isaac repeats Abraham’s mistake by lying about Rebekah being his sister. Yet God blesses Isaac greatly, and even his rivals recognize God’s favor on him.

In Genesis 26-30, The story of the lives of Isaac, Jacob, and Esau, including Isaac's encounters in Gerar, Jacob's deception to receive Esau's blessing, his marriages to Leah and Rachel, and the birth of his twelve sons, who become the tribes of Israel.

Take a moment to reflect on the weekly readings.

In Genesis 25, Abraham remarries and has more children, but Isaac remains the child of promise. Abraham dies, and Isaac’s sons, Esau and Jacob, are born. Esau sells his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew, showing disregard for God’s promise.

In Genesis 24, Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac from his own relatives. Through prayer and God’s guidance, the servant meets Rebekah, who willingly comes back to marry Isaac. Isaac is comforted after his mother’s death.

In Genesis 23, Sarah dies at 127 years old. Abraham mourns her deeply and negotiates to buy a field and cave in Hebron to bury her—his first permanent piece of the promised land.

In Genesis 22, God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac, the promised son. Abraham obeys, but God stops him at the last moment and provides a ram instead. God reaffirms His covenant, praising Abraham’s faith.

In Genesis 21, God keeps His promise: Sarah gives birth to Isaac, bringing joy and laughter. But tension arises between Sarah and Hagar, leading to Hagar and Ishmael being sent away. Even so, God cares for them and promises to make Ishmael a nation. Abraham also makes a peace treaty with Abimelech.

In Genesis 21-25, Isaac is born to Abraham and Sarah, Ishmael is sent away, God tests Abraham's faith by asking him to sacrifice Isaac, and after Abraham's death, Isaac marries Rebekah, and their sons, Esau and Jacob, are born, setting the stage for future tensions and blessings.

Take a moment to reflect on the weekly readings.

In Genesis 20, Abraham, out of fear, again tells a foreign king (Abimelech) that Sarah is his sister. God intervenes to protect Sarah, and Abimelech confronts Abraham. Even when Abraham’s faith falters, God keeps His promise.

In Genesis 19, God sends two angels to rescue Lot’s family before destroying Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot hesitates, but the angels lead them out. His wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt; his daughters later act out of fear, leading to further brokenness.

In Genesis 18, three visitors (angels, and possibly the Lord Himself) visit Abraham and Sarah, reaffirming that Sarah will have a son within a year. Sarah laughs in disbelief. The Lord also reveals His plan to judge Sodom and Gomorrah, and Abraham boldly intercedes for them.

In Genesis 17, God reaffirms His covenant with Abram, changing his name to Abraham (“father of many”) and Sarai’s to Sarah. God promises a son through Sarah and introduces circumcision as the sign of the covenant. Abraham obeys immediately.

In Genesis 16, Abram and Sarai grow impatient waiting for God’s promise of a child. Sarai gives her servant Hagar to Abram, and Hagar bears Ishmael. Conflict and pain follow, but God sees Hagar in her distress and promises that Ishmael will also become a great nation.

In Genesis 16-20, Sarah's maidservant Hagar bears Abraham's child, Ishmael, after Sarah struggles with infertility, but God reaffirms His promise to Abraham, Sarah gives birth to Isaac, and Abraham faces trials, including a dispute over a well and the near destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, while God shows mercy to Lot.

Take a moment to reflect on the weekly readings.

In Genesis 15, God reassures Abram, who fears he’ll die childless. God promises him countless descendants and makes a covenant with him. Abram believes God, and it is “credited to him as righteousness.”