The Old Testament readings in Genesis this week cover the transition from Abraham to Isaac and then to Jacob. Even though this begins a division of the “generations of Isaac” (Gen. 25:19), comparatively little time is spent on Isaac; the focus is on his oldest son Esau despising his birthright and his youngest son Jacob stealing Esau’s blessing. The narrative then turns to Jacob’s flight from Esau to Haran, the family’s ancestral home, where he works for his uncle Laban and marries his cousins, Leah and Rachel. God uses this sordid family situation to lay the groundwork for making Jacob the patriarch of the nation of Israel.

The New Testament readings consist of all three Johannine letters, 1, 2 and 3 John, all of which are pastoral in nature. First John highlights the difference between those who are in Christ and those who are not. Second John warns against false teachers, while 3 John encourages believers to welcome true workers of the Gospel.

The Psalm readings continue going through the Psalms of David.