Reading

• Gen. 36:1-43

Devotional

Jacob had quite a large family now. He had twelve sons and at least one daughter. His brother Esau’s family had grown as well, with multiple chiefs and kings in his descendants. Esau’s family lived in the land called Edom, which was named after Esau. It had been many years since GOD first set Abraham on the journey that had led to this point. Recall that back in Gen. 12 GOD said to Abraham:

“Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
(Gen. 12:1b-3)

And again, GOD spoke to Abraham and said:

And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.
(Gen. 13:16)

GOD was in the process of bringing to pass the promises that He made to Abraham. Because of who GOD is, and because it is impossible for GOD to lie, whatever He promises always happens! And the exciting news is that GOD has made multiple promises to us as well—promises which we will also come to pass. But GOD fulfills His promises in His time, not ours. We must wait on Him to bring about what He has promised, having faith that He who promised is faithful (Heb. 11:11).