One Year Pray for the Persecuted Bible - Flipbook - Page 56
36
January 12
ZAKI, A PASTOR IN SYRIA, has struggled for years with obstacles: war,
economic instability, and constant persecution. He’s exhausted, but
Syrian Muslims’ openness to the gospel prompts him to continue serving. Like the friends of the paralyzed man who persevered and carried
their friend to Jesus, Zaki carries on—boldly introducing Muslims to
the living Jesus Christ, no matter the cost. • LORD, THANK YOU for
the example of Pastor Zaki. Strengthen all who serve you faithfully—
especially those among my persecuted Christian family—to persevere as obstacles press against them from every side. Amen.
GENESIS 26:17–27:46
So Isaac moved away to the Gerar Valley,
where he set up their tents and settled down.
18 He reopened the wells his father had dug,
which the Philistines had filled in after Abra
ham’s death. Isaac also restored the names
Abraham had given them.
19 Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley
and discovered a well of fresh water. 20 But then
the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed
the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and
they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen.
So Isaac named the well Esek (which means
“argument”). 21 Isaac’s men then dug another
well, but again there was a dispute over it. So
Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”). 22 Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on
and dug another well. This time there was
no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place
Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for
he said, “At last the Lord has created enough
space for us to prosper in this land.”
23 From there
Isaac moved to Beersheba,
24 where the Lord appeared to him on the
night of his arrival. “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” he said. “Do not be afraid,
for I am with you and will bless you. I will
multiply your descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will do this because of
my promise to Abraham, my servant.” 25 Then
Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the
Lord. He set up his camp at that place, and his
servants dug another well.
26 One day King Abimel ech came from Gerar
with his adviser, Ahuzzath, and also Phicol,
his army commander. 27 “Why have you come
here?” Isaac asked. “You obviously hate me,
since you kicked me off your land.”
28 They replied, “We can plainly see that the
Lord is with you. So we want to enter into a
sworn treaty with you. Let’s make a covenant.
29 Swear that you will not harm us, just as we
have never troubled you. We have always
treated you well, and we sent you away from
JANUARY
12
us in peace. And now look how the Lord has
blessed you!”
30 So
Isaac prepared a covenant feast to
celebrate the treaty, and they ate and drank
together. 31 Early the next morning, they each
took a solemn oath not to interfere with each
other. Then I saac sent them home again, and
they left him in peace.
32 That very day I saac’s servants came and
told him about a new well they had dug.
“We’ve found water!” they exclaimed. 33 So
Isaac named the well Shibah (which means
“oath”). And to this day the town that grew up
there is called Beersheba (which means “well
of the oath”).
34 At the age of forty, Esau married two Hittite
wives: Judith, the daughter of Beeri, and Base
math, the daughter of Elon. 35 But Esau’s wives
made life miserable for Isaac and Rebekah.
27:1 One
day when Isaac was old and turning
blind, he called for Esau, his older son, and
said, “My son.”
“Yes, Father?” Esau replied.
2 “I am an old man now,” I saac said, “and I
don’t know when I may die. 3 Take your bow
and a quiver full of arrows, and go out into the
open country to hunt some wild game for me.
4 Prepare my favorite dish, and bring it here for
me to eat. Then I will pronounce the blessing
that belongs to you, my firstborn son, before
I die.”
5 But Re
bekah overheard what Isaac had
said to his son Esau. So when Esau left to hunt
for the wild game, 6 she said to her son Jacob,
“Listen. I overheard your father say to Esau,
7 ‘Bring me some wild game and prepare me
a delicious meal. Then I will bless you in the
Lord’s presence before I die.’ 8 Now, my son,
listen to me. Do exactly as I tell you. 9 Go out to
the flocks, and bring me two fine young goats.
I’ll use them to prepare your father’s favorite
dish. 10 Then take the food to your father so he
can eat it and bless you before he dies.”
11 “But look,” Jacob replied to Rebekah, “my
